Songs About You [Ongoing]

Chapter 2: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Painting is my passion. I am so in love with colors and figures. My friends think that I’m a very creative person; I am their go-to “artist” whenever there’s an art project in school. The very first painting that I remembered doing was a bouquet of white roses. I was only four when I made that. It was forever displayed in our common room so Mama could always brag about it to her friends. When I was younger, Mama supports me in everything that I liked; she always buys what I needed in my craft. When I reached high school, Mama told me to be more serious in life and set my talent in painting aside, so I can be ready in the future to take over the family business; a bakery– Gaodian Jiao which means The Pastry Corner in English.

I sat down facing my study table, and got my sketch pad and pencil. I kept on playing the memory that was him helping me get up off the pavement over and over in my mind just so I can correctly visualize what he looks like. I started to draw his face, his expressionless face, and his beautiful eyes. This doesn’t really look like him but this is the face that I first felt little butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

I am not the kind of person who always develop crushes or become infatuated. Boys really don’t want to be around me. I’m an introvert; love is just a distraction to my studies. My family expects me to excel in all of my classes so that I can go to a prestigious university in college. Pressure’s on me.

But when I stared at his face, something inside me got me excited; my emotions were messed up. This is the very first time I felt that way towards a guy and I don’t even know him… Well, only his name.

Kentaro.

I finished my sketch and stared at it a little longer.

Is this what they call love at first sight?

I have an idea. I’ll bake cupcakes to thank him for what he did for me that morning. Nobody could resist my cupcakes, not even our dog. I ran off downstairs to the kitchen to make these prosperity cupcakes that we used to sell. That was a bestseller, so good thing I still remember what Mama taught me. I reached off the top shelf of our counter to get the flour when suddenly my brother tapped me on my back that made me scream.

“What are you doing?” my brother, Ed, asked.  

“Cupcakes?” I was not sure what to say. 

“I thought you hated baking?” his face scrunched a bit. Looks like he’ll judge me any second now.

“Well, it’s for a friend who will celebrate her birthday tomorrow.” I thought quickly of what I am going to reason out. Good thing my brain and mouth were of the same pace that time. Phew.

I can tell by the look on his face that he was skeptical. But he left without further questions.

I hated baking, but what can I do? It’s our family business, and someday, I will be taking over it. Just like what Mama and Baba wants. Sigh. That’s why I learned some of the basic pastries that are easy to make, like cupcakes and tarts. My mama told me to practice some more so that I can master my skills, but these are the skills I don’t want to learn. Sometimes, it can come in handy in situations like this. Moms can be a little bit pushy, or is it just with Chinese moms? I think I’m coming off a bit of a racist here. Whatever.

That night, I had the weirdest dream ever. Kentaro was walking with me with our hands locked together. He’s smiling; looking nowhere in particular, probably thinking about something. Suddenly, he looked at me and caressed my head, making me look at him. His face slowly went closer to my face; his mouth slightly pouting... then I heard my alarm rang. Wrong timing, indeed. It was my very first time to dream about a guy. I’m really hit by the lovebug. Hunzhang.