Strangers

His

It was sunny.

It was as if he was invited to basked under heat.

'The weather's good,' he muttered to himself.

He continued to gather his stuff before going out. Before closing the door, he checked his pockets to make sure nothing is left behind.

After checking, he immediately closed the door and proceeded to walk to the bus terminal to work.

He fished his phone and earphones out of his pockets to play some music while walking. "It's better to walk while there's music in your ears than nothing," as they say. He connected one earpiece while scrolling in his playlist.

After finding one good music to start his day, he placed his phone again in his pockets. Then, he looked ahead to watch out for some unknown road cracks that seemed to grow larger by day.

When he reached the terminal, he stood in line to wait for the bus going to his work. While doing so, his phone beeped.

"Where are you?"

-said the message

"In line. Bus station. Wait for me there."

-he replied

He changed his phone settings to silent to avoid hearing unnecessary beeps while he's on his way to work.

Their bus arrived in not less than 5 minutes of waiting. After everyone has settled down to their seats, the bus immediately left the station.

He was seated near the windows where the sun can't reach him. He knew it was a long ride and usually sleeps during the trip. However, he can't sleep. His mind was pre-occupied with nothing and that alone bothers him.

It was as if his mind tells him that he should think about something and he doesn't even have a clue on that 'something' was about.

He repeatedly shakes his head, trying to shake off the thoughts in his mind.

He brought his gaze to every building they passed by while consecutively sighing to distract himself. While focusing his gaze outside, his thoughts dozed off then he was relaxed.

His mind went back again when he heard the bus conductor shouting the stop where he was supposed to get off.

He collected his thoughts and things before getting off.

He will get off near the largest mall in their place then inside the mall was a shortcut on the left corner going to their office. He decided to get into the mall and he noticed that it was not crowded with people yet because it is still early. He also still got a couple of hours before his shift starts that is why he decided to wander around the mall for a while.

He rode the escalator going to the third floor to find something interesting that he might buy and just before he got off the escalator, his phone buzzed.

He located his phone and unlocked it while walking to see who messaged him.

"Hey, where are you? Thought you're going here soon?"

-said the message

He swiped up and opened another message.

"Hey, can you buy me this before you go home? Needed this for baking. Thanks.

-1 kg flour, 2 dozen eggs, 1 bag of chocolate chips and 3 bags of coco sugar"

-said the 2nd message

"Okay, mom. I'll see you after work."

-he replied

He then locked his screen and put it inside his pocket again. Then he decided to go to the nearest baking supplies shop. While walking and looking around to find the shop he was supposed to go to, he bumped into someone.

Irritated, he looked at the person he bumped in.

It was a girl.

The girl's belongings scattered to the floor, maybe because of them bumping to each other.

However, he decided not to help the girl because he knew that he is in the right lane.
For this, he annoyingly spoke to the girl while looking at her.

"Look where you are up to."
"Stupid" he added while whispering.

When the girl looked up to him, he felt his mind exploded and this made his expression changed from mad to blank and little by little, his eyes fixed into a soft gaze upon the girl.

He lifted his hand onto the girl's face to offer her help to stand up. The girl reached to his hands and stood up while clutching her belongings.

They looked at each other.

Then, their eyes met.

The girl smiled at him and avoided his stare while he still looked at her softly.

"Hi"

They both blurted out.

"How are you?"

-she asked.

"Doing good. How 'bout you?"

-he asked in return.

"I am good. Sorry for bumping into you. I guess I am at fault since I am not looking where I am going into."

-she said while looking at her skirt and dusting it off in hopes of removing the dust that got caught there.

"Oh. I am sorry too. I guess I am too harsh earlier."

-he scratched his head while not looking at her.

"I guess old habits die hard, hm?"
-she giggled and looked at him.

He looked at her and his lips formed a little smile.

"I guess so."

-he stared at her.

"Alright, maybe I should go now. See ya 'round _____!"

-she waved her hand and turned her back to him to start walking away

He was stunned.

He didn't know she was there.

He is not prepared.

The memories kept rushing back that he can't keep up.

His heart is racing.

His breathing became heavier and heavier.

He placed his hand to his chest and grabbed it while trying to suppress his sudden emotions.

Breathing in slowly, counting up to ten, exhaling every inch of anxiety he is feeling right at that moment.

"I'll count up to three while you are doing that, okay?" She held up one finger while watching him breathe in slowly.

He looked at her nervously while trying to focus on breathing.

"Three. Good. Keep breathing in slowly" she held up three fingers while still watching him.

Then, she softly caresses his back to help calm him down.

"You good?" She stuck up her thumb while still caressing his back.

'Yes' his mind answered her.

As he breathe out, he closed his eyes and pictured her recent memory with him.

She never changed.

She still looked good.

She still had that pretty smile and sincere voice.

But her eyes were not the same as before.

It was blank.

Unlike before, whenever she mentions my name, I'll look into her eyes and see a soft expression beaming into me.

Now, it was as if her eyes treated me as a stranger.

I can't even say her name without hurting.

What do I call her now?