Since the age of 11, I've been seeing different numbers on people's foreheads. The first thought that came to my mind regarding the number was 'it could be their age', but I was utterly wrong when the numbers kept on increasing and decreasing with every minute and moment.
And it was then my hunt began, to know the mystery behind these numbers. I searched up everything and got tons of theories, it could be the number of times they lied, or the number of times they got betrayed or the number of days/months/years left for them before they die.
I had come across a very funny one during my research and it had me rolling with laughter. It said the number of times "they got laid". It was so funny that I almost believed it. I needed to confirm it so I asked my trustworthy best friend, who happened to get laid only twice, but the number on her forehead showed 133. Nope that theory was also wrong.
During my research, I came across several emotional theories and every theory had its own heartbreaking story or sorrow, but none of them gave perfect explanation or reasoning to the numbers I was seeing.
Days passed by pretty quickly, me trying to understand what the mystery behind the numbers was and thankfully it wasn't too long before I understood what it actually meant.
You know, sometimes due to complex thinking, we tend to not notice the simple things and that was exactly the mistake I made. The mystery behind the number was displayed right in front of me all through the while, but my stupid brain wasn't too good in observing.
Yes, the number represented THE MEASURE OF THEIR HAPPINESS AT THE PRESENT MOMENT.
The number kept changing every second, the moment they smiled bright, it reached up to the max and the moment their smile faltered, it kept on decreasing.
Through the years, I saw plenty of numbers, some of them very low, which got me completely sad that they weren't happy. And what was truly heartbreaking was that I even met people with 0 on their foreheads and it was so many of them.
Sometimes I did help whatever I could do, but most of the time the only thing I could do was to pray for them.
Many times, I sit on bed late in the night just wondering what is the reason behind me seeing these numbers and why in the hell do I see them if I couldn't make any changes for the better? What benefit does it give me seeing these numbers if I can't possibly give them the happiness they need?!!
At this rate, I couldn't really help but think of my this ability as a curse and not a blessing anymore..
"Get up, how long you're gonna sleep"
I woke up to my mom's voice. She was arranging my desk while scolding me for getting up late all the time, can't really help I'm a night owl !
My mom now turned towards me and I saw the number.45. That explains why she sounds so irritated in the early morning, must be a little argument with my dad.
I removed my comforter and asked her, "What happened this time?"
She sighed and sat next to me, "A little disagreement with your dad"
The same line each time.
"You say that all the time mom", I complained getting up and walking to the bathroom.
"I wonder if you both ever agreed on one thing in this lifetime", I added. She smacked my butt and said, "Yes, it's you!" She smiled kissing my cheek and I chuckled noting the number on her forehead.
"Why the laugh now?", mom asked acting pissed and I laughed even more.
"It was 45 earlier and now it's 267", I said and she chuckled joining me. My mom stopped laughing and looked at me seriously before speaking, "See you always make me happy sweetheart"
I just sighed. "I didn't even do anything, so how you're suddenly happy? " I murmur to myself but it seems mom heard cause she said, "Sometimes people don't realise how much happiness they give to others just by being themselves, by being kind and generous, by being loving and caring.. all that you are Adelene, so never think of this as a curse sweetheart, cause it's not"
"How is it not mom? What's the use of knowing the measure of people's happiness, when I can't do anything to help them?! " I spoke out in my defense. I can't with this anymore, the guilt just builds up in me each time I see a person with a low number or a zero.
"You're already doing enough sweetheart, whenever you see a person with a number zero, don't you go upto them and talk to them, ask them if you could help them in anyway, and haven't you helped plenty of them already? Then why the guilt Adelene? " Mom said.
"And what about the remaining plenty of them, whom I couldn't help?" I asked with sadness.
"Come on Adelene, you cannot go on giving material things to everyone, materialistic things are not all in life. YOU just talking with them is so much more than you could ever imagine. Listening to someone giving hope, faith and courage is what many people need, people crave to listen someone say "Hey, worry not you'll definitely pass through all your problems" or "Wishing you the best" or even a simple smile could make someone's day and you're already doing all that. So be proud of yourself darling." My mom explained to me, her words gave relief to my strained heart.
I smiled which indeed brought back a bright smile on my mom's face too.
"293" I chuckled
"I as a mom find happiness in you, my daughter", my mom patted my cheek and walked out of my room before yelling " One day, you'll definitely realise, how much of a blessing you've got to see other people's happiness." I shake my head disregarding my mom's last sentence.
.....
"-1"
Yes, that's what I'm seeing on a man's forehead sitting right across me, in my college's canteen. In my 10 years of seeing numbers on people's foreheads, I've never come across a negative number. What in the hell ! He suddenly looked towards me and I instantly put my head down.
I thought it was only natural and whole numbers on people's foreheads up till now, but integers existed too?... or was it only HIM..? How unhappy is he to have -1 on his forehead? This again hit deep in my heart, I don't know why I feel so emotional.
For someone who hates seeing others unhappy, gets to see the measure of their happiness.. how ironic!
I lift my head up and look in his direction but I don't find him there. I scan the canteen but I can't spot him anywhere, suddenly I'm hit by someone's breath near my neck and I turn my head in a swift. There he is, sitting on the chair beside.. so close to me!
