Original Love

Episode Two

My eyes felt heavy today. I couldn’t care less what I look like and I already knew I look like hell this morning. I need to meet up with Austin at the coffee shop before the first class and I’m running ahead this time, chasing minutes because I’m getting late for our meeting. Austin had already sent me three texts a while ago, threatening me to pay up for whatever he had ordered for the two of us.

But what can I do? I had slept so late last night that I missed my alarm twice.

And it was all because of him. That Bradley Evans.

If not because of that weird conversation we had Friday night, I would have never been bothered this whole weekend thinking of all the possible interpretations of what he all meant by what he told me… And how in the hell he had known my name? I don’t remember telling him at all! Was he really that great? Is he a mind reader?

Damn it, that guy’s so confusing. I cannot read him, seriously!

“Oy, Sammie!” Austin’s voice took my attention right away the moment I entered the coffee shop. He was already waiting and looking bored at the usual table we used to have. I quickly maneuvered my way towards him and plop down on the seat across from him.

“What the hell took you so long? Your coffee’s cold and it’s your fault.” He tells me with annoyance and took a big bite of the French toast resting on our table.

“Just so you know, we’re both sharing the expense of this. I’m still on a tight budget right now,” I tell him, sipping in my coffee that thankfully was still lukewarm enough.

“Fine,” Austin replies with a scowl and snorts. “You look like hell, by the way.”

As if I didn’t know already. This side of him is what I needed sometimes just to make me less attracted to him. If not because of our constant bickering I would have already confessed to him and bared my feelings like an i***t… Luckily, I didn’t. Because if I did, I know I would have regretted it. I would have preferred this kind of relationship to lose Austin along the way.

My feelings don’t matter as long as we still get to talk and be the best of friends. At least, that’s something, right?

“What?” Austin looks at me with a frown as he studies my face, “You’re unusually silent today, Sammie. School’s stressing you out?”

“Yeah, a bit,” I sighed back and bit at my own toast, looking somewhat dejected. “Lots of pressure and all that stuff.”

I already sensed Austin’s hand before I feel it as it moves and rests above my head. I look up and was flustered to capture that admiring look of concern on his pretty face. “You’re working yourself too hard. Be gentle. I don’t want to lose the happy-go-lucky Sammie I know.”

He gives me that signature smile which made me finally forget the reason why I shouldn’t be having these feelings for him. It was in seeing this side of him that I failed miserably to stop myself from falling so hard. Damn it. Get a grip, Sam.

“I know that,” I swat my head away from his hold, hiding my blush as I try to focus on my coffee. I hear him chuckles at my action, probably thinking I was being cute and stubborn again. He always looks at me that way and only sees me in that way. His cute little sister.

“Don’t get too carried away, though,” Austin tells me as he leans back to his chair, sipping more from his coffee. “It’s only the first sem. You still got a long way to go.”

I know that.

We shared silence for a while as we finish off the toast and the coffee. After a few minutes, Austin spoke up again.

“So, how’s the deal going now? Any progress?”

Damn that deal. Just remembering that also reminds me that it was all that deal’s fault why I didn’t get enough sleep since Friday night.

“I’m still working on it,” I grunted back, trying not to look Austin in the eye. If he ever finds out what happened Friday night, he would be too happy… And he might even think I’m already gushing over this Bradley Evans (which I strongly not). I was so stressed out with school more than enough, and I still have to suffer over this deal too.

What a pathetic life I have.

“Working on it? What do you mean by that? How?” Austin goes on, sounding very much curious as he leans across the table, “It’s been two weeks now, Sammie. I’m losing my patience. Have you even said hi to him?”

Ugh, this guy is too much! Why do I have to deal with these kinds of pushy guys around me?! Really, am I being punished for something I did in my past life?! Damn it.

“We already had a conversation last week. Would that make you feel better now?” I huffed out and glare at him.

“Really?” Austin suddenly looks at me with astonishment and wide eyes, as if he couldn’t really believe I did say what I said. “You’re not lying, are you?”

“I’m not! I totally did talk to—“

“Samantha Winters?” a voice stops me cold as I turn to look at the person standing beside me. Speaking of the devil, why is he here?

“Nice seeing you again, Sam. Having breakfast?” Bradley Evans looks down at me with that innocent face as if he already knew I would be offering him a seat. And of course, just to prove my statement to Austin, I smiled up at him and did so.

“Good morning,” Bradley’s flawless face moves to look at Austin with a perfect smile, “I’m Bradley Evans, you a friend of Samantha’s?”

Austin was too shocked to even reply to that greeting right away, so I took the liberty to do that for him instead.

“He’s Austin Summers. He’s my childhood best friend and he’s a sophomore. Management major.” I tell Bradley who looks at me with those perfect gorgeous eyes that seem to silently acknowledge me in return.

What is he planning now? And why is he acting so casual and friendly? Appearing out of nowhere…

“You guys have an event coming, right?” Bradley asks Austin out of the blue, who was watching the two of us in confusion. Bradley patiently stares at Austin with interest who looks back at him with a slightly distracted reaction. Austin immediately returns to his natural easy-going posture when he realizes Bradley was watching him. And as if he’s taking his time to answer, he takes another sip of his coffee first before he speaks up.

“Yeah, we do.” Austin replies to Bradley in a straight face, “You guys should go and check it out. It’s open to everyone and we have a lot of booths that would entertain you enough.”

“We will,” Bradley, on the other hand, glances back at me with his sweet smile, “Right, Sam?”

What? What is he talking about? What does that look on his face mean now?  Is he asking me something? Was he asking me to go with him there? Wait… What?