The Rooftop

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CHAPTER 24: THE ROOFTOP

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The rooftop was quiet.

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It was Sunday. No school. No students. No teachers. Just the roof and the water tank and the sky above the neighbourhood.

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I came here when I had nowhere else to be. Which was often.

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I sat down against the water tank and looked at the city. The trains went by. The clouds moved. The world continued.

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The door opened.

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Ren appeared. He had his sketchbook under his arm and a can of coffee in his hand. He sat down next to me without asking permission.

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"Thought you'd be here," he said.

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"How?"

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"You're predictable."

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"Am I?"

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"You come here when you're thinking. You go to the library when you're not. You walk when you're somewhere in between."

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I looked at him.

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"You notice things."

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"I'm an artist."

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"That's not the same thing."

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"It's close enough."

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───

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We sat in silence for a while.

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He drew. I looked at the city. The trains went by. The clouds moved.

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At some point, he said, "I saw you with Mei."

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"When?"

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"Thursday. I was walking home and I saw you walk her to her apartment."

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"Okay."

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"She never lets anyone walk her home."

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"I know."

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"She let you."

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"I know."

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He stopped drawing.

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"Why do you think that is?"

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I thought about it.

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"Because I didn't ask," I said.

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He looked at me.

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"That doesn't make sense."

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"It makes perfect sense. She doesn't want someone who asks. She wants someone who stays."

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He stared at me for a long time. Then he went back to drawing.

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"You're weird," he said.

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"I know."

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"I like it."

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I didn't say anything. He didn't say anything else.

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We sat there until the sun went down. 62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy04sziPLpH

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