The Red Moon

Ch-8: A needed conversation

I came running out of the school. Xia followed me. Soon behind me came John. I waited eagerly to have a look at that face which was perhaps the only face to whose heart I could connect without any words. Among the dispersed crowd,  first  I spotted Richard who bid goodbye to his friends and came walking towards us. Then emerged Fredrick, with Clement talking to him.  I could not hold myself back any longer. Hence, I rushed forward.
His gaze had already shifted towards me. " Eri!"  he screamed and dashed forward.  As he stood with both of his arms extended,  I jumped and wrapped my arms around his neck and in the process lifted myself off the ground and held on to his neck. He held me close to his chest with both his arms pressing on my back. When I jumped he revolved on his legs once so that he did not fall down straight on the road.  For some minutes, we held each other as tightly we could. Tears appeared in my eyes but I supressed them so that Clement did not ask me, "  Why are you crying?"
When he dropped me down I had a conversation with Time.
" Please, stop. " I urged.
" Why? " She demanded.
" I am not asking you to stop because I have wasted  the first our of my examination and now I am racing against you to finish my paper.  I just want a memory which I can relieve in the damp container. "
" Memory? Your memory will die with you. "
And thereafter,  she started to haste away.
Clement bent his knees and rested his hands on his knees. Then he bent his head to one side and asked me " What's wrong?"
My eyes lit up as I looked up at him in amazement. Probably sometimes all you need is a person who understands you only by looking at your face. All the time you cannot go around people telling, " Hello, I exist! Please listen to me. "  Sometimes you just want to tell what happened at school today,  not just because you want to inform the other person that these are the things that had happened at school,  but because you want to share your thoughts and ideas that have developed regarding these incidents.
Clement was starring at my face. Then he suddenly remembered something and reached for the pocket on his shirt.  He searched and got hold of something and then he put them out,  revealing it to me two hair clips.
In an apologizing tone he began, "  Sorry, I could not even come to see you sing at the Christmas function.  I really did not like not being able to participate, but I could have at least come and watched you sing. Auntdid not allow me!  Trust me, a little assistance was all I needed to come and sit at the function as the audience."
A smile does as if I know how hus aunt really did injustice to him, but deep down a I knew how justified his aunt's actions were!
I got hold of the two hair clips in one hand and presented him is Christmas gift in the other. He stood straight and  quickly snatched the packet from my hand and peered in while I examined my hair clips.
" Oh, woolen gloves!  I cannot wear them now,  it is not yet the season",  he said.  Then he looked up at me and said,  " So  Eri, see you tomorrow again! "  He then waved me goodbye.
I nodded my head and put my gift in my pocket.  Then we turned around and started walking on our own way.
Xia has already left for her home.  She did not want to be late and make her mother worried.  I assured her that I will narrate her my conversation with Clement.
As I started walking back,  I was joined by Fredrick, Richard and John from behind. I was experiencing a special kind of joy as I revisited my life and memories with Clement.  All of a I was  interrupted and I was annoyed at this interruption although I digested it somehow.
It was Fredrick who was walking just beside me with his hands behind himself. From time to time he was looking at my face and finally he asked,  " Everything alright,  Eri ? "
" Eri ?! "  immediately I questioned. I could not control the reaction. It came out as if it was an involuntary response. I really did not gather any time to think about my response. The name being called from his mouth made me feel uncomfortable. I did not place him among those flows close persons of mine who would call me by that name. He had heard this name from Xia's  mouth and now hearing it from Clement he got the confidence to call me by that name.
When I questioned him, he felt uncomfortable.  He diverted his look to the front and then in a suppressed voice, he said, " Sorry. "
I was indeed annoyed.  " Sorry" could not melt me.  I was feeling angry not just because he called me " Eri "  but also because he had interrupted me in revisiting my past life.
John tried to lighten the atmosphere.  He rush to the front and asked me, " I see Clement has gifted you red coloured hair clips.  Is red your favourite colour ?"
I remained silent for a moment  and then replied back, " Yes, red is my favourite colour."
I maintained a sharp and a stern voice, just to explain that this question of his did not lower my anger,  although at that time, my voice must have sounded funny and cute to them.  John and Fredrick exchange looks.