SS:: What He Promised

     "Zai Jian", it merely means "to meet again", but the Chinese use it as goodbye. What a way to make people misunderstand, to hope for something. But he was an exception.
     We were childhood friends, or rather, we went to the same schools, participated in the same local events, and would always see each other when our parents decided to go to each other's homes on the weekends. I still remember the first time I saw him, we were both 7 that year, and he was sitting outside while playing with his Rubik's cube—hands moving swiftly, pale blue eyes pressed on the cube, as if he noticed nothing else.
     "Hi." I said then sat down beside him.
     He flicked a look toward me then continued as if he saw nothing. I winced backwards, as if I were offended, but in truth a bit afraid that such a young child can possess such a mature look, as if he had experienced all the hardships in life at the age when we start grade school.
     "Uh… what are you doing?"  I began again, hoping to make a better impression.
     "Can't you tell?" He replied, eyes on the cube.
     "What's your name?" I smiled. "I'm Crystal, Crystal Li."
     Silence. At that moment, I knew that he didn't like me, or he was just extremely anti-social, but his presence made me apprehensive, and I was afraid to ask anymore.
     Just as I turned to walk away, he said. "Alex, Alex Gordon."
     This time his eyes stared into mine, and they sparkled in the sunlight. They greeted me warmly, and I felt my cheeks blossom for some reason, as if I was amazed by him. I smiled awkwardly then ran inside, as he continued to play with his Rubik's cube.
     As years passed, my first impression of him was beginning to fade away. We hardly talked to each other through elementary school, and even though he was in my class, he always sat by himself and did everything himself. In good terms, he was independent, but in bad terms, he was a lonely child. He never accepted anyone, not me, nor the teacher, and hardly his parents.
     Middle school was almost the same, and by the time we were 17, he was the most popular guy in our school. He was still the same, but he grew to a man. Dirty blonde curls stuck to his neck in the summer, and his "piano hands" constantly was shoved in his pockets. Tall and slim, his broad shoulders and defined jaw attracted most of the girls in his classes. But no one really knew who he was, most were afraid to approach him, while others called him "The Silent Prince". It was around that time I knew a lot about him even though we hardly had a conversation that was more than 3 minutes. But in a way, I began to notice everything he does; like how he hate sweets with a passion, how he has soccer practice three times a week, how he loved to read mystery novels, and how he likes his fruit cut to a perfection and served to his in a bowl…
     The conclusion was that he was extremely stuck up and arrogant. He was neat, but his over exaggeration pissed people off, I would just like to kick him in the—
     "Crystal!" My friend, Laura, pulled me out of my fantasies as she came toward me.
     "Hey," I smiled as we hugged. "Don't tell me you're skipping again."
     "Of course not!" She laughed as her big hazel eyes shone and her cute dimples came out. "Listen… can you do me a favor?"
     "Sure." As if I didn't know what she was going to ask.
     "Would you give this to Alex for me?" She whispered then handed to me the letter she was hiding.
     I sighed. "Laura, I'm not trying to discourage you or anything but… he's not going to read it. He never does. You're just going to hurt yourself."
     "I know.' She smiled a sad smile, and my eyebrows immediately dropped. "But I really like him Crystal, ever since he first looked at me, he's just so mysterious! Doesn't it make you want to know more about him?"
     Yes. "No! He's just… Alex, I would feel sorry for whoever ends up with him. But you're my best friend, so I'll give it a shot. But remember, I warned you beforehand."
     She nodded in reply as we hugged again. I felt a bit bitter, as if I was lying to her about something… but that's probably just making me tired.
     
