Chapter 9: Common Grounds

"OH! I'm fine! I mean why wouldn't I be? It's just that I got a call from my family... it's kind of a personal thing sorry! But thank you for your concerns! I appreciate that you care for me!" She giggled a little bit showing no sign of concern in her face.

Although... when I came out... she didn't look FINE... she looked like... she was covered with dread... as if.. she had seen a ghost...

"Anyways!" Meghan shifted the topic of the conversation coming close to me and grabbing my hand. "Why are you here anyway? There must be a reason for you staying in this hotel with your brother without your parents whatsoever."

Hm... a thought lingered in my head... should I tell her about my efforts in attending school in another country? Well, I guess... I should... perhaps I can tell her that I'm a scholar headed to an academy as a transfer student. I mean there shouldn't really be any harm for me to confess to her.

"I'm here to take a flight at the nearby airport to transfer to my new school. There is this transfer program and I'm qualified to go there!" I said to her, giving her a fabricated story of my reasons.. although not all were fabricated...

"Me too! I'm actually going to go to the airport tomorrow to attend my school. Tomoki High... that's where I'm going to go!" She chuckled softly.

Tomoki High... that's the same school I'm going to! "Hey! That's the same school I'm going to."

"Awesome! That's totes amazing lol. That's like so fine chile." She cheered muttering out unfamiliar jargon I've never heard of in my life.... lol? chile? Is chile like the country chile? Also what is lol? is that some sort of expression?

"Hm? What do spices or the country chile have anything to do with your statement?" I asked her with overall confusion.

She paused for a little, moving her face back and forth... I can tell in her eyes that she was contemplating whether or not I was being serious or not and then she giggled. Burst out laughing even.

Huh... was something I said funny? Why is she laughing all of a sudden... I mean she was talking about the country of chile... or was it about chili... even though it's kind of weird to add those two words at the end of your statements...

"Hahaha! You are really killing me, Celestina!" She chuckled barely holding it back. Tapping my shoulders slightly as she continued laughing...

"Was something I said comically in any way? I do not see the humor in anything I've said..." I responded to her confused with her sudden display of amusement over my question.

"Actually... that's the first time someone actually took the word chile seriously! Although it's pronounced as chaw... I love pronouncing it as chile like chili." She said in an attempt to explain her actions... although... I AM STILL NOT ABLE TO COMPREHEND... the meaning of chaw.. or chile.. like at all...

"And... why did you say it exactly... I mean... I'm pretty sure.. it wasn't necessary for you to mention in your sentence..." I said to her timidly.

She shrugged it off giggling to herself a little before heading out towards the elevator. "I guess you're not really aware of social media, are you? Have you been locked in like a castle or something is that why you have no idea what I'm talking about?" Meghan turned back in a minute to wait for my answer.

IS SHE CLAIRVOYANT?! How was she able to predict something like that... The bigger question is how is that so perfectly accurate from my current situation... "I.. um.. I suppose I'm not very connected to social media that's all." I smiled.

"Here. You can add me to starstagram and in LINE. We can chat with each other with our phones... since we are going to be classmates or school mates might as well get along right?!" She hands me her cellular phone along with her number.

"Oh.. um.. sorry I don't really have a cellular phone... I've never had one... like at all."

"WAIT WHAT? YOU'RE MY AGE AND YOU'VE NEVER HAD A CELLULAR PHONE?!" She shouted pulling her face closer towards me, interrogating me in a sort. "HOW DID YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT EVEN HAVING ANY PHONE! I wouldn't last even a day without my phone!"

"No.. I-.. well I never really found the reason to need one... I think I prioritized having food and shelter first before having a phone since a phone is more a secondary need than a primary need.." I answered her truthfully.

She chuckled softly... keeping her phone in her pocket. "Well, when you do get a phone. You can add me to LINE so we can text each other! We are friends after all right?"

"Of course. I'll love to friend you in LINE when I do get a phone that is." I agreed to give her a big bright smile. As we continued to chat.. I see over that the elevator started to come to our floor and as it opens... a familiar tall boy entered the hallway...

"Princ-" I rushed towards Lawrence's direction trying to stop him from calling me, princess... "He-" He struggled before I whispered to him saying, "Pretend that we are brother and sister... that is what I told her about our relationship... it would be very out of place if you were to refer to me as princess outside." He nodded in agreement and then we separated giving Meghan a big bright grin the both of us.

"Oh.. who are you? Are you one of my beloved fans? I can give you an autograph or if you want to take a photo with me I would love to do it!" Meghan asked Lawrence assuming he was a fan of her.

"No, Actually this is my brother. This is my brother Lawrence..." I pointed towards Lawrence.

"Hello... I'm Lawrence and you are?" He said asking her for her name.

In a slight delay. Meghan's eyes darken into a malicious scowl. Her eyes suddenly turning sharp and as fierce as a lion trying to grab its prey... her body posture turned into more of an aggressive manner... she looks... really annoyed and irritated... a sudden and drastic change from her usual bubbly self that I witnessed... what.. what's wrong with her...