XLVII | Trial

❦

What does

take it slow

mean?

School's started again.

I see rowan
in class everyday

but we don't talk
(unless it's for project work).

I still see her
by the rowan tree

at the end
of
every
day.

Now that I'm paying attention,

I notice
she's not always reading
the Bible.

Today,
she's standing there,
staring

up at the naked tree.

It's stripped of clothes

but still
bearing fruit.

Eventually,
berries will decorate
the ground.

Singapore's evergreen grass
will swallow them when they rot.

'Let's go out,'
I say to her.

Rowan turns her head.

She: Oh, you again.
Me: Yes, me again.
She: What do you want?

Me: Let's go on a date.

'We just went out last week.'

She turns back to the tree.
'Also, there's a test tomorrow.
'Study for it.'

I spin her around
by the shoulders,
tilt her chin up.

She grabs my hand.

A grip stronger than I expected.

'We're dating.
'We should go out at least once a week.
'That's how it works.'

She blinks.
'Huh?'

I let go of her.
'Really.'

She folds her arms.

'Then tomorrow.
'After the test.'

I stick my hands in my pockets
and smile at her.

Her expressionless
expression

flickers.

A flash of a tender smile.

'Come to my house.'

I wait for the smile
to flash away.

Instead,
the tips of her ears
turn red.

Her eyes say no
but her mouth says,

'Okay.'

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