Beneath The Surface

The Softness Of Almost

After lectures that day, I tried to avoid any contact with anybody as I made my way to the car. Before I could oAfter lectures that day, I tried to avoid any contact with anybody as I made my way to the car. Before I could open the door, somebody grabbed me from behind, making me turn abruptly.

“Hey, are you alright”

It was Wendy. “You scared me”. I whispered. “Why are you acting all startled now huh? You’re acting weird” she added.

“Am I?” I asked, forcing a soft laugh.

“Yes. You refused to pick up my calls or returned my messages. What happened” She asked.

“Uhh…I am sorry about that. I was very busy and my phone also had a problem” I said, showing her my phone which had fortunately or unfortunately fallen down that morning and broken in all parts.

“Hmm….I smell something fishy. I know you are lying but I’ll take this for now” she said as tucked into my shirt sleeve, looking at me straight in the eye.

I smiled. “I didn’t drive, let’s go” she said and made her way to the passenger front seat.

I subconsciously turned, hoping to see somebody. And that didn’t go unnoticed. “Are you looking for somebody?” Wendy asked and then realized it.

“Ooh. She couldn’t come. She went back home to handle a few things” she added and I nodded.

“And oh, I have to tell you something” she said.

“What’s that??” I asked.

“I’ll go back to the States with Iris’ mom. She asked me to accompany her on a business trip” she added.

“I see” I replied and forced a smile. It was awkward.

‘Come on man. Get yourself straight’. I said to myself, trying to make the conversation normal as usual. “And How long will that be?” I asked. “ a week or two. Not more than two weeks” she answered before adding. “Hey, I’m going to need to need you to be with Iris while I’m gone okay. She’s got no friends yet, and I wouldn’t like her keeping to herself and being all lonely. Is that okay” She asked.

“Alright, no prob—wait what??!” I exclaimed as the contents of her statements sinked in.

“Hey! Come on, it’s nothing big. Pleaaaseee.” She pleased with an Instant switch of her adorable baby face.

I looked at her straight, contemplating on whether to turn her down. While I didn’t like the idea of me hanging out with her, there was a part of me which yearned to experience it again. The beautiful moments. The memorable gestures. And the sheer joy it came with.

“I’ll try” I said softly, almost a whisper.

“Thank you” she crossed her seat and hugged me.

I drove out of campus to go get food before dropping her off at the Bach residence at Cantoments later that day