Chapter Eight
The rest of the day went surprisingly fast. I attended every single class without paying much attention. Not because I was bored or something. No. Far from it. It was because I was thinking about the most interesting thing of my life at the moment. It was because I had something to think about. Something to look forward to. Our next meeting. Although, more than that, I looked back at our interaction. I looked back at Mike.
Mike.
His laugh when he threw his head back and laughed at something I said. It was the perfect memory to make me happy. Or the way he smirked like he knew something I did not know. Or the way he made me shy when he looked at me with a certain look. I just can't seem to push that image out of my mind.
In the middle of the Environmental Science period, professor Merry asked me why I was smiling, and I realised that I was smiling. I was staring outside the window and was not, at all, paying attention to what she was saying. She caught me off guard with that question, making me stutter. "I - I ..." I tried to speak but nothing came inside my mind to speak. Miss Merry merely shook her head at me and she told me to focus.
And what did I do? I did not focus at all.
I was feeling happy for no reason and the weird mushy feeling that I was getting, everytime I remembered my interaction with Mike, only increased as the time passed by. It was an unknown feeling, like I had never felt before but I can't deny that I did like it.
This feeling was making me want to float away. It was like my heart had swollen like a balloon filled with happiness. Like my senses were heightened and I could see, feel, and hear more clearly. Was this how girls felt when they were in a relationship? Did other women get this feeling of warmth inside when they see their crush? Did they feel like their stomach was fluttering when they had a guy showing interest in them? I did not know.
However, there was one thing that I did know was or getting to understand was why people try so desperately to find someone to love. Someone who can share their feelings with them. Somebody who can touch them ... no. No. Don't think about that. Just no. That's not right. Even for me. Let's not go up that road and just stick to what's happening right now.
Later, when the evening had dawned on, I ate dinner and then sat down to do my homework. It took me more than two hours to complete it but I did complete it. After my homework, I picked up all my stuff and wrapped up everything. Putting my books and stationary back into the bag, I realised the weird itch I was feeling inside me all along. It was because I was waiting for a text message. From Mike. I was waiting for his message.
Earlier when he asked for my phone number, I did not ask for his number in return. For a good reason. I did not want him to see me saving his number in my old nokia phone. It would have been embarrassing. Especially right on our second meeting. I did not want him to know that I was poor. I still did not.
I pulled the drawer open and pulled out my phone. The anticipation and hope was eating away at me. Before lunch I was not even remotely interested in checking my phone but now my whole being was screaming at me to open up my phone and check for any messages or calls. And so I did.
No messages.
My whole body sagged against the leather chair that I was leaning against. No messages. The sudden rush of disappointment I felt was way above normal. It was like my hope and anticipation had been squashed beneath somebody's boot. I felt like I lost a game on the edge of winning it. The disappointment was borderline on being sad.
I let out a sigh. I guess it was going to be a long wait. Or maybe, he forgot to message me. Or maybe he just lost his interest in me.
*Ting.
The sound my phone makes when it receives a message.
My eyes darted to my phone just in time to see it brighten up. The screen showed me a text received. I jumped in my chair at the sound of my phone. I just received a message. My fingers shook in my hurry to open up the text message. It was impossible for me to keep my excitement in.
I tapped on the right button and opened the message. And ... It was from Shirley.
Was I disappointed? Yes. Was I hoping that it was from Mike? Yes. But was I happy to receive a text from Shirley? Yes. I was glad to receive a text from her.
In fact, I was waiting to hear from her. I was waiting for Shirley to come back because she told me that she would only be gone for half of the day. She was supposed to return by nighttime.
*On my way back. Might take one or two more hours. Will you stay awake and wait for me or am I supposed to use my own keys to enter?
Her message read. I shook my head at her question. I always wait for her and yet, still she asks me this same question over and over again.
*I will wait for you. Just don't be too late.
I wrote while rolling my eyes, and hit send. Thinking about how she always treats me like a child. I sagged against my chair and let my head fall back. I hoped that she would not take too much time. My phone tinged again, I brought my phone upto my face and saw that Shirley had replied to the message.
*Good. Because, I am bringing a whole box of donuts with me as I promised. So, wait for me or I will eat it all by myself. ;)
My lips lifted up in a smile. Oh ... I love her and well ... love her. Even when she was annoying like this. I typed my reply and sent it to her. A smiley emoji.
And with that, I let my head fall back and closed my eyes. A smile playing on my lips from our interaction. Slowly, my mind drifted back to Mike again. Realising that I was still waiting for his reply.