I shift back a little and clear my throat before looking at him. '-1' I ignore his number and look into his eyes.
"umm.. you are?", I ask
"Matthew" He speaks, his tone damn, even his voice is devoid of happiness.
"Adelene", I say and we shake our hands.
'-1' I again ignore his number.
"I know, so what do you see? ", He asks me and I stare at him in confusion. He knows?
" What number do you see on me? ", he asks again but now a little specific and gentler.
"Excuse me..? " I say horrified, no way he knows that I can see. I hurriedly pick my bag and run away from him.
The very next day, I see him again in the canteen. He's laughing with a bunch of his buddies but I don't know why his number says '-1' still. I sit on my chair and look at him, still '-1' when he's laughing like a maniac there. Isn't he happy? Or is that his fake smile?
He turned to me and we stared at each other for what felt like eternity. He stood up and was now walking to me, sh*t. Before I could run away like yesterday, he grabbed my hand this time and we walked out of the campus to what seems like a car, his car.
He forcefully made me get in and I am beyond pissed at this moment.
"What is your problem? ", I yell at him
"shh.. ", he kept his index finger on my lips and it felt as if I forgot breathing. The intensity in his gaze is too much for me. The '-1' on his forehead broke my trance and I immediately backed away, looking out of the window
" What number do you see on me? " I heard him ask..again. I look back at him and sigh before replying "-1"
"Hmm.. " , was all he said and started the drive.
"How do you know that I can see?" No response
"Where are you taking me to? " No response
"Why is it that only you have -1? I've never seen anyone with that number before? " No response again!
Now I'm pissed and irritated
I look at the road in front of me which was leading to somewhere unknown.
"I'll kill you if you dare lay a finger on me! " I tell him and hear his chuckle.
He stopped the car in the middle of the woods.
He was now looking at me and I stared at him wanting to know all the answers from him.
Noticing my demanding and confusing look, he started, "You're the spotter and I'm the provider"
"Huh..? " was all I could say
"Adelene, you can see the measure of people's happiness and you can spot the unhappy ones. I, on the other hand, am the provider. I provide the unhappy people what they want, and you help me spot them. We're the helpers of the universe. We try to make the world a happy, a better place to stay and live in", he finishes staring at me.
I feel like fainting learning this new information. I gave him the look of 'you're kidding me' but he shook his head indicating how serious this was.
The ride back was silent, neither of us saying anything. The only thing that was killing me was Matthew's number, -1. Why is it not changing? What's happening?
That night I couldn't sleep. Lots of thoughts lingered in my head.
...
It's been a year with Matthew. We've been together all this while, me informing him all the unhappy people and the needy ones, and him providing them with the necessary. Most of the unhappy ones were in their 50s or 60s missing their children or given up on life but the way Matthew spoke to them, and gave them the affection they needed melted my heart.
I can't believe the ability that we both possess, I still can't believe I finally am seeing a lot of higher numbers on people's foreheads than the low ones. The increase of happy people over the unhappy ones. This was a dream of mine. A dream I thought I could never accomplish but with Matthew, I did!
I know I was falling for him, falling for him really hard and I wasn't going to stop this feeling cause I'm loving it! I'm loving every second I'm with him, and I want to have everything with him, it's him and I know it!
But one question of mine was still unanswered. The reason behind his "-1". It's still "-1" whether he smiles or laugh, it doesn't change. I don't understand. What is it with him? Is he not happy at all? like ever? even one single moment?
We're in his car now, me driving and him listening to the songs. I glance at him and I cannot handle this anymore, I need to get this out !
I stop the car in the middle of the woods, exactly where he brought me for the first time. I turned the music down and stared at him.
"Matthew, I don't care what you think of me, but I've something to tell you. I'm sorry but I couldn't stop myself from falling for you. I love you Matthew"
I didn't look at him, I cannot look at him when he says no, I'm just not ready to handle that pain, oh my god why did I confess? my grip on the steering got so tight, I'm definitely breaking it today.
I can hear him calling my name, but I just close my ears and eyes, I just want to disappear at this moment. I suddenly feel him uncovering my ears and the words I hear next almost made me go to heaven.
"I love you more Adelene"
"What?.. " Before I could look at him, he hugged me tightly. Did I really hear that?
"I love you so much! ", he said confirming me. I could feel the tears brimming at the corner of my eyes. He loves me. The person I love, loves me.
This is the best thing in this world. If someone could see the measure of happiness on me now, it would definitely be infinity. I smiled as the tears don't stop falling out of my eyes, the happy tears literally.
He sets me on his lap and puts my head on his chest, I chuckle at our closeness. I feel him gently caressing my hair.
"I've been waiting for this since the day I saw you.. " I hear him say and immediately look up at him and what I see next shocks me to the core.
With my widened eyes, I stare at the infinity symbol marked on his forehead.
Looking at my reaction, he smiles at me, his real smile, the smile I had been dying to see since forever.
"Your happiness leads mine, Adelene"
My mom was right, this wasn't a curse but a lovely blessing, we hug each other even tighter.
