Rex the Period and Silence

#7.2 The Clean Flat Shoes

After lodging our bags into the bus's trunk. We sit on the seat according to the ticket. As if scripted the novel's storyline, he sits next to mine. But like an empty sheet without a line, I recall nothing not long after the bus is departing. Sitting under the air conditioner, my clammy hair is flapped softly. With the feeling of being caressed, I fall asleep. Three hours later, the bus stopped and I open my eyes. He is playing on his phone. I am wondering if his eyes are okay. Shouldn't he wear glasses? There's no time I am not seeing him playing on his phone. We get off from the transportation and lodge off our luggage. No one is talking, I assume everyone just awoke, we cross the road mutely, "Were you sleep well?" he breaks the silence. I am quite shocked by him, I thought he won't say a thing. "I slept as soon as the bus was moving. How about you?"

"I slept five minutes before we stopped."

"Why?!" he won't say that I was snoring, will he?

"It's so hot." I can see his dimple behind his face mask.

"Why didn't you adjust it?" I silly laugh at him and he brightly shakes his head. On the way to our home, on the public bus, he stands on my left side. My right hand grips the hand holder so does his left hand holds the bus handle while his right hand is on the pole that is between us. My sight doesn't leave the window, but as time goes by, I feel a gaze fall on me. Secretly and slowly, I take a glance at him. I was going to steer my eyeball back to the window as soon as I confirm that he isn't looking at me, but unfortunately, he catches me checking on him who is staring at me. "What?" I ask him. What a drama-like to have someone continuously stick on you, yet the reality is hard to be as beautiful as the written plot. The bus stop with the sudden-brake, when I am looking at him. I am the one who isn't focusing on my own balance, swing my body to the right and left then my head bumps into the pole. Strangely it doesn't as hurt as I've felt before. "Ah!" he grimaces in pain. It turns out, my head landed on his hand which is gripping the pole. "Sorry sorry," using the hand holder, I pull myself to my feet. "Sorry," I try my best to comfort him without touching any of his body parts. Only with my voice. "Are you okay?"

"Hold tight!" between his speechless laugh he scolds me.

"Why did you make me checking on you? I lose my concentration!"

"You use the bus from time to time, shouldn't your concentration under the subconscious?" he teases me.

"I walk!" I grin. "You think you know me, ha?" when the bus comes back to its tranquil condition, when the driver is smoothly driving the bus, I catch En-Hui, who is standing in the front section of the bus which is next to the driver, smile at me with her moving eyebrow. The thought of she imagines there's something going on between me and Max is crossing in my mind. Not only her, I wish something is going on between us, too. What? No! I must be out of my mind. Have I forgotten my own jinx? I'll lose him right after I said I like him to myself. Did I say I like him? No no no...I mean___stop it. Let's just get it straight. I am the type of person who is easily getting carried away with my emotions. It's also the reason why I've hurt so many times. I always misunderstood their kindness toward me. I misinterpret their nice attitude to me as they have been attracted by me. What a weirdo right? He, Li-Zhuang treats me nice, too nice. I've been attracted by those guys who only smile at me, and now do I expect myself to not be bewitched by someone who is as nice as him? No way. That's my point. I can't help myself to stop thinking about him, but I have to stop myself from liking him, or else I'll lose him, just like I lost the others.

Stop by stop, one by one, they get off from the bus. Just the two of us and I feel kind of awkward cause we don't talk a word at all "Wanna eat meat?" he asks all of sudden. "Meat? Where?"

"My studio," his simple statement makes my heart beating fast. "Your studio? Why would I go there," I chuckle. "No, thanks."

"My aunt sent it to me, she said we can eat it together."