Maybe waiting for Mike's stupid. I mean he did not say when he would contact me or that he would contact me today. Or even if he would contact me. He took my phone number, sure, but it did not mean that he was serious about meeting me and all.
Perhaps, I was being too optimistic. Maybe asking for a number was not such a big thing. After all, girls and boys exchange phone numbers all the time. And some of them throw it, right after, they leave the sight of the person who handed them it. It was possible that he had done the same and threw my phone number as soon as I left the place. Maybe, our little interaction meant nothing to him.
*TIng.
My phone received another message. I let out a chuckle. Shirley was getting impatient on her ride here. Without sitting straight, I brought my phone to eye level. Tapping on the screen, I opened the screen. With a sudden jerk that cramped a vein in my neck, I sat up straight. The text was from an unknown number. Rubbing my neck, I opened the number and saw the texts from the very person I was expecting. It was from Mike.
*Hi. How are you? Mike this side.
The message read. I could not help the grin that spread through my lips, nor could I help but feel a sudden sprout of happiness. All the doubts and disappointment fled out through the window, and I was left with nothing but tingling pain sensations throughout my body. I was thinking how to reply to him when my phone rang again.
*I hope I did not interrupt anything. I did not want to seem eager but I could not control myself from messaging you. Hope you don't mind or think that I'm a creep.
My heart skipped a beat when I read the message. Joy bloomed inside me. He was eager to send me a message? He couldn't control himself from messaging me? Did he really just say that? It was like he was reading my mind and answering it all on here.
I made a little squeaky noise before I contained myself and started typing to reply to him.
*Hi. I'm great, how are you? And no. You did not disturb me. I just finished up my homework.
I wrote before I sent him the text message. I wanted to keep it casual because I did not want him to find out how badly I had been waiting for his message. He would think that I was needy or clingy.
Bringing my thumb to my mouth, I started chewing on my nail. Bad habits. Another message popped up.
*Oh, great. I was thinking about our conversation earlier. So, are you still up for our third meeting or have you changed your mind?
I read it and felt like I was going to explode from the amount of excitement I was feeling. This was it. This was what I was waiting for. I jumped in my chair before stopping myself. I needed to sound casual about it. So, I stopped jumping like a monkey and wrote back to him.
*No, of course not. If you are up for us meeting again then so am I.
There, perfectly casual and with very little excitement. He wouldn't be suspicious if I were jumping from the excitement or not.
*Absolutely, I am up for it. So, where do you want to meet?
His next read. I did not know any place where I could meet him. Coffee shop or something maybe. Or he could decide.
*I don't know. You decide.
I typed and sent him that text. Tapping my finger on my phone.
*How about we meet for a movie on sunday. Only if you're free.
He typed back. I read the message and thought for a second. I was usually free on sunday. My past - time on Sunday was at the library, when Shirley had a shift at her work. It meant that it could work. For once, I won't go to the library or study to stay ahead of the teacher. So, I decided and typed back.
*That sounds great. Which movie do you wanna watch?
I waited for his reply. My phone tinged again.
*Notebook? Girls, love that. Have you ever seen that movie?
He wrote back. Notebook? Maybe, I have heard about this movie before. I think one of the girls in my class had mentioned it. Although, I was not sure. If girls love it then maybe I would too? By the sound of the title of this movie, I could tell that it was a romantic one. If it were then I would certainly love it. Suddenly, a question popped inside my head.
*No. But I sure would like to see it now. But if it's a girls movie, won't you get bored?
Writing the message, I sent him the text. I mean, I always saw boys complaining about girly things. Anything that could be considered girly, was considered a taboo amongst guys. If he was one of those guys then why would he suggest a movie like this?
*No. I like that movie, I won't get bored. Plus, I won't be watching it anyway, because my eyes would be on you.
My jaw dropped as my eyes skimmed over the text. Did he really just say that? Was he - was he flirting with me? No, that can't be it. I mean, I was ... oh god. Flush crept up my neck and my cheeks heated. I knew that I was blushing. I could not help it. Feeling like I would die from feeling this shy, I shifted my focus on coming up with a reply. But how could anyone reply to a text like that?
*Ok. What about the timing?
I messaged him. Thinking how uncool, I sounded. Even though I knew that was a lame way to change a topic, I still wrote it. It was the only thing that I could come up with.
*We will discuss the timing later.
He wrote back. I smiled.
*Sure. Good night.
I replied.
*Good night.
He texted back.