When I met you

Him - Chapter 8

The week went by quickly. On Friday I had a meeting and handed over the finished drawings; I took the rest of the day off. I went to the park to run, stayed there for a couple of hours. As I was leaving the park, I saw her sitting under a tree with that boy again. Will I ever see her with this boy every time? What does this boy want with her? I did my best to leave the park without them seeing me. But from afar, I felt her eyes following me from a distance.

***

Her

During the week I did not see him, the classes were quiet; the school principal held a meeting with me to tell me that she was enjoying my job very much, and confirmed my definitive hiring for next semester, and the next few years. Ethan invited me out every afternoon: we went to the movies, the ice cream shop again, the library, his mother's bookstore, and on Friday we went to the park. We spent all afternoon there, I had gone there as soon as I arrived in the city, but it was a nice and fun afternoon until I saw him. I do not know if he saw us, I think so, but as it seemed to have become a habit, he did not  come talk to me, and when I decided to go talk to him, he left. Why is he avoiding me?

I went home, took a shower, it was dusk, so the natural light was beautiful, in the back garden of the house the light was even more beautiful, I grabbed my book and sat on the chair that gave me the greatest view of the sunset. I totally lost track of time, but the story of the book was so good, I only realized it was already dark when I heard the doorbell ringing. My doorbell ringing? Who will it be? No one has my address. I looked through the peephole, and I nearly fell off my legs when I saw who it was. I took a deep breath and opened the door:

"H-Hi."

"Hi."

"What are you doing here?"

"I don't know, the only thing I know is that I need to talk to you, but you're always accompanied, I didn't want to disturb you."

"He's just a student of mine."

"Student?"

"Yes, I'm a teacher."

We stood in the doorway:

"Anyway, I still want to talk to you."

"I'm sorry. Come on in, please."

He came in, and I closed the door with a smile of victory, unseen, of course. When I turned, he said:

"Let's start all over again."

"Start what?"

"I don't know what, but we can start with our names."

He reached out to shake my hand as if we were really introducing ourselves for the first time.

"I'm Dylan."

"I'm Amanda."

"I want to apologize for not talking to you every time we see each other."

"Apologies accepted."

"Ok... Um... What now?"

"How about we sit down and I offer you a glass of wine?"

"I'm going to sit down, but I don't drink."

"OK. A soda then?"

"Can be."

"Come with me to the kitchen if you don't mind."

We went to the kitchen, sat on the island's benches facing each other.

"So, you are a teacher."

"Yes."

"Of what?"

"Of French."

"French! Do you speak other languages?"

"Portuguese."

"I always thought it was very smart to speak different languages."

"I'm not that smart. I'm just curious, and I love studying languages."

"Interesting. And what else do you like to do besides studying languages ​​and hanging out with students?"

"He's just... my student. And someone who is showing me the city. I don't know anything around here."

"And you think he just wants to show you the city?"

"And what else would he do?"

"I don't know, just be careful."

"I'll remember this."

"Will you stay here long?"

"At least about three years."

"And then?"

"Don't know. It may be that I stay here forever."

"Well, are you going to do something tomorrow?"

"I'm going to have lunch at Ethan's house, his mother invited me."

"Wow! Is it serious then?"

"That's not it. It's just lunch, no big deal. And then I go to the library, I need to do some research for the classes."

"What a busy day! Ok, I have to go now, I have some work to do. Thanks for the soda and the conversation."

He got up and did not even give me a chance to ask anything, I could only say:

"I hope I can talk to you more like this."

"Maybe when you have fewer appointments with your student and his mother."

He left my house as if he was in a hurry. I stood in the doorway understanding nothing - what was all this about? I walked in, closed the door, grabbed my book, sat on the couch, and stared into nothingness.

***

Him

I left as soon as I could from her house. I went there to apologize, talk and call her out, but I think she already has friends.

I went back home. I went to the studio, but I could not do anything. Just thought of her.

***