In an undefined memory at unterminated time

It's at the dead of eventide when he strolled the sidewalk beside the big ring road around the island. Beside him, on the right, is the sea, it glows iridescent blue under the moonlight as the waves gently tap the concrete beneath him. He's in here, means something is happening, but the calmness of the sea doesn't mirror quite nicely with his own feelings.

His step came to a halt when he saw a bus stop right in front of him. A cold breeze envelops him for a split second, enough to make his body shudder. It felt cold yet familiar, as if it was something that is already part of himself. He continued his step before stopping just beside the wooden bench on the said bus stop.

He found a girl sleeping in there, fully clothed with her frilly white dress. Her loose silver hair falls onto the moonlight drenched concrete below like a jarring white cloud in the middle of a night sky. He tiptoed to her front before crouching right in front of her face before stretching his hand towards the girl's cheek.

It's as cold as he thought. As he remembers. As it should. His thumb gently rubbed it, soaking a quiet hum from the girl as she unconsciously leaned more into his touch. This particular exchange is familiar to her as it is familiar to him.

Then she wakes up. Her small eyes open, revealing lapis lazuli colored iris. It quickly met with his hazelnut ones.

“Is this a dream?” She asked drowsily. The boy shakes his head, “For you? No. For me? Maybe.” She seems satisfied with the answer so she wakes up to sit on the bench while he stands up.

The girl looked up to meet the boy's eyes, hers still dropped ever slightly from her sleep. Slowly, those small and pale arms of hers reached up, hanging just above his chest.

She was expecting a … front carry, like her favorite animal, Koala. Her favorite only when he allow it. “You're already too big for that.” He commented, looking exasperated. “I'm not fat.” The girl relented with pouts in her lips. “That's not what I'm saying.” He said. Yet, no replies from her. She just stared at him, hands up as it shaking subtly, seemingly can't afford to hold its own weight.

So he grabbed it. Cold. Small. Like a bloom of hydrangea that can shatter at any moment. Her eyes and her hair are enough for him to imagine the said flower.

“So, it's a no?”

The girl asked. He didn't answer, just slid down his arms, it slithered across her arms, shoulders then stopped at her waist before he pulled her up and carried her in front of him. Her hands quickly circled around his neck and held it for dear life.

“Warm. I like it.” The girl settled deeper into his hold, seeking his warmth as her face nestled onto his neck. “And you're going to give me a cold.” He said jokingly as he started walking again.

He patted the back of her head and felt her hum of approval before running his hand through the silky hair of hers. So soft like baby plush fur that his mother gave him, yet so cold like the snow that hits his face when he's in snow throwing wars with his father. So perfect, so unimaginably unreal.

“How long will you stay today?” The girl asked the ultimate question, spending more time here means wasting the time somewhere else. He stopped walking then told her to look up at him. “I'll leave in the morning.”

“Morning there?”

“No, here.”

“Mhm, okay. Which means I can eat your breakfast today.”

“Lucky you.”

“Then, give me the tofu with shoyu.”

“I’ll give you all the tofu.”

“Yay~”

She smiled. Legs stretched out behind him as it swayed up and down in delight. One thing for sure, in the back of his mind, he remembered making the same face as her. Somewhere. Somewhen.