She had just finished serving one of her customers when Thea noticed her field supervisor approaching her. With a look of curiosity on his face, he says, "This is the first time you asked for leave. So I won't have any more reasons to deny that. I'm much happier you're having fun in life sometimes too."
Thea's mind seems to freeze for a while, and she doesn't remember filling up a leave form. Then she recalled York's words a few days ago. He definitely found a way so that Thea can go with them. She is more than hesitant to go, and she fears being out of place.
*****
A shrill sound of her phone ringing interrupts Thea as she's tied up with her schoolwork. In haste, she stripped open her locker and reached out for the cellphone. It only sounds for a few important pieces of information from her only three contacts. The seldom moments when her phone rings always manifest her feeling of excitement and trepidation.
Thea's cellphone blinks with some unknown number. As she's about to reach it, it stops and displays a missed call. Even a bit disconcerted, she laid her phone on the desk and carried on with her schoolwork. Before long, her phone buzzes and displays one "message received."
[Hi, RD tomorrow, right? I'll pick you up and shop for some stuff.]
Thea was rooted to the spot as she was flabbergasted by the received message, and it started to rack her brain.
[Who is this?]
[How did you learn my number?]
[Hey, who are you?]
She's been sending continued text messages with no reply. Thinking about it totally loses her appetite to carry on her schoolwork. She stands up and leaves her desk with her unfinished school work scattered, undone. She lay down on top of her bed, musing over the received text.
*****
Thea wakes up early and starts her busy day by tidying up their room. However, she didn't bother tidying herself.
"Hey girl, you've got a visitor, and he's waiting downstairs," Jassy informed her with a smirk.
Dumbfounded, Thea started speculating about the text messages. She never had a visitor in her dorm, nor did she have many friends. The mysterious text message is the only possible reason for someone to visit her. But her speculation failed to lead her to know who the sender could be. She was also awed by how the sender was knowledgeable enough about her contact number and even her place. Yet behind the curiosity, there's an uncertainty that somehow terrifies her.
In a dash, Thea brings herself downstairs to unveil the truth.
A wide and daffily charming smile from York greeted her, together with the sparkles of his eyes smiling as well. She's shocked and speechless, yet relieved. How can she skip the detail about York? Now, has she solved the puzzle about the mystery texter as well? Her eyes twinkled behind her black-rimmed glasses, charmed by his contagious smile. Yet, she became timid after she remembered how untidy she might look in front of her crush. She looked down at her dusty shirt, hands darkened with speckles of dust and dirt, and held a feather duster. After she heard some chattering voices, he looked back up and caught the ladies' mocking and arrogant grin- her housemates. "OMG!" she mumbled, her eyes widening upon the realization. "P- Please give me a-a minute," she stammered with twice the shame.
Conveyed by her housemate's eyeing and jealous look, Thea's flustered appearance is unconcealed from York's observant eyes. "Just take it easy; don't let their reactions bother you."
***** Inside the car.
Thea, by chance, had swallowed her saliva at the increase of her heartbeat the moment she felt York's hand over hers. He's driving in one hand and giving her a fleeting glimpse.
"How can I get easy when I'm more skittish with you?" She muttered low enough that she thought York couldn't overhear it. But,
"I heard it." York, with his imperceptible playful grin.
Thea covered her face with her palm, due to a bulk of embarrassment getting more obvious with the color of blood covering all over her face, worsened by the foolish and shameful watery eyes.
*****
Their first destination is the sporting goods department. They picked up the necessary things for camping. Since Thea didn't have any idea about that stuff, she was basically useless there. Even though he's asking for some suggestions about the colors that she deemed unnecessary, she still has not done much but tag along. It even makes her wonder if she will face the same situation at the camping.
They dropped by the grocery after, stuffing their cart with various junk foods and bottled drinks. York takes a gander at Thea being timid, standing a few steps away from him. "Hey, Thea, why don't you pick what you want for a snack? It's on me, remember? You don't have to pay for anything."
"I'm fine with some breadsticks and --" She stops, hesitates.
