DOCTOR STRANGE

73

Encounter II

Lucy’s Diner

My regular dinner spots. I come here at least two to three times for dinner. And yes, lunch is excluded. Sometimes I get a takeaway for lunch.

I parked my car and stepped into that heaven of coolness and chaos. Bright and funky. Black and colorful.

Finding my table, I settled on it.

For the dinner, I ordered tomato shrimp pasta and a banana split sundae to fill up on my carbs.

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Ren

“hey Wonka you’re here!!!” he came as he knew I was here. I was enjoying my pasta when I heard his voice.

He calls me Wonka, like Willy Wonka from the chocolate factory. He never tells me the reason though. I don’t like being called that, but what can I do when he never listens. Poor me!!

“Why are you here? Don’t you have any work.” I teased.

“what could be more important than seeing your busy a*s?” he winked.

“can you sit?” there were many customers at the time. So, I asked him.

“you eat first, then we’ll have a chat in my room.” He suggested. “how is the pasta by the way. I added more cheese since you like it.”

I praised his cooking with a thumbs up as my mouth was stuffed with the yumminess of that deliciousness.

“enjoy the food, I'll be back.”

I guess I'm gonna stay here for a bit more. It’s cool though, since I ate this food, I'm full of energy now.

I saw him walking back inside the kitchen.

“Ren??”

I voice came making my head turn to its direction.

It was a soft feminine voice, once that I have heard of before. It had a distinct familiarity in it.

A girl was standing at my table. I thought I knew the voice but as I saw her facial features, they were completely unknown to me.

I don’t think I know her.

“yes!!” I said gulping down my food.

“it’s really you. I wasn’t sure before…” she said. “hey! How are you doing? It has been really long.” she said pulling up a chair and sitting on it.

“I fine…. I guess.” My social phobia started rising to the surface.

“you don’t remember me, do you?” she said scrunching her nose.

“sorry but no”

“Catherine!!!”

“Catherine??? West?” I said but was highly unsure.

“uh!! You remembered.” She responded.

“what happened to you? You…” I was finding the right words in my vocabulary. “you… look so different.” I completed.

“I can't blame you. Everyone tells me how different I look. I don’t know how this happened either. So, I just lie that I got some work done. And they believe me.”

“I mean you look different with the makeup.”

“really,” she touched her cheeks. “do I?”

“before your makeup had, what my sister calls it…...? yes, neutral tones. It’s more vibrant now, like this place colorful and bright.”

“how are you doing? It has been really long right?”

There was so much that I wanted to ask her, but somewhere I was holding back. I might sound rude. I did not wanna hurt her. I wanted to know how she has been. Did she remembered anything that happened on that day? The questions were flooding my mind but my expressions were taking up a calm front.