Remember how your parents always warned you about meeting strangers in real life? Well, me as a 15 year old kid was not a strong fan of that belief. In fact, I was pretty adamant about this whole new concept of making friends via the Internet, thinking that it broadened my social circle and made me a cool kid.
Well, I'm definitely not encouraging young kids out there to meet random people that they talk to online in real life. In fact, I (as a wise human now) agrees with this "online safety" concept that my parents always talk about.
But, anyway, back to the story.
*Beep*
64 messages from group chat.
I looked from my lunch table back to my phone. Do i really want to start another spam conversation or would I rather quickly eat finish my food and continue with whatever I was doing just now?
As I made my final decision, I (being a 15 year old kid) thought it was wise to disregard the hot piping soup on my table and instead,use my precious lunch time to reply to this random chain of messages that were being sent to this random group.
random group chat
+930 1234789 012 : HEy I know that I don't know you guys well yet, but do you guys want to perhaps... meet up some day and have a group gathering?
+930 4567892 123: yep that sounds like and awesome idea.
my one and only friend in this group: Hm. I think I'm gonna be free ><
my one and only friend in this group: Well I THINK Clara is free on that day? ;)
me: HEYY well i guess I'm free but I'm usually quite busy okay
my one and only friend in this group: yea sure i believe you
my one and only friend in this group: Hey so anyone else up for this outing
+930 45678921 12: Im not sure if Im free but I most likely can make it.
+930 283 1023948: Whens the outing?
me: probably going to be on mOnday according to what they have discussed previously
+930 283 1023948: Yeap I can make it
me: who r u again?
+930 283 1023948: mathias.
I stared at my phone for a while after that last message was sent. At this point of time, it was as if the storm had finally cleared and the torrent of messages had finally come to a peaceful halt. I reflected on my hasty decision - was it really right for me to be meeting up with random people that I barely even know? Was it going to be dangerous? I swiftly brushed away my stream of thoughts and doubts as I deleted the 3 words that I had intended to send to the group chat.
"Sorry I'm busy"
"Sorry I'm"
"Sor"
"..."
My decision was set and at this point, nothing could alter the course of fate no longer.
The week flew by.
It was Monday in a flash.
The previous night had been a nightmare as the realization of having to make new friends and meet people that I have only talked to online dawned upon my tiny brain. It was just too much for me to handle. I woke up countless of times, and stared at the mirror, looking at my reflection as I rehearsed tomorrow's scenario in my mind over and over again.
I stared at my phone as I leaned against the railing in front of the KTV store, as I constantly looked up and down, silently hoping my friend would arrive so that I can avoid an awkward confrontation with a random stranger that I've been talking to for a few years but have not yet seen in real life.
At that moment, I vaguely felt a buzz on my hand which snapped me out from my spiral of unending thoughts. I peered at the device on my hand, and stared at the screen. It was Alexis. (my best friend) I furrowed my brows and swiped the screen as I hurriedly placed the phone next to my ear.
"Clara! I am so so so sorry. I can't make it for today's meeting..."
"You... what?"
"My mum ..."
"Your mum what"
"My mum... just kidding... I'm just too lazy to get out of my bed"
"Can you please get your fucking ass here"
"Nope. Ill owe you a cookie though."
"HEY A DAMN COOKIE DOESNT SUFFICE IN THIS SITUATION YOU ASSHOLE"
"errrr... How about a cookie and... milk tea?"
"Well... i guess that sounds slightly more enticing than the previous offer"
"All right! A deal has been MADE cya friend!"
and with that, the line ended with a piercing beep sound.
I stared at my phone with annoyance. It felt as if I my gaze had gained some supersonic power and was capable of emitting fire beams that could burn two holes in my phone. Was this how Caesar felt like when Brutus delivered the last stab in his chest after the 29 stabs that he had received prior to that last ultimate stab of betrayal? I was in absolute disbelief at the fact that my one and only friend the group had decided to execute the most "ass-holeish" move of the 21st century, ditching me and leaving me to survive alone in this social interaction hell.
I felt my forehead wrinkle as I thought hard about the next course of action I should take. I could either just return home and waste the travel fare that I had spent just to arrive at the meeting location, which was a small price to pay for a socially inept person (like me), or I could just stay and embrace the tides of awkwardness that will follow as soon as the other started arriving for the karaoke session.
I didn't really need to think twice as I made my final and ultimate and so called last decision. I turned my back and began slowly retreating from the meeting point.
"Hey. Are you ... Clara?"
I turned my head and came to face with a guy dressed in a white t-shirt and short bermuda pants. He was short in stature despite being slightly (a teeny weeny) taller than me. As I raised my eyes to meet his face, I discovered a startling fact, that that my friends, was actually the first time my heart ever skipped a beat for a person I first met. That guy that stood in front of me then was definitely not exceptionally good looking. He was not the guy with the chiseled jaw, the fit guy with the muscles, nor was he the pretty guy that most girls swoon for when they watch korean dramas. He was just a simple, average guy who wore spectacles like most other guys do, had messy undone hair and a crinkled t-shirt. Yet, despite everything that seemed average for him, he had a sweet boyish smile and small eyes that shrunk slightly (in a cute manner) whenever he tried to grin, and it was this simplicity about him that captivated me the first time I landed my eyes upon him.
I nodded hesitantly, still mesmerized by the human being that stood in front of me.
"You are...?"
I awaited his response as my eyes twitched slightly, eager to find out the name of the guy in front of me.
"I'm Mathias..."
And that... was not how I fell for Mathias.
This was simply just a prologue to the tragic tale between Mathias and I.
