Three Days With Him

Three

PHONE CALL BETWEEN 09:45 a.m. and 09:59 p.m.

"Hey, Manu. I'm glad you called me back."

"Hey, Rafa. So, I was all late this morning and I couldn't answer. Is everything ok? Did something happen?"

I asked, trying to hide the nervousness that almost took my voice away.

"Oh, it's all good. It's all right. I called because I wanted to talk about yesterday, about you coming out like that in the middle of our conversation, almost."

"Humm... relax, Rafa. I was already sleepy..."

Then, he interrupted me.

"No, Manu... Umm... Were you sleepy? Really? I tought I went too far."

Oh, my god, what's he going to say now?

Help me!

"What do you mean with 'too far'?"

I asked after que silence that stood on the other side.

"Manu, when are we going to meet in person? It's been, like what, eight months since we've met?

"Yes, eight months and 13 days"

I said and just then I realized what I've said.

"Wow, you counting the days like that makes me happy, maybe it's a sign that you're as excited as I am."

He said laughing, and making that funny noise that I knew so well because of our skype video calls.

"Well, you know I have a good memory, right?"

I tried to disguise.

"Yes, I do."

He laughed again and continued:

"But tell me, when are we meeting? We aren't so far from each other. I can come to you, or you can come to me, if you like. What do you think?"

Then I remembered that my College Mask Ball was scheduled in 15 days. I wasn't so excited, maybe because this would be the first party I'd actually be part of a party like that, but if he could come...

"Rafa, remember I told you about a Mask Ball?"

I asked.

"Sure I do. What this have to do with our date?"

Perguntei.

"Our date", these to small words kept echoing inside my head and I didn't notice I was in silence until I hear a repeating voice calling my name on the other side of the phone.

"Manu? Manu? Where are you? Are you there?"

"Oh... yeah, yeah, I am. Sorry, well... If you could come to the Ball, it'd be a nice occasion for us to meet."

I answered already regretting the invitation.

"Sure I can come, Manu!"

He said, laughing again:

"Actually, Manu, I'd love to come. Meeting you is all I want..."

I didn't let him continue because I didn't know what he was going to say, and that conversation had been too long already.

"Cool, Rafa. It's settled then. I have to go, Mrs Carmen is coming..."

I made up a lie, swallowing saliva before continue:

"... And she'd already told me off today, I don't want it to happen again and then be caught by murder."

I said, trying to be a little funny.

"All right. Kisses, Manu. Talk to you later. Bye"

"Bye, Rafa. Kisses."

Then I hung up.

I know it was very childish to virtually hung up the phone in Rafa's face, but I wouldn't know what to say if he followed, at that moment, the way I'm thinking he's following.

Now that I am confused about what I feel for him, if he really shows another feeling beyond friendship, it'll be practically impossible to roll a decent conversation between us, at least until the big day arrives.

Oh my God! And to think that the dance is in a fortnight, what am I going to do with my life?

Mrs Carmem was even an angel to me after my conversation with Rafa, since she filled me with library forms to update.

I didn't imagine that we had so many disappeared books, more like, borrowed and not returned.

Doing this took up all my day, and almost made me late for class in my Photography Course. Thankfully the bus wasn't late and the traffic wasn't the worst, since it'd be practically impossible to have arrived at the Learning Center at 6:00 sharp.

It was just the time to get off the bus, meet the girls at the Corner Cafe, and head off to class.