LINA, MY LOVE

Lina 

Chapter1
Someone would say she looked so serious and quiet when they saw her alone while someone else would say she was too noisy and exciting when she was among her friends. Someone usually had different impressions upon her personality. She smiled, but also acted so apathetically toward any of whom not involved. You might be welcome if you happened to ask her something you wanted suggestion or necessary information; on the contrary, you might be completely ignored through her strict eyes behind her face if you happened to ask something personally. No wonder, you would think she was kind of stuck-up, and to your frustration, she had no reaction to your unsatisfactory thoughts regarding her characters. It didn't matter when there was no one approaching and talking to her while she didn't like to do it and not it mattered too much even when she knew she was totally ignored by the crowd during the party; she would volunteer whenever she felt like it was necessary. She was counted to be likely difficult to understand and there seemed a lot of things you had to learn about her if you wanted to know her more closely.

It was such a simmering Sunday afternoon when she went out enjoying herself in a quiet Cafe shop not much far from one of her friends' workplace. She often killed time by reading some kinds of books while waiting her friend from overtime Sunday’s work. They could not meet as often as before since they were done from school. She ordered a cup of lemon tea as usual, not more than a cup of tea though, as she took most of her time and mind focused on her book. No Motive. First detective novel she had chosen to read. It was not too thick though, about 200 pages, a pocket-sized book, very portable. Once she opened the book and started reading, she was very much known as insensitive to outside world, deeply falling into a world of unaffected reality. Could I join the table with you? I am just wondering if I could sit here because the others are totally full, Miss...? For the second time a young man around 23 years old, challenged to beg for a seat. Like a cool water splashing on her head she was awaken again to join a very nice, chilly, peaceful atmosphere of the Cafe and took a squint at the mysterious young man. "I'm sorry, but are you talking to me at the moment?" Who else, he whispered to himself at a limited tone which couldn't be heard by our absorbed reader. "Yes, I want to know if I could sit here or not because there seems no more seats else left except here." He urged her curiously, no doubt, trying to pledge her for the seat. She looked around for a second to see no other seats left as he just mentioned, “I can see that. Please use the rest seats here, but remember to leave one for my friend who will be right here in 10 minutes." She carefully lowered her voice as much as she could avoid revealing any annoyance in her intonation. A faint smile reappeared on her face as he said thank and dropping his slim body on a round seat next to her. He looked at his watch and then called a waiter to order a cup of a coffee and a harm sandwich with fresh crisp green slice-tomatoes. He looked so hungry; again and again he stared at the counter, and then the waiters as if blaming them for not taking his food as quickly as it should have been served. It occurred to him that he was given some times before meal, he actually laid his eyes on her, but was amazed at the indifference to his action, "You are all attention to the book." Again she did not pay any attention to his conversation, but at least could hear what was just being commented, "Detective story calls the entire concentration. Everyone knows it, you bet." She closed the sky blue book, and took a sip of her lemon tea, looked up at a square creamed-color watch on the wall; it pointed 4: 20 pm. "Otherwise, perhaps you don't like reading novels, do you?" Asking him with less interest, or even not hoping to have his answer to the question, she had her eyes’ sight outside of the shop, looking for a supposed-to-be-coming friend. What keeps her so long today, she thought. "Almost not," Said so and turned his attention to the waiter carrying him his coffee and harm sandwich on the tray, he continued, "I don't know much about novels." That looks rather like you, looking around the shop once again, as she spoke to herself. "So, do you often come here?" He changed the subject. She took another sip of the tea, which was almost run out of. "Every free time I can find. What about you?" She likely showed her interest in the late conversation he had broached. "Not much different from you. I am Vichear and you?" She paused a second, looking at him with more interest. "Lina. A novel regular reader," she challenged him and gave him a random grin, "my friend must be too busy today. She's never been too late like this," Holding up his sandwich in the air, he offered her a share. Clumsily. No, thank you, she answered gratefully, showing determination in her eyes through the shop open terrace, searching earnestly for her only date. Waiting to the last minute she thought she was about to get up and walked out of the Cafe, as a young cheerful-looking, slender girl with long black hair bound in pony tale rushed into the Cafe and peered her neck as if looking for someone she had kept waiting for ages. "Hi Lina! Sorry, I am so late." Not expecting Lina's reply, she ran into Lina's seat and cuddled her frustrated friend as tight as this young girl could not move another inches, like one who had never met her for hundred years.