Love Began with the First Meeting

The night winds blew gently. She didn't care if he was happy or not.

The tears she shed flowed like water.

She buried her sadness in her heart, and denied her own feelings.

Molly cried for a while. And sobs racked her body. That was when she realized that she and Eric were too close.

Angrily, she pushed him away. She turned to glare at him with tears in her eyes.

Eric was a little miffed, but he shrugged and put on a smile. "Done crying?" He pretended not to care so that she wouldn't be able to figure what he was really thinking.

Molly glared at him again.

"Wow. Ice queen over here!" Eric grumbled. Then he raised his eyebrows and asked,"Are you hungry?" Before Molly could answer, he added,"How does the South Street Alley sound?"

Molly looked at Eric suspiciously, a little surprised at his suggestion.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Eric sulked,"I'm bored of fancy restaurants and it's time for a change. Besides, the food there is quite good and delicious."

Molly breathed deeply to compose herself. After wiping tears from her face, she typed a string of words. "I'm exhausted and hungry and tired of crying."

Picking up the phone, Eric glanced at the screen and smiled. "I don't know what to do with you sometimes."

Molly blew her nose and typed on her phone again. "When I'm happy, I laugh. I cry when I'm sad. That's normal. No need to hide who I am. Unlike you, I can't smile when I'm not happy. You're such a hypocrite."

Eric smiled resignedly and thought, 'She would be so cute if she could actually say that out loud.' When he thought about this, he didn't feel upset anymore, but happy.

shook his head and drove to the South Street Alley. He talked all the way through,

was upset, but he kept this hidden behind an even expression. He wondered if Molly's throat would ever be healed. He felt extremely sad at the thought that she might never utter another sound

started to talk, reminded of the stir that Park Shin Chun caused a few nights ago. It

the car, stretched, and typed on her cell phone. "We couldn't get here

asked doubtfully.

and pouted,"Never

pressed his lips. Seeing that Molly was still upset,

Eric and walked with

in a stall, talking and laughing, as if they had forgotten their unhappiness and nothing

everyone else was doing it too. They were quite happy. And it was a good thing to just laugh without reservation, and just forget being

I'm so full!" Eric leaned his seat

of sausage now? I thought you didn't like

meant. He handed her back the phone and said slowly,"The unknown scares people.

would never admit he

Molly, having had her fill, sat up straight and pointed at the road, indicating that it was time for

about to drive away, he glanced at Molly and noticed the necklace around

then looked down at the small shell that Eric cradled in his palm. The little shell was an antique.

in

and didn't answer. She didn't know what

asked,"Are you going

has never been that serious before.' Thinking of this, she hesitated, but eventually typed,"Yes, I'll keep

and worried. The feeling was indescribable. Eric stared at the words on the phone. He didn't take his eyes off his phone until the screen dimmed. He just thought that Molly was funny, and wanted to make Brian unhappy, but he didn't want to fall in love with the same woman as his loathsome brother. No

head to Molly and gave her an

didn't think about