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Attempt 1: Italian
They’re twelve years old, and they’re planting trees.
They’ve been in the same classes for who knows how long, and they’ve been best friends for even longer, so it only made sense for them to pair up on their latest school project. The teacher had informed them that they had to do something to help the environment, and Emma had suggested planting trees. As always, Norman agreed with her.
He has always liked Emma, after all.
Recently, however, Norman finds himself feeling something particularly different whenever he’s around Emma. It’s a tingly sort of feeling that rushes through his cheeks and makes his stomach flip. What’s interesting about this is that he doesn’t feel it when he’s around other girls, and he definitely doesn’t feel it when he’s around Ray.
Only Emma.
When he looks at her or talks with her there’s a bubbly, warm sort of emotion that courses through his veins. It’s an emotion that makes him feel like he’s flying, an emotion that makes him smile like an idiot whenever he hears Emma’s name. And it’s an emotion he’s feeling right now as they do their project together. Her hands, covered in dirt, brush against his and Norman feels his heart skip a beat.
They finish burying a sapling’s roots in soil, and Norman feels as though something else is rooted within him, too.
“All right,” Emma exclaims, sitting on her heels and wiping the sweat from her brow. “Do you want to plant another tree, Norman?”
“Sure,” he nods. They grab another sapling and dig another hole.
After some time, Emma asks: “What’s on your mind?”
“Hm?” Norman tilts his head.
“You’re thinking.”
Ah, yes. He is thinking. He’s thinking about her wild curls, her soft lips. The way he wants to try and sweep her off her feet like all the princes in the movies did.
The way she looks so beautiful in the sunlight.
“Posso baciarti?” he asks, sheepish.
Emma is confused. “What?”
He shakes his head. She doesn’t need to know he asked if he could kiss her.
Attempt 2: French
They’re fourteen, and they’re at the Christmas Fair.
The school holds the fair annually to promote a day where all the students can enjoy the Christmas festivities with their classmates. But Norman hasn’t really been enjoying it because of all the booths he has to handle.
He’s noting something down on his clipboard when Emma runs up to him, Ray in tow. She’s grinning broadly, two ice cream cones in her hand. She holds out a vanilla cone to him. “Hi Norman! Ray and I got you some ice cream.”
“Oh!” He smiles, accepting the cone. “Thanks, guys.”
“What’re you doing?” Ray asks, peeking at the clipboard in Norman’s hand. “Shouldn’t your job be over already?”
“Ah, well. I have to note down how well the booths are doing,” Norman winces. “There was an incident earlier and the Principal wanted someone to keep an eye on everything.”
“But why you?” Emma whines. “Why couldn’t they just get a teacher?”
“Because the teachers are handling all the events, Emma,” Norman tells her, poking her on the head with the tip of his pen.
Emma pouts and looks around. “Well, all the booths seem like they’re doing great. Hang out with us for a bit?”
Norman frowns. “I don’t know…”
“Come on, Norman,” Ray encourages. “The booths can survive without you.”
Norman is grateful for friends like them. “Sure.”
Emma squeals, and she and Ray guide him around the school, showing him to different booths. At some point, Ray does his best to win at a tossing game because Emma asked for a stuffed toy. Ray manages to score all the necessary points and he gruffly hands her the bear she wanted.
Norman’s a little sad. He wishes he could win something for Emma too, just to show her his gratitude, but he doesn’t have the physical capabilities required.
So he’s surprised when Emma shoves the stuffed bear into his face. “For you, from me! Merry Christmas, Norman!”
Norman feels a blush creep up his cheeks. Ray rolls his eyes. “Technically, that bear is from me.”
“Details, details,” Emma waves him off.
Norman accepts the bear, and his heart seems to stop beating entirely when he notices the bear is holding a stuffed heart in its paws with the words “I want your heart” engraved on it in gold lettering.
“Do you like it, Norman?” Emma grins.
Norman’s eyes glitter. “Puis-je t’embrasser?”
“Eh?”
“There he goes,” Ray drawls, “Speaking in another language because he’s embarrassed.”
“Norman, you should really start speaking English!” Emma teases. “At this rate we’ll have to play Charades every day!”
Norman can only grin in embarrassment. Maybe one day.
