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museum

I didn't like things that would make me think deeply.

The friendship between Ethan and I was becoming a serious illness to me. My body started reacting in ways that even I, couldn't control. We started having picnics together and frequent outings, and he made sure he was always around. Always.

Sometimes I would be startled just by the sound of his voice. Sometimes, my heart raced fast when we hugged. Sometimes, the way he smiled caused my face to melt into smiles.

And I couldn't lie to myself anymore.

I loved Ethan.

I'd met sisters at the assembly for advice. To them, it was a normal thing. The only thing that made it ungodly is if GOD's name wasn't glorified in it.

I asked Becca too. She was amazed that I was able to express my feelings as such about someone, because it was my first time, and everything in the world and about life felt so strange.

Yet beautiful.

Still, I didn't let that carry me away. I prayed to GOD about it. Every day, every night, and when I thought of him.

"Mind if we go somewhere today?"

"Sure. Yeah." I nodded.

Even with the feelings developing, I tried my best to cover them. Sometimes they came out into the rain, and it seemed like he'd noticed.

Because he was doing even more of those things that were making me want to run away.

"We're going to a museum."

"Oh. Wow."

"Come on. I know." He gave me his usual yet beautiful smirk.

What's wrong with you?

In response, I rolled my eyes. "So what are we waiting for? It's 6 already. And I hope the place's not secluded too."

"Afraid of the cops?"

"Yeah. You're a criminal, remember?"

"Tsk. I'll take that as a compliment."

Only when we arrived at our destination, I remembered it was Friday. People rushed in and out of the place like a big net of seafood had been spread out on the seashore. People mostly entered because the evening was just beginning.

"I hate this."

I shrugged. "You can't blame them. Others hate us for coming too. We're the same people with the same desires."

"So, shall we?"

I smiled. "We should."

We walked in. The big frames of old lieutenants and large wooden sculptures greeted us as we entered. The sculptures were so magnificent that before I could make time to admire one, Ethan had pointed his finger at another.

"This looks good."

"You just haven't seen it all."

"There's more?"

"Yes. But my gut tells me the place will be crowded. It's a mini aquarium."

I was wrong to think that our visit to the museum would do me justice by helping me forget the feelings germinating on my skin. When he smiled, it twisted something in me. I refused to look for the knot. It all felt like a seed germinating from beneath rocky ground. It was good, fresh and lovely. No one believed it would survive, but it did. And it only kept growing. The only thing that would kill it was if someone plucked it off.

And I didn't want anyone to pluck it off. Because it made me feel good.

He was right about the crowd at the mini aquarium. I managed to take some pictures, but before I realized it, he pulled me to another view.

It was a mini-store. They sold African articles at very, very high prices. No one dared to buy them, so they were always out on display. At least, according to what Ethan explained. The articles were so beautiful but the merchants refused people from taking pictures of the articles. They explained that if they let people take pictures of the articles, they would get them elsewhere at lower prices(maybe from Africa), while their articles would remain there like collectibles. Ethan thought it was a lame reason but decided to flow with them.

We walked together in the mini store and browsed various sections of the articles on display.

"I'm surprised you haven't asked why I brought you here."

"I knew it was a bad thing to trust you."

"No, wait. I'm serious. It's the normal Emily who asks questions like that."

"So you're saying I'm not normal?"

"I'm saying there's a problem."

You mean my feelings?

My heart started beating.

"Before you ask, I brought you here to thank you. It's been two weeks since I had nightmares about Leo. Also, Paulo hasn't been visiting. I'd never felt as peaceful as this and I thought it'd be good to thank you. Like this."

"Aw. This is good."

I was so happy to know that God was helping him as he prayed.

We stood there for a while. Before my heart failed me again, one of the merchants came by.

"Hello. Can we help?"

"Uh, yeah," Ethan answered. He shifted very close to me and I knew that he was giving the older woman the impression that we were together.

"I want two of those key holders hanging there."

He slid his hand in mine as he pointed at them. My hand tensed at first when he held it like it was a rope.

She smiled. "Okay. That's going to be 450."

I widened my eyes. "450 dollars?"

They were very tiny. They were made out of wood, in the form of kites.

"Okay."

Before we moved to the cashier, I hit his arm.

"What?"

"Are you out of your mind? 450? Really?"

"Yes. Besides, I can't even afford the money to buy our friendship. But if I can get something to make it grow, I will."

I smiled in understanding. "Thank you."

He nodded.

"So, wanna have some milkshake?" He said after he collected the cute paper bag from the cashier.

"Yes," I grinned.

"You look not very different from a schoolgirl."

I sat in the car. I'd forgotten that we came directly from school and that my bag was in the backseat. I was having fun and I was enjoying it. Ethan left to get me a milkshake, and I refused to follow him. It was 7, and the breeze was a little warmer. If I had the chance to, I would've removed the shirt I was wearing.

There was a movement in the driver's seat that caused me to jump. That was it. That was one of the little things that made my feelings for him develop.

"Did I scare you?"

"No. Not at all."

"What was that jump for?"

"You were so fast."

"Anyway, I got you a burger too. I know you haven't eaten since breakfast because it's Friday. So I got you a burger," he gave me a paper bag, "plus your milkshake," another paper.

He was right. I'd only drunk coffee the whole of that day because I wanted to finish up with what I was doing for the week. And I did.

When I held the burger in both hands, I realized it wasn't just one. It was four. Maybe he bought three for himself, I thought. Like Davie, when he wanted to offer me something, he bought more of it. Then ended up eating more.

"Thank you, Ethan."

He smiled and then started the ignition.