"What do you notice first when you meet someone new?"
"I don't know. I guess the eyes. I mean, when you talk with someone, you try to keep eye contact. Besides, the eyes are said to be the windows to our souls, so looking at them you can guess what kind of person he or she is."
"Oh really? You should be a detective then. You could solve crimes just by looking at the eyes of the suspects." Jessica says as she starts laughing.
"Oh shut it. You asked and I answered."
"Stop frowning darling, I'm sorry."
"What's with the random question anyway?"
"I don't know, I guess I'm just curious."
"Aren't you always?"
"I guess I am." She chuckles.
"Well what do you notice first?"
"Their smile."
"What if they're not smiling?"
"I start punching them until they start smiling."
"." We both laugh.
"Why the smile though?"
"Because a smile is the most beautiful thing one can wear."



"You know, I always had a feeling that you were one of those athletic popular guys in high school" I say as I get comfortable on his red sofa.
"Oh really? And how did you come up with that?" he asks as he places two mugs of coffee on the table and takes a seat right next to me.
"Well first of all, you're a giant. Most of the tall guys that I have talked to have been a part of a basketball team once in their lives."
"Well that's where you're wrong. I loved playing basketball, I still do. But I never made it into the team."
"Really? Why not?"
"The coach didn't believe that people who aren't talented but train well can become good players. Everyone used to call our school's team 'the chosen ones', because everyone knew that the coach would only pick the ones whom he believed were talented enough."
"Well that's a pity."
"It sure is. But you know, I'm not one to give up without a fight."
"So what did you do? You tried out next year?"
"Not really. Me and a few others who didn't make the team decided to make our own. We spent everyday training, trying out different techniques, doing everything to become better than we were before. After we decided that we were good enough, we started participating in street basketball tournaments until we became quite popular in our area. Of course when our school's team's coach heard of us, he offered us a place in the team."
"I have a feeling that you didn't take up that offer." I say and he smiles.
"You're right. It was fun to play it in our free time, but I didn't want to join a team which wasn't welcoming us in the first place."
"Well, do you regret it?"
"Not joining the team?"
"Yes."
"I don't. The point of becoming a good player was to show the coach that it's not only up to talent. If you put a lot of effort in what you love to do, you will suceed."
"Wow. This story made you shine in a different light in my eyes."
"So that means you thought of me badly?"
"Honestly, yes. I just thought you're a handsome guy, who loves to charm women with beautiful words. But the more I get to know you, the more I see that you're quite different."
"You know, it's not good to judge."
"Oh I know, but what can I do? I'm a judgmental person. But I'm not ashamed of it. If you ask me, I'll tell you my honest opinion of you and wherever you get hurt by my judgment or not is not my problem. I believe it is better to be painfully honest than lie pretty little lies."
"Well then, Miss Judgmental, since I shared a story of my past, I believe it's time for you to share one as well."
"Sorry to disappoint you darling, but I don't have any inspiring or interesting stories to tell."
"Not even one?"
"Nothing at all."
"I don't believe you."
"But you should. I may seem like an interesting person now, but I'm quite the opposite."
"Well I'd like to disagree."
"Oh really now?"
"Yes, though I don't appreciate that skeptic tone."
"Sorry, not sorry." I say and he starts laughing.
"What?"
"That's the most childish thing I have ever heard from you." he answers as he continues laughing.
"Stop it" I say as I laugh slightly, because there's nothing more contagious than watching a person laugh so beautifully from the bottom from his heart.

"I want to take up an art class." Jessica says as she takes a bite of her chocolate cupcake.
"Art class?"
"Yes, I believe it would be a good way to spend my free time."
"Maybe. Where did the sudden interest in arts come from?"
"I don't know. I guess I just find it fascinating how people can express their mind with just a few brushes on canva. Besides wouldn't it be lovely to cover the empty walls of my apartment with handmade paintings?"
"Of course it would be. But can you even draw?"
"And what does that have to do with anything?"
"Well if you can't draw, I doubt that you'll be able to paint something."
"Honey, it takes only one percent of talent to do anything. The rest is up to you and the effort you put in."
"And you believe that you'll be able to do it?"
"Why not? Anything you are willing to practice, you can pursue."