Us On Paper

Chapter 2

MY EYES WERE LOOKING DOWN AT MY LEGS; EMBARRASSED TO EVEN TAKE A GLIMPSE AT YOU. Coincidences are a very interesting topic on its own. To us, they are coincidences, but to the Creator, it is merely what he wrote down on his never-ending list of his creations' biography. Therefore, I couldn't call the situation I am in now a 'coincidence' as it could be 'planned'. But why... why would the Creator do such a thing for me? Was it only because I only had shortcomings for my entire life and He just took pity on me? If that was the case, I wished this event happened as it was out of pity. I sipped some coffee I took from the beverage dispenser and the storms in my heart and mind calmed down, its clouds of darkness giving way to the sunlight that is You, who showed me a rainbow in gratitude.

'Sorry,' I apologized to the Creator, 'I outspoken myself. It is just that my life had shortcomings after shortcomings that I subconsciously started to despise you.'

The Creator is not like that. The Creator wouldn't do anything out of pity; He would never ever. He's merely doing it because He had already written it ever since I was born. He was just following his own story. I sipped some more coffee.

I tried to ignore the occasional glimpses from you and you did the same for me; only once or twice did our eyes met and we would look away in embarrassment. I grabbed my glass and put the brim against my lips, expecting the bitterness of coffee to come and calm me down, but there was nothing. I looked at my glass. Empty. I sighed and stood up to grab some coffee. I was grateful to be on the edge of the table so I wouldn't need to bother with asking people for permission to cross like it is some private territory.

I was about to fill my coffee when I caught a glimpse of your face from the corner of my eye. My heart started to panic. My hands were shaking considerably, but I was able to not drop the glass and embarrass myself in front of her. I breathed a sigh of relief and pressed the coffee button. I watched the coffee pour onto my glass before stopping without any indication from the customer.

I was about to go back to my seat when you called me. I turned around to question you of the reason for summoning me, but before I could say anything, you suddenly apologized to me. I was confused; did you do something wrong? I asked you what you did wrong and you brought up the time when you collided with me back on the pavement. I forgave you, even though there was nothing to forgive about, but I had a feeling you are one of those people that would not stop apologizing unless you get a sincere-sounding apology.

We went back to our table and my mom, who noticed me conversing with you, asked me who you are in which I replied, "The girl who bumped into me at the pavement in Tokyo."

My mom immediately shouted 'What!?' in surprise and was about to go to your table to ask you to apologize to me, which you already did. I told her that, but my mom was stubborn as heck and continued her plan. When she told your parents, your parents were scolding you and asked you to apologize to me. You told them you already did, but they still wouldn't let up. I guess your parents were as stubborn as mine. Your face looked troubled and seeing you in that state made me a bit angry at the adults who thought that they're in the right...

My legs jolted up and I shouted at my mom and your parents to stop what she's doing. "Can't you see you're troubling her!? And she already apologized to me! There is no need for you to force out another apology from her!"

My mom scolded me in reply, saying that I am 'talking back' to her. I was pissed to hell and shouted at her, "I am not talking back! I'm just stating the truth! Stop being stubborn and get back here! You're acting like a kid here!"

My mom still wouldn't let up. It took my sister, dad, your parents, and some employees to calm her down. What a social embarrassment... I finished up my coffee and once again, made a trip to the beverage dispenser. I sighed. I was so embarrassed of my mother. She was a good mom, but her short fuse proved to be a problem.

Suddenly, I heard your voice calling me. I looked back and you apologized for making me stand up for you. I said that it was fine and that I couldn't leave a girl being verbally harassed by a blown-up mom. You chuckled. I smiled and apologized next for putting you in that situation in the first place. You rejected my apology, saying that I was just stating a fact and did not intend to put you in that situation in the first place. I used that against you for your apology for bumping into me and you placed a light punch on my arm before smiling. I smiled back. What else could I do against that smile besides smiling?

"What's your name?" I asked you, knowing that it is quite rude to call you 'you' every time we talk with each other.

"Sayu. Nakamura Sayu desu. Kimi wa?" you asked me back.

"Hansel. Hansel Juanda desu." I replied.

"Foreigner?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I should speak English with you then."

"It's okay. I'm fine with Japanese although I do prefer English."

We conversed with each other for a while before asking each other for our LINE IDs. "You have LINE?" you asked.

"Yeah, figured it would be useful someday," I replied.

We both smiled at each other before returning to our seats. After an hour, you told me you're leaving and we said goodbye to each other. I didn't know whether I would ever see you again, but I knew that God would give me another 'coincidence' just for me to meet you once more. If not, we could just call each other and set up a meeting when we grew up, but I hoped that it wouldn't be like that. Wouldn't want you to be with another guy when that meeting happens.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I checked it. A message from you. I quickly opened it and you asked me a question: This is embarrassing to say, but I HAVE DREAMT OF YOU BEFORE. MAYBE THIS MEETING WAS FATE. DID YOU DREAM OF MEETING ME?

I was shocked at the answer and couldn't reply for the next few minutes. Finally, my thoughts came back and with the sound of everyone else happily chatting with each other, I replied: YES.