I woke up, still dressed in my college clothes, tired and drained. I reached into my pocket for my phone and checked the time.
I squinted my eyes at the bright light in the dark room. It showed 8. 00pm. I dozed off for three hours!
You would think you have gotten over something but then something very random like bumping into strangers on the street happen and everything would come rushing back, knocking the breathe out of you and you would spiral down the same rabbit hole you were trying to climb out for all those years.
I got up and walked to the dresser and flinched when I saw myself in the mirror. My eyes were puffy and sported raccoon eyes with all the ruined mascara around it and running down my cheeks. My hair looked like a bird’s nest.
I rushed into my bathroom and took a quick shower. Slipping into my tee and PJ’s, I went down to grab some food from the kitchen. A smile instantly crept up on my face when I heard Nora humming some melody and saw her walking around the kitchen, cooking.
“Hey Nora. When did you come home?”, she turned around with a bowl in her hand.
“Hey there. I came home around 5″, she put down the bowl and came to stand in front of me on the other side of the counter, eyebrows furrowed,” Is everything okay? I came into your room. You were sleeping with your college clothes on. Did you cry? Is everything alright?”.
“No. I mean yes. I am perfectly alright. I um.. I had a headache. That’s it. I am fine now that I got some sleep”, I lied.
She sighed, shaking her head at me. This wasn’t the first time something like this happened and every time we would go through the same routine. Her getting worried and me lying my way of it which she wouldn’t obviously buy. But she never pushed me. Sometimes you have to let a person be on their own and all you could do was offer your silence and let them know that you would be there when they want you. And I knew she always was and would be there for me.
She smiled at me knowingly and went back to whatever she was doing before.
“Wait. I can smell something good. Is that spaghetti you are cooking ?”, I asked sniffing the air.
“Dog”, she laughed, “You smelt it right. Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner”, she did a little dance with the spatula in her hand.
“You are the best. I love you. I’ll go set the table”, I kissed her cheek and went out.
After two long minutes she came with a steaming bowl of my kryptonite. After prayer, we started eating.
“So Nora. How was your day today?”.
She dropped her fork down on the plate with a clink and looked at me, her eyes wide.
“Oh God. How did I forget? Bella, there was this hot guy in my office today, he was there for signing some contract or something. I should’ve taken a picture of him. I know I shouldn’t objectify males”, she said with her hands held up in mock surrender, ” but boy, was he delicious. And the navy blue tailored suit he was wearing wasn’t helping the cause either. He was as close as you could see a Greek god in real life. He was so hot, my married boss was trying to flirt with him and you know what a stuck up bitch she is”, she huffed, the dreamy look on her face gone at the mention of her boss.
“You should’ve got his number”, I nudged her with my elbow.
“Yeah? Linda would have had my head if I did that and besides he wasn’t exactly my type”, she said.
“The monologue you just did? It didn’t make it look like he wasn’t your type”
“Yeah, well I’m not blind”, she said going back into a dreamy trance, her hand absentmindedly moving the food around her plate.
“Nora? “. I called her, stifling my laugh.
“Mmm”, she shook her head and picked up her fork, and looked at me as if she had just gotten out of a daze.
“So what about you?”
“Ugh. I didn’t have as much luck as you today in that department. Prof Benji chewed me out. He spits a lots”, I shuddered, ” if looks could kill, I would be six feet under the ground now”.
We had our daily girl chats and gossips as we finished our dinner. I bid Nora goodnight and went to my room. By the time I typed the last words of an assignment that was due next week, it was already past midnight. I switched the lights off, went to bed and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
—
It’s been four days since the reality check. Four days since I was reminded that I haven’t gotten over the past. After my morning routines and shower, I slipped myself into a navy blue tank top and a black jean. I had my breakfast and walked to my college.
The usual, you know.
I saw Jimmy leaning against the car and was charming his way into a blonde girls bedroom. It was the same old sight everyday but today something was missing. Alice.
I made my way towards him. Seeing me, the girl left slipping him his phone number which he pocketed with a smug grin.
“Where is Alice and when will you stop flirting with girls?”, I squinted my eyes against the morning sun and also Jimmy’s Shit eating grin.
“First, she is off today. Second, I wasn’t flirting. I was just talking”, he said grabbing his backpack from the backseat.
“Off today? Why? Is she okay?”, I questioned him, growing concerned.
He straightened up so fast from his bent position, he hit his head against the car roof. He looked at me with a surprised face, rubbing his head.
“You forget? Tomorrow is her birthday. She is busy making preparations. Thank God she is not here. Or else you would be begging me now to save your life”, he told me with an accusing look.
Well, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to anything since Monday.
“Anyway, she’ll be here in the evening. Meet us here”
Jimmy and I got separated and went to our respective classes. I had only two periods today. The rest were leisure periods and practical.
I sat through linguistics and creative writing and the rest of the day went with me running around the campus submitting my assignments and returning books in the library but mostly with me anticipating the plans for Alice’s birthday.