4. The most beautiful eyes I have ever seen

One day while on the bus to the University I started a conversation with a Chinese man, Ken, after noticing an unusual electronic gadget on his iPhone. He asked me if I knew where he could buy flowers for his young lady friend, Frances, the pianist who was going to perform that afternoon. At our destination, the University Highfield Interchange, we alighted from the bus in search of a shop. We found a branch of the Co-Operative store in Burgess Road. There they sold bunches of flowers at very reasonable prices. He chose one. So did I. I intended to surprise Carol. I invited him to accompany me to her house. Carol was taken aback by my gift of flowers as a token of our friendship.

Then the three of us then walked to the concert. My new friend turned out to be a Photographic Art’s student at a London University. As a thank-you for my help, he sent me a Black and White photo he took of me walking away from the camera up the narrow, ivy-lined alley on our way to Carol’s house. He had only used his iPhone to take the remarkable photo. I was astonished by his artistic flare, amazed to think he had only used a mobile phone to produce such a picture.

The flowers I gave Carol had the unexpected effect of cementing our relationship. Not long after giving her them, she declared she loved me. I responded in like manner. However, I asked her not to play with my feelings, as I have a sensitive nature. Why did I say that? I don’t know, but I did!

After that initial gift of flowers, I rained more and more flowers down upon her, every two weeks, or whenever they wilted. I bought her a living rose, unfortunately, it didn’t last long before all the flowers died and had to be pruned off. I took the sad plant home to take care of it. I kept it for several months. But eventually, after Carol left for China I forgot to water it for a few days. It ran out of water, dried out and died of neglect. Would our relationship end that way too? Certainly not, I was sure of that.

As we drew closer, I began to feel more confident in showing my true feelings towards her in public. However, one evening after dropping Vũ at his lodgings, I went upstairs to say good-bye to Carol, I kissed her on the cheek as I left. We had gathered in her housemate’s room. That house mate took umbrage at my action, telling Carol after I’d left, that if she allowed me to kiss her, as I had just done, I would soon force myself on her and end up seducing her.

On my arrival at home, I received an unpalatable message from Carol. What her Chinese friend had told her had hurt her badly. She told Carol to drop me as a friend immediately. As a compromise, Carol suggested we avoid any ‘bodily contact’ in future. I felt sad about the misunderstanding, sad about the difference in culture that had caused this rift within her group and the internal conflict she suffered. I reluctantly agreed, rather than lose my dear friend. Being in Carol’s company would have to do, just being able to gaze into her golden eyes, the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen would have to be sufficient.