Ē Sliver Bracelet

Chapter 2

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The deathly cold wind greeted us warmly as Ian pushed the glass door opened. He asked if I was cold. I shook my head, but he held my hand anyway. I smiled secretly to myself. “You little bastard,” I interlocked my fingers in his. His hand was warm. Always. It somehow brought warmth to my heart. We toured around the city, buying candy flosses on the way to the Ferris Wheel 360 degrees’, where our first date was…

The view on top was spectacular. Looking down from the cable cart above, it was routine for me- I looked at the traffic and streets below. I just loved the view from here. I could still vividly remember our first date.

We first met on 27th of August, few years back. It was awkward for us, for he was 21 that year, and I was barely 20. He looked left, while I looked right. We avoided eye contact, it was just awful. My brother Nathaniel arranged for a date with Ian, for I had a crush on him ever since high school. It wasn’t such of a good choice, we were up high, and we just couldn’t escape. Even if it was our feelings. We were forced to admit we were just attracted to one another. But I guess he doubted his feelings to me.

“Yo..you... I’m sorry.” I staggered.

“It’s alright I guess, we have the scenery, don’t we?”

“Yeah,” I mumbled under my breath, trying to hide my disappointment. Perhaps he just took me for his little sister, accompanying his little sister up for a ride; just a simple intention as admiring the scenery. Was I thinking too much..?

Minutes passed. My palms were sweating, I was so uncomfortable of the silence, I was so nervous. But looking at him, he was just calmly looking outside. I wonder what’s so captivating about ‘’the outside’’.

“It’s breathtaking eh?” he finally spoke.

“Whaa, what?” I stopped looking at his eyes.” Uh, yeah. “I realized that I had been too naïve, too stupid. It was just a crush wasn’t it? Just a childhood crush. I made a silent note to forget all about Ian after this ride. The ride’s gonna be the ever first date together, and the last. “I...”

He paused.

I looked up.

He turned to look at me. It wasn’t the scenery that’s breathtaking, it was him.

“I… I think we could work out.”

I was dumbfounded. My hands couldn’t stop shaking. Was he kidding me? My mind faded into a state of denial.

“Yeah, anytime. Gym’s healthy,” I eyes were glued to his eyes that stared back to mine. I managed to mumble a lame line. I wanted everything to stop. It was so confusing for me. The coldness from his eyes mysterically transformed into the warm eyes and sweet smile that only came upon reality to me only in my dreams.

He laughed. His voice so sweet, the sweetness so husky. “Yeahabsoulutely. But I would prefer anything but that. Next Saturday?” He dimples showed as he smiled again…

Then we began dating. Every date was even better than the previous one. He baked cakes and brought juice to the park so we could have some time to own own; to picnic beneath the tall strong trees; lying into his arms, just watching the clouds till sunset. Time seemed to miraculously pass so fast during those times. We got to know each other more. He hated spinach, I was allergic to peanuts. I hated him wearing pink; he hated me wearing mini-skirts. He was the most dependable, mature, cute guy I ever wanted, while I was the little child, gaping at places I’ve never been to; secret hideouts; over the hills; into the forests; playing at the downhill rivers. I was the protected child, and my parents loved Ian from the start. They were comfortable for me to be in his hands – I felt like I was a part of him, for my love for him was more than I ever thought I would.

The first date would always stay as the memory that I would keep locked in my heart, swallowing the key so no one, but me and him kept to ourselves. The feeling when your crush wanted for you guys to try out. The moment when he tried to accept me for who I was, and vice versa. We knew the flaws we had, and didn’t try changing because that was who we were. Perhaps it was because of the close bond we had, we never had a loss of topics to talk, and words just flowed out like water flowing in a river. We rarely fought, and if we did, it was on little things like who should buy the milk, and if the stuff he wore wasn’t to my liking. Yeah, it was all about the little things. But it was also the little things that made me complete; made us complete.

There we were, sitting on the Ferris wheel again.

Silence.

I locked my arms in his, and snuggled against him. It was so cold outside, but it was so warm right in there- I could feel my heart beating, every heartbeat, every second.  I didn’t want this to ever end. It was just amazing how two people could meet, and have mutual feelings for one another.

“I don’t want this to end...” I mumbled.

He smiled as he stared straight ahead into the scenery outside and pulled me closer to him. “Neither do I...”

We went for a light grab at Gloria Jean’s and headed home on the subway. He walked me home. Everything seemed to happen so fast. I didn’t want the night to end. I was missing him already.

He walked me on the way to the porch. “Goodnight.” He winked. I broke out laughing like a kid. “Stop seducing me,” I exclaimed as I gave him a punch on his shoulder. “Try resisting me,” he gave me a peck on the cheeks. I nearly died.

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