"What do you feel when you're with her?" my best friend and confidante Anabella asked me.
Anabella was a petite, bronzed girl whose face resembled Cleopatra's. She had been my best friend since high school.
"Seeing her was like writing poetry. I mean, you would look at her for a long time and only find metaphors and similes to praise all the beautiful features your eyes were capable of capturing," I said, sighing and dropping my head onto Anabella's lap.
"Well, if you sound in love, you should talk to her," was the advice she gave.
"What? Are you crazy? I'm a geek, a crazy guy who likes rock music and reading books. Do you think a girl will fall in love with me? A guy who dresses in loose and ugly clothes?" I stood up suddenly and looked at myself in the mirror. "The first time I realize that you see me as a beggar."
"After so many times I've told you!" exclaimed Anabella, rolling her eyes. "You're smitten with her!"
I walked through the university hallways. I didn't observe or listen, I was in a hurry, immersed in my music at full volume. Until I collided with her.
"I'm so sorry!" said her fairy-like voice.
Her skin was as white as snow itself and her brown eyes pierced my soul. I had to take off my headphones and help her pick up her books. I couldn't speak, I could barely articulate a word.
"You're in the second semester of the Computer Science program, right?" she said.
I nodded silently.
"Are you quiet? I always see you talking to others."
I remained silent, being in front of her was like being about to jump out of a parachute. She kept talking, but every time I wanted to respond, I backed away. Just like if I were going to do skydiving. I looked at her lips, but then I remembered that only a fool stares at her lips, you have to look into her eyes. However, I avoided her gaze.
"I see you like rock music, my brother is a singer and he's also a fan of rock. He has his band and plays at a nearby venue. You can go anytime, I'll be there," and she slipped away stealthily, unnoticed by me.
Later at the dorm, Anabella scolded me.
"She invited you, stupid," she slapped me upside the head.
"Being in front of her felt like throwing myself out of a plane with a very heavy parachute, or it felt heavy to jump. I don't know, I know I couldn't talk to her. I felt the same as that experience," I said distressed.
"You've never gone skydiving, I don't know what the hell you're talking about, you're a hopeless idiot," she slapped me again.
"Don't hit me anymore, I'll try to talk to her."
A week later I was at the bar La Indecente. I spotted several university students there drinking beer. I greeted Denisse and George, I was ready to enjoy the atmosphere of a university student who is willing to relax. However, I found that her eyes were looking at me. I swallowed hard when I saw her beckoning me to come closer, she was next to a huge guy who was tattooed up to his neck, literally.
"Hi," she said when I approached.
My legs had betrayed me, or maybe I had jumped out of the plane with the parachute. I don't know, but suddenly I was near them, scared like a lamb.
"This is my brother, Liam," she said, and I automatically shook hands with the guy.
He barely looked at me but shook my hand.
"Are you staying to listen to the music?" the brother asked, his voice thunderous. "It's crazy, man."
I nodded stupidly.
Throughout the evening, I listened to them talking to each other, and worse yet, I saw a bunch of guys crowding around Jennifer. That's what they called her, which made sense. I spent the whole evening composing verses about her hair, her contagious smile, to be honest, about her in general. Even about how sensually she danced to rock music. She had me on edge as if I were about to jump out of a plane with a parachute, but she never did.
"I like you, but you don't talk much," Jennifer said. Then I realized we were alone in a corner of the bar. "I would like to know what you think."
I looked at her, trying to release all the verses I had in mind, but my tongue refused. Then I remembered Anabella's words: "If you feel like you're practicing skydiving, you just have to jump, and everything will flow."
"I want to know what you think of me," she said, looking at me with her sweet eyes that made my heart race. "Tell me, even if it's just one thing."
I opened my mouth, ready to say everything, but I almost shouted:
"You're like a skydive, I'm afraid to say something and fall to the ground, my words get stuck, and I can't get them out," I said, grateful that the music was blasting.
"That's cute!" she said, kissing me on the cheek. "Strange, but cute."
I had jumped out of the plane and was falling into the void at high speed.
"I like you," she exclaimed, hugging me, and the parachute opened.
Anabella was laughing in the living room, throwing popcorn at me. She was crazy.
"You're a lucky guy, I can't believe this story. But I know when you're lying, your eyes tell the truth."
"I jumped just like you said. I can't imagine what would have happened if I hadn't said anything," I said, laughing at the situation.
"Can you imagine if you hadn't said anything? It would have been a disaster. She would have thought you were a weirdo or worse, a hopeless mute."
I didn't want to tell her that Jennifer had been watching me. Women were more discreet in the art of contemplation.
"Well, maybe. I'm already a weirdo with all my abnormal tastes," I said.
We both laughed as we finished watching the movie.
"I can't believe it myself. I jumped," I pointed out.
"Well, I hope you jump more often because remember, you'll see each other tomorrow."
I raised my chin confidently.
"Once you jump, everything is easy. Jumping the first time is the real challenge."
Anabella kept laughing like a crazy person.
Cover and Banner made in Canva; Cover image generated by Canva's AI, Separators made in photoshop