Terms of Sensibility

Clara and Paul had been best of friends since they met each other at preschool. They held hands wherever they went as they walked through corridors unabashed. They cried whenever the teachers tried to separate their classes. There was hardly a moment when they were apart.


They soon moved up to elementary school and still nothing would keep them away from each other. They saw each other daily. A added bonus was provided when Paul moved next to Clara's apartment and they were able to walk to school together everyday. Many other children ran around the playground and sports courts. But these special pair merely sat on a bench and talked. You could even say some others were jealous of their close friendship and bonding. True friends were a great privilege hard to come by.


They grew into healthy teens and eventually, Paul began to think more and more about Clara. He felt himself gradually developing feelings for her. It was an indescribable feeling rather. He tried to reason about it to himself, but each time, he found himself going around in mental circles.

On a particularly starry evening, Paul and Clara were walking back home after watching a movie. They were quiet and both deep in thought, revelling peacefully in each other's presence. Paul shoved his hands inside his jean pockets with his shoulders slumped.

Out of the blue, Clara broke through the silence and interrupted Paul's thoughts.

"Paul, I'd like to ask you something, if you wouldn't mind," Clara questioned, her voice shaking slightly. Paul supposed it was the night chill. He removed the jacket he was wearing and handed it to her. She put it on gratefully, continuing, "If say, a girl had liked a boy for a really long time and never said anything about it, would that boy be angry? I figured you'd know more," she ended faintly, her voice trailing off.

Paul stiffened immediately and wondered which guy from school she liked better than him. "I suppose he would be, for a while. But he wouldn't stay angry for long, at least not if he were a sensible enough person."

This seemed to trouble Clara slightly. She stepped a step forward quickly and turned so she was facing Paul and blocking his path. Her lips turned down slightly and she looked contemplative, yet nervous at the same time.

"Well," she paused uncomfortably, looking down at the ground and drawing circles on the pavement with the tip of her sneaker. She looked up again, deeply into his eyes, searching for his reaction before she said anything.

"Are you a sensible guy?"