Destined by Chance

Chapter 17

How could he say all that to her? After everything they had shared last night, after everything she had told him about herself. He had had the audacity to tell her she needed to change herself. How dare he? Wasn't he the one who had told her that he wanted someone who would love him for himself, unconditionally, and this morning he was telling her to change the way she looked. What had he said...oh yeah, something about 'packaging' and 'products'. She was not a product and so she didn't need any packaging or repackaging.

Simi walked past the reception in a huff. She saw the same receptionist behind the desk talking to a guest. And Simi saw green. She went to the coffee shop and ordered a black coffee. She needed one. The headache was killing her. Neil's words had hit a raw nerve and it was making her mad. She sat at a corner table. She didn't want to be disturbed while she cooled off. How long had it been since she had felt the need to cool down? More so, when was the last time she had been so angry? She didn't remember.

In the past so many years she had forgotten what it was to even feel that emotion. Her job required her to be extremely patient with kids. And she was. Very patient. She wasn't just your average teacher she worked with children who had special needs. And it was a very challenging job. Not everyone's cup of tea. Not that her family or anybody else understood. But Neil did. How come? And Simi frowned at that.

Just a few minutes ago when she had fumed and told him what she actually did as a teacher she had seen respect in his eyes. For her. For her work. For what she stood for. He hadn't smirked or waved it off as if it held no real meaning or told her 'a teacher is a teacher, doesn't matter who she teaches'. As she pondered over it her coffee arrived. Why was she mad at Neil for telling the truth? He had been nothing but kind to her. Understanding even. He had even been angry on her account.

She may not remember her entire conversation from last night but she did remember his soothing voice, the anger she had glimpsed behind his eyes when she had told him what some of those nincompoops had asked and said, he had held her, close, stroking her back trying to ease her upset. How long had it been since someone had taken an insult to her personally?

She sipped her bitter coffee oblivious to the taste as she thought about it. Come to think of it Neil's words did have some amount of merit. Just because she was a simple girl didn't mean she had to be drab looking. Simplicity was also beautiful. Having the correct style and clothes never hurt anyone. She just had to find the one that suited her sensibilities. She grudgingly looked at her clothes. A black and white knit tunic top over black leggings and black sneakers. Her hair tied in a ponytail. She harrumphed as she took another sip. 'Packaging'.

The word seemed to be stuck in her head. How could he say that when he had said she was a 'beautiful person'? And her hand with the cup paused in midair. He had said that. To her. Last night. That was how their conversation had started. And her eyes widened a bit. He thought of her as a beautiful person despite her awkward nervous self. But he didn't think she was a beauty. He didn't want her changed on the inside he wanted her to change her outward appearance. But shouldn't she be liked for how she looked as well.

She glanced around. The coffee shop was brimming with people. Apart from a few who had made the effort to put on the perfect makeup most women were just like her. Ordinary. Plain. Simple. And yet there was something about each of them that made them stand out. Whether it was their clothes or hairstyle or just the way they talked or moved. With confidence. There were those who were round and bigger in sizes and yet they were comfortable in their skins. Because they knew they looked good whether anyone else believed that or not. '...the only person stopping you from being your real self is you'. Neil had said that not too long ago to her.

He wasn't asking her to change anything maybe just polish it up a bit. How many times had she wondered about getting a few things done to her hair or redoing her wardrobe and every time she had changed her mind. Because of lack of confidence. She frowned as she thought about it. She was a good girl. In every sense of the word. She was a great girl. So why was she hiding in the closet? For who? For what? She could at least try. It may not work but at least she would know she had given it a shot. 'Treat it like a little experiment' Neil's voice echoed in her head, '...you may or may not like the end result but you wouldn't know till you tried'. Would he notice her if she made any changes to her appearance? Why was she thinking of him? His opinion didn't matter. If she did it, 'if' being a big factor, she would do it for herself and not for a stranger who had lectured her not really all that long ago.

She rose from her chair and left. She would show him what packaging meant. He wanted her to experiment right. She will. He will have to eat his own words. He will have to admit that she was just as beautiful on the outside as she was on the inside. She will take up the challenge. With determination coursing through her she paused in her step and looked around. Now where was that spa she had spied earlier on? All expenses paid right. Poor Robbie's aunt.

And Simi smiled.

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