Lisa

The streets were bustling, everyone emersed in their own realms. The people in front of the shops all looked like assembled multitudes among an abundance of shops and marts.

The hoodie he had given me felt warm, as I cuddled it closer to me.

"Al,"

"It's cold, you should wear this," I say, trying to open the jacket.

"No, You don't have to." He says, stopping me. "I'm fine." He halts, fixing the collar of his turtle neck a bit, before saying, "It's freezing back in Yorkshire, in the winters."

"But still. You never know when you'll be catching a terrible cold, you know?" I say, trying to sound persuasive. "And moreover, I already have a jacket on me."

He looks at me from the corner of his eyes and grins a bit. "I am well adjusted to chilly atmospheres."

"Dude still–" he cuts me off saying, "Shush." he signals, placing a finger on my lips. Thwarting me in my tracks. He and his messy chocolate hair remind me of a time when we both went to try a new coffee shop, and ate a chocolate fudge creamed cake together.

***

"This cake is the same as the colour of your hair."

He looks at the cake, and then at me, "My hair's even lighter in colour. This has a darker shade."

"Whatever," I say, taking another morsel. "It's like your hair's colour."

"Dude," He says, glancing at me. "My hair's sexier. Then this," he looks back at the cake, with hostility.

"Seriously?" I giggle, rolling my eyes at his absurdity. "That's preposterous, man."

***

Alas says something which I don't quite catch. "Huh?"

"You remember 'sparkling city?" He says.

I stare at him for a few seconds. "Yes," replying I turn away and look beside him. There was a merry-go-round, filled with giddy children, loading the ambience with their clear cheerful spirited laughters.

"Let's go there," I hear him whisper to me.

"Now?" I turn to him.

"Yeah." he looks back.

We were in really close proximity. With him leaning in, there was scarcely any room left for us, to adequately speak.

"Why?" I say, glancing into his eyes. His eyes looked like two flattered buttered chocolate orbs, embraided with swarthier beams extending out near the abyss of the irises, churned with caramel crescent moons and trapped by a dense, cloudy, jet-black ring.

I add, "Why there?"

"Just because" he stares. "I want us to." His grin had grimed down a bit, just the slightest. And now, what existed was a subtle smile. "But I thought you wanted to visit that place with your to-be girlfriend?" I say, shifting to the other side.

He chuckles, and says "Are you jealous?"

His eyes seemed to be smiling with him.

I duck my face to the side, feeling a warm sensation spread to my ears and cheeks "What? No–why would I?"

Taking a few steps, I couldn't feel his presence beside me. My doubt gets verified when I don't see him standing next to me. "Alas?"

"Alas?"

"Alas?" Even after calling a few times, I don't see him.

Right when I was about to panic and call him, I felt someone embracing me from behind. Panicking, I try and remove the hands on me. "You started taking martial arts lessons again?" I feel an overwhelmingly cold pair of hands around me.

Hearing his voice, I turn around. "What's your problem?" I say, driving him away with my elbow, with force.

He smiles. "You sure you don't like me?"

"Of course," rolling my eyes, I look ahead. The wind seemed to be getting colder with each step. There weren't many people on the road today

"Then let me show your face," he says, chuckling. His laughs seemed like the magical melodic chords of a lovely guitar tune. The chortles seemed to be echoing, and made their way somewhere deep in me, unknowingly unlocking some unfamiliar emotion in me.

I stare at him as he laughs and continues saying something, I don't quite catch on. Without realising it, a silly small smile bloomed on my face, just by seeing this fanciful guy's idiotically charming smile. I wasn't supposed to be laughing, not that I even comprehended what he said exactly. Or at all. But still. . . I felt sort of giddy, for some reason.

***

We had strolled close to my house, which is just a few blocks away now.

"Lizzy?"

I turn to him, and I feel him stop in his tracks too. "Hmm?"

He glances at me, without blinking. "What was the promise thing about?"

Giving a dazed look, I ask "What promise?"

"The one you talked about earlier." He says. "In Pepo."

"Oh-umm yeah," I look at the other side. 'Man, this is embarrassing.'

"What's it about?" He repeats.

"You don't remember?"

Gradually moving his head, he says, "No?"

"Is it something I'm supposed to be remembering?" He asks. 'No, why will you.' I think to myself. This is one of the circumstances where I frankly don't understand if I should be laughing or crying or both?

"Al," I calmly look at him. "You sure you aren't fooling?"

He blinks a few times. Surprised. " Why?"

I stare at him, contemplating whether I should tell him. Or should I not? And did he. . . really forget it? "Never mind," I ducked away. "I just remember, there is this assignment I've gotta finish." I smile.

"So I'll get going now." I started walking, and each step seemed heavier than the last. 'He really forgot?' I don't know why but there was this desperate glimmer of false yearning in me that, maybe. Just maybe he is kidding? And he actually remembers? And because of this absurd thought, I kept on hoping that maybe just maybe he'll call me and. . .say it?

Even when I went in front of my house, he didn't make a sound. At one point, when I was about to open the door, I wondered if he was already gone.

He calls, "Lisa,"

Looking behind he was standing on my lawn, a few steps away from me. 'When did he get here?' I didn't hear a single footstep of his.

"Yeah?"

"Where are your braces?" He asks.

'Huh? What?' Is he seriously kidding me at this point? "I don't wear them anymore."

"Sad." He says, looking down. With his hands tucked into his pants pockets, his messy hair scratched all over his head, eyes that had the capability and full ability to mesmerize you, yet freeze you to death, and his tall body which just seems to be growing excessively every time we meet, he seemed to be the perfect candidate for a rom-com drama.

"Why? Sad cause you won't be able to laugh your ass off every time you'd see me?"

He looks up and smiles. Not the charming one, girls would fall for. But a smuggish smirky smile. It doesn't even count as a legitimate smile but, stupid girls still fall for this smile.

"I like you with braces." And for a second I felt like he didn't say that just to irk me. He really meant it. His eyes made me feel like it wasn't just a joke.

"Really? Sad."

"Why?" He raises his eyebrow, a soft smile resting on his lips.

"I like me better without them," I say.

He smiles. "You should get going now, or else a cat's gonna eat your assignment."

"You don't have to do this to someone who doesn't even have one." Even though what I said wasn't nice, it's as if I am irritated at him. But, for some reason, I ended up saying it with a smile. I swear I wasn't supposed to but. . .I just did.

He chuckles. "Bye Lizzy."

"It's Lisa," I groan, rolling my eyes. "Tell your mum I said hi."

"And why don't you help yourself do that?"

"I'll meet her another day."

"What's with saying hi, today?"

"I'll come and meet her some other day." He adds, "Soon."

"Okay. Your wish." I said twisting the knob. "Bye, Al."

"Bye Lizzy."

Just as I was about to enter he says, "You know, if you have any problem completing it, just gimme a text."

I turn to him and smile. "I won't, I believe, but thank you."

"Bye," I hear him. Maybe he said something else too? But I couldn't really catch on to it.