Guess who I am

"Scott? What are you calling me for?"

Jacob rolled over and got out of bed, doing a big stretch while holding the phone between his shoulders and ears.

"I borrowed some camera equipment and wanted to film the first part of our interview this morning. I'm in your neighborhood now."

"No, wait a minute, what are you talking about? It's only nine in the morning and it's Saturday! And I thought we didn't start doing interviews until next week?"

"There are several interviews. Well, one interview to be precise, but there are three parts. If we put different parts at different times of the day, it can make this film sublime on an emotional level. Stylistically, It'll look good too."

Jacob found his jeans slung over an armchair, and he hopped—danced across it.No sooner had Scott finished saying "bye" than he clicked the lock screen button, followed by a knock on his front door.

He quickly grabbed a Pink Floyd T-shirt with black checkered sleeves, and slipped himself into it as he walked towards the main entrance.

"You're always so bossy," Jacob said, pushing the door open.

Scott smiled faintly at him, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. "Just because we haven't spoken in the past six months doesn't mean I've changed. I'm still the same person."

I'm still your old best friend—Jacob caught the hint.He said: “So, there will be three parts to the interview. Let me see, one part in the morning, one part between noon and evening, and one part at night?”

Scott stood up straight away from the door frame. "sounds good."

"So how many questions do I have to answer for each section?"

"Yes, listen, I have more ideas than that. I think you will answer some of my questions this morning, and then you will be able to ask me questions in the second part. In the third part, we will ask questions together and take turns answering."

Jacob walked past him outside, onto the porch. "We only have 3 minutes."

"I spend 1 minute asking questions, then you have 1 minute, and the remaining 1 minute is reserved for the third part, and we can ask and answer each other. How?"

He sighed in the morning light, and a cool breeze passed through his sleeves, echoing him silently. "Let's make it quick. There are people from my side coming to see the house at noon. You set up the camera, and I will move the benches to the lawn. I think the campus benches and the garden full of weeds are against the background. The hills in the background should work well."

The background images were really good, but the interview questions surprised him.When Scott said he wanted to do a provocative segment that would capture his reactions to a particular topic, he had more political issues in mind.Like, what he thinks about gay teens being bullied or whatever.He hadn't expected it to be such a personal question.

"The moment I realized I was in love?" he repeated. "Scott, what are you talking about?"

"This is the first question."

"I'm not asking you that."

"Is this question difficult for you to answer?"

"Yes!" It was obvious that Scott was digging into their past, awakening the memories that Jacob had carefully buried.

"why?"

"Because I don't want to talk about it."

"Does this question make you miserable?"

"What do you think? Of course. You left me! I fell in love with you when we were 13 and you winked and gave me your number and said we'd hang out someday. We've been together every day since Together. The only time we were separated was when I went up north for my brother's wedding. I was devastated the whole ceremony and I didn't feel better until I got a text from you at the reception saying you too Missed me and we started text bombing each other. We stuck together almost every day, I loved those times, thought it could go on forever - and you get bored first. I waited a day, waited a week, waited again A month, wishing you'd say you miss me again. But you didn't. I saw you one night and you laughed and danced and kissed another man—"

Jacob turned his head to look at the magnolia tree beside the sidewalk, not at Scott.He stood up from the bench. "So, yes, this question pains me."

"Wait!" Scott yelled at him, "I'm sorry. Damn. I just wanted to—"

But Jacob cut him off. "I'll listen to you when you answer my question. Until then, I don't want to hear it." Then he went into the house and closed the door.

He sat with his knees hugged at the door, and when he heard Scott tidy up the equipment and leave, he hit the wooden door with the back of his head.

When he looked at Scott, he could no longer feel any spark.His heart has been calm for a long time, so he doesn't want Scott to think of him suddenly after so long.But he still surprised himself by his reaction to that question, which really pained him.The memory fragments that shook off after him once made him happy, but now they only make him sad.It's not like he's trying to mend the relationship with Scott and bring Scott back to him again, because he never did.

But... he wishes he could come out - put the pain in the past so he could start over and maybe find love again someday.For that, however, it was also necessary for him to understand what had gone wrong between him and Scott.

he needs……

He needs a complete end.

He sighed, shook his watch so that the dial moved to the center of his wrist, and checked the time.It didn't take him long to figure out what questions to ask Scott during the interview.

***

"So," Jacob said, letting Daniel walk into his house and look around, "you're the one who studies philosophy, right?"

Before entering the door, Daniel ran his hand through his light blond hair, which was soaked by the rain, to wipe off the water droplets.He smiled brightly at Jacob, showing two dimples. "Why do you think so?"

"Ah, because of that phone call, I think—"

Daniel gasped. "You didn't use the word 'deduce'?" He put his wet suit by the door.

Jacob blinked blankly.Is this guy serious? ——

"I was just kidding you." Daniel patted his arm. "Let's take a look at this place. As for your question, well, I study philosophy. I have been involved in all five branches of philosophy, but I don't know which one I want to specialize in yet. I like logic, but I'm also interested in normative ethics, so ethics is my second choice, but..." He paused, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Well, gentle reminder, I'm really easy to get carried away with this stuff. If I'm too verbose, hit me on the back of the head and I usually stop."

That insanely bright smile is back, and it's... well, contagious.

Is this Mr. X?

