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Keeper of The Heart

Keeper of The Heart

© My Anh Nguyen March 2008

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Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be close to you.

His eyes were dancing together merrily with the laughter that filled the newly painted class room. No one could spot out his perfect façade because he himself was not even sure how many layers of mask there are. But he knew this was enough to get by with the daily faces. Though recently he had a feeling there was a miniscule crack on his mask that people who call themselves his friends wouldn’t notice but rather a girl he had never pay much attention to a month earlier.

Those mirthful eyes swayed to the back of an owner’s head that had her long jet black hair tied loosely by red elastic. Jessica Hsuan, the genius of the school and the outcast.

~~~

One month prior.

It was one of those days where he rather laid on a field of grass and feel the breeze brushes his face then falling in a blissful slumber. Walking along the school’s corridor he contemplated on his better peace from outside these windows.

Strolling in front of him was a female figure studying the movement of the clouds and her head was in deep thought on the picture of each white wonders.

He saw her first.

Momentarily after his eyes laid on her presence in the quiet corridor, she sensed his eyes.

They walked pass one another with mere mental acknowledgement.

~~~

Why do stars fall down from the sky every time you walk by? Just like me, they long to be close to you.

Looking at Louis Koo, she realised why he was the school’s charmer. Those playful smiles and a casual laid back style that every one naturally finds it attractive. His ability to make an entire hall of people in fits of laughter was amazing, something she can never achieve.

But Jessica knew there was more to Louis Koo than his careless t-shirt that was never fully tucked into his trousers, which the girls adore. More to to him than how well he managed to play every sport and held everyone’s attention—what every boy would want.

She felt that she had invaded into the Forbidden City and if she was ever to escape, she would be executed. Now she caught a glance of his eyes on her and it said he doesn’t have a forbidden city, but rather a corner of the universe.

When did she stumble on this and started to watch him closely despite not wanting to?

~~~

One month prior.

The heavenly tears kissed her lips and caressed her skin as she stood under the school’s pine tree. Feeling the rain drops on her fingers, Jessica smiled softly to herself. This spot was her favourite, rain or shine.

From afar, a figure walked pass with his hands in his trouser’s pockets and slightly tilting his head willingly letting the water droplets shower kisses on his lips and entire body. Eyes closed and lips pursed, soon his eyes fervently opened and he started chuckling to himself.

She wondered what he was thinking about in the midst of rain fall that was so amusing.

Coincidentally, he turned to his side and saw her standing there beneath the large branches but was still slightly wet.

Fear wasn’t what she felt or nervousness but instead it was pure surprise. There standing in front of her was Louis Koo in a vision she couldn’t believe. From underneath this tree, he was a perfect sculpture with the glistening rain trailing its path. A flawless piece of art from a distance but when you move in and look closer you see the cracks on it. The imperfection of an artist in which make the masterpiece much more than it really was, since art works were not meant to be faultless as it should dictate a realism in one way or another.

The chiming of the bell motion the end of lunch and neither stirred.

Stepping up the stairs toward Jessica’s next class she was still mesmerised by what she saw earlier, knowing she would be late to her lesson but didn’t mind. Abruptly, sounds of footsteps running came into hearing.

Behind Jessica two girls came rushing to their classes and purposely pushing her to the side causing her to hit to the rail of the stairs. They stopped and laughed.

“Merry Christmas, stupid cow.” One of them spat glaring down at her.

“Look at her, drenched like a stray cat. Pathetic. Go to the bathroom and have a good look at your ugly face!” Another bark came.

Jessica never felt beneath them, she only rubbed her arm and stared back.

“Don’t give us that face you bitch. You think you’re better than us? Scum bag!”

A hand was raised and came forth; she knew it was coming and intended to retaliate. Out of the blue, another arm shoved the girl back and she fell down onto the stairs.

“Louis!” They both cried in union.

“Hello there Belinda,” he put on one of those lazy smile and glanced down at the girl who he put to the ground, “Hi there Jenny.”

“Why did you do that for Louis?” Jenny questioned trying to repress her quivering lips as she stood back up.

Louis simply shrugged and said, “Just felt like it. People who are in my way tends to get that, right Belinda?”

Belinda only nodded and burst out saying, “She was in our way Louis.” She coated it with a tinge of helplessness.

The smile that was playing on his lips disappeared and an icy stare replaced it. “Scum bags like you should be out of the way for everyone.”

He pulled onto Jessica’s arm and they walked up the stairs. When they nearly reached the class room, Louis let her go and continued walking.

“Thank you,” she said.

Louis stopped in front of the door and again, the mask slipped on. “Sorry Sir! I forgot what class we got and was sure I had Maths when Jessica here kept telling me it’s History. So we made a bet, and went to take a look into the Maths room and handsome you weren’t there! How distraught I was!” He faked and exaggerated every word and movement.

The class laughed and off the hook he got.

~~~

“Aye, aye don’t you reckon that Jessica Hsuan is one fine babe?”

One of his friends questioned when they were in the changing room of the physical education department.

“Hsuan? Yeah, she’s real pretty if you look at her longer than usual.”

Louis sat there amused with the conversation.

