Chapter 2 – Learning to Love
Time to wake up, Julia. Huh? Why did you think of your ex-boyfriend? He seemed like a nice guy.
He wasn’t. Do you see that orange fox on my side of the bed? He got me that one Valentine’s day. Not because we were in a relationship, but because we’ve been friends since we were kids. We were each other’s only friend for years. The only other kind of love we felt was from our parents. We or at least I thought we were going to be friends forever. I thought we were going to graduate from college then get married, but then…
He cheated both on you and in college.
I never heard from him since. I keep this fox by my side to remind myself not to get my hopes up, even when it comes to people I love.
That’s cold but I understand. I have my own stuffed animal too. Do you see the white rabbit on my side of the bed? That was one of the only things my parents gave me to show me that they truly loved me. They worked in services that helped people, so they were always busy and never home. I keep this bunny to remind myself that them and people, in general, can be compassionate. I seem to have a more positive reminder of people than you do.
I see that. Even though your parents weren’t always there for you, it seems like you turned out exactly how they wanted you to. But me…
I’m sure your parents are proud of you and that ex of yours has been regretting his actions ever since. Please don’t put yourself down. You’re not a bad person. You just need the right person in your life.
Maybe you are that person.
Maybe.
You sure do have a lot of big textbooks over there. Read anything interesting?
You know.
I want to hear what you think of them.
They’re interesting to read. It helps me learn more about people and their motivations. Some of them are business and math books, which I know you find boring.
It’s kind of interesting from what you remember. I recognize some of the ways of thinking from my comic books and manga.
Those are children’s books.
And there we go.
What?
We were getting along so well and then you had to say that.
What makes them adult besides violence and sex?
The themes of good versus evil, moral responsibility, man playing god, pushing people to their limits, and the extremes someone would go to for their love.
That sounds interesting. Can you give me an example?
There’s this one series that’s about this crybaby who gets the powers of a devil. He becomes totally different after that, but things don’t go well as demonkind starts to wipe out humanity.
Okay. I’m remembering it through your mind and it seems good. It’s really dark.
How about something lighter? These comics are about a man who has an alien attached to him. The two go on adventures as they protect the innocent and punish the wicked. He’s a kind of lethal protector.
Looks fun, but it seems like a different take on the previous series that you told me about.
Okay, so how about this. This series is about this black swordsman that’s after this guy who was once one of his closest friends and well…it’s a long story, but you know what I’m trying to summarize.
You like a lot of dark stories.
But I do like my light ones too. Like this one series about this girl whose hair looks like a four-leaf clover. I especially like the part where she meets this guy with white hair that she absolutely hates.
Ha! That is so cute.
Alright, now enough about that. Do you want to get up?
What do you want to do?
We could go to the nearby church I usually attend. We could ask God for answers since He put us in this situation.
Do we have to now? I’m comfortable like this.
I didn’t know that you liked being with me in bed.
Okay. We’re going.
Haha. That did it.
I’m surprised that this church is doing so well in such a filthy area.
God works where the sinners are at and there are a lot over here. It’s a good thing it’s doing so well here. No one bothers it at all compared to the other places around here.
Have you ever been jumped in this area?
Once maybe twice when I was a teenager, but we should be fine.
And if we do get into trouble?
What? Do you want to make a bet? You already have my body and everything I have. Do you want my soul as well?
I’m just asking. Wow. This place is nice. The stained-glass windows, the statues of Jesus, Mary, the saints, and angels. The atmosphere here could stop any sinner in his tracks. This looks way better than the church I go to.
You don’t attend a heretical church, do you?
No, here’s what it looks like.
Oh, it’s not bad. It just has a simpler look to it. Let’s go up to the altar and pray while no one is around. Well no one besides God.
Okay…well? Is anything coming to mind? I can’t hear your thoughts for some reason.
I’m concentrating on prayer. I didn’t hear your prayers either. Is it me or are some of our thoughts audible to us while others are silent?
It seems that way, but we do hear the important parts.
That’s right. Hey, do you bring your family to church too?
No, I just go by myself.
I bring my family and friends to church. When there’s someone who isn’t strong in their faith or worships the wrong one, I bring them here to try to convert them.
What are you an evangelist?
No, not at all. I’ve only converted a few of the people I know.
