IN LOVE WITH YOU [SLOW UPDATES]

18

~NAINA's POV~

I sat in the café on my fixed corner seat, slurping my coffee, waiting for Phi to start his performance. It wasn't performance per se, but his part-time job. The café, as always, was crowded with people. The waiters carrying the yellow or blue coffee mugs with muffins and cookies for customers, boys and girls hitting on each other and working adults relaxing at the end of their hard day.

The last week had been quite adventurous: I couldn't make it to any of the teams for the inter-department sports competition, my name was hanging on the waiting list for the debate committee- the competition was quite tough- and our pre-trial hearing was conducted, and thankfully, we were not fined. I was so grateful to Rudy and Mr Hannes for that. My landlady, Rudy's mom, called Phi and me for dinner and lightened our mood with the home cooked delicious food. Thanks to her, Phi was now a fan of Chole Bhature.

Mr Hannes -true to his word- had reversed the tables. He made it all about racism and drugs. At last, everything boiled down to a racist high school bully, mingling with drug peddlers vs two Asian students, studying at a prestigious university with not a spot on their records. The opposite party could sue me for battery, but they wanted to settle. It was an easy breezy case for him because he was one of the top criminal lawyers in this city. I didn't know it back then, but when I researched about the law firm, which he was a partner of, it blew my mind. Not only Mr Hannes, but Rudy was also a very well known financial lawyer and partner in the same firm. In short, they were super successful in their careers. I wondered sometimes that why didn't Rudy live in a high-rise apartment or villa?

Phi adjusted the mic and started strumming his guitar on a tune. He sat on a high rise wooden chair, with his guitar on his lap. The scene reminded me of Phoebe singing in the Central Perk. But Phi wasn't singing Smelly Cat. I wished he would.

His fingers were changing chords so fast that my jaw dropped open. He closed his eyes, and a frown formed on his forehead as he sang the tough part of the song with frequent note changes. I thought he was phenomenal in music, not that I know the A of music, but still.

I heard some whispering and giggles from the adjacent tables. It was a group of three teenage girls. One of them was looking at Phi in awe, while the other two were elbowing her, giggling all the while. I struggled to hold back a laugh. Phi was popular now.

After Phi's performance was over, I decided to go to his room and check out his new keyboard. God knows how many instruments he had mastered. I waited for him outside the café while he was busy chatting with his manager. My head crouched low, I stared at my sneakers, that demanded to be washed. The navy blue color had turned into some unrecognisable color and the white laces were off white now.

"Let's go," Phi joined me outside. More people spilled out of their homes to enjoy the weekend as the sky darkened. And as expected, I couldn't spot any stars. There was nothing much to see on the road as we walked. There were people, cars, and billboards on all four sides.

I crossed my hands over my chest to stop my body from shivering. The temperature had dropped dramatically in the last two days, and sweatshirts could not warm up my body any longer. It was time to get out those trench coats I had purchased specially for this long stay at USA. And with this biting cold, something was approaching too. Exams.

I closed the distance between Phi and me when he tucked his hands inside his jeans pockets. He must be feeling cold, too. He looked at me and smiled.

On the opposite side of the street, I saw Jackson and Anne- my favourite seniors- walking hand in hand, laughing about something. They were the cool kind, fun to be around with, yet guiding me through the college works.