By Martin H.
Jan. 6, 2011
The Girl Behind the Piano
I've always admired talent, cultural talent, especially.
She appeared for the first time at our high school one day,
with neck length hair, dark and shiny. With a fair complexion,
soft and gentle voice,she looked as if the lead actress
had walked off a romance drama.
Needless to say, as a young man of her age group,
my buddy and I were quite ecstatic at her arrival in our school.
In the beginning we would talk about her, just as fans
would report "sightings" of their favorite celebrity!
And when she played the piano, there's that special aura
of confidence and elegance radiating from her.
And so the two good friends who would talk about everything,
from computers to basket ball, to Michael Jackson, to girls,
would be confronted with what friends would inevitably face:
Of what to do next,
when they have admiration
for the same girl.
But this is quite natural, for like-mindedness brings
people together in friendship. This'd be just an example
of that like-mindedness.
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One day, while on the bus going to school, my good friend
turned to me and asked:
"How about it Martin?"
"This girl, would you want to make a move first?"
He had a smirk on his face.
I knew he didn't really mean it - he was just testing my reaction.
"No, you go ahead." I answered.
Sure, there was certainly plenty of good will for her:
I like hearing her Taipei accent
when she speaks Mandarin,
the feminine appearance
of her written Chinese,
and her flair for the piano.
Being a student of the Chinese culture,
I'd admire people who excel in it.
It was just very nice that this person happens to be her.
But there is a gap between admiring someone and actually
wanting to be romantically involved. Simply being acquainted
with her was good enough for me.
Besides, it's my gut feeling that she deserves someone
who is more refined and cultured. The both of us, my buddy and I,
were still a little rough on the edges.
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Graduation came and went, and I traveled half a world back
to my birthplace for college.
Since I had grown up overseas, Taiwan was somewhat unfamiliar.
I am a stranger at "home", but everybody was nice and cordial,
and many new bonds of friendship were formed.
But yes, at times I did indeed feel lonesome,
having to survive the bootcamp-like academics
and being alone in the dorms during the long breaks.
Even a romantic fling did not substitute for being with family.
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In the following year, she returned to Taiwan for college too.
At last, the only other person from our alma mater in all of
Taiwan!
Her university was up north, but I could pay a visit
on the same, though occassional, trips to see my relatives in Taipei.
The cold winds of autumn was already swirling up the leaves as
I called her name from under her dormitory window.
She poked her head out.
"Hi!"
It's good to see a friend from the past,
the girl behind the piano....
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