Chapter 106


    We had dinner with Colin that night. To be precise, Colin cooked for us and ate with us. It was my first


    time having Colin’s cooking, and it was delicious.


    That said, nothing beat watching the six–foot–three–tall Colin cooking in the kitchen. He donned Mom’s


    baby blue apron as his slender fingers waltzed around the ingredients under the mellow light. The view


    was mesmerizing.


    After dinner, Colin proposed to take me out on a stroll. Mom was worried, but she relented after Colin


    vowed many times to return me in one piece.


    Coincidentally, it just so happened that there was live music at the entrance of a shopping mall. Loud


    music sted through the speakers. Young performers sang and jumped on the stage, instructing the


    spectators to sway to a certain rhythm.


    Everyone raised their hands and enjoyed the music. The heat they produced was enough to dispel the


    wintry coldness.


    We werete to the concert, so we were in the outermost circle. I couldn’t see what was happening on


    the stage, but I loved it already. I pped my hands and jumped on my feet, screaming at the top of my


    lungs when we hit the chorus.


    “Do you like it?” Colin held my head with his broad hands and asked next to my ears.


    “Yes! Very much!” I cheered. I supposed my eyes must have sparkled brightly, like Colin’s.


    He then grabbed my hands and led me through the crowd. Some red at us; others reprimanded us.


    But Colin ignored them and moved forward until I was close to the stage. I could see the bassist’s hand


    movements and the masks the performers wore.


    I looked back and met Colin’s affectionate eyes. He stared at me, the tenderness in his orbs


    threatening


    to consume me.


    There were dazzling lights and a reveling crowd in the square. But at this precise moment, I saw the


    reflection of my clumsy self in Colin’s eyes.


    He gazed at me as if I were his dearest princess–something to be treasured forever. The gazing


    continued. Not a word was uttered yet it felt like many messages had been conveyed. I could feel them.


    My heartbeat picked up its pace. My cheek slowly heated up until it turned crimson. We went home


    after 10:00 pm. I was recounting my experience enthusiastically at the concert. Colin listened patiently


    and


    made some responses intermittently. His eyes never moved away from me.


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    Was I hallucinating? Why did I think that the way Colin looked at me was full of fondness and love? It


    was


    Colin. No way. I must be mistaken.


    That year, Felix said that I ttered myself. I then learned that he had always regarded me as the little


    girl


    next door. I misinterpreted his feelings and was humiliated for it.


    If being the little girl next door could shield me from a world of hurt, let me stay that way. For I was


    afraid


    of getting my heart broken.