A Fleeting Encounter at the Niomon Gate
Whenever I’m abroad, I always get amused at how we, as people can encounter so many people (strangers) only to see them once. It’s strange how the world works, isn’t it? When I was in Japan, this amusement (or amazement rather) seemed to heighten since there was hardly ever a day that I didn’t hang out on a train filled with people I didn’t know.
Today, in honor of White Day (belated), I want to write about one of the many people I came across in Japan by chance. But before I share about my fleeting encounter, I want to warn you that this post will probably be one or all of the following: super cheesy, super creepy, super embarrassing or super sweet.
With that said, sit back, relax and read. :p
It was evening. Not yet dark. My travel companion (female) and I had just finished descending from Mount Misen, a sacred mountain atop Miyajima Island all the way down to the Niomon Gate. No one was around but the two of us. That was, until someone came through the Niomon Gate. That someone was alone. That someone was in a rush. That someone did not even notice me (or so I think). That someone was focused on reading a sign I couldn’t read.
I was relieved that this someone was here. That we weren’t alone anymore. That this someone had the ability to read a sign that neither me nor my travel companion could read.
But my feeling of relief was only temporary as he swiftly went off his merry way upon completion of reading the wooden sign.
Eventually, we took the same downhill path he had taken. At that time, I could still see him but soon enough, he disappeared and I couldn’t even hear his footsteps anymore.
A part of me began to panic because although I’m okay with solitude, I didn’t like the idea that a native would be away should something occur.
My mind just involuntarily decided to think of many crazy what if case scenarios simply because it was getting dark, signs kept warning us of “mamushi” (venomous viper snake), mobile phone reception was non existent and I was clueless as to exactly how long the hike downhill would take. (FYI: The downhill hike wasn’t a short one.) Due to my so-called “panic”, I became stereotypically American by questioning loudly where this guy went and I did not ask just once or twice. Since I was quite loud, I wonder if the guy managed to hear my cries for him. (lol wtf) I ponder about this because eventually, we actually managed to run into him again and it is not because we had sped up our pace or anything.
At a rest stop we approached, he was there, petting a deer. (Do not ask me how a deer managed to get that high up on the mountain.) It was here that I became awkward.
I was relieved (again) to see him but me, being me, I know I had a poker face on despite meaning to smile. He, on the other hand was smiling and he had the brightest smile ever towards me. I was tempted to head towards the deer. To also pet the deer. To say hello to him. To return his smile.
But of course, that didn’t happen.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking WTF is your problem, right? But I had my reasons.
I didn’t want to come off forward, if that makes any sense. (What time period are we living in again?) I also didn’t want to risk sending him any wrong signals especially when I had yet to reach the grounds of Miyajima Island.
Alas, at the end of the day (or night I should say), my intention wasn’t so much to get a boyfriend but more so to complete the downhill hike as well as catch a ferry off Miyajima Island.
And I managed to accomplish the latter.
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