To Astrid, With Love

2

Astrid

2005, October

"Mom, I'm leaving for school." I hollered from the front door, trying to put my shoes on,

"Where's dad?" I asked, I haven't seen him this morning.

"Oh, he just went out to get something," mom replied from the kitchen.

"This early?" I muttered to myself and huffed a breath before going out the door.

"Okay, senior year here we come," I mumbled to myself, part two—since you know, I transferred schools.

I walked myself to the bus station, walking as I heard a lady scream from their front porch,

"Bye, honey! Say hi to Mr. Ginnie for me!"

I look to my side to see a girl, around the same age as mine—by the way, beautiful face, walking out from their front yard. I swear I heard her snort and say, "As if he'll recognize you."

My pace slowed down as I gaze on her while she was trying to close her bag. Once she was done, she looked up and caught my eye. I tried to break contact and walked sternly ahead. I heard whistling, and a "Hey!"

"Uh.." I looked around, "Me..?"

She chortled and rolled her eyes at me, "Yes, of course you."

"Oh, uhm. Astrid." I awkwardly did a little wave at her.

"Hi, Astrid. I'm Krisha." She mocked my gesture, trying not to laugh.

"That's a beautiful name." I complimented and smiled at her.

"Well," she jammed both of her hands inside her coat's pockets, "Thank you. So, as yours." she smiled, the eye-y kind of smile.

We walked to the station together, silently. I guess, this is what you do when you don't really know each other. It's definitely the deafening silence.

But guess what? Turns out, we were going to the same school so it meant riding the same bus as her. As we entered the bus, we scurried to find our seats in the middle part, just when I was about to settle down, I happened to see the guy I bumped into the other day. Yes, at the bookstore.

Luckily, he was looking out the window with headphones on so it's not like he saw me so I hurried and sat down next to Krisha.

"What was that?" she asked me,

I turn to her and raised my eyebrows, "What was what?"

"Come on, you looked like you saw a ghost back there. Who was that?" she insisted and stood up to get a view of what made me look like I saw a ghost.

"Woah, that guy?" she pointed to him.

I pulled her back down to her seat, "No, shh. I mean, well yeah. I mean, not in that way but.." I rambled,

"Yeah, I get it. I know, don't worry." She nodded and settled.

I exhaled and rested my back on the seat.

"You have a crush on him don't you." She nudged my elbow, raising her eyebrows funnily.

"I—no!" I raised in defense.

"Okay, calm down.. I'll keep it a secret." She giggled,

Silence.

"You know, he goes to the same school as ours." She spoke up again,

My eyes widened in shock, "What??"

Krisha looked like she was about to explode in a fit of giggled while I looked like I was about to dethrone all tomatoes around the world.