Love Stories Over A Cup Of Coffee

A: A Familiar Face

Yes, I accepted the offer. And here I am at my desk, sitting alone, surrounded by silence.

I woke up early so as not to disturb the kids but everyone was already awake when I went down the kitchen. The food was also ready. Fluke cooked us an American breakfast. Ohm brought us some bread from Tawan's store. Mew made some coffee. Kao and Earth made sure that they're awake at that hour. I was touched I almost cried.

Before I left, Earth told me to not my hair in a ponytail and let it fall. He told me that that  I look better when my hair is not tied and it's curled.

I decided to wear a white button down silk top, black slacks, and flats because I'm already tall. I wore my glasses today because my eyes got irritated yesterday with my contacts. I wore a little but of make-up.

When I arrived at department, I saw another lady who's just like me, a new hire. When I looked around, I saw almost all of the people inside had their attention to her. I can't blame them. She's tall, taller than me, she's wearing heavy make-up but she looks stunning. She has a good figure, not as thin as me. She's fair. And well, her aura screams goddess. Her name is Hera (how ironic). She looks nice but you can feel that there is a diva within her. I kinda don't like that. But let's see how we're interact. I just can't judge her based solely on my feelings and first impression.

When the dean of the college introduced us, I heard a louder clapping for her than me. I don't care anyways. After Hera and I were toured around the college, I have to stay with the dean while Hera got invited to eat lunch with the other faculty members.

The dean has to talk to me about my position as a researcher. I thought that she will question me about how I get in but it turned out, she's an old professor of mine and she is so happy to see me again. I cannot remember her but I'm happy someone is proud of me for who I became to be.

When I entered the cafeteria for faculty members, I immediately saw where Hera is. She's surrounded by our senior faculty members, but I'm talking about the younger senior members. Those who are almost our age.

When I asked them if I can seat with them because there's still one empty seat, they said that it is already taken.

So I ended up at the table behind them. I'm all alone. I felt as if I'm one of those girls in teenage dramas that is beeing bullied or an outcast. It doesn't feel nice. And it feels so weird because I haven't met them and we hadn't have any interactions yet they treated me that way.

Since I'm eating alone, it's not a problem actually, I decided to call Tawan.

"Appleeeeeeeeeeeee," he shouted when he answered my call.

"Hey, you're so loud. Are you trying to destroy my eardrum?" I asked him. He laughed.

"So, why did you call?"

"Well, I just want to know how are you? How's your first day there?" I asked him trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Let me guess, no one wants to sit with you?" He asked me.

"Not that really." Cuz it's really not about sitting with anyone. It's about how I felt with what they did.

"You know what, it's okay. Just go with the flow for now. Observe. Anf later on respond. A warrior do not attack aimlessly and without thought. Okay?" He told me.

"I'm not gonna go to war. It's just that, ot doesn't feel right." I finally said it.

"Because maybe it's not really right." He told me." But before you do something, better know where they're coming from.

I nodded as if he can see me. He has to go and end the call because he has a date with his one and only. I wanted to tease him kore but he got shy again.

After the call, I noticed that someone is seated across me. I can't remember anyone asking me if they can sit with me. None. I looked at the person to see who it was, because most of my old professors are still around, and was so surprised to see someone familiar, someone I haven't seen in years.

August.

I think I was staring at him too long, he asked me what's the matter.

"Ah, sorry. I was just thinkinb if I saw you earlier at the faculty room." I lied.

He nodded.

"By the way, I'm Lapisara, but you can call me Apple. I'm just new here." I introduced myself.

August stopped eating. "I'm Vachiravit Paisarnkulwong, or you can call me August. I'm the new director of the research center of the college." I was right. He is indeed August. "You're Apple? You must be the new member, right?" I nodded. "It's good to meet you then." Then he stood up and said goodbye.

Wow. That is August? But why? Why didn't he say hello to me when he first saw me? Why did I have to introduce myself to him? Is he playing a game? Or is he trying to do a prank? How can he not show any sign that he knows me?

So here I am, trying to figure things out. I was able to get a copy of his CV. So he graduate from a university in Japan then got to work there for some time and now he is back in Thailand.

I tried to strike some conversation with him but more of them failed. At those successful attempts, I am sure that he doesn't know me. I can't see any hint that he is ignoring me or trying to prank me. He really doesn't know me or recognise me. But why? What happened to you August?

When I got home, I told everyone about it. When I say everyone, I meant the people I live with together with their partners plus Tawan and his special someone. Everyone was surprised about it. They asked me tons of questions and the answer has always been a no.  No, he cannot recognise me. He didn't say hi. He didn't called me first. Nothing.

"Wait, Gulf, aren't your families good friends?" Tawan asked, we called him via Zoom. 

Everyone looked at Gulf. "Well, kinda? But it has always been my parents who is close with his family." Gulf explained.

"P'Gulf, maybe your parents know what happened to him." Fluke suggested.

"Why don't you try asking them, Phi." Earth asked.

Gulf agreed to call his parents. After the call, "my mother said she doesn't know the full story but all she knows is that P'August got into an accident and eventually lost some of his memories." Gulf said.

"What? Really? This can really happen? Like I thought it's just in the movies or series?" Earth exclaimed.

Kao hit him softly on his forehead. "Of course it's possible, especially with too much truma in the brain."

"But, there is still a possibility for him to recall, right?" Mew asked.

Kao nodded. "There is. Some get their memories back on their own. Some have to have some triggers. Some have no choice but to create new memories."

"If that is the case, then you have to remind him who you are, Apple." Tawan said. "Do things thay can remind him of you." Tawan suggested.

I do not know why I agreed to make a plan on how to remind August. He is my friend. We have survived a lot of challenges in life. But all these years, all I know is that August and I are just close friends. We do certain things we are also willing to do for Tawan and Mew. Yes, we have spent more time together when Mew went to find himself. We did a lot of things, created good memories. Maybe that's why a part of me wants him to remember me, us. But the other part, I'm still confused. Will it be all worth it?  I've waited long enough for him to comeback. I even write him handwritten letters every time a life changing event happens. Why am I so patiently waiting for him to comeback all these years? Is there something I do not know about? Am I not aware of how I feel, again?