She had to
be punctual, even though it was more for her satisfaction as a perfectionist
than for practical reasons. She hated to
deal with the consquences, though. As for now, she sat alone on a big round
table in a family restaurant, waited for her ex-classmates from two years ago
to appear before her eyes. She knew for sure they would be late; they always
did. But she couldn't bring herself to arrive even one minute later than the
promised time because she was sure if she let herself do it once, it would
slowly become a habit. And she frightened just by the thought of it.
She watched
the front door swinging as customers came in and out. No faces she recognized.
She checked her cellphone for time and it was already twenty five minutes since
she had sat like a fool. The waitresses kept glancing at her; a mixture of
annoyed look and sending a pity.
"Ata?"
She turned
around and found a tall, well-built man walking toward her direction. He
smiled, and his bright eyes disappeared into thin half circles of uncolored
rainbow. She couldn't help herself. She recognized that face, she still would
even if she saw him from afar, with or without her glasses. It had been two
years--and she admitted she had changed so much since then--but some feelings
were meant to remain unchanged.
"Hi."
She instantly stood up. "Bari, long time no see."
"Yeah.
Two years, if I'm not mistaken?"
"You're
not." She smiled. "Please, sit. I have been sitting alone waiting for
you guys, but twenty five minutes went by and you're the only one showing
up."
"Oh, so
you're not happy to see me here? That hurts. Maybe I should head back
home..."
Suddenly,
her pupils dilated. Did she just blow things up? "No, I'm sorry, please
just--"
"Haha,
it's okay, Ata, I'm just kidding. I'm staying with you."
And she
could not stand grinning like an idiot. Well, this was happening. Back in two
years ago, who would have thought she could hold a conversation with him longer
than two words variation of yes and no.
"Ah,
it's raining," she said. Both of their heads turned to view the window.
Outside, the rain started to pour
heavily, blurring the thick glasses of window and blocking their vision
to whatever happened in the other side of the wall. She let out a sigh.
"They're gonna be so much late."
"What a
bummer."
She glanced
beside. Somehow, there was no subtle indication of him being irritated at all.
--------