Chapter Three - Third Time Lucky
The third time I met him was that very night. I hovered, unable to decide, in my room, and couldn't help wonder where he might be. Grabbing my swimsuit, then dropping it and thinking of bowling, I picked up the swimsuit again...
Well, I definitely won't see him if I stay stuck in this room. Finally, I donned a T-shirt and shorts, thinking to go down to the pool beside which my parents were relaxing.
I opened my door to hear another clicking shut.
"Saa, we bump into each other quite often, don't we?" The boy stood outside Room 301, clutching a large bag in one hand.
"Yeah...yeah." At least I wasn't stuttering, or something equally embarrassing.
"What are you planning to do now?" he asked politely.
My breath constricted; why did he want to know? "I'm not very sure. I was thinking maybe the pool..." I said evasively. "Where are you going?"
He laughed. "Maa, if I told you, we wouldn't run into each other accidentally again, would we? I wouldn't be able to catch you off guard and take another wonderful picture."
I smirked. Good thing I hadn't planned to really swim. You know, in a skin-tight swimsuit? "Here's to coincidences, then. Ja." I raised a hand lazily in parting and walked away, feeling very self-conscious and at the same time pleased that his gaze was on my retreating back.
I was already looking forwards to the next time we crossed paths, wondering and yet certain that when the time came around, I would be able to act as composed, if not more, as I had just demonstrated.
I also wondered, and this time was not so certain, what he thought of me. Whether or not he would think of me.
I wanted to believe that he would; that he found me just as engaging as I found him.
And his heart, skipping a beat as mine did, stumbling over itself as we conversed... I wanted to believe that it was true.
Even if it meant setting off on that one way trip towards my own suffering.