To be or not to be?

Oliver was standing on a swing and dangerously moving back and forth on its edge. He was delighted; the wound on his cheek was burning; his patched backpack had fallen into a corner of the park playground and he was expelled from school for two weeks. However, still, he did not know why he is so happy. Today was the third day he sat in the park behind the school, waiting for classes to finish. Well, to be honest, he was not so happy because half an hour ago he had dared to open the wound on his cheek with a toothpick in front of the dirty mirror of the restroom. His damn wound was vanishing, just like Annie's attention to him... or rather, her pity. Oliver put his hand on the wound and as soon as those soft fingertips hit his cheek, he said, "Ouch!"

It did not take long for him to hear the heavenly school bell rang. The same sound was considered hell sound at 8 A.M, because he got the habit to go to Annie's house and walk her to school for three days, and it was clear when he heard the bell rings at 8 A.M, he had no more choice but leaving Annie. He jumped down from the swing, picked up his backpack, and with a tired and shy gesture walked forward and stood close to the school. Well, honestly, he did not go far, because he hated the curious, greedy looks of boys. Of course, if we ignore the fact he liked the girls admired him.

Annie said:

- You are here.

- How was the school?

- Boring as always… Oh my God Oli, your face!

Annie immediately ran to a market and Oliver smiled and pretended not to understand why. He knew very well what is going to happen now, and he felt that a herd of wild swans was making a storm in the calm bay of his heart. He forgot soon, why he feels so good. Naturally, Oliver Wang was also a human being, and these little happy little moments were enough to forget who and where he is.

People get used to their little happiness' quickly.

Annie immediately returned with a first aid kit including a tub of 10 ml ointment and a Band-Aid. Annie sat near Oli on the bench, and as she was cleaning his wound, she said sharply and grumbling:

- Damn Tom Hans and his gang! First, you should not fight with them... Second. You defeated him this time… but what about next time? Make sure it does not cross your mind! He is gossiping that he is going to hang you on school gates!

- Mm.

- Oliver Wang! Do you hear what I say at all?

- Ouch! I am sorry Annie... do not get mad, ok?

Annie vented her innocent rage by cleaning his wound roughly. Oliver stared at her large eyes; how innocents she looked with this gray uniform, cute bangs, and moody face! The hands sat on Oliver's cheekbones, how delicate they were! The soft-touch of those petals was just like magic. The absent-minded Oliver approached Annie and gulped. He closed his eyes softly…

- Cut! It was not good at all... again!

Joy messed up his hair angrily. It was going well, Mr. Hale was pleased with him, and Joy was very good at acting Oliver Wang. However, he did not know why he was so rube today. Because it is supposed to be a damn, kiss scene and Oliver... who is Oliver? Joy's heart was pounding like a little squirrel and he could not focus on his work at all. Now even Rowena was mocking him.

- Fuck ... fuck ... fuck!

Joy got up and bawled because he is no more the cool and attractive man he was. When he wanted to get in touch with that high school boy, the director would cut, and the situation for Joy, who had a bad desire to kiss this beautiful blondey, would get harder and more unpleasant... Mr. Hale called him:

- Come here, Joy.

- Yes, Mr. Hale. What is wrong?

- You did well, boy, but I do not want to rush. I think it would be better to change this part of the script to a simple peck.

If his mother could come to life and see this red, fiery face and his puffing ears, she laughed to death. Joy, who felt someone put an ounce of grilled Tianjin chili powder[1] on his tongue, tried to keep calm and pushed himself with all his might not to kill that Boggle-Hale, said:

- As you wish, Sir.

Saying this, Joy wanted to taunt him that he is changing the script to his desire because he is a father. Hale was jealous of Joy and could not take that this jerk is going to kiss his sweetheart! With a showy gesture, Joy blinked to accept Mr. Hale's words, bowed his head, and grinned.

His eyes were red with rage. He ran towards the swing to play this completely simple scene for the thousandth time. He was indeed wearing Oliver Wang's clothes, but at this moment, he was completely away from that innocent schoolboy. At this point, He was anyone but Oliver. He was a mythical dreamer, a passionate lonesome lunatic who could do anything to kiss blondey No.2.

The scene was filmed from the beginning. Joy swayed on the swing; this time he jumped down with exemplary rage and passion. As if the man inside him had taken the place of that dull boy. Joy, or maybe Oliver, headed to school, and this time, in an innovative move, instead of simply showing himself to Rowena, he hid behind a bush. As soon as Rowena approached him, he jumped out from behind and howled like a wolf. Annie sobbed:

- You Jerk! Dig your own grave!

Moreover, the sound of Oli-Joy's happy boyish laughter echoed in the filming location. The game continued, Annie Huang took Oliver hands this time and they sat on the bench:

- Damn Tom Hans and his gang! First, you should not fight with them... Second. You defeated him this time… but what about next time? Make sure it does not cross your mind! He is gossiping that he is going to hang you on school gates!

Joy did not respond immediately. He laughed shyly and secretly said:

- Yellow pig... I make you do not dare wag your tail.

- Shut up and listen!

- Ouch! It hurts!

- You dumb! I know you botch your wound again!

- Annie, I...

- Clean it yourself!

The bandage threw on his face. Anger was boiling in those cat-eyes, and it was driving Oliver crazy. The slender wrists of Ani, who was trying to push Oli off the bench, clung tightly, and with a sudden movement, his lips pressed against the girl's lips in the same way. Oh. my. God! This kiss was different from all he ever experienced. Something beyond fantasy, an excellent feeling, impeccable and perfect. He had not to move his lips passionately, no. As if the stupid hands of the clock were magically standing still. He did not know how long it took. Little by little, he was forgetting himself, the girl, the time, and even the world. His spine trembled. He felt close to recalling an embarrassing but desirable memory.

He was not Joy Long; He was not even Oliver Wang.

That was all Edward Hale wanted. That was the reason why he cut it repeatedly. Joy Long was usually satisfied with himself, his skills, and his world, and he never got along well with anyone. Mr. Hale, who saw his desire to kiss Rowena, cut and cut it again, despite what he wants. He wanted this selfish boy to come to the stage. He wanted to Joy forgets himself and his character to dissolve in Oliver Wang. Hale's way to make Joy better was unkind, but it worked. About thirty seconds later, the cameraman motioned the director to cut, but Hale said no silently. It was just an innocent kiss, it did not have to take long, but Hale knew by experience the best part of the story was not yet over. Hale just did not want to help Joy… no.

He wanted to help Rowena, his inexperienced, extremely naive, vulnerable girl. Mr. Hale could not have found a better teacher than this boy to educate his daughter.

About two minutes later, when Hale felt that the seeds of obsession are grown in each of them, he saw that Annie Huang had regained consciousness and slapped Oliver so hard that he threw off the bench into the grass. Annie, in a rage, ran to nowhere. Oliver stood up with a hateful grin and wet eyes who not belonging to Joy or Oliver.

- Cut! Good Job! Enough for today!

Joy went to the restroom with his head down. He leaned on a wall. He felt all his inner energy drained. He did not even wash his make-up properly, just wiped it with toilet paper. He unbuttoned his collar to breathe easier and leaned his head against the dirty wall of the park's restroom. He let himself shed tears... This long, gentle kiss reminded him of a childhood-faded memory. The one he left three years ago.

His first friend.

Joy closed his eyes and wished him deep in his heart, as always.

[1] Tianjin peppers (Tien Tsin Chile peppers) are also known as Chinese Red Peppers. These chilies are most popular in Asian cooking.