Tinkering Hearts

Chapter Thirty-Two

Sicre

Those fricking morons blew up my lab. And I don't see anything but red.

"OK, buddy! Let's cool down now and I'll take you on a coffee date this weekend," Yash, the most useless human to ever exist, keeps talking. "They're just kids—"

"Kids you couldn't handle for just an hour?!" I yell. 

I rushed into my lab this morning and was met with a room upside down. Not literally. But quite literally! There were splashes of magenta-colored potassium permanganate on the ceiling. My glasses fogged when I stepped in. They didn't turn off the burners! I scan my eyes to the dustbins and see glass shards of the said pipette and test tubes, where the former was dropped and the latter was burned. I was going nuts and stormed off to call Yash.

"I'm sorry, OK! Things just went a little out of hand. Calm down, dude—"

"Don't dude me—"

I was interrupted by another professor entering the lab in a hurry.

"What are you both still doing here?! The event's about to start!" She leaves, and I turn to Yash.

"This conversation hangs," I glare at him. 

As I enter the university hall, Yash trailing behind, my jaw slightly falls open. The hall was decorated so magnificently. I was awed by the ribbons, balloons, and ceiling hangings. It was all so wonderful. 

We still had no idea what the event was though. And it doesn't take long to figure out. 

On one of the high walls was a picture of a book accompanied by the author's picture. I glare at the poster with a sense of familiarity. It was a picture of the lady I met earlier. Ada Lynn. But what got the machinery of my brain working, was the title of her book, a memoir—'Tinkering Hearts' and something tugged in me. I try so hard not to think about the phrase.

There are students gathered everywhere, especially near a table. I make my way toward it, careful with every step. As the students pave my way, I see Ada at the table with heaps of her book beside her. Her silk-like brown hair falls on the other side of her face as she slightly tilts her head while signing her readers' books. I bite my lip anxiously. 

As I'm trying to have a better look at the best-selling author in front of me, I hear a squeaky shrill voice. I snap out of my thoughts as I see Zoey far away. But the surprises keep coming and my confusion keeps growing. A man is carrying Zoey in her arms and he—I know him...

That jet-black hair, now in a buzz cut. Those same eyes as Ada's or—

Who—How—Why—How?

She notices me. She notices me and the look on my face. 

"You knew?" My voice is small.

The color drains off her face and she quickly stands up. "Oh, it's you again. I—I didn't know you'd be here..."

"So when, huh? You are— God. How did I not— wow..." I smile smugly and run a hand down my face. 

"What are you talking about?—"

"I want to talk. Please," I say, my voice even. "Zee."

. * ● ¸ .

Zee is exploring my lab. My mind paces back and forth. I'm a little too elated, but feel a little betrayed too. She recognized me in the park. She knew who I was at first glance. I would've too. If it wasn't for her ultimate makeover.