A Christmas Encounter, a Lifetime of Longing

As Christmas approached, I decided to organize a C

her along. I readily agreed, thinking it would just be one more

had come from abroad, and I found his presence to be a su

mother went to study in Germany as a teenager, she had never retu

him back to visit, allowing him to travel from

haron's house for just two days, but when he learned that Sharon's father was a martial arts instructo

heavily, blanketing th

the designated spot for the party and ran

orter than us, but instead, he was a tall and h

as he extended his hand for a handshake. I was taken aback,

my usual aloof demeanor, though my face was

d up inside me. It was strange yet comforting, and I thought tha

little, focusing instead on listening to their conversation. He occasio

lively atmosphere. I remember a couple publicly confessing their love and kissing

m, debating whether to approach him for a conversation. Unfortunately, I

ime. After all, he was just passing through, and in a few days, he would le

as WhatsApp, and smartphones were nonexistent, so

start anything at all! Though I made this decisi

myself, and when it was time to go home, I d

on him, I chose a challenging Eng

tremely nervous. Fortunately, I managed to finish the song sm

from my hand, and stood at the center of the stage. The crowd eru

a slightly shy smile. He introduced himself briefly before singi

d his song, I qui

..

e, a rare sight. I found myself thinking about him, so in the after

urage to suggest we hang out. Twenty minutes later, I proposed going out to en

Pizza Hut, eating, laughing, and quickly becoming friends. Sharon and

ay comics and gay films since elementary school, but most

nowledge and interest in these cultures. But to my surprise, he coul

ity and share my favorite gay stories without any reservations. H

snow, with me and him side by side, while Sharon an

snow. The sky remained a dull gray, and the snow continue

favorite music and singers. Sometimes we hummed along. Although we had just

on, he would come to the school to have lunch with Sharon and me, so I always lo

would quickly weave through the crowd

th a smile. The two hours at noon felt inc

hands were red from the cold, and he pulled out his gloves from his th

held his body heat. It was the first time I felt so t

..

n bed, not wanting to sleep or get up, feeling a whirlwind

Can't you come

the phone. I didn't reply, an

r see each other again. Can'

, what's there to say? I dread farewe

h me!" He suddenly s

, but his sincere tone made me feel that,

ung, and there was n

and comforted him, "It's oka

believe t

behind a trail of memori

llowed, whenever I walked past the places where we had walked t

we would have no further contact, but during the summer vacatio

ere for a year as an exchange student. He sounded excited, s

ings. He said that when he first saw me, he thought I was a very special girl. The next da

usual joy listening to him. I wanted him to know that I missed him very m

I looked forward to the most every day was to send text messages to hi

es you stupid! I knew that, and I kept telling mysel

to completely ignore them. I actually disliked this feeling, disl

d the most frequently. We talked late into the

ed about "love", just mutual attraction and longing. I thought at that

high school, I enter

phones or personal computers. If our parents didn't pick us

mother wouldn't come to pick me up, s

il, telling him about my recent situation and asking i

lot, sharing stories about hi