It Has Always Been You

Chapter – 7

Chapter – 7

Meeting the angel Pt. 2

A tear was threatening to fall from my eye. I tried hard to not let Gannon see it, but I think he did. Maybe he didn’t, I am not really sure. But I was praying for the latter. Now, why? Because showing your weakness makes you vulnerable to wounds, both physical and psychological wounds.

He fished out his phone from his pocket, not saying a word, and dialed Emiliano’s number. I couldn’t hear him well, but I knew what he must talk about. After the call was over, he looked at me asking,

“But how do you know my best friend?”

“your best friend?” I questioned. Of course, two good-looking guys just hang out together, huh? That’s the course of nature.

“yeah, he is my best friend.”

“you'll know soon. By the way, he is my best friend. You might be his friend, but I am the only best friend he has. You’ll be jealous once you see us together.”

“Okay, fine. Let’s see who he’ll choose for his best friend-award. Either way, it’ll be good to have a gorgeous girl in our trio.”

“trio? There is some other good-looking guy in your group?”

“First, let’s go to the chemistry department. He went there to get his stuff. I asked him to meet me there in a minute, so he probably is waiting for us there.” He informed.

“Okay, let's hurry before he gets bored and leaves waiting for us.”

“you know him too well.”

We walked together to the second floor of the principal building and now that the department was empty, I can see how huge it actually was. How can I not notice it before?

It looked so small when all the students were crowding it. Thank goodness my anxiety didn’t kick in. it would have been a big problem. It feels nice here now, it’s quiet and clean like the sky of a spring day. It sparkled bright, spotlessly clean, and also, to my surprise, the air-conditioned air that sniffed of chemicals and cleaners all mixed up together does not turn me off. It wasn’t too overwhelming, but it was strong enough to know that this room was freshly cleaned.

Strangely enough, that place gave me some heavy load of avenger vibes.

Why? Why not?

It was black and grey, like a high-end secret science laboratory with some dark experiments going on away from the public eyes. Black was the platforms in there, as well as the lockers and the compartments of it. The room was lit up by multiple ceiling lights reflecting brightly on the clean surfaces. The floor was grey to compliment the aesthetic. How can one not feel overexcited and yet calm in a place like this? The school was always chaotic, never was there any time to explore the beauty of it. I am already looking forward to my classes here.

I was looking left and right like a stunned fool when I saw someone coming in my direction. I didn’t even realize that Gannon was not beside me now. Just in that instant, I knew who he was. Emiliano.

The one I was so excitedly looking forward to meeting ever since I got accepted into this university. It excited me was just an understatement; I was actually dying to see him, to talk to him, to see the way he stretches his eyes and spread his eyebrows when surprised. I wanted to see it all.

Although I knew who he was, I was sure too that he didn’t know who I was. He didn’t even spare a glance at me, which low-key hurt me, but it wasn’t his fault either. He hasn’t seen me since I shed the pounds-piled weight from my body.

He walked over and stood next to Gannon, chatting with him. He didn’t look at me at all. While he was busy chatting with Gannon, Gannon glanced a confused look at me, as if asking me if I really knew this person or if he knew me.

“Emily” I shrieked, getting both of their full attention and jump close to them. I knew he didn’t like me calling him that, especially not when his friends will hear, but that was the best way to make him know it was me. I was holding back my laugh looking at their shocked expression as my shriek resonated through the whole empty room. I glanced at Gannon’s expressions for a split second. And he was looking funny and confused. They are such scared cats. And then as I shifted my glance to Emiliano, I saw the shift in his expressions that delighted me. It went from confused to the one where he looked, trying to figure out something to a happy one, the one that showed me his cute dimples. He jumped as he recognized who I was.

“Eli!!!!” he said, filled with enthusiasm. I jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly. In a second, we were both jumping in each other’s arms, like a football-team discussion, not caring who could watch us. I almost felt like crying from the emotions I was feeling, and I could tell with almost certainty that he was feeling something just as similar as me. “how are you here? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” He said in the hug, squeezing me hard.

“it wouldn’t have been a surprise then. And I wanted to see you jumpy and excited like this.” I told him, holding my tears back and trying to make my voice sound as normal as possible.

“wait a minute…” he pulled me away and looked at me more clearly from head to toe, noticing every change in me.

“did you travel all the way here just to meet me after ghosting me for an entire year?”

“no i***t, I am doing what we promised to do together.”

“so, you are studying chemistry? Freshmen?”

“uh-huh.” I nodded, still hugging him.

“and what happened to you? No calls, no texts. You completely forget about me and now you are here looking completely different. Where are my innocent and cute Eli lost? Where did you dump her? Did you kill her?” he pouted, ending his string of questions. I was giggling at his stupid reactions nonstop that I couldn’t even answer him.

“Will someone tell me what is going on here?” meeting Emiliano after so long. With all that excitement, I completely forget about Gannon being in the same space as us.

Emily, that I used to call him to tease, started explaining to his friend. We were still in a side hug. I was complimenting his tall frame with my heels; he was just a few inches taller than me.

“so, you guys have met already but I love saying this. Gannon meet Elena Stephen, my dearest and most lovely cousin.”

“you guys are cousin. Oh right, both were Stephen. I thought you guys were dating or something.”

“dating??” we both started laughing.

“fair enough, so I'll leave you guys talking here. Catch up, it seems like you need that. I'll hear the rest of the story later. I will not be third-wheeling. Hasta la vista.” He marched out doing something on his phone, leaving us two extremely happy beings behind.

“what is going on? I thought you were in London with your aunt.” He asked.

“so, you knew where I was?” it must be Gabe, who tipped him off.

“you think I won’t know. I have many sources. Don’t forget we are family and there is nothing secret between them.”

“that’s typical of ‘your thing’ to say. I know.”

“How did you change your mind? You didn’t want to go to college.”

“that’s not the whole truth. I just didn’t want to be the same girl living the same life in college, that’s all.”

“you don’t look like the same girl anymore.”

“can you do me a favor, Emily?”

“only if you don’t call me that?”

“that what?”

“that stupid name.”

“What Emily? It’s so cute. Uncle and aunt thought they were going to have a baby girl and named you Emily. But then you came.”

“but they still love me. You want the favor from me or not?”

“ok… ok, can you keep it secret? The way I looked.”

“I will not go out and tell people. But what is the problem? You’ve worked hard for it. I would have been proud of it.”

“still…!!! You are not me. So, can you?”

“Okay, whatever you want.”

“great… now let’s eat something. I'm starving.”

“let me guess… a burger.”

“no… no burger.”