Bang strolled around the campus after all of her classes were done, waiting for a good moment to send another art fact off to her English major. She hadn't gotten a word yet today, which was odd, but Bang played it off for being busy. They were at school after all. She was probably studying.
No good facts were popping into her head. But she did have one thought in her head.
No good words about brothels?
Bang hit send and smiled at the messages. Just as she was about to close the conversation, the name caught her eye. There was a left bracket sitting at the end of the name. She rolled her eyes. Ange must have added something to the contact when she wasn't paying attention. She clicked on the details and then on the small circle with an 'i' in it.
Ara Galang sat between a set of brackets. Bang stared at the name. Ara was her English Nerd? And she knew? How did she even know?
--
Ara's phone vibrated twice in her back pocket. She ignored it until she got in the door and had placed her bag of books in her bedroom. Slowly, she pulled the phone out to see two texts from Bang.
No good words about brothels?
How long have you known?
Ara let out a shaky breath and sat down. There was no way to tell how Bang was actually feeling about this. Texts weren't the most open form of communication. Her thumbs typed out a response.
If you don't want anything to do with me I understand.
The reply was instant.
I never said that.
So, how long have you known? The entire time?
Ara's thumb hovered over the keyboard before she tapped on the details and then the small phone icon. She let out the breath she had been holding. Nerves pooled in her gut.
"Ara?" Bang answered after two rings.
"Hi," Ara squeaked out. She cleared her throat. "Hello, Bang."
"Hey."
"So," Ara fiddled with the bottom of her shirt. "Wala akong alam until yesterday. I overheard you and your friends talking about the word I sent you."
"Canoodle," Bang replied.
Ara nodded, "Yes. Canoodle."
Bang let out a quiet laugh on the other end of the line. There was silence between them until Bang spoke again. "You know, you could have just said something."
"We weren't sharing personal details over text. I didn't know if you wanted to know me that way."
Bang's voice was softer, "Of course I would, Ara. I've talked to you every day for over a month." She paused, "And had you up against a wall for five minutes."
Ara huffed, "I believe that I was the one to kiss you, not the other way around."
"You were still up against the wall though."
"Technicalities."
Bang's laugh poured through the phone and Ara felt her body relax. "So, what are you doing tonight?"
Ara bit her lip, "Going out with you, if you're asking."
"It's a good thing I'm asking then."
--
Bang stood outside the restaurant with a rose in one hand and her phone in the other. Ara would be there any minute to meet her for dinner. When she saw her in the lecture hall today she had no clue that she would be finding out that the hot girl from the party was also the dorky nerd she had been texting for a month.
She was incredibly happy that it turned out this way.
Bang glanced up to see Ara walking down the sidewalk to meet her, arms behind her back. Bang grinned and met her part way. "Hi."
"Hello, Bang. You look beautiful."
Bang glanced down at herself and then at Ara, "So do you." She lifted the rose and held it out for Ara. "This is for you."
Ara's eyes lit up at the flower and Bang knew it was a good choice. She accepted it with one hand. The other still behind her back. "Thank you." Her left hand came out from behind her.
Holding a rose.
"This is for you," Ara said, a twinkle in her eye.
Bang giggled, "Great minds think alike."
"They do," Ara nodded.
"Thank you."
They looked at each other with soft eyes for a moment before Ara broke it. A small smile lifting her lips into a soft curl. "Jubilation."
"Hmm?"
"Noun. A feeling of or the expression of joy or exultation."
"You're literally a human dictionary." Bang's hand went up to cup Ara's cheek. Their lips met standing under a lamppost in front of the restaurant. The restaurant that was the beginning of something wonderful.
Y9&<
