In Motion

Chapter 16: Colors by Amos Lee (2003)

If there was one thing the universe did right, it was a smooth second sem enrollment. CRS gave me all my classes, including Social Impact by Prof. Katrina Ferrer. Maybe in my next class with her, I wouldn't get my heart broken into tiny, teeny bits by a freshman. 

Yeah, yeah, g'day to you, too, mate. 

I was wrapping up my enrollment in BA when my phone vibrated. Gab was calling.

"Yo," I greeted. "Where are you?"

"Chem," he answered. "Listen, I have a favor to ask," he said, sounding anxious. 

"Okay?" I said, though sounding unsure myself.

"Can you drive Andi home tonight?" he asked.  "She has a bunch of org stuff with her. I'll be here 'til late."

I hadn't seen Andi since that night in TK. Driving home together seemed harmless, if a little unusual.

"No probs," I said. "She in Econ?"

"Yeah," Gab replied, letting out a breath. "Thanks, Kyle. Owe you one."

I began walking down the stairs and sent Andi a text: driver duty! wru? :)

My phone beeped a minute later. Andi was in the Econ Lobby.

The campus was settling down when I got out of BA. People were rushing home, tired after another day of enrollment. November shrouded the campus in early dusk. The on-and-off rain also made the weather cool enough for layers. I shrunk into my jacket as I made the short walk to Econ. 

There was Andi, sitting by the stairs, surrounded by boxes and rolled up tarps. Hard to believe she was a champion debater who used her house as storage space. Ah, UP.

"What's all these?" I asked as I approached her, trying to put some cheer in my voice. 

Andi looked up at me, shy and awkward. "Org stuff," she replied. "Sorry about this, Kyle."

I made a small "tss" and waved my hand, letting her know that it was all good. 

"Ready to go?" I asked, the fake pep in my voice intact. "I'll take that," I said, pointing at the loaded box. 

We began walking to my car in the BA parking lot. She was asking me about my second sem classes, trying to break the ice. I wasn't upset with her. Not really. But Andi acted all jittery. Gab must've filled her in with some details of that night in TK. 

We were a few feet away from my car when I noticed a guy milling around, hands in his pockets. Even in the dim parking lot, I couldn't miss that tall figure. 

I took a sharp breath just as Andi whispered "Oh."

Martin rushed toward us. He said a soft "Hey" to Andi and held out his hands. Andi was taken aback as he grabbed the tarps from her. What a gentleman. Still an asshole heartbreaker, though. But a gentleman.

"Uhm, Kyle, I just-- forgot-- more things," Andi stammered in broken statements. She almost ran back to the building.

Martin and I walked to my car, distance and silence between us. My trunk didn't open with a remote click, which always reminded how old it was. That early evening, I was thankful for the distraction as my heart pounded. I set down the box, fumbled for my keys in my pocket, and opened the trunk. 

Martin was standing a few feet behind me, careful to keep a distance. I dumped the box in. A few seconds later, he put the tarps in and stepped back. 

I closed the trunk shut, careful not to slam it. My car would fall apart at any force. I was also tamping down the anger crawling under my skin. Hands in my jacket pouch, I turned around and looked a few inches off Martin's face. If I met his gaze, my resolve would crumble.