I was coming back from the Janelle Monae concert with one of my best friends in the city of London, and I couldn’t help but notice the culture that takes place on Friday and Saturday nights when using the London Transport. Couples, couples, couples…lol, they are everywhere, and my guess is because they are mostly busy in the week, Fridays and Saturdays are the only nights they can afford to generously display to the whole of London (those who care to watch) that they are *madly in love*. The typical couple are prolly lip locking as they go up and down escalators; some odd ones hold hands and can’t stop whispering or giggling and finally, those I call the *French couples* constantly stare in each others’ eyes as they exchange such romantically exhilarating smiles that no other can possibly understand but themselves. The unspoken word of whatever feelings they exude is the reason why I call them the French couple.
In contrast, the couples I see here in Leeds, where I currently reside, are far from what one would term ‘French, Typical or even Restless’ and tbh there is no basis for comparison with those I had admired back in London. Perhaps, it is partly due to the fact that I hardly ever go out on the weekends and even when I do, I see more of families and uni students and of course, let’s not leave out the senior citizens who carefully count their steps as opposed to the love struck couples in London…hmmmmmn….My friend thinks it’s the love spell in London that accounts for the almost movie-like episodes of love that is lavishly and effortlessly displayed on my every trip to the city.
My friend and I parted ways after a very exciting evening and the train ride back was the worst I had had in a very long while. For the life of me, the battery of my phone ran out. My phone being my most reliable get away route to a world of ‘friends, music and gossip’ had again let me down so had my ipod and as you’ll probably have guessed (or maybe not), I was swamped by all these couples on the train who chose me as their target to torture with scenes I dare not recount…. As I couldn’t go on the phone to anyone, for the 1st time in my adult life, I felt trapped *somebody help me*. It was the longest 25mins journey home.
On the other hand, I couldn’t wait to get home to keep talking about the concert once my phone was charged…I called once I got in and unlike me, my friend had had her own version of a classic love tale (which surprisingly occurred on her train ride home)…’tell me, tell me’ I yelled. Without much suspense *thank God* she fed me with the details. Basically, when she got off the train a man was waiting on the platform and a lady came off as well, went to him, hugged and gave him a peck…they both left the station together and the young man (obviously being a gentleman) opened the door of the car for her and they drove off. My reaction was ‘omgosh’ *ebony's screechy voice*. Yh I know some of u are thinking 'what’s the big deal' ?? Dramatic much?! You prolly won’t understand what the deal is till you know what a typical guy would do or have done regardless of their relationship status. Lemme help you to a quick scene:
Girl: hey boo my train is arriving for 9.10, plssssss can you come get me at the station cos it’s freezing out there….
Guy: OK, Sure (Drives down just in time for the train’s arrival) *fingers crossed*.
Girl: Hey baby, my train was delayed for an additional 15mins. (yikes)
Guy: Cool, I'll be waiting for u in the CAR PARK then.
Girl: (very appreciative) thanks baby.
Wow….! What a lucky girl; at least, he came and is waiting….. But don’t we all wish there was a guy who would bare to stand out in the cold, on the platform -just to see us come off the train? Won’t we totally break forth in excitement to have him hold our hands while we alighted from the train or smile gently at us when our eyes meet??
Don’t get me wrong now… Note, this is not the case all the time or in all relationships, for those who are beginning to think it was a feminist standpoint. I was simply trying to highlight what a good gesture it was for him to have played the role of a ‘perfect gentle man’. According to my friend, if the guy truly loves you, that’s what he would do. I quote ‘it comes naturally to do those things when u are totally drenched in love’. So what happens to the men waiting in the car for their wives then??? Is that love not enough?? Or…, is there no love??? What happens to the men that pay for a cab??? Should we judge them and say they are not in love…would u say the love has faded, withered or died??? Would u say life simply happened to them or simply conclude that the love which was once young, adventurous and fresh has evolved into something more sinister and distant?
All these are thoughts… after a single journey to the city.
