Uncertain Attachment

The Woman He Saw

August was sitting in his fluffy blue coach in the narrow veranda of his house; watching the empty dark streets that his eyes can see. And in front of his house; beyond the two-way street, an old apartment stood.

Red pale roof and gate; plain grey walls and the plainess of the aura in the apartment is inevitable . In front of the main door is a small veranda; two wooden chairs on both sides of the main door and a green plastic table in the left side of the main door; the green color faded away because of scratches through out times. The darkness of the street also roams in the veranda of the apartment, only the street light from the side makes it glow palely.

As August can see it, he pities the owner of the apartment, he would have at least put some color into it to attract more bedspacers. And like what he had heard, the apartment can only accommodate 10 person or less than that.

"What are you thinking?" a matured woman voice said, he looked at the screen door at his right, his mother peeking at it.

"The same lame thought." he replied. Whenever he has a problem or is sad, he would sit there at the couch and stare at the old apartment. It helps him think of something else instead of his problems.

"Well, you better stop that. I'm almost finish cooking dinner." she went back inside as August looks back at the old apartment. Back into his own world again.

Then all of a sudden, the main door open widely; angrily. A woman of his age appeared, her face frowned and it glittered as the light from the street light touches her face.

She was crying as August concluded it. She glances at his direction and if he's not mistaken, they stared for at least three seconds. The woman looked away and made her way to the pale red gate; stormed out of the gate and walked on the streets. Leaving without any word. As she walks away, August could see her wiping her face and soon she disappeared into the darkness.

"Dinner is ready sweetie!" his mother called and he complied right away. Most of the times, he wouldn't care less of what he just saw, but then again, his mind was still on the woman he saw.

----

"Oh yes!" August heard a moan as he walks in the hallway of the admin building.

He's a teacher in high school and major in English. And as he walks, he hears a loud moan coming from the Mathematics department room. He opens the door and he see the usual tables of a teacher but in a table in the right corner.

"Aww men! Gustie! You're early today!" said his co-teacher and pounded the womb of his other co-teacher. A moan filled the room. August smirks and lean on the door way.

"Seriously guys, it's too early for a sex." he said while his smirk widens.

"Oh back off! Get your ass out of here!" his co-teacher growled at him and August raised his hands as a defeat.

"Fine. Fine. Whatever." he said and left the room. He made his way to his destination. Instead of the usual tables that he see everyday that greeted him, another co-teacher of his did.

But a very seductive greeting.

"Hello." she said teasingly.

"Oh come on Meacah! Not you too!" he complained and they both laughed.

"I was kidding! Like hell I would do that! Oh well, honestly I would, but not at school!" she said between laughs. The fun between them fades when another co-teacher arrives.

"Damn. They're fucking again. It's so damn early; like it's still 6:15 guys!" said the man around their age.

"Oh come on, you're used to it! Besides, they love doing it." Meacah replied and made her way to her table; so as August.

"Hey Gussy, go out on a date with me?" Meacah said when she sat down at her table, the newly arrived man laughed because he knew she was teasing August and August rolled his eyes at her.

"Seriously? I think that should be me asking." he replied, Meacah smirks at him and he prepared his lessons with amusement in his face.

----

When August was walking towards the admin building, his mind drifting into his own lame thoughts, he suddenly bumped into a student.

"Shi-!" he saw her things scattered in the ground and he went down to his knees to help her pick it up.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you." he said as he focused on picking up her things.

"It's okay, sir. It's my fault. I didn't see you." she replied, August looked at her and he was surprised. The student looked at him too and had the same reaction as August.

She's beautiful. August whispered to himself, he smiles at her and give her his hand.

"I'm August." he said, his smile got wider when the student was speechless but she took his hand anyway.

"Right. I, I'm Harry." she stutters and forced out a giggle when she saw August's confusion.

"I mean, not really Harry. Harry is my nickname. My real name is Harriette. It's a, well, kind of complicated in spelling. It spells, H, A, double R, I, E, double T, and E. See? Complicated." she said, suddenly feeling nervous.

August just smiles at her; he finds her funny and even though he had not asked a question yet, she had spoken more than ten words already, and he's still holding her hand.

"Okay. Harry." he said softly, and let her hand go. "Nice meeting you then." he said, enjoying what he sees. He knows he had to go but he wants to stay; he wants to talk to her; to know her better.

"Likewise." a pause and smile. "Sir." she added. They both stand up, Harry clutching her books and notebooks whilst August left her with a nod and a tight smile. But then, after he took five steps away from her, he stopped, looked back and find her watching him go.

He suddenly argued to himself that he should go back to her and chit chat. After all the arguing he made to himself, he turn around, taking a step forward to the admin building.

All of a sudden, he pivoted and made his way back to Harry.

"Harry, you don't mind if I .." he stops as he see her grin widely.

"I don't mind." she said, not stopping her silly grin. He groaned first but sighed.

"Are you.. Well, of course you're a student. What am I thinking?!" he said, he facepalmed himself and turn around to hide his face. He's finally admitting the truth that he kind of like her, through his reaction.  Great, now I look like a total idiot in front of a student. And judging by her silly grin, he know she likes him too.

"Yeah. I'm a student.What's wrong with that?" she asked, walking towards him as she tries to look for his face that she finds attractive and August looked at her again.

"I can't. So, seriously, let's just forget about this. It was nice meeting you. Goodbye, Harry." he said. His last words pinching his heart and turned his back on her.

"It's okay, you can get my number. Wait." August got his eyes big and turned around to look at her, he was completely speechles when he sees her took out a pen and started writing down on the back of her notebook.

"No, no. Harry, stop, you don't have to --!" he tried stoping her from writing but he couldn't just touch her hands.

"Here! Please text me with your name on it so I could save your number too. Bye, Sir. August." she suddenly said, ripped out the paper and put it in his hands. She made sure she pronounced his name softly and proudly and smiles at him again then left him.

Speechless.