That’s great. I’m sure God is happy…with…you…
What is it?
I save people money and help them get the help they need. You help save souls. Which one do you think is more important?
You do help more people than I do.
What does it matter when I don’t help them with what really matters? I don’t even think that I put God first like how I’m supposed to.
If you think that’s bad, I don’t even try to care about people. I only try to help those I’m comfortable with. I can see why that’s so bad now.
At least that isn’t as bad as divorcing people from numbers and generalizations. I always thought of people in terms of ideologies and I never took into account their unique personalities and situations. Everyone was just a different version of an archetype that I read in a psychology book in my mind.
Oh come on. Just look at the bigger picture. Because you help so many people with their problems, they can now focus on God and the afterlife.
But most people don’t do that. How about you look at the bigger picture. You’ve put all your friends and family on the narrow path of salvation that few people find and you’re putting me on it too.
If I did, then stop putting yourself down.
How about you stop putting down the importance of what you do?
Are we really arguing for each other on who is the better person?
We are, and you know I’m right.
And you know that I’m right as well.
Fine.
Fine.
…I guess those prayers helped after all.
And in so little time. He usually takes a while to answer them.
I guess we should put an extra donation.
We’ll go half and half.
I’ll donate forty dollars. You can buy me dinner later.
That’s not fair! I know you’re going to make it pricey.
Deal with it.
At least that was good for us. What do you think?
I think we’re being followed.
I think it’s your stereotyping of people that’s getting to you.
No, it isn’t.
I’ll look-oh we might have some trouble.
Told you. You deal with them.
“Hey, man. I remember you when we were kids.”
“Oh yeah? Do you remember what happened last time you snuck up behind us?”
“Yeah, and I remember, but you’re alone now.”
“And? I don’t need anyone else to beat-oh you brought along two of your boyfriends. How great.”
I’m going to need your help with this.
What am I supposed to do? I can’t fight.
Then what was all of that big talk about kicking my butt?
I’m still going to do that.
Watch out! Punch! Left! Kick! Duck!
Ow! I can’t do all of this at once!
Neither can I but maybe we can if we join our minds into one…Ready?
Ready.
Punch! Kick! Elbow! Pull! Punch! Left! Right! Left! Duck! Uppercut! Kick! Punch!
We did it!
“Ya’ll better fix yourselves up. If I see you again, it better be in that church praying for forgiveness.”
“What are you?!”
“That’s none of your business now get out of here!”
Look at them run. See, what did I tell you?
That calls for a little celebration. What do you think?
Are you just saying that because I’m buying?
Well, you don’t have to.
I will. It wouldn’t be manly of me if I didn’t.
Oh brother.
How about we try this sandwich place in town?
What do they serve?
Sandwiches.
I know-
I know what you meant. They have all kinds of sandwiches that are hard to find outside of the city.
At least it’s in a better area.
There are so many people here.
Remember to keep your head down. We don’t want to start a fuss.
Alright.
Let me try to remember what I got last time that was good. Uh…buffalo chicken, egg salad, grilled shark, some kind of double sandwich, uh…get an Italian sausage with gravy.
Okay. Oh man. The food smells great.
“Italian sausage?”
“That’s for me!”
“Here-oh!”
Dang it, you idiot. I told you to keep your head down. He almost dropped our sandwich.
I’m too used to bringing my head up to talk to people.
“Thank you!”
People are looking at us now. Keep your head down and we’ll eat somewhere else.
Where do you have in mind?
The only place that I know that is relatively empty is the garden park a couple blocks away from here.
Why is it relatively empty?
It’s a garden park. It smells like flowers and vegetables.
I love that smell.
Then I’m going to need you to make it seem good to me because the smell is irritating to me some days.
This place looks amazing. There’s a garden house fields to play and dozens of flowers. It’s amazing that this place exists in the city.
How about we sit over there on that bench near those roses?
Sure. Now it’s time to chow down. Yum! This is so good! What are you doing with my hand?
Hold on.
Why did you pick this flower?
Because I looked at it and I thought of you. Plus, you said you liked the smell of flowers and from what I can pull from your memories, you like these kinds of flowers.
I love it. Thank you.
You’re welcome. Remember to keep your head down. We don’t want anyone seeing our face…well maybe just yours in particular. I’m kidding of course!
