I AM HAPPY THAT I MET YOU

CHAPTER 2

The complete week was a dead end for Kelvin. He tried different plans and strategies (from waiting in the parking lot for hours to visiting the art building) to meet jenny in a coincident way and all of it failed drastically. And with each failed attempt he was being more resolved to try again. At first his friends teased him for trying so hard for a girl. But with his each effort they started taking him more seriously and finally they got the point that Kelvin was really into Jennifer and his motive was not just to hook up with her. Friday they had literature and Kelvin was counting on the class to meet her. On Friday they reached early for the class on Kelvin’s persistence. He waited till the arrival of Mr. Antony but still Jennifer didn’t come. Kelvin’s face fell, the others tried to encourage him but it was all in vain. “I am really not attending this class. I am done” saying that Kelvin stood up to leave, Mr. Antony looked at Kelvin adjusting his glasses.  Kelvin was about to ask whether he could leave, When Jenny came running to the class. Seeing Jennifer a small smile spread his lips and his hopes rose high. She took permission from Mr. Antony and entered the class, as soon as she got in her eyes fell on Kelvin who was standing and smiling like a moron. She then walked towards the first row and took a seat. Mr. Antony cleared his throat to acquire Kelvin’s notice, but Kelvin was so induced in admiring Jennifer that he didn’t hear it. Ellen nudged Kelvin hardly which bought his attention back to the class, Kelvin looked at Mr. Antony who was staring at Kelvin hankering for an explanation. Kelvin just shrugged and gave a sly smile and slouched on the chair.Inside his head Kelvin was going through, all the different conversations he would have with Jennifer. As soon as the class ended jenny took her bag and stood up to leave. “Jennifer…” Kelvin clamoured her name loudly which made her stop short. Everyone looked at Kelvin including Mr. Antony, who shook his head and left the class like he was done with Kelvin’s tantrums for the day. Kelvin never felt this embarrassed in his life. He looked around uneasily. But as she smiled, his awkwardness digressed and instead he felt light headed. He walked towards her. As he reached her his heart was in his mouth.“Hey….you are Jennifer right?” as soon as he said it he mentally kicked himself hard.“Yeah well I am. Did you just shout my name without being sure about that?” she asked smiling.“Uh…….I”Jenny and Kelvin were standing near his bench so his friends could clearly hear what they were talking.Ellen couldn’t control her laughter seeing Kelvin stuttering in front of Jennifer.“Why is he behaving like a brainless i***t in front of her?” Ellen asked in between her laughter, which made the others laugh too.After a bit of an awkward silence Kelvin spoke up.“So how is college did you like it?” Kelvin asked somewhat regaining his voice.“Oh yeah so far it’s really nice” She spoke up.“Did you make any friends yet?” “Oh no, I was really busy this week so didn’t get time to make any friends, but yeah I am really hoping to make friends soon” She said smiling“Do you want to meet my friends” He asked each word spoken very carefully. “Uhm………” He pointed towards the 4 of his friends. She looked at them, which made Ellen wave at Jennifer, and Jennifer politely waved back. She also looked at Dylan who was sitting with his head hung low, all these things were enough for her to say yes. She walked with Kelvin towards them.   Jennifer and Kelvin walked over to his friends. Cathy, Ellen and Mike were really happy and excited to meet Jennifer (finally), but Dylan was not so happy he tried really hard not to show the lingering feeling of hesitancy in his face, because he knew it would be bad to act rude to a girl he have not even met properly, and that bad impression would befall on Kelvin who was trying so hard to impress her.

Jennifer smiled broadly at them. Kelvin took the initiative to introduce them.

“This is Mike Phillip and his girlfriend Ellen Mathew” Kelvin said gesturing at mike and then Ellen.

“Kelvin I am not just Mike’s girlfriend, I am your friend too” Ellen said pouting

They all laughed including Dylan. Ellen sometimes behaved just like a child and that is really cute, they all knew that due to these reasons Mike fell drastically in love with her.

“Oh fine Ellen”. He looked at Jennifer.

