[the writer] and then he kissed me

That was a year ago. I smiled weakly at the thought of those moments. Long gone.

I stood at the balcony, watching him. From a safe distance. Kyle manning his exhibition booth. Of god knows what. Funny. I have no idea what it was, he was representing.

And my eyes, they were only capable of taking in his form. But I was over him. It all ended when I left University and went back East. But right now, without apparent reason, the sight of Kyle seemed to interest me.

I stood pondering. Trying to figure out the kind of guy he was. What kind of guy has the ability to cause someone constant heartache? And seemed to thrive on it?

He was the only guy to have done so to me. An exception, that Kyle. Because prior to him, I was the one to do the heartbreaking.
Cold hearted, selfish, player, Kyle. Distant and untouchable. Even now.

'He's not nice you know.'

I turned and came face to face with her.

'I mean, he looks nice. But he is not,' she said again, her eyes in a glaze, staring at Kyle's distant figure.

'Oh nooo... no...no... You must think...no.. I am not looking at him.. I do not fancy him or anything.. I am checking out the exhibit. Kyle is an old friend...' I idiotically stumbled.

'Uh-huh.'

Her eyes met mine. Unconvinced. 'And so am I. I'm Ellie.'

And we began to talk. As strangers do.

Within the span of four days during that exhibition event, I tried to develop a sort of real friendship between Ellie and me. But for some reason, Ellie had created a barrier. A wall. Just like Kyle.

Could it be bitterness? I wondered as she stood at Kyle's side. Kyle's colleague. Manning that booth with him. And there I stood. Compulsively and continously standing at the same balcony spot. Observing Kyle. And then Ellie.

At that instant, she looked up at me. Eyes, knowing. I waved at her enthusiastically and hurriedly walked away. Chiding myself for getting caught staring at them both.

'Hey..'

I turned around to face Ellie who had managed to race to me. Yet, she was unaffected by the running. What stamina... I thought to myself.

'Read this,' she cooly handed me a small book. Black in colour.

'And you will see the list of Kyle's conquests.'

She walked off, leaving me in my shaky hands.. Kyle's black book.