damage || (𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘦 × 𝘰𝘤!𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭)

ii

19th August 2018

"His name is Dave."

_____

And we're back. The third year of college, a junior. I felt nothing more, nothing less, and nothing special. But damn, my eyelids were getting heavier and heavier each day. As soon as I finish college, I'm going to take a month's break. I just knew it had to be done. Imagine having no mental baggage, only empty luggage that is ready to be filled with all sorts of souvenirs from around the globe. And I bet, during that holiday, my fans and stans would be deprived of content.

My legs waltzed through the carpeted floors, feeling the coldness at the untouched area and left warm marks behind. My body's leaning and latched tightly to the edge of the desk. I have recently changed my uploading schedule and I now had to upload it. And, I just need to open YouTube, and... just upload with the rest of the shenanigans, and then I'm done. Great, another successfully finished task by yours truly. A ring coming from my phone caught me by surprise.

"Eden! Good morning, my beautiful muffin head!" Darryl.

"Darryl, Darryl, Darryl, how rude of you to wake me up at this hour, do you know that the sun hasn't quite risen up yet?"

"Stop being such poopy pants, I saw you upload on YouTube before I call."

"Ah..., you caught me, Sheriff. What are you gonna do to this filthy criminal?"

"Eden, I am not going—"

Without any notice, there was a heavy-dragging sound coming from nearby. I was assuming the sound of howls of hell came from upstairs. I guess it's that time of year again. Man, that sound always makes me feel old.

"What was that?!" Darryl exclaimed out loud.

"Huh?"

"That sound the 'brrrttt' sound I heard. Is everything alright there, Eden?"

"Oh, that! Don't worry Darryl, It's just that the freshmen moving in."

"Why don't you bake them cookies for the freshmen? It will help them move in a little easier."

"Are you kidding me? Do you remember the last time I bake cookies? The parchment paper caught on fire, the cookies burnt to perfection— the fifth layer of hell standard— and your house is nearly gulped by fire."

"I may have... overestimate your ability," he chuckled, "How about buy them cookies then?"

"I'm broke, remember?"

"Awe, do I need to send you my YouTube money?"

"Stop flexing, Darryl, I know you have way more subs than me."

"Hehe~ I know, teasing you is just fun," a few seconds in and he suddenly gasped, "I have to go now, see you later muffin head! Love you!"

"Love you too, Darryl!—"

I let out a heavy sigh, knowing that it had been 2 whole years since Darryl and I hang out. I told him that I want to go for an English major at UC Berkeley, and I tried to convince him and come with me. But he just has to choose YouTube and stayed in my hometown. He said that he couldn't handle the pressure of balancing both things at once and I just gave up. I couldn't just force him to do something he knew he isn't capable to do. But I hoped that he believed in himself more, for four more years of our lives.

I put down my phone and began the day, according to my schedule. I went to the counter, and like a factory machine, I automatically reached for my coffee and prepared it as I like it, black. It's bitterly nice and warm, it reminded me of my school years which is the beginning of my internet career. As I was peeking through the blinds to see the view underneath me then I put my empty mug in the sink.

Showering, brushing teeth, had leftover subway for breakfast, checking my socials, and went on the bus. Without any thought that tails behind my routine, my realization finally woke up and saw themselves sitting on one of my lectures for history. And with no interest in history present within my mind, I started writing down ideas whether about an upcoming video or even a story.

"—And that's it for our meeting today, don't forget about the essay due today, have a nice lunch everyone!" the professor stated. Luckily, I am a diligent student that doesn't want any trouble. I already finished my essay last night. Haha! Suck it losers! Guess who has early lunch today? This per—

"Ms. Eden, could you come here?" Wait, what the hell did I do wrong? No, I followed all the guidelines. Was there a typo somewhere in the essay? No way! I already checked it 3 times and scanned it through Grammarly and even the standard Microsoft spelling check. Oh no. Oh fucking no! I always hated it when I don't know what did I do wrong. Please, spare me, demon...!

"Great job on submitting the essay early, Ms. Eden. However...," there's that fucking, however, "As I was reading your essay, I couldn't help but notice a pattern for your essay writing. And, personally, I can't have you copy-paste patterns without any sense of courage to try out a new approach. To put it simply, you lack an adventurer's spirit!" She casually punched my arms.

Oh, that.

"If you keep this up, I have the authority to decrease your points." She instructed, monotonously.

"Alright then, I will fulfill your request."

"Great then, I will be waiting for your next essay. In the meantime, you don't have to rewrite your essay. You're now free to go."

"Thank you, Professor."

_____

"More adventurous? How the hell am I suppose to be more adventurous? Wasn't my essay enough for her? I even gave her the ultimate +4 card in that essay," I thought as I called an Uber and typed a cafeteria near me. But yet, in the last second, I decided not to. I immediately deflected my finger from pressing the order button and locked my phone. I... have decided to walk!

"See! I am fucking adventurous, Prof," and right then and there is the type of coping mechanism you know is based on a lie. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to present to you our show, the face of regret, starring myself and my 500 pages textbook-loaded bag. Look here, the main attraction is trying to swing their leg as they pathetically perambulate to the nearest café.

Not even bothering to see the time, I quickly got into the line of 3 people who soon got their orders. For my turn, I order the cheapest fulfilling meal I could get my poor ass hands on. I paid and soon take my tray to the sitting area.

I stopped right dead in the track as I turned to the sitting area. Every single table is packed with people. And that ladies and gentlemen, is act two of my play. I should have it packed into a take-out and just eat at the nearest park, but instead, I just have to do the opposite. And I can't just go back to the line, this place was jam-packed full. It wasn't like potato chips on a bag full, it was a full-priced Pringles we're talking about. As I looked at my watch, I realized that it's lunch hour, the lunch hour.

At that moment, there was only one table that had only one person on it. And, I felt a burst of familiarity that radiated from a table. That figure somehow looked similar to a fellow acquaintance, I just need to pinpoint who. He was focused on a book and sitting neatly as his concentration poured raw onto that book. But, his legs were restless, somebody ought to teach him how to take a Xanax. Even though in a distance, I failed to capture his face even though I could recognize people with the same distance as him. His chestnut brown hair, slightly longer, covered his entire face. Then, it struck me.

"Dave?"