Nina stood alone on the sky bridge overlooking a busy intersection, as she stared into the sunset. She turned out all of the sounds of passing cars. She tilted her head down and grumbled, frustrated at herself.
She sighed. "I guess I should go home..." She walked down the stairs with a mother, holding the hand of a toddler with a yellow balloon. As she walked past, she saw the toddler struggle to take each step up. Good luck. She smiled.
"Ah!" he let go of his balloon. The boy released his mother's hand and turned backwards, reaching out for the string. His light up tennis shoes caught on the step. The mother turned around shocked and on the verge of tears. everything slowed down.
~~~
Huh? For some reason this feels like deja-vu...
~~~
Her body moved on it's own, reaching out for the falling child, holding him in her arms as she flew down the stairs.
Thud.
Her eyes were open, but it took a second to actually see. Nina felt arms wrap around her. She could hear the sound of heavy breathing, panting. It didn't hurt. There were the chatting of voice from all around, gathering around them. The mother ran down the stairs and strangers began to crowd about. Andrew.
~~~
The mother thanked Nina and Andrew profusely while apologizing for her son. There streaks of mascara running down her cheeks. The boy smiled and waved goodbye as they walked away.
"Woaah..." Nina let out a sigh, "Phew. That scared me! But it's great that it didn't end up as an accident!" She smiled at Andrew. He remained silent. "I'm sorry, Andrew. Thank you for hel-..."
Smack!
The man pinched both her cheeks. "To be able to help someone is a really amazing side of yours, but doing it so that you expose yourself to danger is something I absolutely won't think is right." He's mad. "Don't ever do that again... I beg you..." He let go of her cheeks.
"...Sor-..." She was on the verge of tears.
"Even though I said that, it's not very persuasive because I used my body to rescue you right then, too. I'm such a bad adult," he smiled gently at her. She cried. "Let's go home."
~~~
It was a long quiet walk home. The little girl held one hand onto the coat tail of the young man, wiping her tears away with her free hand.
"I also lied to you before," Andrew started, "That tuna and pickle sandwich girl... was my first girlfriend. It was a lie that I forgot about her. I didn't want to tell the truth, so I lied. Sorry." He didn't face her. Nina looked up at the back of his head.She died in an accident on the stairs by the train station. She wanted to support a pregnant woman who was on the verge of falling, and she fell instead. Only the pregnant woman was saved," he turned around and smiled at Nina. "Her actions scarily resemble yours. She was like a hero." He away from her again and up into the sky, "...back then... why did I... let go of her hand? ... I can't possibly forget about it."
~~~
"Someone who can't lie has it hard." Surely, the truth is, more than anyone, someone who can lie is the one who has it hard.
~~~
"Andrew," Nina stopped.
"Huh?" He turned around.
And with all the courage she had in that tiny body of hers... "I love you. Please go out with me."
~~~
You know, I... I want to be happy with you this time as well.
~~~
Seconds passed... then minutes...
He inhaled the chilly autumn wind, "I'm sorry. I have as person who I've been loving all these ten years."
~~~
Even to a kid... The man in which he said it was polite. He didn't lie either. You are very sweet.
~~~
"Yeah, it's fine." She said, taking his hand, smiling brightly at him.
~~~
It can't be helped. Shall we start again from an unrequited love?
~~~
"Hey, Andrew. I definitely won't die before you." I won't ever let you be alone.
He smiled sheepishly, "...as if I'd let someone fifteen years younger die before me," he chuckled. "Will you eat dinner at my place?" Nina smiled and nodded, yes. "What do you want to eat?"
"A tuna and pickle sandwich."
~~~
I'll make you fall in love with me.
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