Again

So what did he do?

He was as if traversing two paths together. One, had him racing toward Li. Another, toward the happy ending.

He woke. Reached for the phone. Saw Li's message on it.

"Good morning. Don't forget. Pool bar. See you in class."

He smiled. Realised he was smiling. And smiled wider. Felt the warm sun fall in through the thick walls. Caressing him lovingly. He felt happy. And excited. Got up. Washed. Changed. Stood in front of the mirror, making sure he was right to leave. Saw the Vy in grey, looking back blankly.

He woke. Stopped his hand from reaching for the phone. Groaned in complaint at the sun that had to be so punctual. Ignored the phone, as he got up. Washed. Changed. And paused by the bed long enough to grab the phone, before standing in front of the mirror. Looked at the phone first, at Li's message.

"Good morning. Don't forget. Pool bar. See you in class."

He kept staring as the words dissolved first before the phone disappeared slowly. Sighed, after what felt like an hour. Looked up at the mirror. Saw the Vy in blue, grinning so very happily.

He stopped for breakfast at uncle Bay's. Greeted the man brightly.

"I'll have something bright today. Peppers. Green and yellow and red. And tomatoes. And soggy noodles. It'll be so much fun."

Bay gave a curious glance, as if asking what was up. Vy shrugged lightly, and that was enough. Even though neither was completely certain the other understood. Bay prepared the order, with salt and black pepper powder sprinkled generously. And of course, ketchup flooded the bowl.

Bay knew Vy enjoyed the noodles from the way he slurped and praised the taste unrestrainedly. Finally, giving uncle Bay a wink, Vy started for class.

He stopped for breakfast at uncle Bay's. Greeted the man with a quiet smile that was small enough to slip by unnoticed.

"Just plain salted noodles please. I'm having a down day."

Bay gave a curious glance, as if asking what was up. Vy was blank. Strangely, that was answer enough. The two seemed to be on the same plane, for they got each other.

Bay prepared the order. And also served a cup of spicy cinnamon tea.

"Good for down days," he explained to Vy's questioning gaze.

"Thanks," Vy said, with a nod. He sipped the tea, followed by a mouthful of noodles. And repeated the process until the tea and the noodles were both gone into his stomach.

A quiet stare. And then Vy left for class.

He felt his mood lift higher as the noise of class made it into his ears. He had wings on his feet as he walked in. He could feel the heads turn his way. He was glowing like the sun. The attention was inescapable. He nodded at friends. Ignored others. Walked to the back. Welcomed the question.

"You two made up? Finally. Took long enough."

As expected of his friends. Didn't prove impossible for them to discover that something had happened between him and Li. Maybe they asked, and Li told them. Whatever. Didn't really matter. Not long after, Li walked in. Walked to the back, like nothing was amiss. Greeted everyone. Greeted Vy the same. And then, both grinned, accepting the cheers of their friends.

His feet paused outside the gates. On the other side was his class, were his friends, was where he should be. But he couldn't step in. It was as if an invisible wall blocked him. Maybe, it was telling him something. Class wasn't where he should be headed. There was somewhere else, somewhere more important, he should be at. Where? Easy. Where there was quiet. Where he was just by himself. He sighed. The wall fell away. He walked in, straight to the library.

Ms Nancy gave him a questioning look, but didn't stop him. He grabbed a book, went to the distant corner in the back, and sat reading.

After lunch, Vy skipped out first. Went to the pool bar, and sat at a table waiting. Ten minutes later, Li showed up. Grinning embarrassedly. Joined him at the table. They sat looking at each other, while trying hard to seem like they were looking away. Finally, Li broke the silence.

"Alright. Here's what I wanted to say. I like you. I don't know when or how it started. I was really angry, that night. I didn't want to speak with you, ever. As the new semester began, I told you to stay away. And you did just that. I don't know, I was furious that you did. And then, I saw you with Dee. Acting all chummy. I hated that. Guess I was burning up with jealousy. I wanted to talk to you in the library, but you would't let me say what I wanted to. You said we were just friends, and that was how you wanted it. I was too surprised, and just heard what you were saying. Missing out on what you really meant. I know you like me too. Fine, you want to deny. Let me put it this way, you have feelings for me. Deeper than pure friendship. Can you deny that? You can't. So, that brings us here. What now?"

He was frozen. Overwhelmed with joy. And terrified. The jumble of emotions on his face must have seemed like delight, for she was delighted.

"I do like you, yeah," he confessed. "As for what now. I don't know. I really don't."

He couldn't continue. She couldn't say what she wanted to say. They were both looking at where Dee stood staring at them.

He found comfort in the book. He fell in so deep, he forgot all else. When he finally returned to the library, he found that he wasn't alone. Dee was by his side, resting her head on the table with her eyes closed. He closed the book, and held it in his hand, while looking at Dee quietly so as to not disturb her. It seemed like forever when she opened her eyes and grinned at him.

"What happened?" She asked. "Didn't see you in class. You weren't answering your phone. Figured you would be here. I was right. So, where's your phone? Show me."

Phone? He was startled. He searched his pockets, but didn't find it.

"Must have forgotten it at home," he told her. "Doesn't matter, does it? Found me, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did. You didn't answer. What happened?"

"Nothing, I guess. I don't know. Didn't feel like class. Felt more like library. Came here. This book is really interesting. Gave me interesting ideas."

"Don't start. I just woke up. I don't want to sleep again. I do want to eat. Also, Annie's pissed. At you. Forgot pizza."

"Just me?"

"Of course. I did go for pizza. You didn't."

They laughed. He stopped first, looking behind Dee. She stopped too, following his gaze, stopping at Li who was staring at them wide-eyed.

He woke. Remained unmoving for a long while. Reached for the phone. Saw Li's message.

"Good morning. Don't forget. Pool bar. See you in class."

He was confused. And he would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid. He typed a message and sent it to Dee.

"Something weird happened. Uncle Bay's? Breakfast. I'll be waiting."