First Valentines Day

I am living in USA for little over a year.  Completing my Masters in computer science in University of California.  I never had a girl friend in Bangladesh where I finished under graduate courses in the university of Dhaka.  I had limited female friends, one or two, always treated them like my sister.  So the word girlfriend or  boyfriend are totally unfamiliar. 

Anyway, I meet a girl from Japan in one of my class.  Her name is Kim.  She is really pretty and very nice.  Physically also very attractive.  She always sit next to me in the class. She is probably 25/26 years of age.  We help each other out in study.  I don't have a car but she does.  So many time she gives me ride to my apartment or elsewhere as I needed.

A month or so go by like this, I consider her as one of my good friend.   It was couple of days before valentines day.  She was dropping me off to my apartment.  When conversing in the car, she asked me what I am going to do in valentines day.  I was not expecting that question, as I really did not have any plan for that day nor I really know what really happen in valentines day.  For the first time I had to think about valentines day.

I reply, 'nothing, I am not doing anything at all'.  

After few quiet moments  she said ' would you like to be my valentine'.

I don't know what to say, I am not even sure what is it mean being her valentine. But I agree anyway.

That night I am trying to figure out what is it really mean.  I started over thinking, is it mean that she likes me, may be she is in love with me, or may be she  just want to spend a special day with the person you like. Finally, I concluded to that.  I know she likes me.  Its nothing but a friendship get together.

Next, couple of night I could not sleep that well.  For some reason, I was really nervous.  My heart was biting fast and some kind of different feelings going through my body.  I begin to think more than what I should.

Finally, valentines day is here.  We already decided that, she will come pick me up in the morning.  We will go to Santa Barbara, CA, spend time together in the beach.  After that we will have nice diner and come back home by midnight.  According to our plan, we headed out to Santa Barbara.  I guess my nervousness was really showing in my face.  She wondered  if I am Ok or not.  I tried to be as normal as possible.

We arrived at the beach. It was a beautiful day.  Not too hot and not too cold.  We started walking by the shore.  It was really beautiful.  Wind was blowing, her hear was all over her face.  We are walking side by site.  After few minutes, I don't know what got on to me, I asked her, 'would you mind if I hold your hand'

She was totally shocked, could not believe that I am asking her such thing.  I guess I am too polite for that.

She asked, 'really, you want to'.  I said 'yes',   She said 'sure'.  She extended her hand and for the first time I touched her hand.  We hold our hands and walked miles.....

From then there are lots to story to tell,  But that day was the first valentines day and surely the best one too. 

Jahangir
California