Intersecting Lines

Chapter 14

We found a place to sit in and Alex removed his coat for me to wear. I could only thank God that my boyfriend has a lot of sense in him or else I would've frozen to death before tonight's party ends. Alex left for a moment to give a speech for his sister and well, almost everybody was teary eyed at the end of his message. He told us how his sister became his first partner in crime and his best friend. And during the times when he felt like the world is pulling him in every direction, his sister helped him to know where he was really headed. Although they fought a couple of times, he had to apologize because at the end of the day, his sister is his walking diary. He needed to save his secrets—he joked and everyone laughed. Indeed, Alex is a very thoughtful and warm guy. And I'm lucky enough to call him mine. After he delivered his speech, he went back and sat beside me. Another person is giving a speech but Alex and I began to isolate ourselves again.

"How was my speech?" He asked me and I give him a pleased smile, "what? Were you pleased?" he insisted for me to answer.

"Of course, everyone is pleased with that speech you made. You should've been the one who enrolled for Lit major and not me." I tell him and he laughs at my statement, "what?" I ask him and he shook his head trying to regain his composure.

"Why do you keep telling me that? You haven't even tried writing for me. I have never read any of your works. But I know, deep in my heart that you would be a great lit major student." He tells me in a matter of fact tone.

"How can you tell?" I ask him back and he shrugs and taps on his left chest.

"I could feel it." He shortly answered and I intertwine my hands with his, "when do you plan to write something for me?" he asked me silently.

"I only write when I'm sad." I tell him and we remain silent for a moment. It's true, though. I am only able to write something when I feel sad or when I'm falling apart. And Alex has never made me feel that way.

"You should start writing happy things. I want you to be able to write when you're happy." he told me and I smile at him as a sign that I'll try writing happy things for him. Maybe now that I was able to find a person who makes me happy and inspired, I might be able to write when I'm happy. And looking at Alex, I feel like I want to write happy thoughts for him. Alex makes we want to write happy stuff.

"Thank you." I tell him out of the blue as my realizations dawned on me.

"For what?" He asked.

"For coming into my life and everything in between." I tell him and he pulls me in for a hug and then suddenly my body felt warm again. The place is dim and everyone is having fun singing or eating or talking to each other so they don't really notice us. It's okay to be this sweet, just for tonight – I tell myself.

"Are you hungry?" he asked me.

"Are you asking me if I need to breathe?" I asked him back jokingly and he smiled and nodded to himself, "let's go get food." I tell him and he prevents me from standing.

"Stay here, I'll go and get food for the both of us. I'll be back shortly." He told me and he went on his way before I could contradict him. Maybe Alex sensed how much I hated walking in heels. My feet felt like dying to be honest. I follow Alex make his way through the crowd with my eyes but I abruptly stopped when a guy, who looks around Alex and I's age in a suit, approached me.

"Hi." He said in Korean and bowed at me with a smile in his face.

"Hi." I answer him with much awkwardness. I didn't expect someone to talk to me since the only people I know here are Alex and his family. And being that socially awkward person that I am, I can't help but be flustered whenever someone approaches me in an unknown crowd – especially if it is a guy.