Together yet Far Away

A Walk to Remember

It turned out Jonas was to attend the same school I was going to. Great, there's another newbie to give me company. It's been two days since the flight and two days in my room at the school hostel. I mostly spent my time reading my new textbooks, and exploring the hostel grounds and shops nearby. I was munching on this really tasty waffle with cream and caramel that I'd bought at a nearby confectionery, when I heard the ringtone for unknown numbers on my phone. I put it to my ear.

'Hello?'

'Millie?', a smooth male voice on the other end asked.

'Yep, that's me.'

'Hey. I'm Jonas, the guy in the flight, remember?'

Of course I remembered. But then I figured he thought it was the best way to start talking, though I had no idea why he'd called. Probably cross-checking school timings.

'Hey! So...um...how are you?',I said, my imbecilic brain finding nothing else to say.

'I was...well, you know, school starts tomorrow, so...uh, we could just go for a walk, you know, get to know each other better. We're both new and....we could help each other....' He sounded so uncertain that I was sure I could hear him scratch the back of his neck. Wow. Barely three days ago, I marvelled at his outgoing, friendly nature, and now, I couldn't believe this was the same person. Wait...what if this was some prankster trying to pull off a nasty one on me? Or a gangster trying to kidnap me?

'Come on', I muttered to myself, shaking away all weird thoughts. 'Okay, sure. Say six?' I said.

'Right. I'll, er, be waiting in the garden. See you.' He hung up.

......

The 'garden' was a small park that was made especially for students who 'lacked and craved fresh air provided by plants'. But ever since it was opened, it has served as the ................. of many gossip-friendly events-including midnight parties, make-out sessions, nerdy retreats under trees where nerds read books and romantic picnic spots.

I quickly put on a comfy blue jumpsuit, sneakers and a thin white jumper. I made my way across the hostel grounds and to the garden. I looked around, expectant to see a boy wearing loose, frayed clothes, probably reading a book or something. But I saw nobody of that sort. Maybe he must be delayed. I walked around, observing the flowers, the kinds of trees and the people who'd come for an evening stroll. All the while, commenting cheekily in my head. I know, things only an utterly jobless person might do, but I kind of wanted to see him.

Five minutes. Nothing.

Ten minutes. Still no sign of him.

Fifteen minutes. I began to think this was some sort of a prank after all and expected to see a middle aged man pretend to take a stroll only to grab me later.

Twenty minutes. That's it. I turned around to walk back to my room, mentally cursing myself for believing a virtual stranger. I mean, I wasn't even sure if the voice on the phone was the same as his in person, I hadn't really bothered to notice such things.

Splash.

Something hit me like a plastic bomb explosion and before I knew it, I was drenched in.....okay, it was just water, still. My ill-controlled temper rose and I slowly turned around, expecting to see a kid grinning sheepishly with a 'sorry' written all over his face or something. But I didn't have to look much to find the culprit.....Jonas.

Boy, I could kick your ass, and beat you black and blue if you don't flee soon.

Anyone would get the hint seeing my boiling face and run for their lives if they were normal human beings. But guess what he did? In a swift lightning motion, he brought his hand up and....... I was drenched again.