"The Headphones"

by: Annika Bengzon 9C 

When you meet someone, you have no idea what to expect. Will you love them? Hate them? Fall in love, be friends or mortal enemies with them? No one really knows what the Universe has in plan for two souls that happen to be at the right place at the right time. Sometimes, two souls deeply in love will have that love forever. Who knows, maybe he was everything she was looking for, and she was everything he wanted to avoid. Love breaks boundaries, and that’s exactly what these two were. One lonely, cold night in the middle of January started this journey that these two young kids could never forget. She was in a coffee shop, all alone, browsing through a new book, while sipping a cup of coffee. He was across the room, just observing her. He noticed how lonely she looked. Every time her phone would ring, she would look hopeful, then disappointed. Turns out, they were headed on the same bus home. It was 8:07 pm when he first spoke to her. Headphones in her ear, looking out the window, he tapped her shoulder and said, “What are you listening too?” She took out her headphones and said, “I’m not listening to anything. I just didn’t want anyone to talk to me.” That’s all was supposed to be. Small talk. Turns out, they went to the same school. He was just a year older. He started to see her everywhere, almost like God was telling him something. He caught her in the hallway and said, “Oh hi, girl that wears headphones so no one will talk to her.” She sarcastically replies, “Actually, the name is Annika, not whatever you just said.” He just says, “Hahaha, very funny, Annika. I’m Angelo.” And that’s where it all began, these two would catch each other everywhere, in school, in the coffee shop, pretty much everywhere. One day, he realized he really liked this girl and decided to tell her. At the same time, she was ranting to her best friend how much she likes him but she doesn’t want to. Basically, after a lot of arguing, they went on their first date. One turned into two, then three and then they established they loved each other, a few months after they really got together. They would always fight about the boy she once loved. When he first saw her, the phone call she was waiting for was from him. She was heartbroken when she found out he had taken an interest into another girl in her class, she waited in that coffee shop, where they would always go, for his call to tell her he was joking. He always pulled pranks on her. He was jealous of her relationship with him. She always told him that she was better off without the other guy and she felt so much happier with him. She was not lying, although he didn’t believe her. They got passed it after he saw the guy with another girl, and she was not hurt one bit and actually was happy that they were both happier without each other and happier with the people they were with now. After he graduated high school, he waited for her. They went to the same college, he studied advertising and she studied literature. They went through a rough patch in college. Big fight, massive break up, spent five months not talking to each other, but they could not not have each other. After she turned 24, in the middle of January the next year, they got married in their hometown. Their marriage vows included that same joke about her being anti-social on their bus ride home. He always thanks her conscience that she actually spoke to him on that bus ride home. She said, “As long as the person doesn’t look like he or she would harm me, I would probably reply to them. Don’t flatter yourself.” The priest reminded them about what she was thinking in that moment, “God has brought you together for a reason. You said that she would appear everywhere. God was telling you something. And the second time you talked to her, I bet God was so happy for both of you that you did. He is proud of you both.” A couple of years later, both extremely happy, with a dog, she had a successful book out, him heading the advertising department of a big company. They had a boy. Two years later, two more dogs, a little boy who loves toy cars, more successful books and an advertising business of their own, they had a baby girl. That was exactly what they wanted. God luckily gave it to them. They were proud of their achievements, their kids and even their dogs, but mostly of each other. Looks like the Universe had a really good plan for them after all. 

Reflection: “Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his wife.” That is always why you must be friends first before you date, and much more before you get married. Many marriages are built on the foundation that is friendship. As best and true friends, you must love each other unconditionally despite fights and flaws, the trust and loyalty you have for each other. And the fact you would never ever give up on each other despite all the rough patches you both have. That is like marriage,that is why you must not just be lovers, but friends first. Proverbs 5:18-19 says: “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.”