“Jennifer meet Ellen my frieeeeeeeend” Kelvin said emphasizing the word friend with more stress.

“Now happy?” he asked looking at Ellen.

Ellen nodded her head vigorously, giggling.

Kelvin turned to Cathy.

“This is Catherine Harold, our own Cathy”

Cathy smile at Jennifer and Jennifer returned the smile.

“And finally” Kelvin gestured at Dylan

“This is Dy…”

“Dylan Steve mark” Jennifer said cutting Kelvin midsentence.

Jennifer looked at Dylan and smiled dominantly.

Everyone were surprised, Dylan’s mouth was agape with incredulity.

Kelvin blinked a few times trying to intake the situation.

“You know Dylan?” Kelvin asked bewildered.

“Oh no, I don’t know him personally, but I have heard a lot about him. Your friend Dylan has quite a reputation here, I guess” she said looking at Kelvin.

“That surely he do” Cathy said with a mousy smile.

Jennifer looked confused seeing them laugh because she had not said it as a joke.

“I mean, being the only heir of mark family is not a small thing right?” Jennifer said looking at Dylan.

Everyone stopped laughing at once and looked at Dylan perturbed, they all knew that Dylan hated when someone mentioned about his family’s money or reputation, he also never tried to live up to the reputation of his family’s name. They never knew the reason why he behaved that way, he didn’t seem interested in telling them the reason, so they never asked him.

Dylan looked dumbstruck from her comment. Everything about Jennifer was intimidating him but, the thing she said right now hit every chord in him. Anger was fuming inside him, if it was not for Kelvin he would have stomped off right now, he looked at Kelvin who was warily gazing at Dylan and shaking his head, literally begging Dylan not to say anything, Dylan tried to calm himself down just for Kelvin. Dylan scrutinized Jennifer once and then gave a loud laugh, his friends looked at him puzzled. This definitely was not the reaction they expected.

“I guess that’s the only thing you get out of being born into a rich family, even if you have a horrendous personality, you are always mentioned as a perfect person by everyone because luckily, you are born into a rich family”  he said a tinge of jibe in his tone.

Cathy flared at Dylan

“Don’t be rude Dylan” she mumbled under her breath.

Instead of showing contempt Jennifer just smiled. She looked at Kelvin expectantly, when he didn’t say anything she shook her head and smiled.

“Won’t you introduce yourself?” she asked Kelvin.

Kelvin blushed.

“I am Kelvin Immanuel” he said extending his hand for a handshake, Jennifer at first looked down at his hand hesitatingly but then went ahead and shook his hand.

“We are all business management students” Kelvin added.

She turned towards everyone.

“Well I am Jennifer William but I prefer Jenny and I am an art student” she said looking at every single one and her eyes lingering a bit longer on Dylan.

Jenny looked down at her watch and frantically looked at them.

“Sorry guys I need to leave. I have class.” Jenny said waving at them, she turned back and started walking towards the door. Dylan kept looking at her with displeasure.

He looked at his friends sadly when Jennifer set off to leave. But he suddenly got hold of an idea and smirked at his friends. He ran behind jenny and stopped in front of her breathing heavily, jenny abruptly surprised by his sudden appearance jerked backwards. She took a deep breath and smiled. Kelvin seeing her stunned felt stupid for appearing in front of her this way.

“Sorry for scaring you, actually there is a party tonight 9 pm at marine dazzle bar, I was hoping you will come and join us?” Kelvin asked between breaths.

Jenny looked even more surprised now.

“What party? Is there anything special today?” she asked wanting to know more.

Kelvin knew if he said that there was no reason for the party, then there is a high chance Jenny would deny to come, because she doesn’t look like a partying girl. So he decided to say the first thing that came into his mind and he knew if he said that he is going to be in a deep problem. He looked at Dylan once and then turned back to jenny who was still waiting for his answer.

“Actually Dylan won a bike race, so as a celebration to the victory he was a giving us a party” Kelvin said getting ready to endure Dylan’s anger blast.

Ellen nudged Cathy and Cathy in turn looked at Dylan, demanding the truth about the party.

