City of Blinding Lights

“ Surprised to see you here “ I look at him. Is he trying to be funny or something? At least I’m not laughing. Not yet.
“ You know I come here once a week. It really shouldn’t surprise you that much “ Mason runs his hand through his short blond hair that he never seems to be able to let go off. It’s like if he takes his hand out of it it’s going to fall of his head. I really hope it won’t. I really can’t imagine him bald. I continue scrolling down and kind of ignoring Mason.
“ You know who I just saw on my way here? “ I shake my head. How should I possibly know? He just came and I’ve been here for almost an hour. If the person he saw just arrived here or just left here like Mason made it sound like then there is really slim chance that I saw the person, right?
“ You remember the guy from that “ one night “. Well I just saw him walking in here right befor I did. Are you meeting him here? You know you can tell me if you are ”
Oh, great he’s coming here? I need to leave, like right now. He can’t see me. What if he recognises me? That night was a horrible mistake. I know it was just last night but still I want to forget that it ever happened and meeting him is not going to help. I wish I could just go back in time and prevent all of this from happening. But I still haven’t heard that anyone successfully made a time machine so in the meantime I will just have to lay low. Talking about laying-low, where is Seamus?
I run my eyes over the playground and he’s nowhere to be seen.
“ Where did Seamus go? “ I ask Mason. His eyes grow wide as he realises, like me, that my brother is missing. I point to my right and tell Mason to look there while I go the opposite way. We both have our phones so when one of us finds him he or she can let the other one know.
I start running through the park trying to keep track of the things both on my right and on my left. It gets harder and harder as I run faster. I can feel my lungs gasping for air and it gets harder and harder to breath. But I won’t stop. I can’t. If I’ve really lost my brother mom and Carlos are going to kill me. I am so dead.
The tears start running down my cheeks as I scream his name and it doesn’t get a answer. It’s like he’s playing some sort of a game on me. That he’s just hiding and refuses to answer because he thinks he’s so funny. Well he isn’t.
I try to scream his name again but the air in my lungs isn’t enough. I can’t stop and slow down. I clearly am not in as great of a shape as I thought. I put my hands on my knees and try to catch my breath.
“ You know where she was? “ I hear a male voice ask. It doesn‘t get an answer so the person that was asked could just as easily remember it and not. It could both be my brother and someone I’ve never laid my eyes on. They are just on the other side of the big shrub.
“ What’s your name fella? “ the man has a really thick accent and he’s definitely not from around here. The child sniffs and then answers him.
“ Seamus, sir “ My face lights up as I hear him. I found him. Well, technically I didn’t find him some random man in the park did. I walk slowly and listen to what they’re talking about.
“ You don’t have to address me so formally, Seamus. It makes me feel like I’m so old. Wich I’m not “ He just had to add that last part didn’t he?
“ How old are you? “ Of course he just had to ask that one.
“ 20 “ I thought he was going to add something to his answer but Seamus didn’t give him a chance to.
“ My sister claims that she’s 20 but truth is she’s only five. You see her birthday‘s on 29th February “ How great. Now some total stranger knew my birthday. Well done Seamus, well done. The shrubs finally end and I can see who he’s talking to and it just so happens to be one of the few people that I so did not want to see now. Neil “what’s-his-name” I hope he doesn’t remember me.
Seamus sees me and starts running to me. I crouch down and open my arms to him. He’s running with so much force that when he hits me we both fly down to the ground.
“ Naveen. Where did you go? I couldn’t find you “ He was still half-crying so it was really hard to understand him. I looked up at Neil and mouthed a thank you to him. He nodded but didn’t leave. I stood up with Seamus and said goodbye to Neil. He still wouldn’t leave.
“ Do I know you from somewhere? You look awfully familiar “ My cheeks began to flame with red. I shook my head but unfortunately he saw how red my cheeks got and obviously took it as some sort of a sign.
“ I do know you. Have I met you? Are you a fan? “ I shook my head. Fan of what? His rock hard abs? Check. His beautiful ocean blue eyes that I try not to look at when I see him because I tend to get lost in them? Check. His voice that sounds like he could be singer? Check. His awesome thick irish ( finally figured that out ) accent? Check. But I wouldn’t say I was a fan. No, no, no.
“ No that’s not it. Look, I’m sorry but I really have to go “ I turn around and start walking away when he calls after me.
“ Can I at least have your number? “ I stop. He really doesn’t remember me. Which means that I could really get a second chance with him. That’s not so bad. I mean we kind of got off on the wrong foot last time. This could be my second chance.
I turn around and smile at him.
“ Why not? “ He hands me his phone and I rummage through his contacts and see the contact that I made this morning. I quickly delete it and make a new one that I name Naveen. This time I don’t put any “ special messages “ for him. I give him his phone back.
“ Aren’t you going to give me your phone so I can give you my number? “ I shake my head.
“ It’s okay. I trust you to call me “ I take Seamus’ hand and I have already walked a few meters when he calls back.
“ You forgot to tell me your name “ I am just about to answer him when I hear Seamus call back at him.
“ Her name is Naveen “ I ruffle his hair and take him back home.

Notes