Book of Love 爱神の书

Chapter 18

Some people say that a relationship is a test between two persons of different backgrounds, different personality, different taste, different faith and belief.

You may have a few things that you shared the interest with your partner.
Both of you may like singing endlessly in the karaoke.Both of you may like spicy food.
That’s about all of it. She may like English songs while you like Mandarin. You may like spicy fish but she likes spicy vegetables.

At the end of the day, the differences between you and the one you love is often greater than you think.

How would you feel when he disagrees with you over a thing you liked?

How would you feel when she tells you that your hobbies are really childish and impractical?

Would you tell yourself that this person don’t love you?
Because he/she doesn’t know what you really like and appreciates the things that you loved?

When two people are different, it doesn’t mean one is right the other is wrong. It only means you are different.

I find joy in knowing the differences we had. I learned about the things in life which I may not have the chance to like.

I learned from her that shopping can really be enjoyable by trying out a lot of outfits and shoes. She learned from me that shopping can really be about strategy location, promotions and pricing.

When we are different, we learn to look from each other’s point of view and hence understand each other more.

It often takes someone who doesn’t really understand what you do to tell you how to improve.

Because all of us are really different from each other after all.



Mark didn’t dare to respond to Christine, he was afraid any questions that came out might cause a tsunami of emotions.

The two of them didn’t talk much.
The five hour flight was already long; it was longer considering there was no communication with anyone.

Christine fell asleep while Mark tried to keep himself occupied with the entertainment system onboard.

The flight reached Pudong International Airport in the wee hours of the morning.

As they checked into the hotel, Mark suggested.

“Hey, you take a rest first ok? I will give you a ring for breakfast later.”

Christine smiled.

“It’s ok; I’ll be at the lounge. I need some alcohol toxification.”

“Alright Chris, I’ll join you at the lounge after I take a bath.”

“It’s alright Mark; you no need to accompany me.”

“Says who? I’m the one who needs accompany... so you have to accompany me instead.”

Mark pointed at her.

-------------

When Mark reached the lounge, Christine was already there. The bottle of Scotch whisky was already a third empty.

“Wow.. I didn’t know you are such a good drinker.”

Mark looked at her as he made himself comfortable. He ordered a mug of beer.

“I don’t drink as often as you think.” Christine replied.


“You know Chris, if there’s something bothering you. You can tell me, other than work which I personally think you are much superb. The rest of the stuffs I give you a sound advice.”

Christine looked away from him.

“I was thinking about Brandon.”

“I knew it!” Mark thought as he planned what to sway next.

“Well, sometimes one’s first love might not last as long as we want to. But the values that we learned from it will surely make us understand more about love.”

Christine looked back at him.

“We never got started.”
Christine stretched herself.

“It’s been so long already, we were in the same secondary school. Brandon was not really a guy who girls will fall over. He was kind of nerdy, buried in his books everyday. Not many people talked to him anyway.”

“Wah… that means you are a nerd too huh?”
Mark studied Christine from head to toe.

“You don’t look like one now, thank goodness”

“Didn’t I tell you it was ages ago? In fact I was the school prefect, the class monitor and the head of school library committee, mind you”

Christine’s mood seems to liven up a bit.

“Then what happened?”

“What I used to like about Brandon was his pureness and honesty. He doesn’t know how to woo girls and then one day, out of nowhere. Brandon just came to me and tells me he liked me a lot. I was really caught by him as I didn’t know what to do.”

Mark nodded.


“But my parents were very strict then, I wasn’t allowed to have my own time. I can only go to school and be home before my parents returned from office. There was no way that I can have a relationship then.”

Christine stopped for a while.

“But I think he’s cute and secretly liked him too.”

“Well Chris, I understand how you feel. The pain you get when you can’t be with the one you loved.”

Mark said as he down his beer.

“I wonder it was the cruelty of fate that led us to meet again in University. I was studying in New South Wales then and we met on the streets in Sydney one day. He turned out to be very much as good looking as you met just now.”

“Then why didn’t the two of you get together?”

“I don’t know, maybe it’s too long already. Maybe it was only puppy love then. Maybe I don’t know anything about love. We just didn’t hit it off that day as we walk our separate ways.”

“Mark?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you believe me if I tell you I’ve never been in a relationship before?”

“……….tell you honestly, I won’t believe.”

“Why?”

“Because you look really good, I won’t believe if you tell me no guys had ever gone after you? Some of our customers were always caught indirectly checking you out.”

“Thanks for the compliment Mark, you’ve made my day.”

Christine lifted her glass and initiated a round of cheers.


“Chris, I think you really need a rest. We’ve got a long rest tomorrow.”

Mark could sense the effect of alcohol taking its effect on Christine.
He then helped her back in her room. As he laid her on her bed, Mark looked at the tipsy Christine.

It had been a while since he last looked at someone who’s asleep. The simple blessing which he enjoyed during the times he shared with Jade.

“Maybe the simplest yet most blessed feeling is to wake up and looked at the person you loved.”

Mark thought to himself as he covered her with the blanket.

“Don’t go…”
Mark felt his arm been grabbed.

“I don’t like the feeling of being alone in the night.”
Christine’s eyes were closed and looked as if she was mumbling.

Mark brushed her hair as he comforted her.

“Don’t worry, I will be here.”

“Don’t go… Don’t go………I don’t want to be alone. I hate been alone. Why can’t be with the one I liked? Why does it always have to be me.”
Christine grabbed Mark towards her as she wailed.

“Ok, I promise you...”
Mark kissed her forehead.

Christine stopped struggling and let go of him. She fell into a very deep sleep. Mark noticed there was a trace of tears flowed from the corner of her eyes.

Mark covered her blanket and went over to the couch.
He sat down and watched her sleep.

A smiled appeared on his face before he too closes his eyes and took a rest.

“I promise you... I will help you find the one whom you loved…”

[To be Cont]