Attempt 3: Chinese
They’re sixteen, and Emma’s competing in an Eloquentia competition.
She standing on stage, her words echoing through the hearts of everyone in the audience. In the front row, Norman grasps a bouquet of flowers.
He is so proud of her.
And he’s not surprised when she wins first place. Her words can change the world, after all.
They’ve already changed his.
When they award her with the medal, Norman feels courage rush through him and he walks up the stage. He offers her the flowers. “Congratulations, Emma!”
Emma grins broadly, enveloping him in a tight embrace. “Thank you for supporting me. You’re the best.”
He hugs her back, and the wolf whistles in the audience fade away. All he can hear is her heartbeat pounding against his ears.
“I’d have to disagree, because you’re the best,” Norman says. Emma pulls away, rolling her eyes. He grasps her hands. “我可以亲你吗?”
“Eh?” Emma tilts her head.
“I just said I’m very proud of you.”
Emma beams up at him, but that was not what he said at all.
Attempt 4: Filipino
They’re eighteen, and they have to go their separate ways.
There was a graduation party earlier that day. It was full of dancing and crying, with a little drinking on the side. Ray had taken a lot of pictures. Norman and Emma had snuck away.
Now, they walk, side by side, unable to part.
“What do you think will happen to us in the future?” Emma asks, voice cracking.
“I don’t know,” Norman says. “But I do know I want you to be in it.”
Emma smiles. “Me too.”
In that moment, it feels like the stars have aligned just right, because her eyes are sparkling, and her face is divine in the moonlight.
“Maaari ba kitang halikan?” he asks before he can think better of it.
“Translation, please.”
He leans his forehead against hers. “I want to come back to you.”
He sighs. When will he stop lying?
Attempt 5: Russian
They’re twenty, and Norman comes to visit.
Emma’s ecstatic to see him, and their hug lasts longer than any hug they’d ever shared before. “I missed you,” Emma breathes into his shoulder, and Norman buries his head in her hair.
“I missed you too,” he replies. “Можно я тебя поцелую?”
Emma just holds him a little tighter.
Attempt 6: Dutch
They’re twenty-two, and Norman’s a little drunk.
Emma rolls her eyes at her boyfriend and pulls one of his arms around her shoulders. He leans against her and he’s heavy, but Emma’s strong.
“Why do you have to be taller than me?” Emma whines as she drags him out of the party and into the cool night air. Norman hiccups in reply, and she chuckles. She fishes the car keys from her purse. “You’re such a lightweight.”
“Lightweight,” Drunk Norman muses, and Emma mentally prepares herself for another soliloquy. “Technically, you’re the lightweight, because you’re light and you weigh. You’re like a feather but then again I can’t carry you so who am I to say you’re a feather? But sometimes you actually look like a feather and that’s the cutest thing ever…”
Emm pulls the door to the passenger seat open and dumps Norman inside. She jogs around to the driver’s seat.
When she starts the car, Emma mutters, “I am never bringing you to a party ever again.”
“Well, you wanted the company, and I was happy to give you the company. I will always be happy to give you the company and make sure your stocks and sales are being managed smoothly…”
“Norman, honey, you’re talking about the wrong kind of ‘company’.”
“Am I?” Norman furrows his brows. “Oh, I can’t tell anymore.”
Emma laughs, and the sound makes Norman look at her. He cups her cheek. “Mag ik je kussen?”
Emma is stunned. “You can still speak another language when you’re drunk?”
Norman shrugs. “It’s easier now since so many years have passed and I’ve had so much practice. I get so frustratingly scared to ask you what I want to ask you sometimes so I just say it in another language so you can’t do anything about it –”
“Come here, you big dummy.” Emma pulls him down and kisses him soundly.
Too bad Norman is too drunk to remember it.
Attempt 7: Spanish
They’re twenty-four, and they’ve moved into their new apartment.
When all the unpacking and furniture arranging is done, Emma collapses onto the bed happily. “I am so tired,” she says, rolling her face into the pillows. “I want to sleep forever.”
“If that’s the case, then you’ll be Sleeping Beauty,” Norman points out, sitting next to her on the bed.
“Guess you’ll have to wake me up then.”
