“A pint of beer?”, a guy sits next to me asked with a gentle voice and soft north accent.

I never consider myself attractive to a man before so I was hesitate in the first. But I’m the only other person there so I guess it’s alright. Although I don’t usually drink beer but killing time is more of my habit.

“Yeah, thanks.” That’s what I could think of as a response.

He nodded and started telling me that he once know a girl who has great taste of books. I know nothing came for free including a beer in my hand. Thus I responded back as I am supposed to.

“So where’s she now?”
“We’re living together”, he responded.
“Then what is intriguing you?”, I’m kind of confused.
“She’s physically with me, but not her soul”, he continued, I’m shrugged.

“Like her mind has gone somewhere else?”
“Nop, and it’s not that she has someone else in mind.
She loves me like before. It just that she’s not the same anymore.”
“She lost her tastes, her senses.
It didn’t happen instantly but gradually losing.
And in the end, there’s nothing left.”
“Well, some say people change. I’m not really on to it but it’s possible though.”

“This wouldn’t be a big problem because I love her, I really do.
But several months ago, I met another girl.”
By this point his voice was lower, much lower. I was not that curious but I moved closer to him.
“I met another girl who seems to has the great taste of books.”
“Like your girlfriend used to has?”, I said slowly.
“Very close, very close”, he said.
“But it’s not just that. I found that she’s starting to lose her tastes, her senses just like my girlfriend.”

Although, I doubted about the details on that kind of tastes losing.
But yet, I felt like it’s no coincidence.
“Are you thinking it’s gonna happen again?”, I looked at his eye.
“I’m afraid so.”, his eyes looked far away.
“It’s going to happen again. Well, it’s actually happening.
The problem is me. I’m gonna eat all of her.
Everything till the last senses, till the last soul.”
He sounded desperate like a guy who is going to live under the sand, under the sea, without returning back.

His voice became flat, the flattest I ever heard
“I know. It’s a curse a girl made to me.”
“Who’s that girl?”
“My first love.”
“I should never leave her.”
“But you did.”
“I had no choices. I was losing my tastes, my senses.”

.

Before I left, I asked him if he knows where is she. He told me he had no idea.
“Why would you like to know?”, he looks kind of doubt.
“You should find her”, I said.
“Do you think if I found her. I could break this curse.”
“I don’t know. But it’s the only thing you need to do. You have to find her.”

I insisted like I know something about it. But no I don’t know anything about it.
It’s the only thing I could think of. The only thing he supposed to do.

.

I stepped into a bus, a night owl bus. I greeted the driver just like this is a fee.
I chose a seat next to a girl. Not that I like but I would say that seat drew me in.

“How was your night?” Her voice made me feel some coldness, but yet strangely appealing.
“I saw you’re from that bar. There’s no way you didn’t walk off with a story.”
“Do you mind to share?”, she said.

I don’t see other choices. Besides, I told you before, killing time is my habit.
Without an interruption, she let me do the speak from the beginning to the end.
She listened like she’s been waiting for this for a very very long time.

In the end, she told me that I suggested that man the right one.
“I’m sure of that.”

It’s kind of strange. Yes, I was the one who insisted to that man.
But her confidence of saying that was uncomparable.
Like she’s the one who made it to him.

It’s hard to believe, I told myself.
But this idea made me decided to step off at the next stop.
I walk along the street without looking to that bus, that owl night bus.

I only wish him luck, I really do.