He's your age; perhaps younger by a few months. His confidence? He literally referred to Deadpool 2's character whose superpower was: luck. He speaks with an accent that sounds like yours, if not better. His voice was rather more soothing than your deep, rough, bass-y voice. Like you, he's not the tallest guy in the world. He was probably only an inch taller than me—I definitely could beat him if I weren't wearing flat sandals that day. Unlike you, though, he looks like a replica of the photographer Francesco Carrozzini. Dirty blond with blue eyes and tan, sun-kissed skin, he had on a bright orange-red jacket and sneakers with a white shirt and jeans. I'm guessing unlike you, he wasn't a mathlete.
He speaks a bunch of other languages like you. Also like you, he traveled a lot. He told me about the cities he has been, and his senior year of high school in Boston. He's street and book smart about politics, macroeconomics, and international policy. He knows what is going on in not just Europe but beyond that. He talks about the EU's central bank systems and compared it with an Argentinian policy. He is pro-Palestine, pro-choice, and supports LGBT rights without question. He's confused about how people say a Middle Eastern ultra-conservative country is undergoing a revolution brought to the country by a high profile prince who probably killed all of his cousins to get to where he is. He calls Jared Kushner the quintessential bad guy and refused to move to the States while Trump is president even though he is a citizen.
Like you, he also talks about the mafioso culture of Southern Italy—but because he's from Sicily, he did not make a single joke about it. So, pretty much unlike you.
Perhaps also like you, he's a decent skier. I got sad though when I think about because... I didn't know that about you. I didn't know if you ski. I didn't know if... if you and I, we'll be deep into such interesting discussion like I had with him. Will we? Ever?
He and I agreed on several things—except for my love for this city, that apparently he did not share.
That day, Navy Pier was our Vienna. He was almost definitely a Jesse, and I, the Celine. Theoretically it should be Before Sunset, but, it did feel more like Before Sunrise.
What was it that I've said about you before? Anyone would be perfect in a short period of time.
You had been perfect because we only met for 10 days. So he was obviously perfect because I only knew him for 2 hours.
I could get lost in his big blue eyes if only time had let me swim in it longer. I tried to, but his brown Aviator-style sunglasses let me see more of my own reflection than the bright blue windows to his heart.
I could get lost in his big blue eyes if only time had let me swim in it longer. I tried to, but his brown Aviator-style sunglasses let me see more of my own reflection than the bright blue windows to his heart.
Mathlete, did you remember? We were 10 years younger back then. We didn't know how the world is supposed to work. So when we parted ways, it was just that. A simple good bye and a little wave of hand. Fast forward 10 years later... it's a little better.
A great day that ended in horrible post-midnight texts. Then awkward silence. Then both of us trying to end this in a mature way. Acknowledging that it is the best possible alternative to how this should end.
But I guess at least this time I can say that I tried. I guess this time I wouldn't have to keep on wondering what if for the next 10 years.
I guess this time, I can peacefully live with myself.
