Two
1551 Words
GREG's POV
Walking down the passageway trying to find my seat. "22B...and here I am," I said arriving at my seat. I settled into my seat and noticed the person sitting next to me. It was the lady I bumped into.
I could recognize her from the clothes she had on. An unzipped black college jacket over a white crop top that hugged her body in the right places and black cargo pants with a pair of Nike panda dunks sneakers.
I noticed that as I settled in my seat, She looked my way, making my heart skip a beat as our eyes met.
"You again," she said with a surprised look.
"Yeah, me again. Guess we are seat buddies" I said trying to be funny.
"You are kidding me, right?" She looked at me in annoyance. " Are you not supposed to be on your jet or at least first class? She asked in one breath.
"Hold on miss, have we met before except for our earlier bumping into each other? Do you know me?" I asked looking dumbfounded
"Yes, I do know you. Greg Reynold."
"What?!"
She knows my name. I looked at her eyes still trying to figure out where I might have met her before but nothing was sticking. I was certain this was the first time I had met her.
"You are the top student at the European School of Economics throughout your time there and also the student with the highest GPA." She added without breaking a sweat.
"Did we go to the same college?"
"Yes, but unfortunately your graduating year was my first year. So I didn't get to see much of the mighty Greg."
"The Mighty Greg?!" I said again looking confused.
"I know that ain't me." She looked back at me and scoffed which made me feel a bit offended.
"Of course, you are." She continued. "For your information, many students tried to match your GPA or surpass it but it was just impossible. I'm one of them and I couldn't. That's how high of a bar you set."
"By the way, I'm Annabel Al...Pearson. Annabel Pearson, that's who I am."
I never knew she was this much of a talker. I thought she would be cold, with the way she left me standing at the airport.
"Nice to meet you, Annabel Pearson. It's a pleasure. Didn't know you were much of a talker. I said trying to tease her a bit."
"Beats me." She replied with a smile that reached her eyes.
Her smile is so beautiful. I couldn't help but smile back. I could see her complete facial features as she had removed the nose mask that hid some of her beauty but still had her face dap on. We talked a bit more before I remembered I had some work to do.
ANNABEL's POV
We kept the conversation on, it was very interesting. I got to know most of the rumors about him in college weren't true. He wasn't cold or rude like the rumors. I never imagined I would talk so much with him. I feel bad for lying about my name, but given my situation, I had no choice. To minimize every chance of my father finding me. My thoughts were wandering in my head when his voice jolted me back to reality.
"You there? Earth to Annabel," he said as he snapped his fingers in my face.
"Yeah,"
"Are you okay? You kind of zoned out a bit." He asked.
"Nothing...Nothing at all." I smiled as I replied.
********
The flight went smoothly and we landed safely. All the passengers including Greg and I were waiting for our luggage and luggages at the baggage reclaim area at Glasgow Airport.
I looked towards Greg's direction and noticed a bit more about him. He is taller and more muscular than when I last saw him in college. And his voice just has this feeling it gives. I feel like I can listen to him all day. But how can I talk so much when we were on the plane? Now he thinks I talk too much. Ann, you could do better. Let's just get my bag and bid him farewell.
I saw him pick up a bag that looked like mine. How did he know what my bag looked like?
"How do you know that's mine?" I asked.
"But this is mine." He said, "It even has my initials." He added as he showed me a padlock that had G.R on it.
I could have sworn that's mine but him showing his initials on the bag made me retreat from my statement. "I guess this is it, where we say goodbye Mighty Greg," I said, teasing him.
He smiled. "I'd wait till you get your bag."
"Are you sure, I don't want to cause any inconvenience." I looked at him surprised.
Thirty minutes passed and still no sign of my bag. Now I'm getting frustrated and pissed, trying not to make it obvious.
"I think we should go make a complaint," Greg said looking at his Rolex.
I didn't force him to wait for me, it's not his bag that's not here. And everything I'd be needing is in that bag.
"Plus it's getting late," he added.
"You can leave if you want to." My voice sounded harsh which wasn't intended.
"Look, I know you are frustrated that you can't find your luggage, but I don't think it's coming out anymore cause the past 7 minutes no bags were coming in the baggage rail anymore."
Just as he finished speaking, the rail stopped moving as if they were listening to our conversation.
"My Lord!! What do I do now? I have nowhere to go or someone to call. It's my first time in Scotland." Tears began to fill my eyes. I tried hiding it but he noticed already.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
There was silence, I couldn't reply to him cause I felt I'd just burst out crying which would be more embarrassing.
"Let's go lay a complaint and the embassy will help find your bag and send it to your address," Greg added.
"I don't have an address yet," I snapped unintentionally. Tears were rolling down my cheeks now. "It's my first time in Glasgow. I don't even know anybody." I bowed my head.
There was silence for a bit.
"Let's make the complaint, then you can stay at my place till you get your bag."
"I can't -"
"You can," he interrupted me. "Where are you gonna go?"
I couldn't answer. I just stared at him then bowed again. This wasn't how I planned this.
He held my hands, "let's go." He said, staring into my eyes.
Butterflies in my tummy. I couldn't pay much attention to it.
"Alright, I'll go with you and stay at your place but just till I get my bag," I said, wiping my eyes.
"Deal?"
"Deal."
We went to the embassy together, complained and he dropped his address just like he had said and we left for his place.
Getting out of the airport to the car park, a dark-skinned, almost the same height as Greg stood beside a car, welcomed us or should I say, Greg.
"Welcome back, Mr. Reynold. How was your flight?" He said as he took Greg's luggage from him.
"Hey stop with the formalities, it's not an official outing," Greg replied jokingly.
He looked at Greg then at me then at Greg with an expression that said "Who is she?"
"Oh, Her?" I overheard Greg say in a whisper.
"Annabel, this is Daniel, my childhood friend. Daniel, this is a friend, Annabel," he said with ease like we've known each other for years now.
I looked at him with an expression that said 'HUH?' Greg looked at me with an expression that said 'WHAT?'
Daniel cleared his throat snapping both of us out from the confusion."Nice to meet you, miss Annabel." He bowed a bit with a smile.
"The pleasure is mine," I replied replicating his action.
Greg then opened the back seat door for me. What a gentleman.
He closed it once I was seated comfortably inside and Daniel had the other side opened for him.
"You know you don't have to do that," he said with an embarrassed expression.
"I'm still on duty sir -"
"Stop it." Greg cut him off.
"Okay, I would." Holding in his laughter.
Daniel hopped in after and we started heading to Greg's place.
"Are you hungry?" Greg asked
"Nah, I'm fine." Just almost immediately those words came out from my mouth, my stomach defied my statement and rumbled. There was silence. I turned to see Greg trying to hold in his laughter.
"Don't you dare," I said.
Greg bursted out laughing hard same as Daniel. "Not you too Daniel," I said.
"Sorry I couldn't help it, Miss Annabel," Daniel replied while still laughing.
"Stop at the nearest eatery, Daniel, let's feed our not-so-hungry but hungry Annabel," Greg said after he was done laughing. I was so embarrassed but glad.
A phone rang causing both of them to stop laughing as Daniel turned down the volume of the background music. "Hello Celine." Greg said upon picking up the call. There was silence for a while.
"WHAT!" Greg screamed.
- Writer