"Yes?"
"Can we drink something hot in there?"
"Of course, I'm preparing some coffee. It's cold during the night; maybe our peers will have some liquor, but do you drink?"
She shakes her head hesitantly before she opens up. " I don't drink those. Can we bring some native coffee, cocoa, milk, and oh! ginger powder too?"
"Sure, you mean that's your kind of drink? You mixed that?"
She smiled coyly, and her eyes sparkled when she said, Yes, I like the fusion of creamy, bittersweet, and lemony, pungent taste of ginger in it."
*****
The next stop offers a bundle of nerves for Thea. She's dining in a restaurant with York. She stiffens and can barely make a sound. It's the first time in her life eating in the midst of the crowd and in front of her only crush. She had only noticed in a second blink that York was holding a spoon near her mouth to feed her. Without any idea of how to respond properly, she opened her mouth and allowed it to happen.
She didn't want to say it and even felt awkward to imagine it, yet she thoughtlessly mouthed. "Is this a date?" That action and the capability to act and say that way are alien to her.
"Yes!" She didn't expect such an answer from York, but she's glad she heard it.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because I like You?"
Thea feels like flopping down with such overwhelming emotion, yet she hadn't. Instead, she finds herself staring, put under a spell by York's face, just like in her dreams. She's about to cower and take aback, yet instead, she unwittingly kisses York on his lips. Her action is opposing her mind. The second they let go, Thea, in a rush, stands up and runs away, trying to find a place to hide. But York abruptly holds her wrist so she can't take another step.
"Where are you going?" York furrowed his brow in confusion.
"I'm sorry?" The only answer Thea can offer since she, too, is disoriented. She deliberates herself away from York and dashes off.
*****
Not minding the chatter and the Argus-eyes of her roommates and other boarders, Thea goes straight to her room and turns off her phone. She's trying to avoid some text from York. She changes her pajamas and heads to bed.
She closes her eyes, about to doze off when she hears a female voice, sonorous and deep, from nowhere, just like a speaker from inside her brain. "We almost made it. I'm almost free. Hahaha!" with a large echoing guffaw. She instantly opens her eyes, wondering if it's a dream. The tiny skin hair all over her arms and nape pulls up, creating goosebumps.
*****
A speck of light, a faded glare, and a well-built silhouette of a man is the first thing she caught a glimpse of after several blinks. Then, her eyes opened to the expressive blue eyes of York. She felt an instant vigor getting up. "York?! Why are you here?"
"They let me in."
"No, I mean...?" Thea pressed her eyes closed as her brained blackout.
"Yes, I know what you mean." Enunciating, He holds her by the waist; he carries her down from her bed, from the upper deck.
Her body stiffens again, the moment their body slightly brush against each other.
"You kissed me, and then without any excuse, you just left me there hanging... longing for more of your kiss." York continued, moving his face closer to Thea and almost rubbing their noses.
"What the hell?!" Loud and proprietary, Jassy's voice boomed around the room., startled the two of them.
"I- I'm sorry, Jassy, he's about to go out." Thea bowed her head to show respect and regret what happened. Slightly pushing York away from her.
"Thea, what are you doing?" York opposed her action.
"Please." Thea's eyes were pleading, scared, and embarrassed.
He then nodded and said. "I'll wait for you downstairs."
As York passed by Jassy at the doorway, she grabbed his arms and whispered with a glare. "What a low, disgusting taste you have for a girl."
York, unamused, glared back at her and headed off.
Jassy followed York with her disdainful stare and turned to Thea afterward. With her provoking actions, she pushed Thea with her fingertip, making her press against the wall. " You know what? You look like an angel, but the truth is, you're hiding the devil inside you. Freaky bitch!"
Thea closes her fearful eyes and, as she opens them again, showing is a red-rimmed, wicked, and scary eyeball. Then dark lines crawled across her face, facial nerves popping out from her skin. Jassy moved back, startled. Her mouth was gaping, both hands were shaking, and her voice was trapped. Not a single sound came out as she squealed. As if some invisible hands were pressing her neck.