Page 16 of The Masks We Wear
I turn to see Jamal rushing up to me. He puts both hands on my shoulders and says, “I like the real you—the you without the mask, darlin’.”
Before I can form a cohesive thought, he pulls me in and put his lips on mine. Just like that first night, the entire city turns to black and white as I fade into this kiss. Superhero—no, Jamal—is everything. He wipes away every lonely thought I’ve ever had, every insecurity I’ve ever held, all in one simple touch.
When he pulls back, we both catch our breath. “Wow…” I whisper.
He smiles, then glances back at the cab, and panic flashes in his eyes. “I uh…don’t wanna be late.”
“I know,” I say, nodding at the sidewalk.
“Firass has my number. Um…text me?”
“Okay, yeah.” I nod so hard I’m afraid my head will pop off.
He smiles and pecks me on the cheek quickly, and I just about melt. With that, he’s off to his cab and his flight back home.
I don’t know whether to cheer or break down and cry. All I know is what we shared on Halloween wasn’t an illusion and it wasn’t a fluke—just maybe, it might be the beginning of something real.
PART 9: JUNG
[OCTOBER AFTER SENIORYear]
You’ll never feel as old as a fresh college graduate partying with undergrads. I adjust my red jacket with dangling badges—the appropriate last-minute attire since I decided to dress up as a generic prince this Halloween. I’m surrounded by throngs of drunk young adults, all clad in colorful costumes, trying to hook up with each other. Was it really five months ago that I was one of them? If I wasn’t still tight with Serena and the other now-seniors, there’s no way I would have come here.
Being part of a prestigious dance company has been keeping me busy. I thought I could keep my college days behind me, but when I was invited to the annual Halloween party, I caved immediately. My heart panged with some tenuous hope to relive a memory, so now here I am, sipping some shitty beer in the corner, feeling ancient.
For crying out loud, I’m a performing artist in New York City; I should be content, happy, and not want anything to do with the past. But I still pine for someone I barely know. Jamal and I texted a few times over the summer, but it felt so unnatural and platonic. He’s crazy busy studying for his med school exams, and I’ve been preoccupied getting a new apartment and performing regularly. Even if he did want to visit, then what? A relationship can’t be built on a long-distance foundation, it just can’t.
It seems Kitty Cat and Superhero will only be a memory.
Because I want to torture myself, I trash my cup and head upstairs. My body is on autopilot as I walk through that top apartment to the terrace I see in my dreams. Opening the door, I’m struck with a vision of Jamal and I kissing with no regard to who’s watching.But wait, why is my hair so long?
“Oh, uh hey!” Two random freshmen in cowboy and cowgirl costumes break apart and greet me. Oh, this wasn’t a memory—two actual people stand before me, red-faced, with swollen lips. It seems I’m not the only one who uses this terrace for some alone time, and I’ve accidentally interrupted their kiss. “We were just…”
“My bad,” I mutter, covering my eyes.
Before I can leave, they brush past, me giggling. The girl is leading the way, and the boy seems star-struck at his date.Ah, college kids—the magic of Halloween never disappoints their hormones.
It wasn’t that long ago I was in their shoes. Now that I’m alone, I lean on the stone ledge, gazing out at the buildings before me. Tonight was supposed to be fun, but really, it’s been a tad depressing. I already feel so far removed from my undergrad party days. Even if missing Jamal was out of the equation, this really isn’t my scene anymore. The friends I’ve made at the dance company are all older.
That’s the life I need to focus on. I can’t keep dwelling on the past. I turn around with every intention of going downstairs to say goodbye to my friends, but a figure in the doorway stops me. My breath hitches when I spot a man in dark jeans and a Spider-Man mask.No way…
“I gotta say, darlin’—” he steps forward—“I miss the Kitty Cat costume.”
I can’t find the ability to say his name before he puts me out of my misery and rips off the mask. Jamal’s perfect grin makes my heart cascade into fireworks. Before I even realize it, I grab his face and crash my mouth onto his. He falters for a moment in shock, then kisses me back, a soothing taste on my tongue.
If this is another Halloween illusion, I don’t want to wake up.
When I pull back, I place my forehead on his as we both catch our breaths. He chuckles and says, “I guess you missed me, darlin’?”
I laugh, then sober up and pull away. “Shit, Jamal. I didn’t even ask if you had a boyfriend! I bet you’re not even single. Now I’m here assaulting you, and…and…”
I stammer and he has the audacity to laugh. “Jung, baby, I ain’t datin’ anyone!” He leans in and rubs my shoulders. “So you can get yer trousers out of the twist, because it’s just us.”
My breathing calms down, and I gaze into his eyes. I take in the faint wisps of facial hair and freckles, and I breathe in his perfect scent. “I…didn’t know you were coming.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise. My bad.” He shrugs with an adorable apologetic grin. “I texted Serena to make sure you were here.”
“You did?”
