Walking amid the snow now, I asked him what he wants to say earlier, but he dug his hands into his cardigan pockets and then took out four gloves. Two for me and two for him. He watched me wear mine in anticipation because I had thought he would tell me quickly. Wearing his two gloves, he said, “I would tell you later.”
“Today?” I asked.
“Yes, of course. I want us to walk through the street a little more before going back to my car.”
We had left his car in the restaurant, and we decide to take a walk around the street. Just to do a little exercise to the ice cream shop. Slight anxiety appeared on his face, maybe because of the thing he was hiding from me. The thing he wants to say, but he was scared to spill. And for the first time, I witnessed the fear of a girl in Harry’s face. As if his fear on his handsome face was contagious, I felt it, too. He leads me amid trees where leaves were swirling down like rain.
What was he thinking? I asked myself because the silence between us has grown much longer than it should be. Not long after we walked past three of four trees we saw a couple smiling at the cameraman. They were so beautiful when they hug, but when they kiss, we looked away.
“Why did you look away?” He asked.
“You did the same, isn’t it?”
“But I have a legitimate reason to look away.”
I rolled my eyes. Legitimate reason? “What do you mean by that?”
“I don't want to feel jealous.”
I giggled. “You don't want to feel jealous as to how? You can just call one of your girlfriends to come here and ask her for a kiss, too.”
He frow his burrow. “How many times did you want me to say I don't have a girlfriend?”
“I thought all A4 group has a boyfriend because they are all handsome and they had become crushes for many girls in the school.” He looked at me and then smiled. “Why are smiling, is it because of what I said? You should be crying now because I lied. All students knew the A4 group was ugly like pigs. C2 group is even more handsome than them.”
He bites his lips and gives me I-will-beat-you-today such a glance. I run when he was about to catch me and after I took four hurried steps forward, his hand was on my hair.
I cried. “Leave me alone, are you trying to do like those couple. I’m not your girlfriend.”
He releases my hair. “This brat girl, stop saying nonsense.”
“I am not saying nonsense.” I run again and he was after me. And for a moment I want it to be real, I mean, I want it to be like the couple over there, but am afraid to fall in love again. Harry might change his good attitude like my dad and make me suffer for a long time. He stopped, gasping for hair, I stopped, and too, giggling at him and watching him sit on the floor.
“Pig often sat on the floor,” I said, laughing.
He frown his face now as if to cut off my head, he stood swiftly, and I run more, turning around the trees. He stopped and took his phone out of his pocket. He waited for a while to relieve himself from the pounding chest.
“Come over here,” he said, “they want to speak with us. I won't beat you again.”
I hurried to him, and his phone beeped again. It was his mother.
“Hello, mom.”
“Harry, where are you and Annie.”
“We go out. Did the driver tell you nothing?”
“Wow.” Mrs. Eliza's voice was lost as if she was stunned, and then returned. “You drive her out?”
“Yes, mom.”
“That is good of you. I just want to ask if you guys had eaten, we are still there. And I want to tell you we won't come home till Monday.”
What? I raised my eyebrow, and he did that, too.
“Where are you, mom?”
“In granny's house.”
“Mom, you traveled to Georgetown without telling me.”
“I am sorry my dear. I don't want everyone to leave the house at the same time. Your dad traveled for his company contract. I, Jack, Robert, and Annie’s mom were here. Is Annie with you? Her mom wants to speak to her.”
“Annie.” My mom's voice was cool and soft.
“Mom, is it true you all traveled?”
“Of course, my dear, enjoy your day with Harry.”
Mrs. Eliza's voice boomed over my mom's voice. “You are permitted to cook for him.”
Huh? I looked at Harry's face. He smiled. Huh? I don't expect his smile, too. And then my subconsciousness said I should not fall in love and that it was a trap.
“Are you there?” My mom's voice brings me back to reality.
“I miss you, mom.
“Be fine my dear, we are enjoying ourselves here, and I miss you too.”
Robert and Jack’s voices were in the background, they were murmuring. It was because they were forced to leave home. They were forced to leave their PES and mortal combat game, for there are no such things in granny's place.
“Harry,” Mrs. Eliza was saying now. “Grandma wants to speak to you.”
“Michael, how are you?” Grandma’s words dropped one by one like the sound rain make on the rooftop after it has stopped. But he called him Michael, why should he call him that?
“I’m fine.” Harry smiled. Missing-his-grandma countenance filled his face. “But am sad. My mom knows how bad I want to come to your place.”
“I’m sorry on her behalf. They told me you are enjoying yourself with your wife.” Laughter filled the phone.
Harry smiled. Harry had changed. The laughter went off, but the smile remained still.
“Michael, your mom-in-law was so funny.” His grandma continues. “Don’t forget to take good care of her daughter. Can I speak with your wife?”
Harry looked at me; I looked away and glanced about. He tapped my shoulder. “Grandma wants to speak with you.”
“Me?”
“Hello, our prettiest wife.” Her voice was soft and carries a little humor. “Hope everything is going well?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t wait to celebrate the marriage between you and my Michael.”
I frowned. “They told you a lie, we’re just friends here.”
“My daughter shows me those pictures and the film. It was so funny. Jesus, I can’t stop watching them.”
I threw the frown on my face away, because Harry was gazing at me. And then I gave Harry back the phone, then moved to another side. I don’t know what Harry was saying to her, but he keeps smiling. “Bye, mom,” he said at last.