And You Became A Memory

Chapter 4

Memory

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual high school energy, and I found myself a cozy spot by the window, where the warm sunlight painted patterns on my sketchbook. Sunrays painted a golden mosaic through the expansive windows, casting playful patterns on the scattered tables. The room echoed with a hushed tranquility, adorned by a handful of students scattered like confetti.

While Amalia and Lucas were engrossed in their computer class, I took advantage of my free time to immerse myself in sketching. The sunbeams filtered through the leaves, dancing on the pages of my sketchbook as my pencil brought to life the images in my mind.

The air in the room suddenly echoed with the loud laughter of those rowdy boys. I glanced outside, and there they were—the same unruly bunch strolling by.

My eyes inevitably found Ethan among them, and there it was again, that carefree, infectious laughter of his.

I'd noticed him before, glimpses stolen from afar. He was like a vibrant character in a distant story, unaware of my presence in our shared classrooms. Like clockwork, 8 am for English literature and 11 am for math—it was our daily routine. But did  Ethan even realize I share these classes with him? Yet I doubted he even remembered our brief encounter. I mean, how could he remember? We crossed paths just once, exchanged a handful of words, and poof, it was over. A fleeting encounter, like a short scene in a movie that leaves you wondering if it even happened. Our connection was as brief as my attention span during math class.

Perhaps he never noticed the guy with the sketchbook, lost in the world of lines and shading, admiring his laughter from a distance.

Amalia's excitement hit me like a surprise wave, and I turned to see her practically bouncing with joy.

"Guess what? Guess what?" she squealed, tapping eagerly on my shoulder. Her enthusiasm was contagious.

I smirked. "I don't know, Amalia. Did they finally add marshmallows to the cafeteria menu?"

She rolled her eyes at my sarcasm. "No, silly! I got the chance to perform at Urban Spice Junction!"

I shot up from my seat, my eyes wide. "No way!"

Amalia, grinning ear to ear, jumped up, shouting, "Yes!"

Our sudden burst of energy probably attracted the attention of everyone around, but in that moment, we didn't give a damn.

As we settled back into our seats, Amalia spilled the details. "As you know, I had contacted them a month ago through email, but they never responded until last week. I even forgot about it, but they asked for a demo video. I sent it, and today, just a few minutes ago, I received a call from them!" She yelled again, and I couldn't help but join in, jumping up and down with her, holding her hands.

I finally asked, "So when are you going to perform?"

"Saturday night," Amalia beamed.

"You'll rock," I said, giving her an approving nod."Ice cream party?" I smirked, looking at Amalia. She nodded, rolling her eyes.

"Only if they have it," she replied, a hint of skepticism in her expression.

Amalia and I sauntered over to the counter, and there she was—a middle-aged woman with a warm smile, diligently immersed in her cafeteria duties. The clinks of utensils and the faint hum of conversation filled the air as we approached.

She grinned and ordered ice cream, exchanging a friendly smile with the woman behind the counter. Her warmth echoed in the cafeteria, blending seamlessly with the lively atmosphere.

Curiosity sparked, I turned to Amalia, leaning casually against the counter. "So, have you decided on the songs you're going to perform?"

She rolled her eyes. "Leo, give me a moment to breathe. I just got this massive news, and I need some time to figure it all out."