The Morning We Met

"He’s like… a character from a comic book."

(Scene: A Quiet, Sunlit Park, somewhere in England, summer morning. A grassy slope overlooks a children’s playground and a basketball court. YOU, a 16-year-old girl, sit cross-legged on the slope, sketchbook in hand. Your pencil glides briskly over the paper, capturing the playground and trees in soft strokes.)

(You glance up briefly, surveying the scene, when someone catches your eyes—a figure leaping over the basketball court railing instead of walking around it.)

You: What is he doing?

(The ASIAN BOY, about your age, wearing a blue cap, hops back over the railing to where he started, then jumps again. This time, his sneaker catches the edge, and he stumbles, his cap flying off.)

You: What the hell.

(He laughs at himself, dusting off his hands, and grabs his cap. You notice his short black hair and child-like expression.)

You: Practicing jumping? That’s so stupid. But… kind of funny.

(The boy picks up a basketball from the floor and walks onto the court. He stands in front of the hoop, places his hands in front of his chest, claps three times, and bows his head like he’s praying.)

You: Okay… that’s definitely new.

(Intrigued, you set your pencil down and watch as he begins a warm-up routine: push-ups, sit-ups, squats. His movements are deliberate, almost overly serious, but there’s a clumsy charm to him.)

You: He’s like… a character from a comic book.

(A group approaches the court—MUKUL, EDDIE, and TOBY. Your brows furrow when you spot Toby.)

You: Mu and Ed. Of course, they’re always here. But Toby? Ugh.

(The boy greets them. After some chatter, they start shooting hoops. Eddie, the tallest of the group, has a solid shot; Mukul, the shortest, excels at passing. Toby, tall but reckless, lacks finesse. The boy, slightly taller than Mukul, struggles with mid-range shots, missing again and again.)

You: Dedicated, sure… but not much of a shooter.

(They begin a 2-on-2 game: Eddie and Mukul versus Toby and the boy. Eddie and Mukul dominate at first, easily outplaying Toby and the boy. You lean forward as the boy switches to defend Eddie.)

You: Wait… Eddie’s a head taller. What’s your plan?

(To your surprise, the boy uses his speed and surprising reach to shut Eddie down. Eddie grows frustrated as he struggles to score.)

You: Didn’t see that coming. Never seen Eddie this rattled.

(Despite the boy’s defensive skills, his team struggles offensively. Toby rarely passes the ball, taking wild shots. The game ends with Eddie sinking a clean three-pointer.)

You: See? Defense alone doesn’t win games.

(The boy doesn’t seem bothered, though. He chats animatedly with Eddie after the game, as if they’re old friends. Mukul notices you on the slope and waves.)

Mukul: Hey, Emma! What’re you doing up there? Come down!

(You wave back but stay put.)

You: Nah, I’m good here.

(The boy glances up at you. Your eyes meet briefly. His gaze is warm, unassuming, but you look away. Mukul jogs up the slope to join you.)

Mukul: Hey, been here long?

You: Long enough.

Mukul: Sketching again?

You: Mm-hmm.

Mukul: You should come down. There’s someone I want you to meet. He’s… different. You’ll like him.

You: Not in the mood for introductions. Besides, Toby’s down there. Can’t stand him.

Mukul: Fair. But you’ll meet the new guy eventually. He lives near me.

You: Never seen Eddie try this hard in a pickup game. What’s up with that?

Mukul: Guess the new guy got under his skin. But hey, we’re friends now.

You: Where’s he from?

Mukul: Hong Kong. Says he’s half-Filipino. Just moved here last month. Met him at the cricket grounds—he was watching me and my brother practise in the batting cage. Turns out he’s into basketball, so I brought him here.

(Eddie calls Mukul back to the court. Mukul pats your shoulder before heading back. You pack up your sketchbook. Nearby, two squirrels scurry toward you, curious.)

You: Oh, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already.

(You pull a small bag of nuts from your jacket pocket, scattering a handful on the grass. The squirrels grab the nuts before darting back to their tree.)

You: Strong arms, huh? Got a gym up there in the branches?

(You glance back at the court. The group is laughing and shouting. The boy looks up again. This time, your gaze lingers a moment longer before you turn to leave.)

You: Something about him feels… familiar.

(As the sun climbs higher in the sky, you walk away, disappearing into the trees.)

(Posted on 21.1.2025)

#MysteriousEncounterWithABoy