Jacob took him to the kitchen.Jacob looked at Daniel as he asked questions.He was half a head shorter than him, but his body was about the same width as him, and his hands were in the pockets of his loose trousers, and he could still move around restlessly.But he seemed to have a little impression of this guy... "Have we met before?" Jacob asked suddenly.

Daniel looked at him and shook his head. "I don't think so. Unless you're asking if we've met in a previous life, and if that's the case, I have to admit that most of the time I don't know much about philosophy of mind and metaphysics. I should really read more on that. "

"No-no, that's not what I meant. I just-oh!" Jacob stood up from the stool he was leaning on. "I know I've seen you somewhere before. Our political philosophy class. The substitute teacher is—"

"Professor Staw?"

"Correct."

"Yeah, we're sure to get along." Daniel walked over to Jacob's radio in the kitchen, which Jacob liked to keep turned on so that the house he lived in alone wouldn't be too quiet. "You're still listening to Radio One." Daniel raised his arms and danced a little with his hips twisted. "Wow, that's great. Nice place. Shall we continue the tour?"

Jacob laughed. "Yes, ah, when it comes to travel, how should I say it, I have a question: have you ever been to Europe?"

***

"This is the bathroom," Jacob said to Zane.Zane reached out and grabbed the top of the door, his movements were casual and elegant.

Zane smiled at him in the mirror, then glanced briefly around the bathroom.

"This shower is a little small," Jacob said, "but the water pressure is great."

The man laughed. "Some people think it's small, and some people think it's just right." He put his hand down and walked towards the cabinet. "You know, if you want to know a person, just look at his shelf."

After speaking, he opened the cabinet.The things on the shelves probably have a classification, but they are not particularly neat.From this, you can really see Jacob's character.

Zane pulls out a box of condoms. "For example, like this one. You're pretty safe, yes, I like it."

The guy was surprisingly confident, and Jacob had to admit it was charming.Honestly, the man's every move is full of charm.

"Ah, yes. Safety first. I've always been careful, and I always will be."

Zane smiled slightly. "Very good. That's great to hear. By the way, the floor tiles are so beautiful, the interlacing aesthetic that mimics the texture of wood is awesome. Every time I pop out after a comfortable shower, I can Remember how long I haven't been to church."

This person is very hurt, but also quite funny.

"If you really live in it."

"Really." He blinked. "Please, Xiaoya, Jacob, choose me!"

This guy is quite approachable and easygoing, and he can really imagine what it would be like to live with him. "I'll definitely answer that for you. But I have two questions for you. For example, would you clean your house once a week if the rent was lower for you?"

Zane laughed. "Ah, man, your shelves are much neater than mine." He straightened up, stepped back hastily, and explained. "I mean, I'm going to do my best to tidy up my stuff, you know, cleaning up and stuff from time to time. We could take turns cleaning the bathroom or something, but I'd rather do it more than clean up every week Pay some money."

Well, it's clear that Zane really wants to rent this room.He might have rented the house to Zane on the spot, had it not been for Mr. X's unresolved business.

He motioned Zane out of the bathroom. "Okay," he said, "but I have one more person to interview before I can start deciding who to rent the house to."

They go out.

"Do you have any other questions for me?" Zane asked as he began to put on his wet clothes and went back outside into the rain.

"Actually, uh," Jacob began. "Just out of curiosity, have you been to Europe before?"

***

"The bedroom is well lit."

Ahh!Jim sneezes for the third time in a minute. "Y-sorry," he said. "I got caught in the rain."

Jacob could see that Jim's long-sleeved T-shirt was wet and clinging to him.He must have noticed he was looking at him because he blushed and said, "Well, I should get a new coat, obviously the one I'm wearing isn't working."

Jim smiles, and Jacob notices he has big brown eyes - they match his hair color, and the wet T-shirt he's wearing, and speaking of this... "Um, hey, wait a minute , okay? I should. I have a spare T-shirt I can lend you."

"Well, you don't- you don't have to," Jim said.

"I really wanted to borrow you." Jacob went into his room, grabbed a new dress, and handed it to Jem. "You are shivering, change this."

He picked up his T-shirt and quickly changed into it. "Thanks," he said, clutching his wet T-shirt. "Well, do you have a plastic-plastic-bag?"

"Of course there is."

When Jacob came back with the plastic bag, he saw Jim standing in front of the big airy window, looking out into the garden.He tapped his fingers on the window sill, as if he had the beat in his head.

"The windows might be a little dirty. I, uh, haven't cleaned them properly in a long time." Actually never.

Jim turned around and leaned his tall, thin body against the window sill. "It's okay, this place is beautiful, it has a country cottage feel, and I haven't seen any moldy places, so-so it's a plus." He turned his head and looked at the window again. "My friends-friends are really important to me. I'll probably call them over a lot. Is that okay?"

Jacob leaned beside him and looked out into the front yard. “If you’re talking about regular beer pong[1], or beer parties — or anything like that — I don’t think so. If you’re talking about getting together for pizza and Coke, then that’s fine, totally no problem."

Jem let out a soft laugh. "Do I look like someone who plays beer pong?"

No, he's nothing like that.He looked too gentle, but not sure. "How do I know what kind of person you are, or what you like."

Jim looked up, a gleam in his eye. "If you pick me, then maybe I -- we can change that."

"Maybe. By the way, I'm a little curious. Have you ever been to Europe by chance?"

-TBC-

[1]? A beer game.