Being Just Alright

 Bits Before: Wrote this for a friend, Ai, who told me about her crush.

Being Just Alright

It was supposed to be a simple Saturday, where we celebrate the homecoming of our old friend, Nae. It was supposed to be just the six of us at our favourite hang out, The Cube. It was supposed to be just us.

But then I saw you.

When we were kids, I frequented to your house, much too regularly. You were my neighbor—living right beside my house. I would climb up the fence and scream hi to you from above. You would grin back and invite me to come in to your house.

We played PlayStation together, always. Each week, at least four times. You and I would work together, jumping over deep caverns and shooting evil turtles with a fireball. Then I would just watch while you shoot shuffling zombies with unrivaled skill and incomparable accuracy.

You called me Mee, just to irk me; even if I screamed that I hated that name. You grinned and continued chanting it until I burst into tears and ran off to my house. Tomorrow, you would always come over with a sheepish smile on your face, saying you needed a zombie-killing partner. I would forgive you at that moment itself and rush off to your house.

We were six at that time.

I wonder if you’d call me Amelia now for once.

I wonder if you remember any of that silly nonsense we did?

I wonder even if you remember me?

Our eyes met.

You smiled.

My heart melted.

You shuffled towards me. My friends were around me, nudging, whispering, giggling. I was unsure what to do.  What did they say about long distance relationships? That it won’t ever last, right? And this time, it’s not only long distance, it’s been a long, long time too.

But they also said that love conquered all, right?

So would we? Would we be okay?

“Hi Mee, long time no see,” your voice resonated in my ear. I smiled up at you—it’s been a while, I wanted to say, but my tongue was taken by an imaginary feline and was brought far, far away.

You asked again, “How are you?”

“F…fine. And you?”

You seem to be glad that I answered. Maybe you thought I would run off. I think some parts my brain thought so too.

“Great, really. Hey, I just moved around this area a few days ago. My mom’s making a party next weekend. Come?”

My friends were giggling. I ignored them and focused my eyes on your deep mahogany ones.

“Sure.”

“Then we can have a game on my Xbox later? You know… for old times’ sake.”

I grinned up at you.

“You’re not going to beat me this time,” I said.

“You’ve said that years ago—and you always lose.”

“I’ve ultimately honed my zombie killing skills, if you must know.”

“We’ll see just how much you’ve ‘honed your skills’, Mee. See you around.”

You gave a small wave, turned and left after giving me the last glimpse of your contagious grin. As I smiled at your disappearing figure, a thought was buzzing in my mind.

Maybe… just maybe the two of us would be all right.

-2010