Norman shakes his head. “The Prince will let his Princess sleep as long as she wants to.” His fingers brush through her hair affectionately. “She’s exhausted and needs her rest.”
Emma cuddles up to him. “Sleep with me?”
“That depends,” Norman grins, “¿Puedo besarte?”
Emma falls asleep before she can ask what he means.
Attempt 8: Bahasa
They’re twenty-six, and they’re celebrating Ray’s birthday.
Ray has asked Norman to help him with the cooking while Emma and Anna catch up in the living room. The two boys go about their tasks in comfortable, methodical silence until Ray decides to break it.
“Why is it always Emma who initiates a kiss between the two of you?” Ray wonders as he chops some onions.
Norman blushes. “What an interesting observation.”
“Just answer the question.”
Norman exhales deeply. “Well, as you know, I’ve loved her since we were kids. I’ve also wanted to kiss her since we were kids. But sometimes… sometimes I hesitate, and I end up asking her for permission.”
“Permission,” Ray repeats. “… in another language?”
“Sharp as always, Ray,” Norman grins wanly.
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” Ray scoffs. “You do know that she loves you back just as much, right?”
“I know.”
“So what’s the problem?”
Norman puts down the knife he’s holding, a self-deprecating smile on his face. “Sometimes it just feels like I’m not worthy enough –”
“Norman! Ray!” Emma comes bounding into the room.
“Speak of the devil,” Ray mutters, and Emma flicks his shoulder.
“What is it, Emma?” Norman asks.
“Anna and I are going out for a bit,” Emma informs them. “We’ll be back, don’t worry. We just need to…”
“Get my birthday present, yeah, yeah,” Ray interrupts.
“Eeh?” Emma’s baffled. “How did you know?”
“Anna’s not as stealthy as she thinks she is.”
Norman chuckles at the comical expression on Emma’s face. “See you later?”
Emma pecks his cheek. “See you.”
As Emma turns to walk out the kitchen, Ray elbows Norman and hisses, “Kiss her goodbye, you idiot. And on the lips this time.”
“Ah! Eh…” The color of Norman’s face matches the tomatoes. “Emma!”
“Yes?”
“Erm…” Norman squirms under her gaze and Ray pats his back in encouragement. “Bolehkah aku menciummu?” he blurts out.
Ray facepalms.
“Okay…” Emma answers. She’s used to it. “I’ll ask for a translation when I get back.”
When she leaves, Norman buries his head into his hands, and Ray mutters under his breath, “He’s the greatest mind of our generation, they say… well, he’s an idiot. A motherfucking idiot.”
Norman scowls up at the other boy. “Thank you so much for your support.”
Attempt 9: Thai
They’re twenty-eight, and Emma’s at the airport, waving him goodbye.
“I’ll be back in a week,” she tells him. “I hope to see you then.”
Norman hands her the last of her luggage. “Of course.” He purses his lips. “I’ll miss you.”
Emma grins, squeezing his hand. “I’ll miss you too.”
“Kho cub khun dai mai?” Norman asks.
“Do I need to open Google Translate?” Emma teases.
Norman laughs, placing a hand on her cheek. She leans into his touch. “I love you.”
Emma kisses the back of his palm. “I love you too.”
And then she’s gone.
Attempt 10: Japanese
They’re thirty, and Norman is slipping a ring on her finger.
“Took you long enough,” Emma jokes.
“I know,” Norman answers, fingers brushing over the ring. “I can’t believe you’ve stuck by me all this time.”
Emma grins. “You, Norman, are a lucky man.”
“Indeed I am,” he replies, laughing. “So… キスしても良いですか?”
“I am tired of all these other languages,” Emma mutters, then she pulls him down and shuts him up.
… And the one time he did it right.
“You may –”
“May I kiss you?” Norman interrupts, eyes crinkling. The priest looks confused, but the bride and groom pay him no mind. “I said it in English this time.”
“Oh, is that what you’ve been asking me all these years?” Emma says, brow quirked.
“Maybe.” Norman grins, cupping her cheeks. He tilts her head up, and with all the love he has inside of him, he kisses her and makes her his wife.
“Silly Norman,” Emma laughs when he pulls away, “You never had to ask.”