“Did you really plan a party with Kelvin without informing anyone of us?” Ellen muttered looking at Dylan

“Trust me, I seriously didn’t have any idea about this party. Why don’t you go and ask Kelvin?, how the hell did he even come up with a plan of a party that too for a race I won last week. I thought I had already given you guys a party for that whatever, I am pretty sure I have not won any other races this week because I was busy listening to Kelvin’s blabbering about Jennifer” Dylan said looking at the confused faces of his friends.

 Jenny looked at Dylan once, Dylan caught her eyes and he immediately looked down.

“Your friend really live up to the definition of a rich bad boy, partying, getting into fights and now bike racing, wow.” Dylan rolled his eyes when he heard her say that. Who is she to judge him? He thought.

“But don’t you think if Dylan is the person throwing the party then probably he should be the one inviting me to the party?” she said continuing from where she stopped before.

Kelvin smiled at Jennifer awkwardly, he knew he is making Dylan angry, but he had to make jenny to come to the party.

“Actually Dylan asked me to invite you” Kelvin said smiling worriedly.

Jenny was surprised, as far as she understood Dylan, it didn’t seem that he liked her at all, so why would he invite her to his party?

 Dylan’s eyes jerked wide open in shock when he heard what Kelvin said. He abraded and caught the temples of his head with his hands and shook his head in frustration. Why him? Why out of all the people Kelvin had to use him as an excuse to get Jennifer to come to the party, she is not that stupid to think that he actually invited her when she clearly understood that he doesn’t like her. Dylan thought.

“Are you sure about that? She asked Kelvin.

 Kelvin looked at Dylan when he caught her staring worriedly at Dylan.

“He is just having a bad day and also, he didn’t want you to know that he invited you, you know he looks tough but he is really a shy person” Kelvin said trying to deviate her mind from Dylan’s countenance on hearing the conversation.

Jenny nodded thoughtfully, for a long time she didn’t say anything. Kelvin was losing hope, everything inside him was telling him that jenny would make an excuse and say no. But then suddenly she smiled at him

“Yeah okay I am in” she said

Kelvin gave a relieved smile. She bid him goodbye and walked towards the door. She looked back once more her eyes falling on Dylan, and then she left.

As she left, Kelvin looked at Dylan apologetically. Dylan stood up from his chair and glared at Kelvin, Kelvin understood that he is in trouble and quickly ran to the other end of the class. He knew if he is caught then he is done for sure. Dylan jumped over the bench and ran behind Kelvin. It’s good that the class was empty or else everyone would have thought that they had lost their wits because they were running behind each other like kids.

Kelvin stopped opposite to Dylan a bench between them. Kelvin was sucking in breath where as Dylan was waiting to get a chance to hold on to Kelvin. Dylan doesn’t get tired so easily, he is really athletic and he has an athletic body which was also another reason girls stared at him blushing all the time (because he was handsome), so indeed it was difficult to tire Dylan, even his profuse drinking habits couldn’t tear down the athleticism of his body. After running so much from Dylan, Kelvin finally gave up, he knew there was no use running from Dylan. Kelvin stood still. Dylan walked towards Kelvin cautiously. As Dylan reached near Kelvin he caught Kelvin around his neck and pulled him near to their bench all the while smirking at Kelvin.

Finally when Dylan loosened his grip Kelvin got out.

“I am sorry Dylan” Kelvin apologized as a last resolve.

"Really Kelvin you are sorry? why out of all the people you had to involve me in it Kelvin?" Dylan asked now his anger subsiding.

"I?" Dylan pointed at himself

"I invited her? Really Kelvin?"

Ellen and Cathy were laughing hard.

"Nothing else came to my mind at that moment Dylan" Kelvin said trying to defend himself.

"Huh... You could have told...." Dylan stopped and looked at Mike and Ellen. And then he continued.

"You could have told that today is Mike's and Ellen's 2nd year anniversary or something like that"

Kelvin looked at Mike and Ellen puzzled

"Really?" Kelvin asked.

Mike look at Dylan

"Dude our second year anniversary is like 6 months away" Mike said looking at Dylan.

