Colors Radiated [on hold]

Rose Red

It looks beautiful, just like you. -Malek.

I had no idea how to react to that. 

Something about those words was getting to me, but I reminded myself on how I should be the one in control and not you. As much I wanted to reply "thanks" or anything sincere, I decided against it and put my phone away. 

I gazed at the stars and the moon for I don't know how long until I was entirely exhausted. I rolled down to my bed and slid in between the sheets without taking off my clothes.

I woke up at 3a.m. thanks to those nightmares again, but this time I decided to stay put in my room instead of going for a run; I was still in shock of the Malek that I saw at the lake. I sat up in my bed curled up in a ball with my knees in my elbows and my mind wondered of again. 

I was thinking about you again, that smile you keep flashing, your sketches, your passion for art, your voice... just you, when my alarm set for 5 a.m. went off... I thought of you for straight two hours and I only met you one day. I must have been going nuts in the head.

I grabbed my towel and toiletry bag and went to the communal shower of Stanford university--- Ivy league was no biggie; I've worked hard enough to get here. The fact that I'm in a hall where the bathroom is co-ed still cringes me a little, though I've went to this bathroom for a year and a half now. 

I stepped into my cold usual shower and shut my eyes closed as I remembered that it is already Friday. I was relieved but at the same time stressed out. It's the last day of class which meant I get to have a movie night on Saturday with Sash, but there's going to be a party and Sash is probably going to take me to it if we want our plan to work. 

What if he doesn't go to parties though, just like you don't? my subconscious started asking, I pushed her to the side and finished my shower.

I pulled my navy-blue dress out because the weather was going to be warm today, winter is supposed to kick in any time soon and I want to savor the last days of autumn. My dress is shorter than what I usually would wear, it is right above my knees and it has lace sleeves and is backless, it forms a V-shape on my neck exposing my bare neck and collarbones to an outsider. This isn't my usual outfit, but I don't hate it. Sash convinced me to buy to it two weeks ago as she isn't fond of most of my clothes, she says "they make you look like my old granny when she was in her 20's". I put my small pearl... looking, I obviously can't afford a pearl... earrings but left my neck bare as I didn't have a good necklace that goes well with the dress. I put my toms on because they felt more comfortable and comfort was what I prioritized most.

I looked at myself in the mirror one more time, but it felt like I was exposing too much skin so I decided to put my grey cardigan on before leaving the room to head to my last class of the week, Maths.

I passed by biology lab to find Sash; she had been hanging around there every day like a worm lately.

"Damn girl! I knew that was your color!" Sash exclaimed as she saw me. 

She was too loud that everyone's eyes fell on me. I had been embarrassed enough from the previous day and this was just another scene that Sash was causing. I rolled my eyes at her in a way to make her stop screaming and she stopped.

"So, does this mean you're going to the party with me tonight?" she asked, eagerly, as we walked down the hallway.

"Maybe. It depends on how my day goes." I explained to her and I meant it. It's only been two days since I met you Malek and my life looked like it's already taking a wrong turn.

"It will probably be a normal Friday, Jess. Have a little faith." she said, chuckling on the last part. I prayed under my breath that it actually turns out to be just like Sash said.

We said bye to each other, and she got into her nest, bio lab, and I continued to where my math class was in. As I walked in, I saw you sitting on the right side of the room, two sits inwards from the aisle and three raw behind the stage of the room where the Professor stands on. 

Should I sit with him? Of course not! It should be a normal Friday, and normal, definitely, shouldn't involve you. I knew that much. There was a certain attraction force that was dragging my feet towards your direction though. I managed to stop just as I got to the raw behind you and forced myself to take a sit. If it is not directly behind you, I was going to see your face and I couldn't afford that; I sat behind you where I can only see your gently styled jet curly black hair--- it was beautiful.

I put my backpack down from where I was carrying it and put it on the chair next to mine, on my left. As it is a habit of mine to look around my surrounding--- just to be aware of it--- I turned to my back; it was empty, and then I turned back to my natural position; I caught a glimpse of your hair and did my best to avoid it, hence, I turned to my right and caught him staring at me. I had never seen him before.

"Hi" he said, probably growing a quick understanding on my conscious thought that was saying 'And you are?'

"Hey" I replied trying to sound as polite as I could by adding a genuine smile on my face.

"Benjamin." he said.

"Are we in history class?" I inquired as I was confused. He chuckled on my response, I did not understand why, and he continued speaking.

"No, not Benjamin Franklin. I mean, my name is Benjamin."

I felt utterly imprudent for the previous question I, so confidently, asked. I turned my face away and started staring at your hair again--- the cause for my scattered thoughts that made me query such foolish thing--- to hide my face as it appeared as reddish as it can get due to the rushing blood to my cheeks, caused out of embarrassment.

"I'm guessing you're Jessica Smith." He continued speaking, pretending as though he had not noticed that I have turned my head away out of embarrassment, I noticed as I turned to face him as he spoke and found his head too rotated to its natural position with a mischievous smile on his masculine face.

"Yes, that would be me." I replied, arranging myself into the right position for class.

The class started filling up with other students and the professor entered after, no longer than, five minutes later. We didn't speak anymore for the rest of the lesson.

"Hey! Jessica!" I heard you calling running towards me as I was exiting the classroom hurriedly---I didn't want to intrude with you. I tried to ignore it and kept walking, but you were faster than I; you caught me grasping me by the arm. I turned around with a rough countenance that I had no control over, for the act of grasping me was beyond my expectation.

"I'm sorry" you said releasing my hands almost as instantly as you had grasped them. I was certain that you would have blushed mortified as you comprehend my expression if you had not had a darker skin that enabled you to hide it well. I tried my best to recoup my neutral face; I had failed, my mien could have risen the dead from the grave only to murder it once more--- so did your reaction assure me of how dreadful I appeared.

"What was it you wanted from me?" I spoke fiercely, failing to speak politely as I normally tend to do unless provoked, without the usual smile that I flash on for people during greetings.

"I'm really sorry about that, it was inappropriate." You apologized "I just thought I would catch you on the way out so that we can walk to the café together, and maybe, discuss about my project you were kindly willing to help me with."

"It's okay." I lied "and yes, we can do that."

We both turned to face the front, instead of facing each other awkwardly, and started walking side by side through the direction of the hallway that lead to the exit of the building. 

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Next Chapter: 21 of August, 2020.