For next year’s Playground: Inspired by CharleS A.TAN

December 3, 2007 4:58 pm [Posted Dec 4]

The Number 1

[First Draft]

2-1=1

He knew that twins are formed in Meiosis, once the gametes begin forming the sexual organs. He knew he was supposed to be a twin but then he began devouring his twin’s cells on that stage.

Charles was born and he knew it.

He always felt lonely and he knew why.

He knew he was two so he finds himself always a part of two people— two close friends or a couple--- always feeling like he was the number 3 which is really 1, the number most apart from everything.

He doesn’t ask for anything but gives whatever the 2’s need. In fact, he doesn’t need much, almost doesn’t even eat.

“Just water,” he would always say. And no preservatives, no chocolates.

He’s just thin, like the number 1; stark, like the number 1; solitary, like the number 1.

Charles was tired of being alone.

One night, he was with these two, feeling the cold.

She said, “I’m going to fatten you up.”

He shrugged and she laughed. She went back to reading her book while he went back to looking around. They were waiting for the other half of the two.

“I don’t eat chocolates, you know,” she said, still reading her book. That afternoon, he gave her chocolates and she ate them. “But thanks,” she said.

He nodded and hugged himself from the cold.

She laughed again, “I swear I’ll make you eat.”

He laughed, “I’ll just steal warmth from you.”

She laughed, never thinking that he would put his hand on her wrist and hold her.

He did and she felt how cold he was.

“You’re so warm,” he said.

She didn’t pull her hand away, continued reading her book, feeling his hand grow slowly warm, warmer. She wanted to hug him but he was too thin. Besides, she thought, he doesn’t like to be touched.

Then he pulled his hand away.

“It happens, you know,” she suddenly said, “Sometimes a twin eats the twin.”

She didn’t look at him when he looked at her, just continued reading her book, “It’s okay--- to eat.”

That night, he ate Minestrone soup and a salad. She smiled the whole time, barely eating her Porchetta and mushroom rice. After, when they dropped him off at his home, her other half said, “He never says goodbye, not even on the phone. He simply walks away, doesn’t wave, and doesn’t look back.”

Still looking at Charles, she said, “I’m going to find him his love, his number 2.”

But that night, the number 1 had already fallen in love.

1+1 =2

3-1= 2

3-0=1

1

We are all one.

[Transcribing brainwaves: Hahahaha. Blurb: A re-construction of ‘bizarre love triangle’. Hahahaha. ]