5. Our Second Meeting

I arrive at the last floor and go towards that blue metal door. I open the door and feel the fresh air coming from outside. I climb the steps and the sun obligates me covering my eyes with my hand so I can see clearer.

There he is again, lying down in the bench as if he’s sunbathing, covering his eyes with his arm. This time I can see that he is listening music with his purple headphones. He is hitting his foot in the bench with the rhythm of the song he is hearing. He is peacefully enjoying the moment.

I stay there watching him when I hear a warm and enjoyable voice. He starts singing. His voice is wonderful. Amazing. Relaxing. He has this feeling which makes us relaxed when he’s singing. At least it makes me relaxed and it’s the first time I hear him singing.

I sit on the floor and place the white papers and pencils in front of me, preparing to draw. I put the project I have been working on lately to the side and start a new one. He gave me inspiration somehow. Since he doesn’t hear me, I’m hoping he’ll stay in that position for long. I want to draw him. The view I have is beautiful from the angle I see it. The buildings as background and then the blue sky with this bright light coming from the sun … It gives this angelic feeling.

I start drawing. I look at him and then to the paper, I look at him and then to the paper. And this repeats for quite a while. Maybe thirty minutes had passed and I’m still immersed in my drawing. I’m satisfied with what I’ve done so far. I realize that he won’t be in that position the whole day, so, I take my phone and take a picture of the scenario. I want to finish the drawing at home, so the photo will help me a lot with it.

He’s serene and quiet. Without talking the whole time I keep on secretly drawing him. At some point, he takes his headphones from his ears and sits in the bench. That’s when he notices my presence. He gets scared. Again, his eyes widen and he stays in a surprised position not speaking to me.

Seconds that seemed minutes passed and we’re still looking at each other. I break the eye contact first and explain my presence.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been painting for a while now. I’m sorry if I scared you. It wasn’t my intention,” I apologize and unwillingly start packing my things. I presume he won’t want to be accompanied with my presence so I decide to leave first.

I get up and turn to leave, but somehow I manage to see him from the corner of my eye getting up from that wooden bench, where he has been for the past hour or so. Does he want me to stay? Or he simple got up so he could stretch his legs? I walk slowly, as if I’m waiting for him to stop me from disappearing. Why am I being like this? Why do I even want him to stop me?

“C-cho Hee!” He called. I smile at hearing his voice. He didn’t forget my name, which makes me even happier. I turn around and can finally appreciate his slim and handsome figure. “You …” he says as he points at me. Then he pauses. I wait for him to continue but he seems to be struggling to speak. “… here,” he points at the floor.

What is he trying to say? I’m not getting. I stay there looking at him, trying to understand what he is saying. 

“Me, here?” I ask, doing the same gestures as he did. He nods. Maybe he’s trying to tell me I can stay. With this odd conversation, I realize that he doesn’t know how to speak Korean yet, maybe just a few words. I hope he’ll learn how to speak Korean at school, like in special classes, since he’s not from here. Then he can make friends and be more sociable after knowing how to speak Korean.

From now on I’ll speak in Chinese with him. I’ve been learning Chinese at school, so it’s going to be useful this time and hop