The Unsaid (on hold)

La Parler

12:30 p.m.
Break time. The long wait was over. Antonio had been anticipating the time to go faster but as if to let him know that time never can be controlled, it felt like the duration of the class started getting longer and longer. The only thing that kept him stuck to his bench was Isabella. He didn't know what had taken over him. He had suddenly been drawn towards her ever since he saw her that morning. Her furrowed brows, glum face and worried look had caused him to unhesitatingly help her. After that , he had expected her to try and make a conversation with him, like the rest of the girls. But she quite abandoned him in between the pavement and walked away. She was the first one to give away the idea of talking to him , to go to the class. She was the first one who had not been flattered by his charm rather didn't even notice it. She was the first one whom he approached first. She was the first one whom he actually wanted to befriend rather than flirt with. She was different. She was the first for almost everything. She was the only reason he survived the class. Every time she looked up to check on the professor, every time she slid her hair behind her earlobe, every time she looked up and gave him a hint of smile, it was solace.
'What?', she interrupted his thoughts. He didn't realise that he had been staring at her for too long without even blinking once.
'Ummm... Nothing.... Just thinking....', he said , rising up from his seat.
'Thinking what?', she spontaneously blabbed out. 'Oh shit! I'm sorry, I don't have to know what you were thinking.'she briskly got up and started to walk away. He took a firm hold of her wrist pulling her back to him, taking her by surprise. She looked down at her firmly held wrist and back at him. 'Why are you leaving? Are we not friends? So can't a friend ask another friend about what he or she is pondering over?', he asked slowly loosening the grip off her wrist. Her hands fell off to the sides of her hips and she said, hesitating ,'Yes I can. But you don't have to tell me , if you don't want to.' A small smile curled up on his face. 'I was thinking about what to have for lunch today. I suppose the canteen around here has good hams and sausages. Or else I have to go out to the nearest cafe. Of course what else do you expect from a foodie like me, to think about, other than food?', he lied smoothly. She giggled,'True! I'm not much of a foodie though.'
'Oh?, well.... Then.... what plans for the lunch break?'
'Ummm...I was thinking of taking a stroll in the lawn.... take some fresh air in and get ready for another head crunching lecture....but before that, grab a coffee and bagel or something.'
'Okay! How about we go to the cafe, grab a coffee and a bagel or something for you and a burger for me. And then we go to the lawn to take some fresh air in and get ready for another head crunching lecture?'
'Sounds okay to me.... Nice try!'
'Worth the try no matter how many head crunching lectures it takes.'
She playfully punched his arms.They both laughed and headed out of the class. Reaching the canteen, Antonio quickly bought himself a burger while Isabella fetched for herself, a latte and a bagel. Hovering over the lawns , they stopped near a bench and took a seat. Silence. Awkward Silence.
'So Isabella, tell me about yourself.' , Antonio said breaking the silence. 'Okay! What exactly do you wanna know?', she said startled by the sudden question.
'Come on, it's not some kind of an interview. Okay I'll try another way. What do you like to do on weekends? '
'Ummm.... Usually, I paint with my mom or hangout with my friends or catch up a movie or just hole up in my room and listen to music and write. What about you?'
'Well , pretty much the same, except for the holed up in the room part..... I don't like being alone.... even if I try to, sometimes, to clear my head, dad always pushes me out of the room, sometimes even out of the house.... He believes that nothing can clear your mind except for some fresh air..... So, as you see I never get your kind of alone time . I always seek my dad's words. I'm super close to him. Whom are you close to, your dad or your mom?'
Isabella flinched to the question. Her dad had always been a hard topic for her to discuss.
'Mom.', she quietly said and got up to walk towards the class. Antonio noticed her discomfort, but got up , pacing towards her.
'I'm sorry, if that was an inappropriate question.', he said, guiltily. 'It's okay, just a bad topic to discuss.', she said with a weak smile. 'Okay. Well, Marvel fan?', he asked. 'Yes , of course! Spiderman, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy and what not. I've never missed a Marvel movie.', she squealed. 'Wow, Will you marry me? You are totally one of a kind. I've never seen a Marvel fangirl ever. Seriously you are perfect for me.', he chuckled. 'Shut up!', she burst out into a hysterical laughter, punching him, a little less then hard, in his abdomen. 'Oww! That hurt.', he said pouting. 'Awww, my Delicate Darling.' Another pang of jitters followed right after.

Laughter. And some more... Laughter.