The first time I saw him, I was sitting under oak trees, watching autumn pass me by; littering the streets with leaves as it swirled under everyone's feet.
He was busy eating, a small personality factor I would discover only later, too busy to notice me. I didn't know him, nor did I pay him any mind at first.
At that time, he was just another person on the streets, bustling along; minding his own business.
At that time, I was too focused on the dark shades of the leaves to notice; too intrigued to bother to peek at the pink flash of color that passed by.
At that time, I didn't know.
○○○
The second time I saw him, he was arguing.
I was only passing by, leading the neighbor's little one through the paths of the park, pointing out all the beautiful and different leaves on the ground.
She heard it first; little bursts of anger here and there. Little shouts and smaller figures in the distance.
There was no where to go; we couldn't avoid crossing paths, as the trail only led straight. So through the colder season, I led that little one through the path, worn down by so many.
When we inched past them, his eyes only caught mine for a brief second, before shooting away; back to the other man.
After we passed them, a little sigh of relief left my body.
○○○
The third time I saw him, I talked to him.
It wasn't a meaningful conversation, I didn't expect him to remember me. Our little responses didn't stick around in my head for long, either.
When I bumped into him, I was walking home. The man had been rushing down the hill, catching the wind when he closed his eyes.
My groceries went flying; cans, vegetables and other assortments flew into the air for a split second before landing back onto the ground with heavy thuds.
He helped me pick up with speed and left after an apology and a small smile. That time, I just thought he was a wild child.
○○○
The fourth time I saw him, we talked about beaches.
This conversation would stick around in my head, even after the day ended. I was at the beach, standing upon the sands, letting the cold waves touch my feet when he appeared.
It was mid-autumn, there was no one near the beach. And when I thought I had the sandy paradise to myself, he showed up. Yelling and exclaiming, he ruined the peaceful atmosphere.
I didn't pay him any mind at first. Then, he started speaking about sand to his partner whom he had brought along, this time.
Turning, I tucked my hair behind my ear and shyly spoke up about the black sand beach, just up north.
His eyes had lit up at the thought of black sands and he begged me to take him, sometime. I had only laughed.
○○○
The fifth time I saw him, we ate together.
I was sitting by myself in the morning cafe, quietly sipping from my mug, when the door opened with a jangle, letting in a man and a loud voice.
He exclaimed how hungry he was as he stretched, probably still sleepy from yesterday. I peered at him over my drink, considering if I should call out to him.
When I decided not to, he had noticed me. His eyes lit up again, bright and cheerful. The pink-haired man slid into the seat across from me, asking if I remembered him.
I replied I did, and he laughed- loud, cheery, wholeheartedly. It reminded me of dad's happy laughter.
He didn't ask, but gave me looks as he ordered, almost as if he was asking me if he could sit there with his eyes.
I only grinned and said that he could, and he didn't need to keep looking at me like that. The corners of his lips turned up.
And I paid more attention to him, from there on.
○○○
The sixth time I saw him, my heart beat rapidly.
He was walking around Magnolia's Firework Festival with a group, carrying laughter and loud voices wherever he went.
It was hard to miss him and his huge presence.
The time I saw him, he wore casual clothes, aside from his daily apparel. He hadn't noticed me yet but would after he left his group, off to have fun with his blue partner.
Then, he would bring me around, satisfying his childish desires as he played with the booths, winning a few items here and there. And at the end, he gave me a gentle smile.
I went home with thirteen gifts and a rapidly beating heart.
○○○
The seventh, eight, ninth and tenth time I saw him, I treasured my time. The tenth time I saw him was during winter.
It was snowing as I sat inside the bookstore, peering at the white streets. It had started letting down just an hour ago, and the world was already dyed in white.
Little figures walked past on the streets, and the street lamps lit up, illuminating the paths for them.
He didn't seem like the type to read. I was there with my book, sipping on my hot chocolate as I read, listening to the soft music in the background; comfortable and warm.
He had ambled in, bringing the cold, frosty air along with him. It blasted the room, chilling everything for a second before it was cut off- and the door closed.
There were little roses on his cheeks, bright and pink. He immediately spotted me, and made a beeline over after he tucked a book under his arm.
I had asked him if he liked reading, to which he shook his head. He told me he was practicing, since a friend had berated him about it just moments before.
I offered my assistance, and he accepted.
○○○
The eleventh time I saw him, I fell in love.
Winter was long in and the white scene was the same, everyday. It was beginning to get dreary and I was starting to miss the colors.
I was walking home when I saw him at a park, playing with smaller children. He laughed and rolled in the snow.
I abandoned my conscience, and ran towards him, only to trip myself in the process and land flat on my face. He had laughed, and hurried over, brushing the cold away from my clothes.
He had bright roses on his cheeks again, but his scarf was wrapped tightly around his face, blocking and protecting him from the devilish winter.
He had been rolling together a snowman with the children, but during the time that he came to me, the kids had already begun playing among themselves.
So he sat there in the snow, looking at me and laughing. As he sat in the middle of the winter wonderland, his clothes were covered in the cold whiteness.
And his hair and cheeks were the only thing that contrasted against the white. He sat there under the falling snow, grinning so hard at me.
And I fell in love.
○○○
The twenty second time I saw him, he fell in love with me.
