The Strange Lady

Aluminous Shade

"Aman..........da"

"Aman.....da"

"Amanda"

"Amanda!" A hand gently nudged Amanda's shoulder while she still half consciousness. Her droopy eyes slowly blink to process the vision: a blurry cloud was all that she can see.
She blinks a couple of times before raising her head, which had been slouching on a desk for some time. Lazily, she turns around by the source of the sound, a familiar voice.

"wake up." Due to exhaustion from studying and high sodium snacks, it took immense effort to move her muscles . So, she barely stood up, confused and dazed, she didn't notice that the lecture hall, usually filled with hundreds of students at a time has now become a desolated place. To her right, she noticed her long time friend Kali packing her bag.

"Kkkaaallliiii... I'm so sleepy." Amanda exclaimed as she stretched her upper body to wake herself up.

"Let's go eat something first. I'm hungry." Kali said as she lifted her bag from the table. Amanda groaned in response, and quickly gathered her bag to follow her.

"What's wrong with you? You look very tired today." Kali chewed on her chicken salad while simultaneously looking at her notes.

"I don't know. Probably because of my period." Amanda said jokingly as she lazily slurped at her drink.

"Girl. Tired or not, you should at least not look the part." Kali was now looking at her friend up and down while making that comment. Amanda stopped slurping and now looked directly at her eyes.

"In case you forgot, I'm a med school student. I can look as ugly as I want to. And besides... it's not like I'm looking for any attention." Amanda started munching at her burger as Kali sighed.

"I'm just worried about you, ok? Ever since that incident you haven't been-" Kali was cut off as she noticed Amanda's intense gaze looking at her.

"Kali. Stop." Amanda's voice sounded deep and intense, as she really didn't want Kali finishing her words.

"Ok. Sorry." Amanda pleaded as Amanda looked at her for another second and started packing her stuff.

"I'm tired. I'm going home. See you tomorrow."

"See you." Kali said as Amanda got up and left.

"Hello, miss. Anything I can help you with?" The clerk in the book shop asked as Amanda was roaming around the isles.

"Oh, yes, can you please tell me if you guys have pharmacology books? Specifically from this brand." Amanda pulled out her phone and the picture of the book she's looking for. Then, she gave it to the clerk to take a look.

"Hhhmmm. We might have it. Just give me a second please." The clerk gave the phone back and went to another direction. Amanda stood on her spot but took a look at other books. She cringed as she noticed a romance section of the isles.

"Definitely not this one." She mumbled to herself as she continued walking further to another section. Luckily, there was a fantasy section right beside it, which was her favorite genre.
Amanda skimmed through the shelves with intention of buying something for herself. Suddenly, the farthest book from her fell to the ground.

"Huh?" Amanda was startled by the sound and glanced at the falling book. She was about to reach it and put it back when the clerk appeared behind her.

"Now miss, we do have the brand of the book. But we only have this volume." Amanda turned around and was handed the book she was looking for. She skimmed through the pages

"I'll take it. This is the newest volume, I think this should be better. Thank you." Amanda replied with a smile.

"You're welcome." The clerk smiled back but stopped as he noticed a book laying on the floor.