Geek love

Now that the title has got your attention, I think it is only fair to warn you that this post has nothing to do with me or my emotions—or does it?

It all began earlier this evening when I was patiently humming away at a bus stop, pondering over the mysteries of the universe. There she appeared, Marie, walking arm in arm with Jack toward the bus stop. And by “arm in arm,” I mean that Marie had her arm gently wrapped around Jack’s; not that he was paying any attention.

I didn’t pay much attention to them either at the time, because, well, I had my pondering to get back to. But it turns out that Marie and Jack sat right across me as they entered the bus, and I was perfectly perched to observe their activities; which I did, for I am creepy.

Upon first glance, you’d think Marie is borderline-retarded, because she was soon asking Jack the dumbest of questions regarding one of their courses—electrical circuits. Jack, an obvious geek, soon whips out a textbook and begins to explain matters in great detail. So, there they were, pressed up close beside each other, and at the end of each round of patient, thorough and totally-clear explanations, you’d have the dodo Marie go “Huh? But why?” And Jack would repeat himself excitedly, because he clearly loves this stuff.

For a brief moment, you contemplate putting Marie out of her misery permanently, but you soon begin to realise what she’s doing. The whole time she’s getting him to talk, she’s amorously watching his mouth move, and she’s tracing her fingers around his as he moves them about the circuits on the page trying to show her stuff.

Then she says, “It seems so hard. (Holding his hand) I guess we just have to work a lot longer on those homework problems together.” And Jack just nods, oblivious.

I find myself beginning to scream, “Dude? Whatever are you thinking? Can’t you see she wants you? Stop staring at the voltages on that chart and do something!”

But then I stall, realising that I can’t.

I am Jack.