The Flame

CHAPTER 23

It was the first day of this odd semester; there was a different kind of excitement in the air. Some were just excited to come back from wherever they went for vacation and brag about it to others; some were excited to meet their friends, and some were excited to start up with a new academic year.

Even so much excitement in the air couldn't raise my spirits without Katy, as I already had an empty void within myself. Every year we used to celebrate this day back to college differently. We started the day together with an ice-cream and made sure that we ended it together with an ice-cream. For no real reason, but it was a habit we go used to. I was painstakingly looking at the ice-cream parlour opposite the college gate, not realizing that a tear escaped my eye involuntarily, until Brandon lightly brushed it off my face with his long fingers.

"Come on, we can go and visit her once we get some Holiday," he said, smiling a bit on the hope of cheering me up.

"Yeah sure," I said back. Really! how good it would have been, to just worry about marks and all other normal stuff like others, my life was beyond normality anymore, it was filled with all absurd things that I couldn't even search for a shoulder to cry on it.

The day followed like all other days in college with lectures and practicals and a lot of questioning about Katy's whereabouts. The more I talked about it, the more I felt a heavy weight lift off my shoulders.

Rachael all the while, made sure that I wasn't left alone, so she purposely kept dragging me into conversations I constantly tried to shut down.

Practicals were particularly the times I enjoyed much, as it kept my brain focused, unlike the long lectures which were seemed more boring without Kat. Brandon and Evan too kept me company all the time and tried their best to keep me focused into things. It was funny how Evan was involved in this too, as I knew he was as messed up by Kat not being here as like me, little less than me but still it had an effect on him too.

By the end of the day, I was feeling so better that I actually stopped sulking and started to get back to myself, laughing.

"Guys let's go out today," Rachael said "My treat", she added immediately.

"Treat for what?", I asked suspiciously.

"Well let's say it is an advance treat for my birthday, what say, you in?" she asked raising her eyebrows.

"Na, I have work at the diner," I said starting to get up, to which she got upset and sank into her seat. Brandon and Rachael met their gaze and I could see silent messages pass between them, and now I was sure that this was Brandon's little idea

I silently entered the diner through the back door on purpose to avoid Mr Lee. But I should have known better as he was already waiting for me there, in the kitchen.

"I was waiting for you Rose, tell me what happened?" he asked me urgently. Damn! He doesn't waste time. With a sigh I got into the same story I've been feeding everyone with since the morning, and like with everyone I silently prayed that he didn't ask many questions, which luckily he did not.

"Are you fine Rose?" he asked finally, "I know you both were close" he continued smiling, "But this is what life is, and I know that you are smart enough to know how to deal with it". Tears were threatening to escape again, and I had to swallow it back with a great deal of effort.

"I will be fine", I managed to voice out, finally. "It will take time, but I know I have other friends who will help me out", I told him managing a small smile.

He gave me a small hug and then got back to his work, and I felt relieved to be left alone with my own thoughts for some time.
         
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