Antoine's Curious Collection of Arbitrary Short Stories

Love Song

"Am I ugly?" I ask myself, judging every piece of the face that reflects on the mirror in front of me. I couldn't count how many times I looked in the mirror and still not love the person I see. The door creaks open making me snap back to the reality that I'm in the public restroom of our school. I wash my face and pretend that I'm busy.

When the person enters the cubicle, I look at myself again. I dab a few tint of lipstick and mask my face with makeup. I sighed and the tears threaten to drop themselves any minute now. Stop, I told myself. Stop it, you're pathetic. Before anyone could see me, I walk out of the room and managed to get in our place.

The place where I thought was ours, an abandoned room in the university where most of the things that aren't needed goes to. I look at the tainted walls that we colored. Words, poems, doodles that your hand made. Was it just words? Everything?

I turned on the radio that we bought in a nearby thrift shop. I close my eyes and dream of us, together in a dance. I laughed at the thought when I remembered that you already asked someone else. The music fills the silence. Was it a love song? Was it still a song about love if there is none? The question bothered me. There were words, the sound forms, but my ears were deaf.

I tried to sway with the empty beat of the song, I listened, eyes closed. What is it? What was it about? I was so focused with the question that I forget to open my eyes, I trip. What did I expect? I'm stupid. I look at the thing that tripped me; an empty can of spray paint. I took and threw it away. I sit and hug my knees and I cried again. When you think about it, I was surrounded with abandoned things, things that are useless and unneeded, just like me.

I took the other cans that are scattered. I stand and paint the wall, and when everything was covered. I write the words that I would never say.

If i hear a song

That sung what love is

Would you dance with me?

Of course, there wouldn't be a reply, I thought, bitterly. I locked the room and leave.

The next day is the day of our dance, I managed to get up and dress myself. I needed to be there, I'm one of the members of the creative design, and attendance is a must. I watched as the students fill the room. The look of their faces says it all. They're happy. My chest tightens when I see them. His date's arms were draped onto him. My stomach summersaults. I felt like throwing up. My vision started to get blurry, I ran.

It hurts, it hurts.

I ran and made my way to the place. I enter the room and didn't even bother to close it. The light of the moon peeks through the open door, highlighting what's written in the wall.

I gasp. Wh-what? What is this? I tried not to fall on my knees as i read the words, words that I don't know how it got there.

If i hear a song,

Perhaps about love

I will hold onto you

Even if it's not.

Just when i finish reading it, the radio suddenly turns on... on its own.

What's happening?

"Care to dance?" Someone said.

It took me seconds to adjust my eyes in the dark and find where it come from. Someone behind the shadows a man standing, hands bent towards my direction asking for me a dance.

It must be nice, really, if only he's not just a shadow.

A/N Antoine here. If you like my random stories please vote and comment. i would like to hear from you guys.