The Red String

Chapter 5

15 years ago...

We've started talking a lot more than I expected. We exchanged Instagrams and I'd never been so fast to scroll through someone's profile. It was nothing too impressive—his photography skills worse than a rat's— but it was entertaining to scroll through nonetheless. I'd never met this man in person, so a part of me still wasn't convinced he was real even with his Instagram on my phone. What if he's an old creep pretending to be a college student?

My doubts disappeared in his presence, though, and our flirting back and forth became my daily source of happiness. Talking to guys wasn't ever my thing, so when it went well, it boosted my ego a lot more than it should have.

Arjun
Truth or dare?

Me
Truth

Neither of us have picked dare and at this rate, it could just be called truth or truth.

Arjun
What's your idea of a good hangout?

Me
Probably just chilling inside and having a good conversation

Arjun
I wouldn't be able to let you finish talking, though
Too busy giving you kisses ;)

It was honestly a little different flirting online, but the lockdown from 2020 normalized this so much, it's hard to find anyone who isn't guilty of this at least once. Who knows, I probably wouldn't even meet this guy in person at all. Maybe college will start and we'll both get so busy with our lives, we'll forget the other exists. With this theory, I went on with our conversations, each one better than the last.

Time went by until it was early move in day. August 8th. Arjun had reached Arizona and was moving into his dorm. His first day at Arizona and I was determined to make it his first day meeting me as well. His campus was a good while away from me, but I didn't mind the drive. I just wanted to see him.

All the hours of texted, the FaceTimes, the phone calls, the sharing of our lives, it all came down to this. Would we play out everything we told each other we wanted? The fantasies he told me he had, the ones I told him of mine?

I couldn't help but smile my entire drive there and calls from him filled my phone on my way and his anticipation matching mine only encouraged me to drive faster. If I did though, I'd be getting pulled over. I reached after what felt like an eternity found a good parking spot before getting out of my car and calling him. The present I had gotten for him was in my pocket and a played with the little mesh bag until he picked up.

"Hey, are you here yet?" He asked through the line.

"Yes," I giggled in excitement. He made his way to the back of the dorms and waved at me, dressed in a white tshirt with blue stripes across the middle. He also wore khaki shorts and brown Birkenstocks. I on the other hand, was dressed in a chocolate brown tshirt that fit me just right to show off my curves and black leggings that did just the same. I waved back at him speechless at the sight of him actually standing in front of me. I couldn't believe it. Arjun Vikas wasn't just some creepy old man I'd been talking to online. He was real.

"Hi," I mustered out, smiling ear to ear. He repeated what I said with the same expression and I unlocked my car. He took his seat on the passenger side and pulled out a wrapped box. "This is for you."

"Awww, you didn't have to," I grinned. How did we both think of getting eachother something? Were made for each other. I gave him the mesh bag, inside of which was a black watch with golden accents. Nothing is hotter than a man in a watch and the fact that this man was a watch guy made him a hundred times better.