Foolosophy

Chapter 03

7 months later: England

 

Life had a funny way of showing the glorious light at the end of the everlasting tunnel of eternal darkness. Arya took in her strange surrounding with an awestruck expression that had been plastered on her face the moment she stepped foot into her university campus. This was it- this was the change she had been desiring for months. Being miles away from home and her past gave her a sense of closure. Arya was finally flipping to a new chapter in her life, one that left her eagerly waiting with a bittersweet taste mouth.

"Excuse me, miss. You seem lost. Need help around?" A distant voice boomed in her ears, bringing her back to reality.

Arya slightly scoffed. Lost? Perhaps it may have appeared so, but she had never felt more at home than she did in that very moment.

"Hah, a bit, I guess. Wow, this place is amazing," she began, directing her attention to the male. His captivating green orbs demanded every ounce of her attention. She noted every little imperfection she saw- the scar below his right eyebrow, his crooked jaw line and the bruises on his knuckles visible from his tight hold on the strap of his bag. Neither was he extraordinarily built nor was he god-like in his appearance. And yet, there was something so purely human about him that Arya couldn't help but extend a warm smile.

"Indeed it is. You should explore it- you'll be amazed. I'm Damon, by the way. You are?"

"Arya. Pleasure to meet you, Damon. I don't want to ask for too much, but could you show me around a bit?" she raised her eyebrows in anticipation as she basked in his thick British accent. It was day one of her university life and as much as she thought she wouldn't require help, she knew desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Of course. I'm assuming you're a first year here?" he began, slowly building a pace as he guided Arya to walk beside him.

"Mm hmm. What about you? You seem like you know this place and the people at the back of your mind," she laughed, watching as he sent casual waves to people they passed by. Considering the number of smiles and nods Damon got, Arya assumed he had been here a while.

"Third year, and hating that I love this place so much." He gave Arya a gorgeous wink, making her erupt in a fit of giggles. She didn't know this stranger, but she took an immediate liking to him.

"Thank you for volunteering to show me around. I know you probably have better things to do." Arya admitted sheepishly, tugging onto her bag and walking in unison with him. It was considerably hard to believe that a third year student would spare his precious time to show a fresher around campus. She almost felt guilty, but decided against letting the guilt get to her. He had approached her by choice and Arya would respect that without sprouting questions.

"I wish I had better things to do. Start of the term is pretty slow and I'd rather be out, helping those who need it." Damon gave her a soft smile, forcing her to believe every word he uttered. Arya appreciated how friendly and conducive he was being.

"Thank you," she stated again, before continuing, "I'm majoring in Economics but my minors are still undecided. How about you?"

"Me too! Economics is my major, whilst minors are accounting and finance. Why do I feel like we'll be really good friends?"

Arya gasped at the coincidence. He seemed to be doing everything that she aspired to do.

"Really good friends sounds amazing right now, considering I have none." She shrugged.

"Damon Reynolds at your service, ma'am. How about you show me your schedule and classes and I help you figure out where you go from here?" She couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief at his offer. Her first day here and she had found someone who was hopefully just the right kind of person she needed in her life.

Arya swiftly took out her schedule from her bag and handed it to him, making sure to avoid any clumsy maneuvers. Damon scrutinized her classes, almost as if he was going through a flashback. Perhaps he had taken the same classes two years ago, Arya assumed.

As he studied her lineup for the following semester, she took the privilege of looking around. The varied crowd of students of different cultures, races and ethnicities around studying their respective calendars, socializing with new friends and feeling just as out of place as her overwhelmed Arya. This was definitely outside her comfort zone, yet every aspect of it enthralled her- University was a new adventure she couldn't wait to explore.

Arya's gaze scanned her surroundings, staring at each group of students in close detail. She hoped she could memorize as many faces as possible to aid her in future circumstances. Her eyes fell upon three fairly built men guffawing- two blond ones facing her while the third's back towards her. Arya smiled as she noticed them laugh as if no one was watching. She silently wondered what the hazel head could have said that seemed so amusing to the rest.

The blond men lit up with their smiles visibly touching their eyes, radiating warmth with their inviting faces. For a quick moment she forgot all about Damon, feeling herself getting sucked into the happiness that the group of men exuberated. The hazel one ran his fingers through his hair and looked left, right, and then finally behind him.

Arya's breath hitched in her throat. Her limbs went numb and heart forcibly stopped beating.

It couldn't be. No, it was impossible.

Blake.

The moment her eyes fell on his beautiful face, there was no existent force that could tear her gaze away from his. A sliver of doubt washed through her body, truly pondering if this man could be the same stranger she had come across months ago. The chances seemed oddly slim and yet, Arya found herself believing in the exception to this unfavorable probability.

Arya eyed him closely, drinking in his breathtaking physique. Every bit of their conversation months ago came to her mind in tiny snippets, reminding her of how sure he had been that they would meet. It seemed almost comical that she never believed a word he had said about fate, despite how assuring they had sounded.

"Damon," she hissed, diverting his attention from her schedule to her. He looked at her with curious eyes, indicating her to go on. "Who is that guy?"

"That's Blake Wilcox. Third year at university, want me to introduce you to him?" Damon asked with an oblivious smile on his face.

"NO!" Arya screamed almost immediately. Her suspicions had been confirmed. Her stranger had been standing a few feet away and all she could do was breathe in the fact that he probably didn't even recognize her.

A sudden jolt of stupidity hit her senses. How could he possibly remember a night on an online website months ago with a girl when he met breathtaking beauties on a daily basis?

"...Okay then," Damon began cautiously as he studied her expression. She remained stoic and composed, forcing him to continue his sentence. "Let's just take you back to your room? You seem tired."

"Hmm, yeah, that would be nice. Thank you." Arya sighed, straying her gaze from Damon's.

She looked at Blake's retreating figure one last time, watching in desperation as he walked away with his palms buried deep within his pockets. Arya's heart leaped in her chest, calling at her to make a bold move for once in her life. Her mind guided her nerves to run towards this man and tell him that she was finally here.

But of course, her legs overpowered her sudden bolt of courage, rooting themselves intricately to the ground.