I stared at her, trying to process the conversation she just had on the phone. Then I realized she must have thought that the ‘him’ I was referring to was Daniel.
I was actually referring to Vincent…
“Helen… what the heck did you just…” I asked, her face lit up with a bright, smug smile.
“Chill, baby, you got yourself a date.” She slapped my shoulders with a wide grin, batting her eyebrows.
‘When did I ever tell her I need a date?’
I turned speechless, staring at her black eyes shimmering with amusement.
She had been trying to get me on a date for so long, I couldn’t remember how long it had been. Now, she felt she had succeeded.
“Sorry to burst your bubbles, I ain’t going.” I declared firmly.
She shrugged, “It’s too late, I already told him. It will be too awkward for you to reject him after I had told him you like him.”
“Helen.” I felt like spanking her to get some sense into her head. “Why did you tell him something like that?”
“I don’t want you to be single for life,” she replied, just then the professor arrived.
His presence caused an abrupt end to our debate. I glared at her and whispered, “We will talk later.”
The chatter from the other students died down immediately at the plunk sound of his century-old text books hitting the table.
Everyone straightened up and shifted to a more serious mood, taking out their writing materials from their bags silently.
“Good afternoon…” His genteel yet tense voice, carrying its own strictness, emitted a wave of resounding vibration, adding to the intensity of silence in the hall. “I won’t say much today.” He began his lecture, flipping open those old books.
I was grateful for that. I wouldn’t have to wait long to confront the woman sitting beside me.
I glanced at her with a scrunched-up face. I would have to think of nice words to tell the poor guy.
The next thirty minutes were spent on the smooth and concise lecture. I held my notebook in one arm and turned to my right where Helen was seated.
Where the heck did she disappear to?
“Helen.”
Now she has become a ninja in escaping the discussion that I would very much love to have with her.
“Hey Lucy, have you seen Helen?” I asked one of my classmates closest to me.
“Nah,” she replied tersely and stood up to leave.
Where did she go? I scanned the whole class in search of her, still couldn’t find her. I tried calling her, but her number was switched off just like how her brain had switched.
How dare she set me up on a date?
I strode out of the hall, almost bumping into a tall, handsome guy I wanted to avoid as much as possible.
“Hi Sarah.” He smiled sweetly, placing one hand on the door.
Why do most young guys always try to act cool with girls?
I rearranged my purse with my book clutched to my chest. “Hi. Daniel.”
His steady gaze never faltered, and it was giving me discomfort. “Where would you like to go?”
I wanted to do this quickly to avoid giving the guy false hope.
“I’m sorry, Daniel. Helen kind of set this up, I’m not really interested in you.”
Though it would hurt, it was better than playing with his feelings. Since my early teenage years, I had never been able to admire a guy due to my obsession with Mr. Clinton.
He smiled halfheartedly. “I thought you… um…”
“I’m sorry,” I cut him off before he could say the rest. He was probably going to say, ‘I thought you like me.’
“Okay, but let me drop you off…” He offered, to which I declined with a polite ‘no.’
“Goodbye,” he said without pressing further. He just accepted my decision and left like a gentleman, making it a lot easier for me.
I exited the corridor, walking straight towards the campus gate. I sighted Helen with her boyfriend, kissing widely beside their car.
Not wanting to ruin their intimate moment, I walked past but not without sending a message across, informing her of our unfinished debate.
“Call me, Helen,” I said loudly enough for her to hear from our distance.
To be honest, I still wanted to disturb their moment. I hate kisses with no love attachment. All I saw was lust ravaging his lips with no care of hurting the single lady’s feelings.
I was kind of envious. If only I could kiss Mr. Clinton on the lips…
“Sarah… Sarah,” Helen hollered, coming over to meet me. I really did disrupt the flow of their kiss. I smirked and completely ignored her.
“Sarah,” she called out desperately, trying to reach me. I quickened my pace, intentionally prolonging the hike.
“Sarah, wait up.”
I finally stopped a few distances from our campus gate, scowling as I laid a steady gaze on her oval face, giving her the impression of annoyance.
“I didn’t want to disturb the both of you.”
“Sarah, I’m sorry.” Her voice was laced with apology, but a small smirk curved up her lips.
I crossed my arms, still scowling. “Did you think setting me up with a guy would get me to date him?”
“I said I’m sorry. How many sorries should I say for you to stop pouting?” She let out an audible sigh, frustrated.
I twitched my lips, realizing I was indeed pouting.
Then my gaze softened. “Don’t do that again,” I warned, with a faux stern voice.
“Only when you promise me you’ll grab a handsome guy by tomorrow and show him to me,” she shot out. But when she saw my knitted brow, she grabbed my arms to appease me.
“Let’s go eat lunch.”
“A big no,” I wryly said, pulling out of her grip and scurried out of the premises.
“Sarah…”
Nah, no way that’s happening again. I suspect she has a big plan awaiting in that particular lunch.
I waved her goodbye and took a cab back home.
I arrived at the duplex in less than thirty minutes. I tossed my purse on the sofa, taking off my high-tops.
“I’m so hungry,” I whined. I couldn’t eat to my satisfaction at the restaurant due to discomfort and Mr. Lip Licker. So, when the word lunch left Helen’s lips, my stomach growled instantly, beating the heck out of me.
I hoped the refrigerator had been stocked. I prayed silently and dashed to the kitchen.
Behold, full supplies!
Snacks, drinks, and a whole lot of my favorites.
A few beef pieces were placed in the freezer, causing a grin to appear on my face. That flesh is certainly going into my stomach this afternoon.
I first grabbed a soda and gulped it until there was nothing left but the creaky plastic bottle.
I tossed it at the trash can and ran off to my room to get my trusty apron ready for the day’s cooking.