Living In Contrast (ON HOLD)

I6I

We sat at a foot length from one another on a vacant bench by the ski elevator and we sat in silence. A silence of which was filled by the occasional sipping of our coffee, the sonorous mountain gales and the people in the surrounding. Skiers, local and foreign in their proper attire were obviously most frequent to be sighted. There were families, where the parents kept making head counts as the children kept running around. Couples passed by too, young and old. Even newly married ones which could be told from the brides' fresh dark henna marks. The cherished crowds were the snow huskies that trailed sledges inducing gees and awes as they passed.

Seeing him then through the lights of day, first from everything he reminded of an arctic fox. It could be his skin, the fairness of it. Or the way the grey and green in his eyes fought creating intensity. When he smiled, his canines stood prominent. Perhaps it was for where we were. Reasons of which all didn't matter, he wasn't a painting for me to admire and frankly I was more interested in the context of the book than the cover.

In the 15 unspoken minutes, I did as I could to infer him. It was something I did with every new person that I met and would meet, I concluded a character for them, which for most parts the conclusion came true. It was never to see whether I could trust them. No, that would a tiresome misconception for I trusted almost no one. It was simply to see if harm would befall me being in their presences. And there were times, more than once that I had been painfully wrong and it had cost me dearly.

"So what have you deciphered so far?'' he asked. His voice quite deeper than I remember, possibly because the last time we met was in the deafening downpour.

"Sorry,'' was my reply, acting as if I didn't know what he meant. 'Wasn't I subtle?' this I asked myself.

'' You know very well what are I am asking,'' a low chuckle escaped him. ''Well for one you shifting then looking at me, which wasn't as subtle as you would think. I would have thought that you were checking me out. But alas sadly you weren't as you twitched and pursed your lips as if thinking which you were.''

'' That's hardly enough to come to such conclusion. Those actions could mean a whole number of other things.''

''Do you deny it?''

Realizing there was no need to does so, I said, '' Well I will admit but that doesn't mean that I have to answer your question.''

''Well that hardly fair,'' amusement trailed as he spoke, ''you made a judgment about me and you aren't even extending the decency to tell me about it.''

''For a first, I wasn't judging you, I was merely making observations. Everyone does. And since I made no comment then there is no judgment to ask of. And even if I did a judgment, shouldn't one's judgment for another better be kept to one's self. '' I answered while still looking towards the terrain panorama. ''However don't think I didn't notice your timely glances.''

''Fair points,'' he agreed, '' and I was looking yes but because you are truly a beautiful sight.''

This time I faced him. I snickered not blushed to his very typical response, minus fascinating way his eyes glinted when he said it, vivid. '' So how often does that work with girls?'' I asked.

'' Usually my looks are enough,'' he winked, '' but don't tell me that you are one of those who don't know about theirs.''

''I am well aware that I am attractive per say.''

'' Now I could say vain too but I won't.''

I arched an eyebrow,'' You couldn't because that would very hypocritical of you if you did, but no I am not vain. Vanity and pride are often misunderstood. One can be proud without being vain. Our pride is our opinion of ourselves while vanity is what we would have others perceive us.''