CHAPTER 2

image [https://i.ibb.co/X5Tg2zD/by-Serge-Lebrun.png]

I carefully turned my head and looked at his face. Well, fraaankly, I didn’t see anything in him, I mean — literally nothing, — because I didn’t see him at all, except for the luminous stars in his eyes.

That’s because his face was turned away from the moonlight, while mine, on the contrary, was illuminated by it like a spotlight.

— Oh, look who’s here, a familiar face, — the stranger said in a soft, mysterious voice, causing a mixture of strange sensations in my body. — By the way, I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately, — he confessed, — but didn’t expect to see you here, especially now.

— Um…What do you mean? Have we actually met before?

— I asked embarrassedly, and without even listening to his answer, I cut him off, — S-sorry, I have to run, or else my mum will come for me and we’ll both be in trouble.

I quickened my pace toward my house.

— Already? So soon? Don’t leave me here alone! My heart feels heavy now… — he said, continuing to sit on the swing, which creaked under his weight.

— What happened? Your girlfriend dumped you?

— Worse… my cat passed. I so loved her.

— Aw, I’m… I’m really sorry, I have a little cat too, her name is Knopa. Oh! It’s so late, I should have fed her by now, so anyway, um… Bye. — I said to him faintly.

— But… hey! We’re neighbors, and we’ve crossed paths so many times, so… why should you be scared of me? — Do I look like a werewolf or something? — he asked and slowly got off the swing.

— Sorry, young man, I can’t remember you, but you don’t look like a werewolf, well I hope.

— You hope? — He didn’t get it.

— Yes, I’m sorry, I can’t see you well, — I explained with a shaking voice.

— Oh, wait, — the young man said, taking a step forward; the moon flooded his face with a pale glow.

He was about my age, well, maybe a few years younger, but more importantly, he was a head taller than me.

Of course, he was as far from young DiCaprio as the Moon is from Earth, although, — I thought, taking a step forward, — hmm, not that far!

The pitch of my voice jumped two notes higher as I asked him, — So, you say… we’ve met before?

— Yes, sure, we’ve even greeted each other several times, huh, you’re kidding me, don’t you really remember me?” he asked, looking at me with bulging eyes.

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— Hmm, I can’t remember, — I answered, looking at his face from different angles. I was so engrossed in this process that didn’t even notice how I started to “bite” my nails.

— That’s strange, very strange, — he said, and froze, looking into my eyes. — I felt embarrassed and looked down.

— Oh, my name is Leon, by the way, — he suddenly animated.

— Cough! — I choked on my bitten-off nail — What-what? Leonardo?

— I said Le…ooon — he made a face as if offended.

— Oh, sorry, — I snapped back to reality. — I’m Alisha.

— Oh, Alisssha, so gorgeous name, it sounds so close to my heart, — Leon whispered. — A smile broke out on my face. — But I still don’t understand, — he continued, — How can You regularly greet a person and then suddenly forget him?

— Don’t know. Oh…maybe it’s because I rarely look guys in their faces, — I answered, raising my palms, trying to find an answer for myself.

— Ow! That’s nice, I love shy girls.

Well, I won’t hide that I was flattered by his compliment and it settled somewhere in my heart, but honestly, at that moment I felt scared, just because of the tone in which those words were said. Brrr!

My knees stopped listening to me and started shaking.

Leon seemed to feel my fear. He decided to calm me down a bit, saying in a low voice — By the way, I live in that house, the sixth floor, the one on the far left.

— Yeah, I see, it’s quite different from the others, — I replied, peering at the only unglazed balcony in that building.

— I think you should always be yourself, stand out somehow, and not “follow the crowd”. I saved a lot of money, by the way. Hey, sit down, let’s swing a little more, or better yet, let me push your swing.

— Ooohrr, you’re so sneaky boy! It’s like you knew I couldn’t say no to you this time. — I thought to myself. — He caught my thoughts and “finished me” with his seductive smile.

But I’m not the kind of ‘dumbass’ who would sit in a swing in the dead of night and let some weird stranger swing me around, even if he looks a little like DiCaprio, right? — I thought, nervously clutching one hand with the other and biting my lower lip.

He playfully patted the seat, and I ran to him as if on cue, saying — But, Leon, dear, not for long. Okay? Because in a minute my mom will come for me, and it won’t be very romantic, believe me, Leon.

— Okay, trust me. Just give me five minutes and I’ll let you go, — he replied confidently.

Somehow I forgot about my fear and boldly jumped on the “saddle” —, just like on a horse, — then closed my eyes and gently commanded — So? Let’s go! I’m waiting!

He began to push the swing very carefully. — “Woooo — hoooooo, — I rejoiced, feeling with every hair on my body that something incredible and special was waiting for me that night.

— Leon? — I called excitedly with my eyes closed.

— Yeah? — he answered in a strange squeaky voice.

— What kind of girls do you like, — bony tall blondes, or curvy tiny brunettes like me, — just be honest, — I asked him, giving him enough options, of course.

— Hat… — he squealed like a seal, sniffling.

— What do you mean? — I asked him, smiling stupidly.

— I mean…cheeee!!! — he suddenly sneezed.

I was so startled that I dropped my hands and plopped face down on the ground.

When I came to my senses, I looked up, asking myself, — So, is this the end of my fairy tale?

Leon looked at me with such worried eyes, as if I was dying. I got frightened. Leon rushed to comfort me, sweeping the sand away from my bloody knees, — Relax, and give me your knees, — he said.

— Yes, but how? — I cried in utter despair.

— No, no, you sit down, I’ll clean it up myself, — he insisted

— Oh no, just don’t go into my nostrils, please, — I still didn’t know what I was saying. I was in shock!

— What? — he didn’t understand and lifted his eyes.

— I say… ahhhh! — I moaned piteously.

— Are you okay? — he asked.

— Uh-huuuh!

— Are you sure, sweetie?

— Cheee!!! — I couldn’t help but sneeze from the tickle in my nose caused by the sand, and all my drool and snot flew in his noble face. — He shot me a disgusted look.

— Oh my… — (Gulp) — I thought. — It’s over, now he is going to bury me right in this sand. Mom, Dad, Knopa, I love you very much, — I mentally said goodbye to my life and loved ones…