Call Me By My Name

0

PROLOGUE

"Hello?"

["Hello, my dear little Aaron. Did you miss your gorgeous aunt?"]

Gab can't help but sneer. Not because of his Aunt Issa's confidence being too high that it is beyond belief, reminding him of one of his friends, but because of her fondness on his first name.

"To be honest? No." He jests. He puts one hand on his waist as if the person he is talking to is just in front of him. "And please, stop calling me 'little Aaron'; I'm tall."

There was a laugh on the other line. "Auntie, I still have to do my laundry." And prepare for the race later.., he thought while holding a hand-woven laundry hamper.

["I just want to say hello and check on you, can't I?"]

He sighed at her habit of beating around the bush when they both know she never calls just to check on him.

["Fine,"] Her voice now sounds serious, but still a bit enticing. ["I actually bought Theo's new painting and I want to see it today. He said he left it to you after wrapping, so... can you bring it? Plus, I have good news for you.."]

Gab's cat looked at him confusingly after realizing they both scratched their heads at the same time. It is really a bit frustrating for him to do the task of delivering something when she has an assistant to do it for her.

"Um, I don't think I can go today, Auntie. I'm here at the condo but, you can tell me the good news now."

["I'm sure you would like to hear it from me personally."] The woman chuckled again. ["And I never said you will go to my house, dear, you will bring it here to my office at the university. Your place is just a walking distance from here, right?"]

Gab was about to protest more but his aunt has already cut the call.

Seriously, is she doing this on purpose?

Gab read the university's name that is engraved on the arch in front of him. Fallesca University. This is his first time entering the said place, which is also the worst time because today is a weekday.

Seeing the students scattered everywhere, he tried to walk faster. He felt his heart beat harder with every step, not because he is a freshman from other university, but because of a certain person he doesn't want to meet again; hence the avoidance of going to this university. And his aunt is aware of this very well.

As forest green cover his sight from the wax-shined floor to the signs beside each room, words of what to say or how he should react began to fill his mind. He wants to be ready, to stay composed, although he is starting to hate this specific shade of green as much as he hates Princeton orange.

Nah, my eyes are just fooling me.

Gab then goes to the east part of the engineering building where most students are looking at him—either because he is holding a canvas half of his height or because he is the only one wearing casual clothes.

"Ow, shit!" He exclaims, as he accidentally bumped into someone while turning to a corner. "I'm sorry—"

The student has a confused look on his face due to Gab being suddenly frozen on his feet and just staring at him.

"Lucas..!"

It was definitely him, the person he had convinced his mind to be just a figment of his imagination when he caught a glimpse of him a minute ago before entering the building. Gab is complicated itself, as he wanted to not bump into him yet his eyes wandered, scrutinizing every crowd for any sign of that person for him to avoid, but only to be proven wrong when their eyes met earlier amongst the crowded stairs.

"You know me?" Lucas asks, scanning Gab with his eyes as he feels familiar.

Gab felt like someone pinched his heart just now, and he wondered why. "Of course.." He laughed awkwardly at the strange question thrown at him. "Why? Have you forgotten me already?"

His smile slowly disappeared as Lucas' expression remained serious and a bit confused, but the surprise from bumping into his ex-boyfriend turned into shock after hearing his explanation.

"Oh, I don't remember much because I got into an accident," he said so flatly as if he had been explaining it a few times. "So, um, who are you?"

He wants to say the name he used to call him, just to confirm that Lucas is not pulling a prank, but hesitation kills the remaining courage he has.

He obviously don't look like a student here. "I'm guessing you're also my friend from high school like Jay and Kyle?"

Gab has never crossed paths with him ever since they went to a different university, but now that he met Lucas for the first time after almost three years and he does not remember him too, luck seems to be still in his favor—yet his mind is starting to deviate into another path. A risky one.

So with a certain look in his eyes, reflecting what he currently wants, he answered Lucas who is now intrigued. "I'm Gab. And yes, we're friends."

___