For Life - EXO x YOU

XIII - When A Wanderlust Wanders Through Time

Laurice x Lay

The Volvo sped through the highway. It was a dark night, only illuminated by two bright headlights. Among the 40 passengers on board, all but one seemed to have fallen asleep. This unsuspecting one, Lay, an introvert in nature but a wanderlust to the heart, was deep in his thoughts. For some time now, he had been terribly lonely. In a city that never sleeps, Shanghai, Lay felt out of place. Everyone seemed to be going somewhere. There was always a rush. Sometimes standing at the crowded subway station, Lay wished he could pause the time and chat with the lady passing by who seemed a bit stressed. To ask her about her day. Maybe he could have helped her out. Alas! This wasn't a world of fantasy. This wasn't fiction.

The Volvo jerked sideways to avoid the traffic. There was a brush of silky hair against his skin. The girl sitting beside him was deep in sleep. Her head was close to his shoulder as her long hair fell onto his forearm. Lay could not help but feel a bit uncomfortable as her face came too close his shoulder because of the jerking of the bus. He could feel her breath. He tried shifting slightly to create some space between the two of them. But then he feared waking her up and somehow, he did not want that. He just let her be, trying to ignore the awkward closeness.

Lay never came this close to a girl since his last relationship. Laurice was her name. She was nothing like the stressed-out lady rushing over the subway station, who wouldn't stop once to say hello. Laurice was the kind who would stop you, for the sake of knowing you, mostly if she is interested in you. But then, after talking to her for 5 minutes, you would love to be stopped by her every day. That is how they met – through a simple chat message to an unknown girl, who immediately caught his attention through her intelligent replies which would break all clichés of introductory chat messages.

There was something soothing to think about Laurice. Even though she wasn't with him anymore, Lay would close his eyes every now and then, trying to relive every moment with her. He turned his face towards the window. It looked like a starry sky tonight. He suddenly missed her as he caught a glimpse of the moon – something they used to share when they were miles apart from each other. Lay closed his eyes hoping to relive her once more. Immediately, he was taken back to a train journey. He found himself sitting in a window seat staring outside. The train was traveling through a city, between skyscrapers and slums. The most famous bridge in the world was approaching from the distance. Lay realized where the train was heading to, what was this memory about.

There was a vibration on Lay's phone. "How far are you?" was the message from Laurice.

"People are getting ready to get down it seems. Wow! It's just a matter of moments baby!" replied Lay through text message.

"Can't wait to meet you again!"

"Yes! You know when I left home for traveling to Shanghai, it was actually quite casual for me. Maybe because you were too good to be true. Maybe because I still did not believe that I have a girlfriend like you. But now that I am inching closer towards you, my excitement level is rising with every minute and distance reduced between us."

"Me too! Even I was all okay you know since morning! But suddenly I am super excited – like I can't wait for you to be here!"

"So, what are you wearing? I am trying to imagine you waiting at the station."

"A black top and blue jeans. But (I have become fat). "

Lay was about to reply when he noticed that there was now a big queue of passengers deboarding the train. While standing in the queue himself, Lay tried to recall their first date. It was more friendly than romantic. She was looking gorgeous in her simplicity, wearing just a gray top and blue jeans. He tried to add up a couple of weights to that Laurice he could remember, just to make a guess how she might be looking right now. He added a few extra kilos just to be sure.