8 His Meaning To Her

'The love that dies remains in memory but the love that lives, blossoms'

The unbridled thoughts of love kept floating around my mind like a falling leaf on its own, dancing by the wind that carried it until it slowly landed on the ground.

Chirping birds on the branches of willow trees where heard as I was in deep thought. Under the oak tree, I was concentrating my answer.

I sighed in frustration as I bite my pencil while frowningly look to the passing students at the hallway. I was at the study corner of the university where was an oak tree located and under the shed of it, I went through the battles of art.

With my sketchpad in hand, I was planning the outline of my work.

"Girlfriend! What are you doing?" The jerk suddenly appeared out of nowhere like a mushroom.

He snatched my sketchpad as he snooped his nose on someone else business.

"Give it back!"

"It's so beautiful! Is this called 'The Nothing'? Truly, I can't understand artistic people."

Nilan gave back my sketchpad as I frowned from his earlier comment. What art of nothing? I didn't even started yet, it's completely blank. He's so being sarcastic.

"Well. No matter what art you make, it would be beautiful because it's you. Let me sleep here, though," he shrugged as he rested his head on my lap in order for him to sleep.

I decided to refused his advanced when I was caught off guard by his earlier statement. I felt my cheeks heated up as I let him continue to sleep on my lap.

Just let me sketch this and ignore the jerk.

I sometimes would glance at him and unconsciously my fingers moved as it drew his face. The sharp jawlines, kissable lips, the straight nose and the long eyelashes.

I glanced at my sketchpad and went back on staring at his face when I realized that something was wrong at my drawing… it was totally wrong!

"What are you sketching?" He said while his silver gray eyes had a curious light on it as he asked me.

Composing myself, I silently closed the sketchpad and ushered him away from me. My legs were now cramped due to his heavy head.

Maybe he had a big brain of a jerk, literally.

Nilan was smirking as he looked at me then he got up and walked away.

"Hey! Where are you going?!"

He turned his head to me for a second and responded, "Miss me already?"

"Miss your ass!"

"You miss my butt?"

"Heck no!" I was fuming now in rage as I directed my burning gaze at his retreating back.

He just chuckled and went away.

I looked back again at my sketchpad, what was I doing again?

---

This was the second day of making that art subject work! Nilan wasted my time yesterday!

I was at the coffee shop near the university and it was still lunch time. With my sketchpad, I outlined many subject for my painting… yes you heard it, I'm going to paint this night for tomorrow's deadline, it would be totally a hassle but I had nothing to do about it.

My subjects were couples walking by on the street while holding hands, birds with their pair, two cups of empty coffee from a pair of lovers and other stuff that was related to love.

Maybe I should need professional help on this thing. I took my phone out of my bag and called my bestfriend, the love expert.

(What's up?)

"I can't think of anything right now for tomorrow's submission!"

(Hahaha! Lucky me, I got already my song! Do you want to hear it?)

"Yes. I might get inspirations from that."

Ting!

So fast… Aria was truly a lifesaver. I listened to the song that she sent me and it was entitled 'A Lovers' Weep'. Why was this so sad?

The starting of the song was mellow as the singer drew out a couple reminiscing with their memory, how they got along together, how they promised each other and how was it so happy yet so sad.

It ended with, they both got separated as their love that blossomed was left in memory.

(How was it?)

I would like to choke this bestfriend of mine! How was this supposed to be a good answer to the quiz?

"Are you really sure about this?"

(Yes, this is a good song, you know. Because all love story doesn't needs to end with both the Male lead and Female lead getting together to be a happy ending. Sometimes love can remain in memory.)

"Why are you so sentimental? Did you eat something?"

(Hahaha! Understand it, maybe someday you'll learn what I am saying.)

"Yeah right!" I saw Nilan by the window of a store across the street.

"Bye! Got to go!"

I hanged up as I followed the jerk. He was suspiciously staring around like he was planning to do something illegal.

Hmm… what is he doing in this antique store?

I read the store name. It was Memoir.

I went inside as to see what the jerk was doing here. He was talking to the shopkeeper like he was negotiating a shady business or something.

As I was concentrating on eavesdropping to their conversation, I accidentally touched a fragile figurine that suddenly cracked itself.

"No, no… don't you dare," as if mocking me, the figurine broke in a loud manner. The two individuals that were talking, immediately stared at my direction. I hide myself on the shelves of vintage stuff and crawled to another corner, hurrying out of the store.

On the other side, Nilan smirked as he talked to the shopkeeper that he would be the one to catch that mouse who broke things.

I was near the exit, just a turn around the corner when a pair of dirty white sneakers blocked my sight to freedom.

The jerk pulled me up on my collar like picking up a cat.

"Oh, I coincidentally knew the mouse, Alex! Just put it on my bill what she just broke," Nilan said to the shopkeeper as the handsome shopkeeper just responded an 'okay' gesture.

Still picking the light 'mouse', the jerk was smirking.

"Put me down! I know you're a giant so put this cute human with a measly height, down."

Nilan ignored me as he proceeded to walk out of the store. Our height difference was truly unfair as he was a head-taller than me and he was so strong that he easily picked me up with one hand.

Does he had a bloodline of Goliath?

"No. You're just too light. Are you even eating properly?"

Eh? He heard my thoughts?

"It's all written on your face."

The jerk walked onwards with me, resisting his strength.

"You're going to tear your shirt if you keep moving. Do you want to walk naked here?" The jerk warned me as he brought me to the coffee shop that I was earlier at.

We crossed the street as some students with the same uniform as us that were passing by were whispering things that I couldn't totally unhear.

"Are they Nilan and Rain?"

"Yes! Aren't they cute?!"

"I thought piggyback ride is a trend for couples? What kind of ride is that?"

"Oh, I know it's kitty ride. Look how Rain was so tamed in the hold of her boyfriend like a cute kitty!"

They squealed as they glanced a bit to the 'couple' and proceeded to their walk.

I covered my face with both of my hands as I felt my cheeks reddened in shame. This jerk was making me embarrassed by his antics.

He put me down on a vacant seat. The coffee shop doesn't only served coffee but it had other dishes on its menu.

"You just drank coffee, it would be bad for your health if you don't eat a proper lunch," Nilan stated as he gestured for a waiter to come. He ordered a full-blown lunch.

"How did you know that I just drank coffee?"

Is he a seer?

"No, I'm not and stop with your weird thoughts. I saw you earlier busy with your sketchpad."

The waiter brought our order and it was truly like a heavy lunch, a wrap of veggie sandwiches, bread and other fruity snacks.

"I thought you're an engineering student, why are you so good at healthy diet and such?"

Nilan started to eat a sandwich as I asked him with curiosity.

"My father used to make me a healthy recipe of breakfast, lunch and dinner."

"Oh, you mean Uncle Hyun?"

"Hmm."

Looking how he bite deliciously at the food, I grabbed a sandwich and complemented it with strawberries as I ate up. It was a good combination!

My eyes brightened as I joked at him, "I would like to hire you as my personal health dietician! This is good food!"

"Sure you can, just pay me with your heart."

I almost choke with my food as he chuckled. He was really a jerk.