#Oh wait one more thing did everyone see the thumbnail switching today?? Crazy

[thesoulmatecountdown]

You'll Know

You’ll know when you see him.

They say that you’ll just know. There is no real basis when it comes to feelings. Even I know that.

I’ve had this timer for as long as I can remember, and I can remember very well. I can remember even the day I was first given a vaccine all those years ago.

That’s why I’m confident that once I see you, your image will be forever imprinted in my mind.

01:02:05:23:07

These numbers on my wrist will tell.

Maybe when I graduate or maybe when I go shopping. I have no idea when I’ll meet them.

I rarely go out and I don’t even socialize so I don’t know how I’ll meet them. The only thing I do is lay on my bed browsing the web on my phone. Just like today.

I flipped the pillow so that the cold side touches my cheek. I’m lying on my side and my arm is starting to go numb so I stretch it out.

For more than three hours I’ve been doing nothing but swiping on my phone.

I open my YouTube app, in the mood to look at the latest videos.

There’s this new anime that people keep on raving on and on about. I click on a thumbnail and am greeted by the sound of words that I can almost understand. Perhaps I still need a few more years of studying Japanese.

Before I noticed, I’m far from watching anime as I’ve gone on to watching videos with real people. Such is the way things are in YouTube.

I absently click on the thumbnails and the videos recommended to me to watch before I grow tired and just click on the ‘auto-play’ switch.

The announcer speaks a foreign language I’m not familiar with. I hear some words being repeated over and over again, it’s on the title of the video. A name, I guess.

Then suddenly the camera angle changes and zooms in to a boy- a man maybe, and I stop.

The timer on my wrist tingles and I keep my eyes locked on you. Memorizing every detail I can.

You glide and you smile at the people watching you in the stands. You wave your hand around before going to the center and performing your piece.

You move like a girl yet there’s still that musculinity in you and I don’t know why that makes me so happy. Maybe because I’m pansexual and you seem like an all in one package?

You give your final bow and the video stops and the next one plays.

I’ll know when I see him.

..

“I found him.” I tell my best friend when I all but ran to her house right after I saw the video.

She’s frowning, “Who is he? Where? He’s a he?”

We were both so convinced that it was going to be female that I never would have believed my soulmate was a male. Until now that is.

“I haven’t me him. He’s not here.”

“Then how did you find him?”

“I saw him, babe. I was watching this video on YouTube and he was there.”

“You saw him in a video?! Show me!”

I was then promptly tackled to he bed.

..

“You sure know how to pick 'em, bitch,” she grinned.

She continued, “Yours go off in less than two years right?”

I nod.

“We definitely need to go to whatever country he’s in then.”

I slink down, “I know.”

“It’s not in our plans to go to another country so early, but what the hell. You’re 18 by then right?”

“Yeah, but you’re still 17.”

“Shit. You’ll have to go alone then. Sorry, babe.”

..

I told my Mom and my Sisters when I got back. They were ecstatic.

Mom was so happy that she almost rushed to finalize my papers to go to whatever country you’re in at that time. But I told her that I wanted to follow what was written on my wrist and they let it be.

I focused on my studies and achieved my dream of being the top in my batch. I was part of many events and excelled in many subjects but I never followed through the teachers’ advice to run for the Student Council position.

I wasn’t really a sociable person.

Through those times I remained as the introvert I always was and studied the lessons in advance in my room.

The only thing that was incredibly hard for me to excel in was in P.E.. I’ve never been the athletic type and I never will be.

Ironic, isn’t it?

..

Time passed so quickly and I was given permission to board a plane and fly to whatever country you were in two days before my timer stopped.

I was having a lot of fun touring in a foreign country without anyone imposing schedules on me or dragging me along with them.

It was a nice break.

Your game was on tomorrow and I couldn’t wait to see you in person and I’ve already bought a ticket and all I’m waiting for is for time to speed up so that we can meet already.

..

I didn’t do any extra preparations for today.

I didn’t do my hair in styles. I didn’t doll myself up. I didn’t wear any make up. I didn’t put on heels. I didn’t have any accessories on me.

For no other reason besides the fact that I wanted to meet the real you so badly and I believe that you would rather meet the real me.

There were so many cameras and almost everyone in the audience had gift they were going to give to you and all the other contestants.

Not long after, the warm-ups started and I just can’t tear my eyes off of you. The performances started soon after that and I couldn’t even pay attention to those who went before you.

When you went to the center, you raised your hand.

I’m so far behind that I couldn’t really see the numbers on your wrist but they looked similar to mine. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part?

I’m so glad I wore my contacts today because I get to see you clearly and you’re not just a blur moving around and around in front of me.

My eyes follow your every move, once again imprinting all that I can to memory.

The crowd goes wild each time you’re successful in doing moves so difficult that I know I’ll never be able to do even once in my whole life.

All throughout the event, with you in my sight, my wrist never stops tingling.

It’s you. I know it’s you.

..

I don’t even know how I’ll approach you. There are guards and there’s the police and I don’t want to look like a crazy fan when we finally meet. But I battle on and head to the lobby where all the other fans who want to at least catch a glimpse of you are waiting.

I glance at my wrist.

00:00:00:00:05:27

So close. It’s almost time and I can’t wait to finally, finally, really meet you.

The door opens and all the other contestants are there with their coaches, all chatting happily with smiles on their faces. The crowd goes a bit wild but it’s really not like a riot will start when they’re asking for autographs and selfies so mannerly.

Then you come through the door and you’re whipping your head left and right, searching. Searching for me.

And I just smile knowingly because if I didn’t already know it was you then that’s what I’d be doing too.

You glance at your wrist and at this much smaller distance between us I can finally see it a bit clearer than before. Still not the exact numbers though.

00:00:00:00:00:##

And I look at mine.

00:00:00:00:00:54

I feel myself flush with both embarassment and anticipation, but I pay it no mind as I go on and do what I came to do.

I call out your name.

You turn your head towards me and I burn the image of you smiling so cheerfully in my mind because I never want to forget such a precious expression on your face.

00:00:00:00:00:19

Ten long, quick strides are all it takes for you to reach me. Standing beside the swarm of fans who couldn’t really reach you.

00:00:00:00:00:07

I can’t stop smiling as I move closer to you as well. Fully intent on meeting you halfway.

The people seem to stop as they finally realize your presence but stop themselves from approaching because you seem like you’re in the middle of something. Something important.

And you are. You’re in the middle of meeting your soulmate. You’re in the middle of meeting me.

00:00:00:00:00:03

You stand infront of me and offer your hand for me to shake.

00:00:00:00:00:02

I keep myself from glomping you right then and there, keeping in mind that there are so many cameras around us and I don’t want you to be talked badly about because of me.

00:00:00:00:00:01

I take your outsretched hand and find relief in the fact that I’m not the only one nervous about this.

Your hands were sweaty too.

00:00:00:00:00:00

I feel a current flowing from our touching skin to the timer on my wrist and I’m electrified by it.

To my surprise, while I forbid myself from glomping you or hugging you, that didn’t apply to you too.

You tug on my hand, which is still in yours as I didn’t withdraw it immediately from the handshake.

Your arms are wrapped around me and you’re so cold and so warm at the same time. But I didn’t care as I hugged back with my free hand.

“Hi, it’s nice to finally meet you.” I look up.

“I can honestly say the same.” he once again smiles that oh so cheerful smile and I can almost see flowers blooming around him.

You’ll know when you meet him.

Now I understand what they meant by those words.

#submission #happy ending #the soulmate countdown