No Ordinary Friendship - 1. No Ordinary Friendship

I met him at a corner. He asked me to show him around in the city, since he had only recently arrived. I watched the traffic lights, ignoring him. But he continued talking to me in a very loud voice. He had an accent that I was not familiar with. He followed me when I crossed the road. Finally I turned to him and asked him to leave me alone. I spoke to him impatiently.

To my surprise, he smiled at me. I had a closer look at him. He had Asian features. However, something about him was disturbing me. I was not able to figure it out. It was just a feeling I had.

I looked at my watch and told him that I was in a hurry. He gave me a questioning look and pointed at the sun that was high in the sky.

"The day is not yet done," he said, smiling briefly.

"Listen," I said, "I have an appointment in about twenty minutes. I need to hurry. Else, I will be late."

I looked him up and down when he did not reply. He was dressed in jeans and a gray sweater. I saw he was barefoot. I gazed at his feet for a moment or two. He interrupted my thoughts with a giggle.

"I have to go," I said, turning away.

Then I looked back, just to notice that he had gone. I sighed and shook my head, before I quickly moved on.

I arrived at my dentist in time and entered the waiting room. The first thing I spotted was a pair of shoes on the floor of the room. The door opened. I turned around and saw the stranger I had met in the street. He gave no sign of recognition. I watched him pick up his shoes.

"Strange coincidence," I started.

He smiled and held out his shoes to me. I looked at him. He eagerly nodded.

"Those are not mine," I said. "I rather think they’re yours."

"I’m pretty sure that you are mistaken," the man said in a serious voice. I made a step back, and then left the room. I turned to the dentist’s receptionist.

"Can I help you?" the girl asked, raising an eyebrow.

I hesitated. "I’m fine," I finally said.

The door opened. The man walked toward me with his shoes in his hands.

"Those shoes are made for walking," he said.

The receptionist smiled. They both turned to me. I found that I disliked their grins.

"I think I better come back some other day," I said, turning to the door slowly.

From this day on, I met him daily. Sometimes he spoke to me. Sometimes he just looked at me and smiled. He always held his shoes in his hands. I finally gave up asking him why he did not put them on. I came to accept his odd behaviour. We became very good friends. His name is Akuma. He’s from South Korea.

I recently invited my mother for lunch. Akuma joined us at the table. I gladly did the introductions. My mother gazed at me. I was surprised to see tears in her eyes.

The same evening I moved to another apartment. It’s quiet there. There’s a beautiful garden. I saw a doctor every morning. We talked a lot. I enjoyed his company. I told him that I missed Akuma. My friend had stayed with me for a while, before he had left early one morning. I had watched him walk away. Strangely, I was not surprised to see that he had put on his shoes. Those shoes were made for walking.

I have not yet figured out where exactly Akuma came from and why he wanted to be with me. I think of him sometimes. But the memory is fading. I still think that I am an ordinary man.

~~**~~