I know. That guy was scared to see me.
I thought he was scared to see a pretty girl’s face attached to my ugly mug.
You’re not ugly. I know from your memories that there’s a girl in that shop that always likes looking at you.
That doesn’t mean anything. I’m only interested in girls that I talk to.
You’re always talking to me.
Well, that’s because I’m forced to-but that doesn’t mean I don’t like you! I think you’re a great person.
Do you really think that?
You know if I’m lying.
Then why are we still together like this?
I don’t know. Maybe there will be a challenge ahead of us that will test us.
I hope not. I’m not sure if I can handle challenges that make me distrust people.
Hey, you know me. You know my thoughts now. Even if I do something bad, I’ll make it up.
Okay. I trust you.
Now can we please go home? We’ve had to go to the bathroom since this morning.
I hate doing that like this.
Why? We’ve showered and dressed together.
But this is disgusting like this.
I’ll be quiet.
But I know you’ll be feeling it.
I know we’ll be crapping ourselves soon if you don’t move it! Pick your poison.
Okay, fine!
See? That wasn’t so bad.
I guess not.
So we’re cool with not holding it in for so long?
You’ll probably have to convince me again.
Dang it.
Should we go out for dinner? How can we hide our face in public for long periods of time?
We did it at work, but most people knew about it. Do you want to make dinner?
Is this another woman joke?
Half and half. I want to see what you can make.
I’m in the mood for breakfast. How about I make blueberry pancakes?
Sounds great.
Let me see if we have what we need and…we do. Should I start making it?
Yes. I’m thinking about going out again.
Where to?
That garden park again. Did you see those lights in the trees and greenery? Those light up every night.
I’d love to go!
Great. Let’s speed up making these pancakes then.
You can’t just speed up cooking. You know I’ve noticed that my way of talking is different from how I usually talk.
How so?
I’ve been talking more in laymen speak than the more proper, educated way that I usually talk in.
Maybe it’s because your mind and ours are almost completely connected?
Or maybe talking to you is making me dumb. I mean you know the way I feel now. I would never have dreamed of feeling this way towards another person just a few days ago.
You’re having a similar effect on me too. I’ve changed just as much as you have.
But you know me. You’ve done more for me than I have for you.
That’s true and I’m saying anything about doing more, it’s about the change. You know I wonder why you always you want to contradict me on things like this. First, we argued about each other and now we’re arguing for the other person. I’m trying to find a reason inside your head. Is it because-
It’s because I don’t trust myself anymore. The things I’ve learned these past couple days has completely destroyed the world I once knew. Now…I don’t know what to think.
You know what to think. Stop lying to yourself. You know what you did wrong, so now you know what to do. Even if you do the wrong thing again, you can just apologize and start over.
I don’t know.
Trust me about this. You got me to like you even after we hated each other for so many months. That has to count for something. I know you don’t like yourself anymore, but you have to love yourself a little. If you don’t, then I will.
Okay…thanks.
You’re welcome. Now pay attention to those pancakes because they might be getting a bit too burnt.
They are! I’m sorry.
Don’t worry about it. I like my food well done.
Stop lying.
No, it’s good. Great even! I’ve never tasted pancakes this good.
It tastes too burnt.
Yeah they are.
I’m glad you’re being honest with me now.
I was being honest!
Sure. Should we go out now?
Yeah. The lights should be on by the time we get there.
Okay. Wait, I just pulled up a memory that says you’ve never seen the lights?
Not at all. I’ve been waiting for someone to go there with.
Someone special?
You could say that. You ready to see them?
I can already see them from here. It’s like a completely different place.
It’s better than I imagined. Look at how the lights change and how they complement the colors of the flowers.
I know you want to compare me to them.
I do.
Say it then.
Why? You already hear it in my thoughts.
I want to hear it from you.
It’s cornier than corn!
Say it!
Okay. You’re more beautiful than all of the flowers and lights in the garden. Happy now?
Very. Aren’t you?
I guess so.
Guess?
I am happy even though I’m living like this with you. I wouldn’t mind living the rest of my life like this.
I wouldn’t mind either. Do you…just want to enjoy this moment in silence for a couple more minutes before we go home?
Yeah, I’d like that.
I knew you would. That’s how I got the idea.
Ha!
No comments:
Post a Comment