Memories of Summer

Act 2: Image of Summer

Describe Summer. How does she look like in your mind?

I would be lying if I said that she wasn't pretty. She's… she's beautiful. She's lovely. Stunning. But she's crazy. And evil.

She's the type who walks into a crowded room and steals the show without even trying. And she did. She did. She just walked into that café looking like a beauty queen in her jeans and oversized shirt. You'll just have to notice her. She was quite tall for a girl. She wasn’t even wearing high heels.

Dark brown hair that matches her eyes. Her lips always curve up to a mysterious smile. No. An evil smile. I always wondered what she was thinking and smiling all about. It makes me nervous… God I hate her.

She had massive cheeks. I think she might have been a hamster. All the food she eats just goes there. And mind you, she eats a whole freaking lot. She eats like a basketball team in one skinny body. It's not fair how she doesn’t get fat at all. She looked like some supermodel. And I just sat there. Slack jawed. As she came up to me asking me if I would like to buy her a drink. That woman.

What exactly happened that day? The day you met.

I was at the local coffee shop minding my own business, reading the Saturday morning paper.

Then she just comes up to me.

She asks if the seat across me was taken and I said "No. You may take it." as I thought she needed an extra chair for a friend. But to my surprise, she sat right across me… And I noticed the café was empty except for the two of us.

Looking at me while I sipped my Americano. I tried not to mind her but she was just... there… staring at me… with that weird look on her face. She was batting her eyelashes while her chin was propped on her hands. Elbows on the table.

"Would you like to buy me a drink?" she asked that as if we were friends."My name is Summer. What's yours?" she held out her hand while flashing me a wide grin. A smile. I didn’t know what it meant. She should be crazy. She is crazy.

How did you respond?

I was flabbergasted. I mean what… what the hell? Really? What the hell? But I guess I was too much in a shock to say anything. She ordered an iced latte. Added cinnamon, I remember. I told her my name. Shim Changmin. I would have reached her hand. But then she said. "Don’t you have an English name? Shim Changmin is so old fashioned. It sounds like a name for an old Chinese businessman."

Max. I said my English name was Max. She always called me that. The only person to call me by that name actually. Now thinking about it, I hated that name. I only hear it when she needs something from me. She needs someone to buy her dinner. She needs someone to fetch her from school, to take her shopping, to take care of her cat, to watch her stupid recital, to watch over her when she sleeps, to punch when she is in a bad mood, to bully and to make miserable. And that someone has to be me. Why did it have to be me? God! I hate her.

So we sat there as she drank her coffee. I didn’t say a word. Not that I'm too lost for words. It's just that she won’t quit talking. I couldn’t quite remember everything she said but I remember that she is an aspiring fashion designer. I never really got to see her designs though.

After having coffee I thought that it was the end of it. It would have been great if it was. God she was annoying. But no, she had to stay and ask me for a date. Yes. A date. I told you she's crazy.

Well, it wasn’t really like a date date. She asked me if I have seen the latest installment of Harry Potter movies and I said "No, I haven't seen it." She said "Let's go see it today." then dragged me out of the coffee shop and headed to the nearest cinema. She didn’t even wait for my answer. I had prior schedule that day. I had to see the dentist. But that woman… that woman. Well she was very intriguing. And beautiful. And crazy. She must be a witch. I tell you, that woman must know black magic. I couldn’t just say no.

So we watched the movie. It was so embarrassing. I couldn’t even concentrate on the film. I had to rent it a few months later just to watch it alone. She was crying. Well… yes. Seeing Nagini brutally kill Snape was a bummer. But she was the only one. The only one, I tell you, who was bawling like crazy thirty minutes after the film. People were staring at us. They might have been thinking that I made her cry so I tried to comfort her. I offered to buy her ice cream. I heard somewhere that ice cream makes you feel better.

I got two cones. Chocolate flavored. She smiled at me.

Later that day we went to a Japanese restaurant. I don’t know how. She just dragged me. It was always like that. She was like a kid on a sugar rush. And she thinks I'm her dog or something. God I hate her. Dragging me along to wherever. Not even caring to ask if I had something else to do. If I were having fun. But yes. I admit that it was fun. Being with her, and all.

How did that night end?

She hugged me. She just hugged me. But that was after she borrowed my mobile phone and keyed in her number without permission.

"Don't call me tonight. Call after three days… If you don't, I will come and find you. Don't make me." I regret calling her.