Jasmine

4. 'He Calls'

2015 (Second Semester)

As Jasmine walks home after seeing Brandon off, her phone beeps. It's an email notification. Her research supervisor has sent her a note attaching her latest work with corrective comments. 

I'll be busy the whole weekend Jasmine thinks, already fatigued.

After changing into her pyjamas and eating, Jasmine relaxes in bed before prepping for tomorrow's tutorial. She is to teach students from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) critical thinking - which is not too different from what she used to teach on Wednesdays in the first semester: language and literary criticism to mining engineering students.

This semester they are reading '1984', and today's tut is on surveillance as a control mechanism. The students, well particularly Chad Mark is bright and communicative. He steals all of Jasmine's attention for much of the tutorial. She feels bad about this, wondering if chocolate would be an effective enough incentive to make the others participate in class. Under tasks she makes a note to buy some chocolate for next week Tuesday.

After the tutorial Jasmine thinks of both lunch and Brandon, missing the latter, wondering to herself why she hasn't heard from him since Monday? 

But that was yesterday! 

I know, but being away from him is like having a wide and gaping chasm in my heart. If I was the man in this 'relationship' I would have said something by now! 

Good gravy... we don't have each other's numbers! 

"This is probably why he hasn't got in touch with her yet," Jasmine thinks, her mood elevating. And as she eats her lunch she writes up an email to Brandon noting they don't have each other's numbers and giving hers to him.  And with kind regards it's sent.

Before going to sleep Jasmine checks her emails. 

Nothing. 

She sighs grievously. 

Maybe he's inundated with work.

"But what if he's avoiding me?" She counters in distress. 

Well only time would tell. And so she settles it in her mind to give him a bit more time. 

Before the next day has dawned, as she prepares to take a shower, her phone vibrates from her bedroom counter. The number's unknown to Jasmine. 

"This had better be Brandon," Jasmine thinks grouchy. 

"Hello? She speaks into the phone and she gets a "Hello, it's Brandon" back. And never has she smiled so much in the morning.

"Are you there?" He queries, not hearing anything from her side. 

"Yes... Yes, I'm here. It's Jasmine," she voices and at once feels stupid for stating the obvious.

"Yeah. I got your number. Thanks for the email," he replies not seeming to take note.

"Sure", Jasmine replies, not knowing what more to add. 

And so they wallow in silence.

"Are you free this weekend?" Jasmine then hears and her ensuing smile almost cracks her lips. She doesn't answer finding it hard to suppress the smile.

"Hello? Are you still there?" He asks not sure how to interpret her quietness. 

"Yes. Sorry. I'm smiling to myself like an idiot," she informs, and he, fakes a laugh. He's not very cheery in the mornings either Jasmine concludes hurt by his insincerity.