I was in my favourite café surrounded by gorgeous foliage and fancy stained glass windows, enjoying my very green matcha tea, that I drink more because of its colour than its taste, and because it transports me to another part of the world, and to a past I feel melancholic about. I was happy but feeling that things could improve with company. I tried to read but my mind keep wandering somewhere else, reminding me that I was alone. I started thinking about friends, imagining what they were up to. M&P would be trekking in some exotic location such as the Amazonian forest in Brazil; they are always full of stories and looking tanned and beautiful like they know how to have fun. S would be with her cats and immersed in some mystical therapy trying to cure herself or others. She intrigues me with her faithful cult to an array of religions. E would possibly be in the cinema. I love how he makes me want to watch any movie he tells me about.
Suddenly, I am back from my dreamy mood when my mobile beeps with a new message. Do you fancy meeting up? I see on the screen. My fingers move faster than my brain can react. Yes, of course. It's just what I need. A second after I realise I've replied without knowing who I am writing to. I was just too keen to see a friend. I think for a second and get slightly nervous as the message has no name and I don't recognise the number. But, I only share my mobile number with friends. For me, it does not matter, I happily meet any of them. I like them all, otherwise we would not be friends. The messenger and I even agreed on a date. It's too late to ask who they are.
Time gets closer to the day of the meeting with the mystery friend. I started getting...interested in knowing who could be. Does it matter? Still, not really. I think it could be O, because we were planning to meet soon as she was going to tell me about her new job. Last time, she could not tell me much as the job is with a TV production company and she had signed an agreement not to disclose what the programme is about. Now she can tell me as it is already live. It's the one where people get a surprise, normally it's something they love that happens to them.
I was also going to meet T soon, as she has miraculously convinced me to go on a trip on a hot air balloon. It's my birthday present. Apparently she thinks I need to get out of my comfort zone! I don't love heights but I am really keen to take photos from the air.
I get a bit more nervous at the day gets closer. I don't like it but I have to ask. Even if I might sound a touch loopy like somebody that would meet just anybody.
Who are you?
They take ages to answer. I guess they are annoyed. If they give me the chance, I will explain. If they are good friends, they will understand.
Finally, I am A!! Would you still meet me even if you know it's me?
I laughed, and let him know with the right emoticon.
We meet only a few days after discovering his identity. He tells me that when he received my message: who are you? He was lost in a features landscape on the Isle...thinking about where he was going with his life, where he came from and who he really was. This is A, my friend, always asking big questions.