     "Alex!" I saw Alex at his locker, a whole crowd of people surrounding him, while he looked uncomfortable.
     He noticed me as he looked my direction, his eye fell to a hint of relief, and I was glad that I could give him some comfort. I awkwardly tried to push past people to get to him, but was jerked aside by some girls. Almost falling on the ground, Alex caught me as he grabbed my hand and ran outside the school.
     "You… didn't have to… run so fast!" I said, gasping and huffing through every word as he looked perfectly stable.
     "What do you want?" He half-muttered, looking away.
     "Well," I stepped closer to him as I held up the letter. "I wanted to give you this."
     He took it from my hand as he skimmed it over and threw it back at me. The white envelope hit my chest then fell on the ground. He glared at me then began to walk toward me; I stepped back to every step he took until I was pushed against the wall of the building.
     "Don't waste my time." He spat each word out at me, and I looked away.
     "Why do you have to be so cruel?" I yelled out as I turned my head, our eyes locking into each other's. "Laura really like you, and you threw her letter away like garbage! You didn't even bother to read it, you—"
     "Since when were you allowed to pry into my business?"
     "Laura's my friend! I won't allow her to be hurt by someone like you, Alex Gordon!"
     "Someone like me? What about someone like me?" He asked, amused at how someone could dare to have an argument with him. On the other hand, I've never heard him say so much either.
     "You're… I hate you!" I screamed out as I pushed him away from me, but he grabbed my hands and trapped me in his arms; with his face less than a centimeter away from mine.
     "Liar." He whispered as he leaned in. "This is what you want."
     By this time, I was angry and embarrassed. Angry because he was invading my private space and harassing me, embarrassed because he was right. Right that I was attracted to him, that I fell for him without even knowing it…
     "You never liked me, you're never relying on anyone…" I said softly, as a gush of spring breeze played with my hair. "Aren't you lonely?"
     He shook his head then let out a soft chuckle. What a beautiful smile. Everything about him is wonderful. "Not at all."
     We continued to look at each other as his grip around me softened. He gently let me go, but his gaze was still on me—those unchanging, incomprehensible blue eyes looked at me like the first time we met. Yet before I wondered where that Rubik's cube was now, he pressed his lips against mine and kissed me passionately, exploring me for the first time.
     "Are you serious?' I blurted out as I let go. "I mean with me."
     He smiled again then took a step back as the sun hit from behind him, creating a perfect silhouette around him and outlining his body. But at that moment, my eyes narrowed and my mouth hardened into a straight line.
     "I'm leaving." He finally said as he turned away. "We're moving away next week."
     My eyes widened in surprise as I ducked my head, trying to digest the sudden news I was told. "Why are you telling me now?"
     "I was thinking of not telling you at all and just leaving," He turned toward me again, eyes filled with bitter sorrow. "My mom said that it would just hurt you more."
     She's a wise woman. "Ah… so what does this have to do with you kissing me?"
     He was silent for a moment and then shook his head. "Crystal, you're unimaginable."
     "How so?"
     "Haven't you noticed by now?"
     "Noticed what?"
     "Exactly."
     Still bewildered at his words, I looked at him for an answer. Alex frowned as his face turned red. "I like you, a lot."
     My mouth dropped open. This was even bigger news than the last. Someone stop this boy before he tells me I'm we're related or something! In truth, I couldn't believe I was hearing all this from "The Silent Prince"—but this was Alex, my childhood friend, someone who never really revealed himself to anyone, not to mention confessing that he like them. My lips curled up to think how much courage it must have took him to say this.
     "I like you too… a lot." I added, yet it made me sound a bit desperate. "But you're leaving and I… will you come back?"
     "Maybe"
     "That's a very vague word."
     "I know." He smiled, teasing me with an experienced manner. But that smile soon faded away with the wind.
     He slowly walked toward me again as he placed his mouth beside my ear. I felt like giving him a whole lecture, but my throat throbbed, and a silent sob stopped me from talking. He whispered two words to me as we walked back home hand in hand.
     
     The next week, I woke up early on Sunday to be with his on his departure. But alas, I was not early enough. By the time I rushed out the door, their car had left, and nothing of him remained. I watched it drove off into the sun rise as tears came down. They wouldn't stop, and I felt it was too late to weep over it. Yet I remembered his words clearly, and believed his promise.
      Alex Gordon was my first love, my only love. And what he promised was tattooed on my heart, and it would die with me. Something that was used for goodbye, something that merely meant "to meet again", so we will—somewhere, someday.