"It's nothing.Thanks for everything".I said after some thought
"Ok,bye".She waved
I trudged upstairs and lay on my bed.The scenes immediately started replaying in my mind.
How could he do that? Was he aware I was there?
I could not stop the questions from popping up.My parents were out and wouldn't be back until late in the evening.
I tried to watch a movie but my mind just wasn't in one spot.
"I'll take a walk".I slowly changed into more comforting clothes and headed outside.
I walked round the block looking for anything that might take my mind off him.
I saw a young male walking into the library.It was Daniel Martinelli
I didn't expect him to be in this part of town because he lived on the other side.
Bored out of my mind,I decided to follow him.
I went into the library and saw his face buried in some book—Tch,what a nerd.But,he was my only hope of distracting myself
"Hey".I sat by him
He raised his head and a look of surprise registered on his face.
"What?".I said,staring at his face incredulously
"Oh..Sorry I didn't expect you to be here".
"Why?".I shrugged."I live right down the corner".
"I didn't know that"
"So, what're you reading?".I glanced at the book.
"Fateful night".He showed me the cover
"What's it about?".I asked not because I was interested ,but I desperately needed something to distract me
"Oh".He grinned,seeming glad that I asked the question.
"So it's about a guy....".I stopped listening.He seemed enthusiastic to talk about it so I let him continue.It felt good to put a smile on someone else's face.
Someone accidentally bumped into him and he lost track of what he was saying.
"Where was I?".He asked me
"Uhm...The guy was dying".I guessed with a lopsided grin.
"You weren't listening".He said confidently."I'm sure I was boring you"
"No you weren't".I said hastily.The thought of me hurting his feelings made me feel weird.
Suddenly,the lights went out.The library got enveloped in darkness.
"Daniel?".I called out
"Yeah. I'm here".
"What's going on?".I could barely see his face.The remaining people were in the same boat as I was.They were all confused.
"Please,remain calm.This would be rectified in a matter of minutes".The librarian announced as she put on a flashlight."In the meantime,please avoid leaving your seats"
"You ok?".He looked pale and his brows were furrowed.
"Yeah I'm fine".He said
I looked around and it was like a dark room illuminated by a small ray of light.Just enough to see each others' faces.
Daniel grabbed something from his pocket and placed it in his mouth.He pressed it and breathed it in.
"What's that?".I could barely recognize the object
"My inhaler".He breathed again
"Why?"
"I'm asthmatic"
"You don't look it"
"I get that a lot".He smiled
"Has this ever happened before?".I asked
"I don't know but it's never happened when I'm here"
"Hard to read now,isn't it".I teased.
"I have a novel app on my phone".He brought out his phone and the light from it illuminated the aisle a little bit.
"Argh!".I screamed as something brushed my leg.
"What's wrong?".He flashed his phone at me.
"Lower it down a bit".I said covering my eyes."I felt something brush my leg"
"Perhaps an ant?"
"Yeah".I agreed.Though, I still had doubts
We said nothing to each other.We just sat there,an awkward silence between us.He looked like he was reading on his phone.
"Hey".I broke the awkward silence.
"What's up?".He raised his head
"Why are you a nerd?".I asked bluntly.He stared at me for a few seconds before blinking.
"I'm sorry?"
"I mean why are you famously single? Why do you look gloomy?"
"Why are you asking?".He raised an eyebrow.
"No reason,Just curious"
He took a long deep breath."If I were to be perfectly honest,I don't know myself.I find it unable to get happy around others."
"So this applies to everyone?".I asked, getting engrossed in the conversation.
"Not really".He frowned like he was trying to remember something."I had fun with my parents"
"Had?"
"They're dead".He bowed his head
"Oh God".My hands flew to my mouth."I'm so sorry"
"It's ok"
"No, It's not".I said.My voice was getting cracky."You had to deal with an incredible loss"
"Yeah,maybe that's why I'm so gloomy all the time.I have long gotten over my parents death but it seems like no one can really relate with me"
"Would you consider yourself depressed?".I asked the question that had been on my mind.
"Honestly I don't know. it's not like I'm sad all the time.I have few moments of pure happiness".His eyes held an emotion I couldn't decipher.Pain? Longing?
"Wow".I commented
He had a very plain expression.His eyes held pain.They held longing that I could never know.
"So that's why I'm always gloomy".He said pensively."As for why I'm famously single,it's obvious"
"What is?"
"No girl would want to date a loner like me"
I wanted to tell him no.That it was possible to find love,it was possible to feel special like I once had.But,was it worth it? Just to get your heart broken in the end
"If it's meant to be,it's going to be".I said
"Thank you".He said appreciatively.
I was about to say something when the lights turned on.
"Finally".I heave a sigh of relief.My eyes instinctively closed as the light rushed into them.
"Uhm..".I pointed to his face.Tears were streaming down his face
"What's wrong?".He asked
"You're crying".
"What do you mean".He put his hand to his cheeks and felt it was wet."Guess I am.I had no idea,it feels good to talk about it.Thank you again"
"It's okay and I should thank you too."
"What for?".He frowned
"For saving our asses back then"
"Oh,it's nothing".
The people in the library all left immediately the lights came back on.We were the only two remaining
"What were you guys doing In the first place?".He rose
"It's a really long story"
I told him all what happened, leaving the part about Julian and I dating.
"Guess we've both gone through a lot".He said after I finished
"Yeah"
"it shouldn't pull us back; rather,it should make us stronger"