“But she’s a bit quirky. Not my type,” Landon shook his head then he looked over at Louis. “What you reckon?”

“I like quirky.” He stated matter factly.

“However you can’t deny she’s so cold and hard to talk to,” Chris made an input.

Louis’ elbow was on his knee as he rested his head on his palm. A smile displaying on his face.

“Since you said you like quirky why you don’t go out with her? You’ve never had a girl man!” Landon beckoned throwing a t-shirt over his head. “Don’t tell me you’re waiting for the special one when countless of chicks are flocking over you?”

“Something like that,” was Louis reply. He rarely gave anyone a definite answer to his or her questions; it was his easy elusive technique.

“But I bet, if one of us comes in front of her and talk. She probably freak and run away screaming or something.”

Louis laughed out loud and a glint of merriness crossed his eyes.

“Chris, why don’t you invite her to the Christmas party?” Landon asked.

“Nah man. She’s just not the type. Ice queen she is.”

~~~

Inhaling the scent of the flowers that were blooming vibrantly beneath the sun’s rays, Jessica can’t help but have a little conversation with each of them. The school took great value in the appearance of their ground and everywhere you would find a rare bush of some kind of plant, trees towering over grass fields and that was what Jessica loved most about the school.

The people didn’t matter that much, it was the beautiful environment that puts her in an innate peace.

Louis was walking back from his soccer training and saw Jessica leaning over talking and smiling to a flower. Oddly, that didn’t surprise him at all. It seemed strangely normal for her to do something similar to this.

Therefore, he walked over to where she was and plotted himself beside her.

“Hey there, flower who I do not know your name.”

Startled Jessica stared at him in bewilderment then seconds later she recomposed herself. “Those are azaleas” She pointed out.

He beamed and pointed to another species. “How about this one?”

“I’m appalled. Dandelions, and you don’t even know. I thought you were a biology student,” she said in a mocking tone.

Louis pretended to be in deep thoughts saying, “Last time I checked. I might be a biologist not a florist.”

She tried hard to hide the smile that was trying to make its way to her lips but it wasn’t any help. He got her there.

“By any chance, do you know the meanings to them?” Louis asked.

“By any chance, why do you think I would know them?”

“By any chance, it’s only a chance that I thought you would know something like that?”

“Which meaning do you want?” She looked at the flower garden.

“I won. Start off with azaleas.” He gave a smirk.

“Be more moderate in your actions,” she answered.

“That’s odd. Why would someone give a flower to another person wanting to say that?” There was no hint of ridicule in the question and he looked as if he earnestly wanted to know the answer.

Jessica laughed and shook her head. “I wouldn’t know. You would think giving flowers are meant to be a positive notion but some meanings for these flowers are real lets down. I’m sure I wouldn’t want to receive some myself.”

Louis nodded asking, “Which one wouldn’t you want?”

She “hm-ed” for a second studying the flowers and said, “The dandelions say: your pretentious are ridiculous.”

“Ah, that’s quite bad. Who make up all these meanings? Shouldn’t it all be great and wonderful for the person receiving the flowers? Not thinking, oh so I need to smarten up my act because the flower represents that.”

Jessica agreed as he continued, “Which ones are the good ones here?”

She chuckled and answered, “The wallflower and magnolia.”

“Which is?”

“The wallflower is through sunshine and storm I am true to you. Do not be discouraged; better days are coming for the magnolias.”

Louis grinned. “That’s better.”

His mask was slipping, he could feel it.

“Isn’t it ironic how people take us by mistake?” he asked out of nowhere. Her expression showed confusion and he gazed into her light brown eyes. “They all say you’re such an ice queen and are not normal. But it is I that they should say it to, no, perhaps I’m worse because you are nowhere near coldness.”

Jessica smiled; she understood what he was saying. He felt relief but doesn’t know why.

“Outside you’re seen as the carefree loving guy when deep inside you’re like these dandelions. Just a pretense you’re putting on, but that doesn’t mean you’re cold or anything.” She paused for a bit and looked to the sky. “We are just moved by greater things and some people don’t understand.”

“Thanks for making me sound less of a jerk than I really am.”

She understood him like no other, these empty feelings he have been harbouring wherever he went… they have a home now. Jessica somehow knew the uncertainties and faults that lay with every one even him, yet she chose to see beauty. The world as a whole is at constancy it moves and changes, it’s fleeting–hence they try their best to capture the moment at its best or worse.

Louis questioned, “What flower would you give to me?”

“Pink phlox? I think we might be friends.”

“I would like that.” He smiled showing deepened dimples. “Merry Christmas Jessica.”

Her lips came apart and then it was shut once more. “M-Merry Christmas Louis.”

“Hey, lets grow our own garden with somewhere in the school with flowers and we can rename their meanings.”

Jessica looked at Louis in surprise and he showed no sign of his usual cheekiness. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. We can start tomorrow and that can be our Christmas present to each other.”

They walked together back toward the school building with their plan on what flowers should they nurture and behind them, an amethyst-coloured iris opened its petals.

———————–

© Acknowledgements

“Why do birds… close to you” – Song: Close To You by The Carpenters.

Keeper of the Heart – Story title: Borrowed this title from novelist Johanna Lindsey.