My mind is full of fictional characters, full-length movies that only I could watch, stories that only I could make, and novels that only I could read. If I could become a superhero I would call myself Captain Introbert. Pun intended.
Robert and Cherry are neighbors. Does Cherry knows that? I guess not.
Once upon a time, in a city wherein literature is almost obsolete, lives a little boy named Robert. This boy, unlike any other normal boys, loves to read books. Due to his introvert nature, his interaction with the regular boys in town seems awkward. He is easily intimidated with the boys about his age being so cool and all. All the boys in that town love to play basketball, and all the girls in that town admire boys who play basketball. Although he knew a little about playing basketball, he knew his capacity, and he knew he would be trying hard.
This is Robert’s regular afternoon — he sits alone along one of the court’s benches, watches the other kids play basketball, and wishes that he can play as good as the other kids too. But unlike any other regular afternoon, a girl named Cherry sits directly opposite his direction. Since the day he met that girl, he’s already into her. The girl doesn’t know anything about Robert. She doesn’t even know that there’s a boy named Robert, for Cherry’s eyes are always glued to the famous boy in town, Jasper.
Robert is the new guy in town. His family decided to transfer there a month ago, for his father’s best friend resides in that town. They moved to a house beside his father’s best friend. The day Robert’s family moved into that house, he saw a girl about his age. The girl was so beautiful, and most of all, the girl reads. He thought of introducing himself to the girl he had just seen, but decided not to for he thought it would creep out the girl. He wanted to know her name so badly, but Robert’s shy nature kept him from befriending the girl and kept him from knowing her name. He thought to himself, “Good. First day of moving in and I already have a crush on this girl-next-door.” Of course he was being sarcastic.
Robert already knows the story of his father’s best friend. For a thousand times his father would tell him such stories. His best friend being his partner in crime, his best friend having this beautiful daughter, his best friend having a what? How could he forgot? Of course his father would always tell Robert that his best friend has a beautiful daughter. Could that be, could that be her? Robert’s thoughts cram when he remembered this cliche stories about his father’s best friend, now all those stories are being useful. “What’s her name? What’s her name? Whatsername?!” He pounded his head in desperation trying to recall the name of the girl in his father’s stories. He thought he would not forgot the girl’s name. When he first heard the name of the girl, he thought to himself, “What a silly name. A girl named after a fruit.” But now, he cursed for not paying too much attention about the girl’s name. He would even make a joke about the girl’s name, What is a fruit, and also a name? Of course Cherry! That’s it! Thanks to his mocking point of view, he was able to remember the name of the girl he once called the fruit-named girl.
If not for that day, he would never know the point of naming someone after a fruit.
He knows everything about Cherry. He knows that she performs on theaters, he knows that she reads books, he knows that she is beautiful, he knows that Cherry admires someone who can play basketball. But does Cherry even know that they are neighbors? I guess not.
Although Robert, when described by other kids being lousy, not cool, and wimpy, he is actually inclined to arts. Anything about arts — photography, poetry, painting, and music but exclude the singing part. There are only two passions Robert has in life, anything about arts, and anything for Cherry.
God knows how much Robert loves Cherry. Is that even love? Is that love at first sight? He doesn’t know, but all he knows is that he wanted Cherry so badly.
Being able to know almost everything about someone you love dearly, is not always beneficial. The truth may either hurt you, or it would put you in the edge of advantage. Robert knows that. Robert knows that Cherry is in love with Jasper. He knows that because Cherry’s eyes tells so much, they tell so much when she looks at that boy. Robert knows that she’s already in love with Jasper before Robert had set foot in their town. Robert is not surprised to know why the love of his life already loves somebody. Cherry and Jasper goes to the same school. They meet everyday. They could be together for at least 8 hours a day. But what does Robert have? He only have a minute or two to see her every time she comes home from school. A slim chance, aye?
One day, the odds decided to favor Robert. As he was passing by in front of Cherry’s house, he noticed that the girl was sitting alone at the stairway of their doorstep. The girl seemed to be sad, holding nothing but a book. Her eyes heavy and weary. Now was Robert’s chance to talk to the girl. He took unwilling steps towards her, yet his eagerness to befriend her convinced him to go and talk to her. He found himself standing in front of the girl. The point of no return, he thought. Cherry wondered why all of a sudden the place turned dark. Of course somebody was standing in front of her. In a rather annoyed manner, she closed her book, put into her laps, and looked up to the person who blocked the source of light she needed for reading. Standing in front of her was a boy. Of course, it would always be boys who bother her.
“Do you want chocolates?”
“And who are you? Sorry I don’t talk to strangers. Most likely I won’t be accepting chocolates from strangers.” Although Cherry did want to have the chocolates, she brushed the idea of getting what she badly needed at the moment. Under any circumstances, she would gladly accept those chocolates, given that she won’t be bothered by someone, especially when she’s feeling her moment.
“I believe I am no stranger, miss. I live next to your house. My name is –”
“Robert!”
She sat up immediately holding the book, while she fixed herself to make herself presentable in front of Robert’s presence. How could Cherry knew Robert? Could it be that her father also tells stories about him? Even if her father did, Robert was sure that he was only mentioned as the son of his best friend. He doubt that her father would tell interesting stories about him. She managed to make an embarrassed smile while extending her hand to Robert.
A touch of an angel. He didn’t expect to hold her hand especially on their first meeting. He handed the chocolates to her. Although Robert knew that everyone loves chocolates, he didn’t knew that chocolates were Cherry’s favorite. That was her anti-depressant, her stress remover. They spent the entire day talking and getting to know each other. The following afternoons were just like the very first day they met. They spent the afternoons exchanging stories, talking about themselves, anything that would interest them. Until such time Cherry doesn’t show any interests about their conversations anymore. His stories no longer amuse her. And as the fleeting days of happiness came to an end, Robert decided to stop this madness.
Vowing that he would always love Cherry, he decided to become a superhero. He decided to have superpowers just like what she told him she would always want to have. But Robert was no superhero. Robert was just a mere artist, a lover of both art and Cherry. He decided to create his imaginary world. He wrote it all down into stories hoping that Cherry would pay even a little attention to what he made. Even though how great Robert’s imagination was, he knew that all his efforts were pointless. Soon enough, he created a flawed superhero. He created the infamous Captain Introbert.
Name: Captain Introbert
Name Origin: Derived from the word introduction, and the name Robert. The two were combined and the name Introbert was created.
Special Abilities: Capable of making wonderful stories. Did I say story introductions?
Other Informations: Captain Introbert was an introvert (as to what his name closely resembles).
Note to readers:
Well, this entry is far from what I’ve expected.
Radioactive Walkie Talkie Invasion 