IN LOVE WITH YOU [SLOW UPDATES]

20

~NAINA~

Out of boredom, I pulled out a loose thread from my short blue skirt. The large house was jampacked, booming with extra bass. Everyone chit-chatted, played games and flirted around me, but I refused to take part in any of the activities. Subconsciously, I gazed at my brown corset and adjusted it ever so slightly. It was uncomfortable. The metallic garters, or whatever the hell they were, bit my skin from inside and the headpiece was heaving down my head. I did not feel like a woman with powers in this Wonder Woman costume. I felt like a stupid person.

It was Halloween. A popular senior from the other department had hosted a grand party, and all the juniors were invited. I could spot marvel and DC characters, fairytale characters and variety of ghosts. The scene was bizarre. This was my first real Halloween experience, but here I was leaning on the couch, evincing my grumpy mood at everyone around. I was just not in the mood to have fun today, maybe because my folks at home were busy shopping for Diwali and this time, I wasn't part of the festival I had always waited for. I wanted to go home and wave my arms around with the glittering cracker sticks, fill my stomach with sweets and decorate my home with fairy lights.

I looked around the room and sighed. Halloween was awesome, no doubt. I was the mood spoiler this time. Seth and Lisa, as the Joker and Harley Quinn, were busy filling up their drinks, chit-chatting with others, and of course, enjoying. Omer didn't show up and Phi — for God knows what reason — refused to tag along with me to the party.

"You good?" A man sat beside me. Olive skin, blonde hair, a white shirt with puffy sleeves, a brown tunic over it and a red handkerchief tied on the head. He stared at me with his one eye. The other was hiding behind a black patch. A pirate. And I was not interested.

"I'm fine." I mumbled.

"I'm always bored at Halloween. Never liked it much. Probably because I was bullied as a child," he said.

Not another sob story.

I didn't reply. Getting bullied was a bad thing, but I was sure he was lying to strike up a conversation.

"So.. Wonder Woman?" He asked with hesitation.

"Hmm.."

"Oh.. okay. I'm a pirate, not Jack Sparrow. I didn't get that hair wig because-"

"Save the details for yourself," I snapped.

"Yaa.. right.." He licked his lips and gulped. "You're here with?"

"My friends and my boyfriend," I said with fake enthusiasm in my voice. Maybe this would drive him away. But he didn't budge. Instead, he chuckled.

"I'm sorry for wasting your time. My friends always push me to talk to girls with these opening lines, but I guess they never seem to work," he said, scratching his arm.

"Maybe don't start with a sob story next time."

"Noted." He gave me a thumbs up.

"So...your name?" he asked.

"Regina Phalange," I said.

He smiled and stretched his arm for a handshake. "Ken Adams."

A FRIENDS fan, maybe he isn't that bad. We shook hands and then started talking, first about sitcoms, then the hiking prices of apartments in the city, the economy the next presidential elections and back to sitcoms. He didn't have a striking personality, but he was an amiable kind of person, just bad at picking girls, I guess. And he seemed less nervous and more real during the conversation.

I was laughing at how different the laws can be in the States as you go from East Coast to the West when my eyes caught hold of a couple walking in. Superman and Superwoman. Phi and Pam.