‘Yeah, I’m sorry again.For asking about your Dad,’ I whisper, not wanting Amy to hear.
‘It’s okay, really.’He whispers back, he places his hand on top of mine and squeezes gently before taking it away.His fleeting touch both lulls my overthinking and also leaves a tingle in its place.
I eat a bit of everything that Amy and Cooper have made, and my taste buds have the best day ever.At the end of the dinner, Amy brings out a tray of freshly baked pan au chocolats, and I internally scream with joy.They look perfectly flaky and golden, and trying one only confirms my expectation that they taste delicious.
I thank her for the decadent pastry, and she suggests I join her and Cooper for their monthly baking session, to which I vehemently nod my head as an acceptance of the invitation.
After I help them clean up in the kitchen, Cooper takes me to see his room for the first time.I have always wondered what posters he had on his wall, what colour his wall would be and what things were showcased.When I step in, I am exposed to the navy-blue walls, a double bed and a wall full of posters – of paintings, artists and chess.
He spends the next hour showing me all of his hobbies.I patiently listen to him talk about his interests and also try my hand at learning Chess, the hobby that he is obsessed with.I learn the basic rules, but he checkmates me in two to three moves for the first five games we play, so he empathises with me and puts away the chessboard.
I go through his collection of vinyls and CDs of albums from his favourite artists, and he explains when he discovered that artist and what about them he likes.I spent most of my time for the past year being focused on the world of academics but being here with Cooper, enveloped in his world and interests, shows me that I can experience more by getting out of my room once in a while.
8
Luna
Cooper and I are walkingbeside each other after a late-night movie in the cinema, and the warm summer air kisses our skin.It’s only been three weeks since I’ve known Cooper, and it already feels like a lifetime has passed.We’ve learnt a lot about each other; we’ve spent so much time together, as if we were making up for all the years that we didn’t know each other.
At the end of the movie, a character’s sibling was killed, and I was crying profusely.I tried to quickly wipe off my tears, but Cooper slipped his hand into mine and held it, rubbing soft circles with his thumb until I felt better.He never prodded further about why I was crying.My heart burst from his thoughtful gesture.
I am grateful for his quiet reassurance during the movie; it screams about the person he is.I walk quickly to match his pace, move closer to him and gently intertwine my fingers with his.He goes rigid next to me and colour rises in his cheeks, but we both keep walking forward.He immediately softens, turns towards me and bends his neck to meet my eyes.
‘Hi’ His lips lift into a smile.
‘Hi,’ I respond, feeling the goosebumps that his touch is invoking.
My chest feels heavy because I trust Cooper, and it has been a while since I’ve felt like that about anyone.I look up at the clear sky, and a new star appears every second as my eyes slowly adjust to the darkness.The sky speaks to me in a way that nothing else does.Looking at the stars grounded me instantly; I know my place in the universe, and I am grateful to be alive.I look down at Cooper, and I am happy that he exists.I can’t comprehend how infinitesimal the chances would have been for us to be in the same timeline.
‘Hey, Cooper, how come you never asked why I was crying that much in the movie?’
‘I knew it was something painful.I didn’t want to make you talk about it if you weren’t ready to.’
‘I think I want to tell you now.’My heart races because, as much as I want to tell Cooper, it still makes me nervous to talk about it.
‘I want to listen to whatever you want to tell me, Luna.’He looks straight into my eyes.
