(Almost) Lost in Frankfurt

It was 12^th October, the Fall Season. I started to walk down the street, full of foreign crowd heading to the Frankfurt Festival. The air was cold, but I sensed excitement in them. I nudged Alex, my brother. He was only fifteen, one year older than me with straight blond hair like the American boys usually had.

“Hey, you’re coming with me to the Fair?” I asked.

“Hold on.” He answered. There was a call coming in. He took out his blackberry from his pocket, and put it right on his right ear. “Yes, Mom? … I’m going to the fair with Liz…We’re heading there...No need to worry about our safety, we’re big enough….Yes, I’ll take care of her…Bye.”

“You’re coming?” I asked anxiously. I felt miserable because Alex was the only company I had while we’re having vacation. Like I had to tail with him everywhere he went, or vice versa. So lonely.

“Already heard what I said to mom, right?” he put his phone into his pocket again.

“Yeah. Just trying to make sure. I thought you want to take photos of the view while we’re out of school in Washington.” I fastened the purple shawl on my neck, still thinking for a new friend.

“ Actually, I want to. But on second taught, it seemed fun to go with you there, although the photos for my collection isn’t completed yet…” he checked the pictures in his camera.

I had to stand on my toes to peek the shots he got in his camera, because of his height. I could smell his sweet perfume while my eyes watched the landscapes captured by him.

“Nah…never mind! It would be a lot of fun, visiting the world’s largest book fair.” I said while I walked. 

“So, now we just follow the crowd to the Fair?” I asked.

“Wait, I’ll ask her.” he rushed to a lady, who wore black jeans, a hood plus a windbreaker.

I could hear he talked with her in German. Then he came back to me. “Yes, she’s heading to the Fair, so we can follow her.” He said.

In a few minutes of walking, we arrived to the place. The place was full of books and people, walking, talking and reading.

“Let’s go in!” I pulled his hand and went inside quickly as fast as I could.

“Hey, slow down, Liz!” he said, because he bumped into people who didn’t seem to care about him.

We passed the Sparks Stage 8.0 (a place where people or authors discussed their ideas that suddenly showed up, sort of brainstorm) and headed toward the Comics center.

“There!!” I pointed at two empty seats and dragged Alex there.

“What are you…?” he asked.

“Sit!” I yelped with too much excitement, and we both sit there. In front of me, there was a flat monitor. I grabbed the mouse and move it. I browsed for my favorite comic.

“Found it!” I scrolled the mouse and clicked the tittle.  

I didn’t notice that I read for hours while I’m listening to my iPod. As usual, Alex did his must-to-do ritual every time we went to a bookstore, library or places that have the connection with books. His ritual was moaning many times because he wanted to go out with the reason he already checked the stuffs and was bored. I totally ignored him, because I sank too deep in my own world.  

When I felt fed up with the comics, I turned my head at Alex. His chair was empty, and he was nowhere in sight. I started to panic, and grabbed my cell phone. The moment I turned on my phone, there was a low-battery sign and immediately my phone went off. Great, Alex! You said you’re going to take care of your sister. I wished I have a friend who could be with me right now.

My shoulders slumped at that wish. I also forgot the way to my hotel too. Horrible imaginations started to haunt me. What if I started to starve to death with no place to sleep, someone put me in the orphanage, adopted by a couple who find me or NEVER RETURN to America?! What should I do? Search for him in this crowded place full of thousand people? Bad idea. I bit my lips and hit my own head. Why am I so stupid? Wait! My face lit up.

I opened Google Chrome and went into Yahoo. Lucky I remembered that Alex’s blackberry can receive e-mails. I texted him:

Where are you? I’m dying here!

I waited for a minute, and a message went in. It was Alex.

Checking out landscapes magazines right outside the entrance.

I breathed out loudly and hit my chest with relief. Saved. I ran outside. Then I spotted a familiar figure with blonde hair, but he was not facing me. I only could see his shoulders. I ran near to him.

“Alex!” I hit him from the back.

Then he turned and brushed his shoulder. I was shocked and my face turned red. It was not Alex. My nose didn’t detect any sweet perfume too, like Alex had.

“Ah! Sorry! I thought you are my brother and you really like him and you really resembled him and, and…” I continued to blurt on.

The guy I hit was an Asian boy in a cosplay mode. It’s too late to turn back to the computer booth in the Comic Center.

“Can I help you?” he opened his mouth, but still stared at me with a puzzled look. He was wearing glasses with big frame that covered one fourth of his face, and his blonde pony hid his eyebrows.  

“Er…can you show me the way to Imperial Hotel?” I asked but still hesitated. I resented I asked that question. Not everyone knows that hotel where I stayed, especially when they’re not from around here and wore eyeliners, looking like comic characters.

