The Love Triangle

Blurry

I don't think he is angry. I have no idea how I am going to face him now.

It was tiring, and I saw Conrad looking at me once but not twice. It's sickening. I miss talking to him.

Jesse and I start to walk out of the South gate of our college when she suddenly stops and begins to stare at a man, probably in his early forties and leaning against his Range Rover. He looks pretty rich and professional with his sunglasses and suit.
I realise Jesse is almost panicking out of shock. I ask her if she knows that man. I get to see that it is Mr Hale, Jesse's stepfather. 

She tells me that she forgot her father was coming to pick her up today.  She quickly smiles and walks away, leaving me utterly confused. Something was off about it, but I couldn't figure it out.

It is 6 in the evening, and I cannot concentrate while working on my paper. This sucks. It is Conrad who is on my mind. I think about the words he said to me. How could I possibly do this to such a good person? I need to meet him. We need to talk, and this time, I need to think before saying something. As I am lost in my thoughts, a notification on my phone distracts me. I start skimming through the posts on Instagram and see Jesse's story. She is hanging out with Miles, and Conrad is there too. I thought she was with her dad. Jesse didn't even tell me. Maybe she didn't ask me because Conrad would be there, and I would feel awkward. Anyway, I barely know Miles or Ava or anyone in their circle, so it doesn't make sense to invite me. But Jesse, I wish she had at least told me.

Jesse and I cleared the air before going to bed. It turns out my reasoning was correct; however, she did accept that she should have told me about it. As usual, she brushed it off when I asked her about her father. 

It has been a week since I decided to talk to Conrad, but I still haven't. The exams have begun, so I cannot possibly speak to him right now. I think I will give it just some more time no matter how much Jesse is pushing me to talk to him.

                                                                                           ...

The exams have got over, and we have five weeks of vacation before the next semester begins. I don't think I will go home. Maybe I will explore the city more or relax. I miss my family, but I don't think I will be able to deal with so many relatives in the same house just now. I think I am free to make a choice. I should stop thinking a lot.

Jesse is working on her laptop, binging on her favourite Cheetos. 

"Hey Jesse, we are running short of some supplies. I was thinking of going to the supermarket. Do you want to come with me? We could even grab some ice cream on our way back." She tells me she is busy but asks me to get her ice cream. So typical of her, but I love her, which undermines such petty things.

It is a bit cold outside, and I am wearing a thin blue sweater which is not helping. I don't feel like going back to get my jacket. It is alright; I can manage. After buying the supplies, I stop at the ice cream parlour. While waiting for my turn, I see a familiar man. He is standing right next to me. I look up at his face a bit too suddenly, which makes the man look at me too. 

"Ms Jones!"

I stand there, open-mouthed, unable to speak or move, partly because of how gorgeous Erich Hansley looks and partly because I wouldn't know how to talk to him in public. I shake myself out of my never-ending train of thoughts. 

"Erich! It is so good to see you. You are here to buy ice cream, right. Of course, I am so sorry; why else would you be here. Forgive me; I am a bit flustered today."

"It is alright." Just when he is about to say something, he is interrupted by a tall woman putting her arm around him. She looks like she is almost as old as Erich himself. She seems confident, but I can see the tension on Professor's face.

"Erich, who is this lovely young woman?" Oh god, she is giving me 'Ava' vibes. I wouldn't say I like it. I can sense the sarcasm in her voice.

Erich clears his throat before introducing us, pausing before speaking. I am not sure what that was for. " This is my student, Arlo Jones. And this is my...friend Celine Katz." We exchange nervous smiles and chat for a bit when Celine goes away to attend an urgent call. It turns out she is also a professor but in a different college. Anyway, Professor and I are alone again, and I don't know what to say. He breaks the awkward silence as I gather some courage to take my leave. 

"So, Arlo, are you going home for the holidays?"

" No, I am not Professor. I don't have plans yet, but I will probably stay here. What about you?" Oh no! I shouldn't have asked that. Am I being professional? I don't know, but he doesn't seem taken aback, so that is a good sign. 

He answers patiently, "My only family, my mother lives here; I will visit her. Of course, I need some time off from work, so I'll probably start pursuing any of my hobbies again. At least I'll try to." He lets out a slight chuckle. I was not expecting this. He is talking like he has all the time in this world and is candid with me for some reason, but I appreciate it. I am glad I got to see this side of him, but the only downside is that this makes me want to know him more, and that is an unlikely scenario unless we keep bumping into each other at ice cream parlours. "That is great." I nod in agreement.

After buying our ice creams, we bid our goodbyes, and I walk home with a strange, happy feeling in my chest. I had not felt this content for a long time, at least not since my feud with Conrad began. This reminds me I have to talk to him too.