It All Started with a Book

page 6 | on friendly terms

Yesterday, I told Nathan that I had agreed to accompany him to the town fair. And at that moment, his neutral face had vanished, and was replaced by an unfaltering smile. He had repeated the phrase, 'Thank you, thank you!' so much that I wondered why my accompaniment meant a lot to him.

And today was the day of the opening of the town fair. I was pacing quickly towards the entrance of the library, since that was where we had agreed to meet on. I found his lean figure standing near it, swiveling his head left as if he was looking for somebody – particularly me.

"Nathan!" I called out, receiving his attention. His head turned, and he waved.

I slowed to a stop, and tried to catch my breath once I was next to him. Glancing at my watch, I told him in a happy tone, "I'm just a minute late."

He shook his head in amusement, and told me that I wasn't going to regret my decision.

After stating where the destination was, we started walking in the initial silence.

"I know you're wondering about this," he said. "Why bother going to a town fair that happens every year? With every attraction and ride the same?"

I looked up from watching the pavement seeming to move beneath my feet. I told him that it was my first time going.

He suddenly sputtered, "First time? I doubt it – I'm sure you have visited it at least once."

I made my point to him that I had just arrived within the first week of the summer vacation. The second month of vacation had already started a day before I first met Nathan.

He nodded, contemplating my words. "Well, are you staying permanently?"

I didn't want to answer the question. My eyes darted around, looking for something to direct his attention to. Upon seeing a large banner with the words, 'THE SUMMER TOWN FAIR', I pointed it out to him and noticed that it was very colorful place bustling with people.

I walked near Nathan, in slight fear that I would get lost in the crowd.

The surroundings were fast paced, that if I didn't focus on anything in particular, everything would just be a blur of undefined color. The laughter of children rang through the air, and I could feel the anticipation for the events in the fair buzzing about.

And the weather seemed just right for the occasion. Despite it being summer, a light breeze drifted in at short intervals, making the area feel warm and cool at a balance.

But sometimes, there were always those people who weren't prepared for the gusts of wind. I watched as a clown chased a few balloons that were gradually lifting up into the air, along with the young passers-by who witnessed were in hysterics. I stifled a chuckle.

I quickened my pace so that I could be behind Nathan. I queried, "So... are we just going to wander around?"

He stopped in his tracks, an abrupt move, and I almost collided into his back. "Sorry," I muttered, though I said it with uncertainty for he might not have heard.

"Ah, about that," he said, scratching the back of his head. "You see, we were supposed to meet a friend of mine. You know, that friend who wanted the laptop guide? I'm certain we were supposed to meet here, by the kiddie rollercoaster. He said he would treat us lunch."

Lunch. I turned away from him, wondering what his friend could look like. The kiddie rollercoaster, a caterpillar, was relatively small, but it rose up to a few heights, although being not very extreme. It wasn't that fast either.

I turned back to Nathan, who was scanning the area with a hand above his eyes. I poked his shoulder. He looked at me, his bright green eyes surprising me for a second. "What does your friend look like?" I asked. "Is he tall?"

"Yes, he kind of is," he spoke. "But we are about the same height."

"Is he good-looking?"

And just like that, he coughed, sending a closed fist up to his mouth. "Come again?"

"Uh... is he good-looking?"

"You expect me to judge my friend by his looks?" His face sported a frown, and I gulped.

Oh dear.

With animated hand gestures that gave away my anxiety, I sputtered, "No, no, I was just asking about his looks, and wondered if he was attractive in his own way so that I could identify him easily if I did see him and I did not in any way possible mean to offend you or your friend and I understand if you are upset and it was idiotic of me to– "

Nathan unexpectedly laughed, his face alight with joy.

I stared at him, thinking if he had lost his marbles not too long ago. Nathan calmed down and said, "Relax, Adeline, I was just kidding." A smile still lingered on his face.

I exhaled deeply, relieved. I rested a hand against my left chest, in a futile attempt to calm my racing heart.

"I'm not mad," he said, as he pats me lightly on the head.

I smiled, feeling the evident heat that rose to my cheeks. I tried to not think of the simple action he had done, but it was vain.

I tried to not give the act any other meaning before I could overlook the fact that it was just done on friendly terms.

I tried and tried and tried.

But apparently my heart did not.