To Astrid, With Love

3

Astrid

2005, October

"What are you having for lunch?" Krisha nudged me on the side in the middle of History class.

Afraid of being caught, I grabbed my pen and wrote down 'sandwich' on the edge of the blank page of my notebook just enough for her to see it. She nodded in confirmation that she has read my little smudged note.

I closed my notebook just in time for the bell to ring. Everyone started fleeing out from the room as soon as they heard it and I stood up after fixing my things.

"I didn't know they have sandwich on today's menu." Krisha said while yawning and stretching her arms like she's about to run a 500-meter dash.

"Oh, mom made me one today. I think I'll be having lunch by the bleachers today. You can go ahead and take your lunch." I smiled curtly at her and gave her a little nod.

She stared at me for a brief while and later on snorted, "Yeah, right."

I felt confused, "What??"

"I won't let you do that, I'll join you!" She threw her arms around me and we walked out from the room.

"Come on, I'll just get my lunch and go see you by the bleachers, okay?" she told me, as I nod and smile back at her.

I walked out from the hallway to the field. For some reason, it wasn't that crowded, probably because people were still hurrying in line for lunch. I climbed on the bleachers and sat at the far end of it. I'm sure as hell, I wouldn't want to catch any attention here so might as well sit at the back.

Once I settled down, I waited for a couple of minutes for Krisha to arrive but she wasn't coming. I was guessing she got stuck in line or got preoccupied talking to a friend. As much as I wanted to wait for her, my stomach thought otherwise. I grabbed my sandwich and started eating it. I finished it and there was still no Krisha to be seen.

I sighed and leant back. A couple of things running at the back of my mind but I decided to shrug it off. Maybe she grew tired of me already. Sigh. But I don't think she's that kind of person so something probably just came up.

I stared at the scenery before me, zoning out as I would always do when my mind seems to be so idle from all the things I'm yet to get a grasp of but all of these are disturbed by strums of guitar strings coming from near my vicinity.

I turn my head to my left side and take a look at where the melody was coming from. This is where the color on my face start to fade away. You might think I just saw a ghost but no, and I probably would prefer seeing one than this.

It's the guy from the bookstore!

He is playing the guitar so tenderly that the music stars to blend into my ears but my heart wasn't having it. It kept racing at the speed of a..speedboat. Oh my gosh, the embarrassment I set myself up at the bookstore is starting to take over me—I'm read all over!

I hurriedly got up and walked down the stairs warily trying not to make any unnecessary actions that might call his attention. But yes, just like you expected from me—I tripped on my way down and landed flat on the face.

"Oh my gosh! Astrid!" I heard Krisha's voice echo from the other side of the field. I felt hands grab my arms and helped me up. I looked up to see Krisha with her worry-painted face looking right at my mud-painted face.

"You should be careful, you'll get scars!" she sighed,

"It's okay, uhm.." I trailed off and looked up to see the guy not playing his guitar, but instead looking right at me.