“Never mind…” I said and smiled, started to walk pass him.

“Wait. Imperial Hotel? I know that place, it is where I stayed.” he unexpectedly replied me.

I stopped in my place, “You knew it?”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. But what if this comical boy wanted to trick me or did something terrible? 

Maybe kidnap me? “Show me your hotel card. The ones you used for opening your room.” I said without realizing it.

He gave out the hotel card. Room 301. I could read it from here. My eyes opened wide.

A moment later, we were walking on the Frankfurt streets, heading to the hotel. I learned that his name was Suzuki Isezaki, and he was taking a stroll while his parents were having a meeting at the Sparks Stage in the Frankfurt Fair. He was from Japan, and loves cosplay too much. His age was like Alex’s and hates Science, like me.

“So, Alex left you?” Isezaki said to me after I told the story.

“Yeah. Irresponsible brother, right?” I huffed.  “Lucky I met you.”

He laughed. “Met me by hitting me on the shoulder.”

“ Really, I’m so sorry for that.” I apologized, still felt guilty.

“ Don’t mention it, it’s fine. How many times I told you?” he smiled at me. His Y-Style glasses’ frame glinted because of the sun.

“ If Alex picked up the last call that was coming in from your phone that I made, you wouldn’t have to be bothered with your stroll.” I buried my hands in my pocket.

“No, I’m not bothered at all.” Isezaki waved his right hand, signaling it’s no problem for him. “I’m happy I could help you and made friends with you, Liza.”

I laughed. This guy is really easy going.

We arrived at the hotel. Me and Isezaki marched to my room, which was next to him. I knocked, but there was no answer. Only silence. I remembered that my mom said she wanted to do some shopping.

“Gah! My mom isn’t here, and the card is with her and Alex.” I leaned on the door. I sighed. “She is shopping right now.”

“Hm…” Isezaki scratched his head, thinked. “How about having tea at my room while waiting for Alex or your mom?”

I lit up. “Sure! Why not?”

We entered his room. He said that his parents’ room was on the fourth floor. We had some tea and chatted for a long time like old friends. The good thing was, he had the same hand phone like mine, so I could borrow the battery charger. I called Alex, and he said he’ll be there in five minutes.

“Dumb brother.” I said as I turned off the phone.

Isezaki just grinned at me while he was watching the NBA or sort of it in the flat and sipped his hot tea on the sofa.

“Oh! Oh! Three points!” he jumped to his feet. His eyes widened and his mouth opened wide.

I giggled and sat beside him, joined watching the basketball league. Less than five minutes, there was the sound of a pair of dragged footsteps that I recognized. Alex.

“It must be your brother.” he started to walk for the door, but I’m already there. I opened the door. There was Alex, standing in front of the door, with an innocent face that showed no sin.

“You!” I glared at Alex. I lunged at him, hit him with the Karate moves like in the films. I got him on the head.

“Hey! Hey!” he pulled me aside. Too bad my power is much more less than him.

He stared at Isezaki who was standing behind me and to me. He blinked his eyes once, confused.

“Hi.” Isezaki gave him a half smile. Alex was nodding at him with a look that was unsure of something.

“Oh, this is Isezaki!” I told him. “Isezaki, Alex. Alex, Isezaki.” I introduced each of them to each other.

“Uh…the connection, please? How did you guys met?” Alex tilted his head, puzzled. He was standing there like a stupid person. I’ll change it, not a stupid person, but an idiot.

I told him the whole story. “ Finally, Isezaki saved me!” I folded my hands , pouted and ended my experience like a fairy tale.

“Sorry, sis.” Alex grinned and ruffled my hair with his hand. He leaned closer to me and whispered, “You found your prince, eh?”

I slapped him in the face. I turned red. “How could you—“ I stopped because I remembered that Isezaki stared at us in amazement, like watching a real opera performance.

“Ouch.” Alex rubbed his cheek.

Isezaki just laughed, and it broke the ice. “Okay! You guys wanted to hang out at my room?” he said, and 

Alex’s awkwardness between him disappeared.

Alex gave Isezaki a dazzling smile with his crystal white teeth. “Sure!”

Three of us went in. Actually, Alex really matched up with Isezaki. Their interest about sports was the same and how they joked around was the same. Each of us always ended laughing while rolling on the floor carpet while Alex or Isezaki told a funny story. We spent the rest of the vacation with Isezaki and enjoyed it very much.

When I flied back to Washington, I stared at the clouds. I smiled to myself. I remembered the first time I met Isezaki, how we became friends and finally said goodbye twenty minutes ago when each of us went back to our own country. I will never forget that comical boy who later became my close friend that saved me from being lost in Frankfurt. I thanked God ...my wish was fulfilled.