Friday, November 12, 2021

Sebastian's Luck (Part 3: Lunch)

 


After Hector licked the tuna can clean he was rubbing his head against my leg. As for this lady who introduced herself as Rebecca she seemed nice and I trust people who are loved by cats because cats are not really sociable animals. She seemed familiar though, a fuzzy feeling inside my stomach started to whirl as she said her name.

“Rebecca” why does it ring a bell? It hurts my stomach and once it started grumbling I ran after the bathroom.

“Wait!” she said but Hector stopped her on her tracks

I don’t recall eating anything that is spoiled but maybe this is due to the overeating I’ve been doing recently. Rebecca, why do you feel so familiar yet not? She even looked at me as if I’m a long lost friend but sadly, I do not recall anything. Maybe I just look like someone she knows. Pretty handsome guy if I might say. Ouch! My stomach hurts again.

After 30 minutes I got out of the bathroom with a terrified look from the guy who should come after me. “Give it time” I said while pointing at the toilet.

Looking around, I checked to see if that Rebecca girl is still there and she is, playing with Hector.

“Hey sorry about that”

“I don’t mind don’t worry”

“Did you just wait for me? Why?”

“It’s fine, not now”

“Not now?”

“Nevermind”

It was getting late as everyone was setting go back to their respective dormitories. I said good bye but she stopped me.

“I want to thank you, are you free tomorrow?”

“Thank me? For what?”

“For finding Hector for me!”

“Lady, I literally sat on a bench”

“Don’t be shy, my treat”

“No, I’m not shy, I just see no merit of what I did. I just happen to be in the right place in the right time”

“You always were”

“Huh?”

“I mean, atleast let me thank you. Hector doesn’t really like people but he likes you so you must be a great guy”

“Student lounge 1pm tomorrow?”

“Sure” she said as she made a mini jump as I agree to her proposition.

The only thing that was in my mind is that I was kinda hoping that it would be Marisol who would ask me out. But I can’t say no to free food. Although it would be nice to know other people I guess.

Tomorrow came and Michael asked if my stomach was fine. I said yes but

“How did you know that?”

Apparently, he met Rebecca earlier that day as they share a same morning class and told everything that happened yesterday. He gave me a stupid grin but I cut him off

“I still like Marisol you know”

“I know, but someday you have to let it go”

I didn’t speak

“Whatever just enjoy your date”

“It’s not a date!”

Walking toward the student lounge I saw a fellow batchmate, Matthew carrying his friend. “It’s like 1pm in the afternoon how can she get drunk” he shushed me and carried Luna away.

Walking inside the cafeteria, it completely contrasted the silent and serene of the outside with greenery to the loud and cluttered student lounge. It’s not a chaos but people speaking left and right with voices more than enough for the entire lounge to hear.

Looking around, I smell the fresh smell of cooked sisig and hotdogs, with the posters of the food stalls showing their age. The chairs and tables look also fragile so people are careful wobbling them too much. The floors are greasy due to food spills which are surprising amount considering that college students are the ones using the place. Looking up, the ceilings are well kept maybe due to the complaints of people getting spider webs on their food.

“Hey” a deep yet sweet and familiar voice called behind me but I didn’t look because I have a bad history of looking when I’m not the one being called and it’s painful in the gut when it happens. “Sebastian” the voice followed.

Looking behind me, it was Rebecca. She had large set of earrings, purple headband, and an expensive looking watch. Wearing a large yellow sweater, she was not difficult to be seen.

“Did you wait long?” I said as I grab my seat

“No I didn’t, I just got here” she said as Hector hopped on her lap and punched her with her paw

Hector jumped onto my lap and rubbed his head against my chest.

Rubbing the cat’s head, Rebecca and I started to talk about the university life and all and how she’s adjusting to it.   Her family seems nice as she says and her grades are not too shabby either. For some reason, when she talks, a familiar feeling is beating inside my chest. For some, they would jump to conclusion that it’s love but Marisol is all I could associate with these feelings. Who is this girl?

“So how about you?”

“Huh?”

Spacing out, I apologized for not hearing the last part of her sentence.

“I had a friend in highschool who greatly resembles you”

Blushing, she pointed it out and we had a good laugh about it. Oddly, I can’t remember anything past my senior highschool as if it was hazy and something inside me is blocking it.

Rebecca is great, she can read my emotions as if I’m an open book to her. Michael even struggles with me sometimes but she made me feel I wasn’t difficult.

While we were eating and chatting, Marisol passed by and greeted us so I introduced her to Rebecca. She tried to pet Hector on my lap but he hissed and almost cut her arm. Rebecca scolded Hector while Marisol asked

“Is she your-”

“No” I cut her off

Michael told me to try to ignore Marisol so that I can move on after liking her for a year so I did. However as she was to leave she asked me to join her academic club where they study for our majors. Before I could answer, she handed me a pamphlet and said we enjoy our meal.

“She’s cute, you have taste in women. You always do”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh nothing, finish that ice cream before it melts away”

Competing on who will finish the ice cream first, we both lost as brain freeze conquered the win.

Walking outside the lounge, it was pretty awkward because she was considerably taller than me.

“I had fun, we should do this next time”

Then she patted my head.

It felt familiar as my heart won’t stop beating like crazy. I looked up to her with disbelief and she replied with a big smile.

“I hope you remember me soon”

“I think I won’t forget someone I just had lunch with”

She laughed

“You’re right, well better head back to class”

We separated by the park and as I grab my phone I received a message. It was from Marisol, “I hope you join us soon!”

My heart raced faster.

 

 

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