On a seemingly ordinary summer day, timid Alice Gardner crosses paths with Kai Anderson, a notorious figure in their small town. As serendipitous encounters bring them together, they find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other, driven by a mutu...
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Alice was scanning through the books and biographies that were arranged by volume at the 'Art' section of the library. Perhaps she could get additional information other than the ones she had already searched for to add more detail for her report.
The professor preferred thoroughness, and since Alice was aiming for a high grade, why not pitch in a little more effort?
Alice spotted a book about Claude Monet and another about Picasso. It might look like she's collecting every artist there is, but that's actually what her report is about—to discuss ten artists and their movements.
She reached for the books and skimmed a few pages. Before she goes to look for a seat, someone called her.
"Ah, hey!"
Alice looked all over the place and noticed the pair of eyes peeking through the gap of books.
"It's you! At the food park, remember?"
There were tons of people from the food park that night, Alice thought. Besides, all she could see were his eyes, so how was she supposed to recognize him?
A second later, the person ran to face her and Alice was dumbfounded. It was the guy who 'got lost in her eyes'.
He chuckled, "Never thought we'd meet again."
Alice blankly stared at him.
"Uh . . . " He noticed the books she was holding onto, "Art major?"
She nodded as a response.
He beamed, "Oh, really? I'm Terrence Scott! I'm an art major too! It's nice to meet you."
Terrence offered his hand and Alice hesitantly shook it, "Alice Gardner . . . Nice to meet you too?"
"Again, sorry about that time." He was patting the stack of books he was carrying, voice slightly shaking, unsure of what to say next.
"Although, who would've thought that we'd end up studying at the same school under the same major as well, right? Small world." He hummed.
Terrence had a point. He looked like the type of person who would major in Management or Medicine or even Athletics because he was kinda buff and not Fine Arts, but you can't really judge an artist, as her professor would always say.
"I'm guessing you're working on Mr. Russo's assigned task?"
Alice gave him a smile and nodded once more.
"Wanna work on it together?"
The familiar stature of the girl walking down the road made Kai grin ever so widely. It has been days since the last time he saw her, and he's oh so excited to have the opportunity to talk to her again.
She was like a cat in his eyes—a cat unlike Nathan that is—whom he is very eager to play with.
He ran past all the cars by the street to get to the other side, making the drivers stop abruptly and honk at him. He apologized for the accident he could've possibly caused then followed Alice's footsteps.
"You miss me?"
Alice coiled on her spot when Kai spoke out of the bat. She immediately turned around and glared at him.
He learned another thing about her—she's quite jumpy.
"D–Don't scare me like that!" She was genuinely scared. The emotion in her voice gave it away.
"Sorry . . . " Kai rubbed his neck a bit his lower lip, "Summer vacation's over, huh?"
It took a moment or two for Alice to respond, possibly still not recovering from the shock, "Yeah . . . "
"That quick, huh?"
"Mhmm. We're already going over the syllabus. How about you?"
"Well I just bought some cat food." Kai peeked into the bag he was carrying. Right after, he glanced at Alice who blinked, puzzled. It was then he realized that she was asking about what he did—or what he supposedly did—at school.
He was too embarrassed to tell the fact that he didn't even graduate high school. 'What would she think of me?', was what he thought, so he tried to avoid it as casually as possible.
"Oh! Oh . . . I thought you were asking about other stuff, ha-ha-ha!" He gulped after his awkward laughter, "Y'know, catching up with the guys . . . First day . . . "
As casually as possible.
Alice shook her head with an eyebrow raised, trying to stifle a smile.
"It's still feels like summer though . . . It's hot out." She sighed and stared at the late afternoon sun.
She stopped walking when Kai raised his hand to fan her face. Her eyes bulged at his gesture but seeing how sincere and determined he was, she laughed it off.
"Better?"
She nodded.
What surprised Alice even more than him asking if she missed him from out of nowhere was when Kai stopped fanning her face and got behind her, scooped up all her hair, and started fanning her nape instead.
"What about this? Doesn't it feel refreshing? It would feel even better if you put a cold drink behind your neck! You should try it."
Alice couldn't move an inch from where she was standing. Stunned as she was, she couldn't even say anything with her ears burning.
She remembered what Kai said about Paul Gaugin being bold and all that. Alice wondered if Kai ever thought of himself as someone like such.
