The day I first saw you was Wednesday, May 18, 2016

They're just meaningless numbers, but that day is still vivid in my mind. I probably won't forget it even after I die. My heart tightened so much I felt breathless the moment I saw you. You don't know this feeling, do you? If I said I fell in love at first sight seeing you standing there with a bouquet of red roses, crying your eyes out, I'd sound like a madman. But I couldn't just pass by someone who was clearly sobbing after being dumped. A short skirt, high heels, crouching by a lamppost next to a crosswalk, crying out loud regardless of who was watching. Even the way you tried so hard to look like a grown-up when you were just a kid was so cute. I still remember the breeze and the fragrant scent of summer from that moment. I felt like if I just walked away, I'd regret it for the rest of my life, so I gathered my courage and lightly tapped your shoulder. Seeing you snap back at me made my heart race even faster. It must be a fate sent by God... Your eyes wavered for a moment; you probably froze because you saw my military uniform. I didn't want to scare you off by being too forward... I pretended to be as uninterested as possible, acting like I just called out because I thought something was wrong while passing by.

"Is something the matter?"

....

As expected, you just stayed on guard without answering.

Somehow, I managed to coax you and take you to a nearby cafe, where I wiped away your smudged mascara and put a bandage on your heel, which was chafed from forcing yourself into those shoes. My heart fluttered the whole time I was doing that. You were so naive to open your heart to me just because I was being kind. It's a good thing it was me.

I listened to your venting. I didn't care about the other guy's story. I just gave you some reactions when appropriate.

"Ah, so that's why you were crying? You must have been very upset."

Then, while sniffing, you said...

"Mister, why are you being so nice to me?"

"Mister? You're killing me... I'm only thirty."

"Ah, well... that's a mister..."

I clicked my tongue against the inside of my cheek.

"Then how old are you, miss?"

"...Twenty."

I guess I am a mister after all... Anyway, we talked, I naturally got your number, and though my conscience wouldn't let me confess, I was going to just be a friend? A soldier 'mister' you knew... but then I saw that you were a total collector of human trash, so I just confessed right then. I couldn't stand listening to you vent to me every day after being dumped by guys...

"Hey, why do you have such bad taste in men?"

"I know!! T_T It's because all the guys around me are trash!"

"Hey, I'm a man too."