Me Neither
Yesterday after class, I went to switch my internet provider. After that, I didn’t really want to go straight home. I didn’t want to go too far either. I just wanted to wander around for a little while and keep my body moving. I thought that might make me a little happier than going directly home.
There weren’t that many places nearby, so I ended up at Indigo. I don’t even like Indigo that much. I wasn’t really looking for a book either. I think I just wanted to walk around and look at things. Books, notebooks, candles, mugs, whatever they had arranged on the tables. I wanted the displays to stimulate my brain a little. Then I went to the Apple Store and picked up the newest iPhone.
I put it down after maybe two seconds. Nothing interesting. I went to a Chinese supermarket, bought some frozen dumplings, and took the bus home.
Later that evening, I went to the library.
I have a library buddy, though “buddy” might be overstating it.. We meet at the library. We don’t talk. We sit down, do our own work, and when it’s time to leave, we leave. For a while, all I knew about her was that she had a job. Apparently, all she knew about me was that I also spent my evenings at the library. Until last night, she thought I was working too. I told her I was still in school. That was probably one of the longest conversations we’ve had. When we were packing up, I asked her, “Did you have mooncake?” (or Tsukimi Dango 月見だんご )
“No.” “Me neither.”
A few days ago, a friend asked if I wanted to go to a mooncake-making event organized by the Chinese student association.My immediate response was no. I told her I didn’t want to hang out with a bunch of students. They all seemed like baby to me, and I didn’t think I’d have much fun. She was kind of upset, she said. “You could at least take a look.” Later, I changed my mind. By then, it was full.
I’ve never been very good at collective excitement. The more everyone seems to be having fun together, the harder it is for me to enter whatever mood they’re in.
The library has two doors that open onto different streets. She asked me which direction I lived in. I pointed to mine. She pointed in exactly the opposite direction. We said goodbye and walked out through different doors.
I don’t really talk that much, especially with strangers. I don’t even know her name, and I don’t want to overshare too much. And I don’t know what to expect from a random conversation, or if I should expect anything at all. All I know is that we both have our own things to do.
So that’s all.