Eire.(chapter 8)

"It must have been a huge shock for him.

" "You see, I thought he took it well, better than me. When I left his house, he even managed to crack a joke, but as usual, I was wrong. He'd changed beyond recognition. He became rude to girls, didn't trust them. He'd pick up girls and then leave them. He didn't date any of them for more than a week, maybe two. I know this sounds strange, but I don't think he'd sleep with any of them, or even make out with them, but even if he did, just leave. To him, they were just objects. He used to respect them, wouldn't let them be insulted, he couldn't live without them. His motto used to be: 'If you don't have a girlfriend, you're worthless, because even a beer with a friend won't give you as much pleasure as a loving girlfriend.'"

"I don't believe it. Maybe a few months ago I would have believed it, but the more I get to know him and the longer I know him, it seems to me he's one big, heartless jerk. All he cares about is getting laid. Ever since he found out I had a crush on him, he showed me his true colors. He's become a true monster."

"You're the first person to notice!

" "What, that he's a jerk?

" "No, haven't you noticed he's changed? Again?

" "What do you mean, I don't understand anything anymore.

" "You see, after a while, he started coming back to himself. He smiled again, started hitting on girls again, but in that sophisticated way of his. He started respecting them again. He started going wild at parties again, he knew how to laugh."

I remembered N. at the beginning of our relationship. I knew him by sight, because from the first day of school, N. and Piotrek were best friends. But I got to know him better at basketball. When I entered the gym with my friend, he was the first person I noticed. A divine body, 5'8" tall (which is a big plus, because I'm 5'7"), developed abs, and an indescribable butt. Dark, short hair, befitting an athlete, styled with gel. A smile like a ray of sunshine. Don't get your hopes up. I don't fall in love with guys just because of their looks, so even then, even though he was gorgeous, I wasn't crazy about him just because he had well-developed abs. But one day, something happened that I couldn't forget him. I looked into his soul. And it happened that the same day I met him, during practice, N. bumped into me, and I fell. Then he extended his hand to me. He asked if I was okay, but he stopped mid-sentence when I lifted my head and looked into his eyes. I drifted away, began to sink into the depths of his dark eyes. They hid his soul, they were like… the sea. Dark and mysterious, like the sky at night. Everyone started staring at us, and we stood there, gazing into each other's eyes, oblivious to anything around us. I felt like I was talking to him without opening my mouth. I saw the pain in his eyes, which he had immediately hidden deep within his soul. Back then, I didn't understand what could hurt such a happy boy like him.

"And that's the kind of boy I fell in love with. Sweet, N., who was so… perfect. What happened to him?

" "Hell knows. Right after you moved in, N. came alive again, probably because of Piotrek; he can change anyone.

" "Is it just me, or was it right after it seemed I was crazy about him that he started being rude again."

"You're right, he started to drift away then. But it was right after the holidays, so something could have happened while he was gone." "

Gosh, how I loved his smile, but the real one, not the cheesy smirk that's been on his face lately. Anne, we'll never know what happened to him; only he knows.

I couldn't sleep that night; whatever happened, only that notebook knew. That's why I have to return it when I get the chance, or I'll break down and read it."