Living Ghosts

2. Ghost at a Wedding

Hey Tanaka, I can't believe we'd just run into each other like that :) It was really good to see you again, you looked beautiful. 

Her hands shook so vigorously she could barely type out her thoughts. After all this time, how dare she let herself down by letting him rock her peace and shake up her stability so fast.  Who gave him my number? I know Isaac didn't. Why does he think it's ok to talk to me now?  Tanaka stared at her phone, struggling to come up with the right text to send. If it's too short I might not say everything I need to say to him... but if it's too long, I'll blubber and say too much.  It was like the vocabulary folder in her mind had been deleted, leaving her completely blank and confused. Palms sweating, chest caving in and mind just about lost. She was falling apart. Almost 4 years later and she was still a total mess over Trevor. 

Maybe I should just call him. A text could be misinterpreted. But If I call him it'll seem like I was really moved by seeing him- I don't want him thinking I still care or to think I was excited to see him.   She went back and forth, thinking about her next move and replaying that moment at the wedding in her head over and over again. How on earth did she bump into Trevor?! How could she not have seen him in time to hide. Tanaka couldn't believe her luck. The one person on planet earth she did not want to see stood right in her face just the previous day. The universe really had a funny way of toying with the poor girl.  

Twenty minutes later, she had finally come up with the winning statement. She'd finally give that swine a piece of her mind with no reservations this time. Hey, it was good to see you too but before we go any further, let's just carry on with our lives and act like we didn't see each other today. I don't need anything from you anymore and we both know you don't actually want anything from me. So we can skip the pleasantries and small talk, it's too late to try and be a gentleman now. As you saw, I'm doing quite alright without you, please don't try to ruin that. If you really care about me you won't try to reach me, that'd be awesome! PS: Keep the beard, it really is a good look on you. It almost makes you look worthy. Take care and God bless x.

She starred at it until the words started to look like they were coming to life. Blood boiling and breath constricted, she clenched the fist of her free hand just to keep from screaming in front of Kim. 

Delete, delete, delete. She wiped clean that hateful rant and finally texted back- 

It was good to see you too Trevor. I'm glad to see you're doing well. 

Send. Block. Delete chat. 

Goodbye forever (again) Trevor Shumba. 

                                                                                      ***

"You don't remember me, do you Mai Kimmie?" The woman asked, picking her nails in the passenger's seat of Tanaka's car. Tanaka was still drowning in embarrassment after telling the strange woman that lousy lie about her brother. She figured another lie wouldn't make this day drag any less.

"I'm sorry Aunty, I don't really remember who you are"

"Aunty? I'm not your aunty! Ah, nhai Tanaka do I really look that old to you?" 

Tanaka just giggled awkwardly, praying that question was rhetorical. 

"I'm your third cousin, Belinda. We were together in high school but I was a few years ahead of you. I'm not that much older than you, you know."