"Right, and what will we tell her when he have to invite her for the real 2nd year anniversary? Look I am not starting my relationship with a lie" Kelvin said

"Ohhhhhh” Dylan laughed and crossed his arms across his chest.

“So, me inviting her to the party was not a lie, huh? And telling her about having a fake party in the first place is definitely not a lie right? And by the way, are you really planning to invite her to Mike and Ell’s anniversary party? Which is like 6 months later FYI?"

"Yeah for sure. By that time she would be my girlfriend so she will have to attend it “Kelvin said blushing. Dylan scoffed and sat on the bench.

Dylan let out a deep breath and contemplated at the ceiling.

Kelvin slowly walked towards Dylan and patted him. Dylan looked at Kelvin.

“What are you thinking about?” Kelvin asked concerned.

“Uhm… nothing I was just thinking about Jennifer”

“Why do you dislike her so much Dylan?” Kelvin asked

“Look I don’t exactly dislike her she just intimidate me. And I feel like I have seen her somewhere it’s like a déjà vu feeling and that’s really odd”

 “Did you go to London Dylan, without telling us?” Ellen asked playfully

“No Ellen I have not visited London” Dylan said smiling.

“What is so intimidating about her, I felt her really sweet.” Mike said with a serious tone.

“I don’t know, maybe the way she stares sometimes is very intimidating” Dylan said looking at Mike.

“Jenny never stares” Kelvin said defending her.

“She did stare at me the first day. It felt like she is holding me accountable to something” Dylan said

“Well Dylan then you might be intimidated by everyone that day because everyone were staring at you. You had bruises Dylan and she might have observed you and you can’t really blame her for that and she itself told that she heard a lot about you and her staring at you makes absolute sense.”

“And what about the thing she said today ‘being the only heir of mark family is not a small thing right?’” Dylan said imitating jenny.

Cathy elbowed Dylan and he winced.

“Dylan everybody likes to hear compliments about their richness except you, and she doesn’t know that you hate hearing it so how even is it her fault?” Cathy asked irritated.

“Yeah, Cathy is right, buddy just give her a chance, maybe she will prove you wrong” Mike said.

Kelvin too agreed to it. Dylan saw Kelvin looking expectantly at him. All Dylan could do to keep his best friends heart was, smile and agree to give her a chance. So Dylan did exactly what he had to do, he nodded and smiled. Which bought a smile to everyone’s face and that made his day.

Kelvin took his bag to leave.

“Where are you going now?” Dylan asked.

“Oh I really want to pick her up for the party” Kelvin said.

“But do you know where her house is?” Cathy asked looking at Kelvin.

“Nope I don’t, so I am going to find that out” Kelvin said nodding his head

“Wait are you going to tail her to her house Kelvin?” Ellen asked taken aback

“No….no no no” Kelvin said utterly denying

“If she catches me tailing her she will think I am some kind of bloody stalker and that will cut all our chance of ever getting together, so, I am going to get her details from the office and I am pretty sure it will have her house address and her number. So I can pick her up in the evening” Kelvin said shrugging

“And all of a sudden when you show up at her doorsteps to pick her up wouldn’t she think that you are a bloody stalker.” Ellen asked feeling silly about his plan

“No Ellen she will be surprised or maybe a little bit shocked but that will ok.” Kelvin said not even a little bit doubt in his plan.

“But how are you going to get her personal info from the office? I thought that it was not possible to get a student’s personal info” mike asked confusion clear in his tone.

“I have my own ways to do that, and that is exactly the same way I have been getting every girl’s information whom I have hooked up with.” Kelvin said putting his bag around his shoulder.

Everyone immediately understood how he got the information’s from the office

“Kelvin you are disgusting, you are going to flirt with the women in the office who is twice your age, really Kelvin?” Ellen chided.

Kelvin looked up at Ellen

“I can’t help the fact that she’s having a die-hard crush on me, and trust me this is the last time I will ever be doing this” he gave a fake smile, turned and walked out giving them a back hand wave without looking. Leaving them to search for the sincerity in his last words