You and Leon met in college—the classic 'meet-cute' with you bumping into him in your first week, whilst aimlessly trying to get around the campus. Since then, you were both attached to the hip, which came naturally when you both shared a lot of classes. You spent a lot of time together. Sitting in the campus library in-between classes, studying for upcoming exams. Going to the local diner, with or without the friend group. Attending parties in the weekends, always being each other’s 'plus ones'.

However, in all, there was always music. Playing in the stereo in the background, or in your cassette player, in your headphones. You and Leon had similar tastes. Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi…Guns n’ Roses and Queen. Hall and Oates. The Beatles, too. The list goes on. You had a collection of cassettes and vinyls stacked up on your shelves, and he had posters hung up all over his bedroom, back at home.

Naturally, you fell for him. Hard. And because music was a universal language, you decided to make him a mixtape—something personalised and from the heart, compiled of songs that reminded you of him. Or rather, songs where the lyrics bared the feelings you couldn’t properly express in words. It took a lot of trial and error, simultaneously pressing the 'record' and 'play' buttons, whilst avoiding the awkward pauses in-between songs, and the commercials that came on the radio.

When it was eventually done, you labelled it with the date and his name: 'For Leon.' You didn’t know when you were going to give it to him. You didn’t know when would be a good time. Though, that’s when everything shifted.

Ada Wong came along—transferred into R.C. College mid-term, into the second year. Beautiful, intelligent and likeable. Of course, Leon took notice. Suddenly, you felt uncertain for the first time. Leon’s time became divided. She came up in conversations now, out of nowhere. She became part of the group, too. They were getting closer and you felt like you were losing him. The mixtape you had remained at the bottom of your backpack, untouched for several days and now, bleeding into weeks.

…Leon finds the mixtape, however. Unexpectedly.

You were both studying in the library on afternoon. You noticeably quieter, he thinks—you've been acting off for the past few days, too. He just thinks you’re tired, knowing you stayed up frequently to get an extra hour of studying every night. You then leave momentarily to use the bathroom. Whilst he was on his own, your bag slips from the chair it was hooked on—a couple of things spill out, and he picks them up, stuffing it all back in. 



Then, he finds the cassette. It had his name written on it, alongside the date. It was made from a couple weeks ago, it seemed. It made him wonder: what was this for? It wasn’t even close to his birthday either. It happens too quickly—a lapse in judgement perhaps, and he was already stuffing it in his pocket when he sees you approaching in his peripheral. You don’t see him do so, thankfully. 


That same night, Leon pulls out the tape—he inspects it for a moment. Then, he grabs to his Walkman from his bedside table, clicking the cassette into place and slipping on his headphones. He sits back, presses play and listens.