THE OLD ME BACK

Chapter 7

Lunch time, and it seems the food court is to be crowded again. I'm still in the queue waiting for my turn. So while I'm waiting, I'm already thinking of the foods to order so that I won't take too much time in choosing dish just like what's happening ahead. The student next to the other one gets annoyed already because it's complaining now.

By looking at the other direction, I never expect that I would see this stranger falling in line on another queue. How small the world is! But here is the thing, he catches me looking at him so I quickly look away. It's so close! I don't know why my eyes turn back to look again at this stranger unconsciously who is busy now on his phone.

The way he acted a while ago is simply just telling me that he just ignored me since it was a random look. That's a good thing, right? It's just simply nothing! What else would I expect from him if we are both total strangers to each other?

When it's already my turn after how many years, no, just kidding, I guess more or less half of an hour, I already told my orders and all of those are available. Great! I think this moment may brighten up my day. So when I already have the food tray, I can't help but to smile a bit even if I can't escape from the stares of the students around. I don't have any idea why they tend to stare at me like that as if I've done something wrong to each one of them. I'm afraid they are thinking me wrong but as far as I know, I'm already a nobody.

From that, I can't help but to think if this looks of mine may find it still attractive. How funny it is to think of really!

Good thing there are still vacant tables so I choose the best area for me to have my seat. To start eating my orders which are two cups of rice, fried ribs and mixed veggies, I drink the iced tea first because I'm thirsty due to the stares of them.

"How brave she is! I hope to be like her!" Something I hear behind me but I choose not to mind it though it makes me curious about. I don't think the one who said that was referring to me, right?

So why would I get bothered?

Okay, erase it. I must savor every moment now while I'm eating my favorite dishes. The taste is really great but I'm about to cuss, good thing I did not. My goodness! Who would not be surprised if the stranger that bothers me a little is already in front of me? He just puts his food tray and sit down. Like hello? I'm here and he should ask my consent if I would allow to let him share the table.

Gosh! Why is this happening? Is the fate becoming bad at me now? Can't fate realize that I'm starting now to do the change?

After swallowing the food, I try to look at him as he starts to eat now. By observing him, he's acting as if nothing is to be made clear. He is just looking at the food and sometimes at the other direction, silently eating, so much innocence on his face. When I turn my head to see around, I can see more vacant tables than earlier. How can this guy have the guts to sit with a person who tries to avoid him?

Oh wait, why should I avoid him? He's just a stranger like any other students here.

Very sudden, he stops eating when I stand from my seat with a huge food left on my plate. I mean to do this so that he could imply based on what I act. Without a word I walk out and directly go to our room. I wait for about fifteen minutes before the bell rings. Our class in the afternoon resumes. During our dismissal, it is crystal clear that I will be able to get home early because today is not my sweeping schedule.

On my way home, I suddenly stop walking along the road because of the minimal accident. Due to the crash sound, I turn behind and I see a kid got bumped into a big trash can using his bicycle. Quickly, I ran into him so that I could help him. Perhaps, this is the second good thing that I would do from getting a perfect score from the quiz we had a day before yesterday.

The kid says thank you to me and I find him cute by saying that. I'm about to walk again but someone I get to notice makes me heaved a sigh.

Gosh, this stranger is here again. Seriously, is he following me? Has he nothing else to do than this?

Acting as if I've not seen him, I hurriedly walk. Two blocks I have already passed by when I try to see if he's still behind me. And by surprise, he is still there, looking away.

Decided to walk slower, I've crossed the way as I'm about to pass by the third block. But someone abruptly grabs my hand and so I turn to him right away.

"Hey! Why are you always around wherever I am?! Are you followi---?!" I control away my mouth not to speak more because I find out it is the kid who grabs my hand. He's asking me to fetch him because he does not know the way to go back on his way home. With curiosity, I look at the other side, and there, I catch the stranger on the other road now turning left. My shout a while ago obviously stops him from walking and instantly looks at me with a confused face.

Gosh, this is so embarrassing! No way I could show more my face on him.