I finally found your number.

These few words were enough to make my heart skip a beat. I don’t know how to respond. Just as I began typing some words, another message popped up.

Unknown: Chris, Are you in class now?

My brain was heading towards panic mode. This person even knew I was in class. Should I block the number? But apparently, curiosity got me.

Me: Who is this?

Unknown: It’s Michael.

Alright, what’s happening?

Me: How did you get my number?

Unknown: I asked about it from Mason.

Me: Why did you not ask me for that before?

Unknown: Yeah, actually, I wanted to ask for your number on the other day we met near the library, but I forgot about it the whole time, and the realization hit me when I got off the bus.

Well, that explains why he was somewhat in mid shock that evening.

Me: Ok. Are you in college now?

I slammed my head on the table. Clara, who was already done with her phone call, looked at me as if I were going crazy. Come to think of it, maybe I am going crazy. Why did I ask him such a question, whether he was in college or not? Of course, he is in college.

“Chris? Are you alright? Clara asked me.

“Yeah, I am good.”

Unknown: Yes, I'm heading to class now. Would you like to join for lunch?

I stare at the message. Why is he asking me to join me for lunch? H-

“Okay. I thought the college work was getting you.” Clara interrupted my thoughts.

“No, I mean, I don’t know.” I told her.

Unknown:?

It was surprising that this guy, Michael, still wanted to hang out with me  despite our many awkward interactions. I sent him a message.

Me: Okay. But, where?

Unknown: Nice, At lunch table no. 5,  See you ;-)

It seemed rude to reject it like that.

Clara stretched her hands and said, “It’s the first class, which has not started yet, and I am already feeling exhausted.”

“We were brainstorming on this project, so it’s obvious we feel drained.” I told her while glancing around the class, which was empty before we came in, but now some students have begun filling the vacant seats.

“Yup, let’s hope I won’t fall asleep in the first lecture.” She said this before drinking some water.

“You won’t fall asleep, the professor's voice is not monotonous, and we have to write quite a lot of notes in some minutes.” I told her while taking out my notebook for the lecture.

She sighed and said, “You don’t know me, monotonous or not. I am going to fall asleep anyway.”

“How are you so sure of it?” I asked her.

“I won’t sit in the front seat today. The professor will easily catch me. Not taking any risks.”

I thought for a while, the professor had a sharp eye. It would not take long for her to get caught.

“Why don’t you skip the first class and take some rest?” I asked her.

She looked at me and nodded her head in denial. “Chris, I cannot do that. I got so far, I tried so hard, and in the end, It Should Matter.”

“Wasn’t it ‘In the end it didn’t even matter.’ instead of ‘It Should Matter’?” asked a girl who just got near our seat.

Clara huffed, “I have the right to make my own thoughts, don’t teach me that, Steph.”

“Heyyy, Don’t be so grumpy.” The girl said, while ruffling Clara’s hair.  

“I won’t sit in front, or I will get caught. Chris, I am sitting next to you today. Just keep waking me up every time I fall asleep, alright?” Clara asked me.

“Ahh, okay.” I told her, while looking between Clara and the other girl, who was as tall as me. She had brown skin and green eyes. Her curly hair was somehow tied up in a ponytail.

Clara then spoke up, “Alright. So Stephanie, this is Christopher, and Christopher, this is Stephanie, my girlfriend.” She said this while pointing to the girl who sat next to her.

“Nice to meet you, Christopher.” Stephanie said while waving at me.

I lightly waved back at her, definitely not with an awkward smile.

“Clara seemed quite relaxed with this project, you both have been paired up. Or else she is a complete panic monster when it comes to any of the group projects.” Stephanie said while tasking out her study material from the bag.

Clara lightly pushed her shoulder and said, “Shut up. I am not a panic monster.”

Stephanie responded with a shoulder bump, "Yes, you are.”

“No, Chris, she is overexaggerating it.” Clara told me while accusingly pointing at Stephanie.

“I would not know which of you is telling the truth.” I told both of them.

Stephanie said, “Trust me, Christopher, you don’t need to know that. Her panic monster mode is not for the lighthearted.”

Clara opened her mouth to say something, but then the professor walked in.

“Alright class, let’s begin, shall we?” The professor said this before putting some of his papers on the table.

Clara lightly tapped my knee and said, “If I fall asleep, wake me up the instant, okay?”

I nodded without giving it much thought. 

It was around 20 minutes when Clara began to fall asleep. I whispered to her to wake up, but she did not get out of her sleepy mode. I looked toward her girlfriend to ask her for help. It took a moment to get her attention, and when she looked at Clara, I thought I could finally wake Clara up.

Stephanie did her best to not laugh at the sight. She took a picture of Clara when the professor was not looking. Ok, she was not helping here.

I lightly tapped my pen on Clara’s arm to wake her up. Thank goodness, she got out of sleep mode. Her eyes went wide open for a second, then to normal. She looked at me and nodded. Stephanie was still smiling while covering her mouth. I could tell that.

This whole scenario repeated itself twice during the first lecture. Stephanie was just enjoying us and not helping with the situation.

We had one more class to go, and then it would be the lunch break. Clara stretched her arms after our first class was over.

I asked her, “You did not sleep last night?”

“No, not much.” She responded.

Stephanie cleared her throat while looking away from us. Clara smiled.

“I a.. I will get a refill for my bottle.” Stephanie said this while getting up from her seat.

“Make it quick, the other lecture begins in like 2 minutes.” I told her.

“Yes, make it quick. Mrs. Macy hates latecomers.” Clara added.

“Yeah.” Stephanie said before dashing to the class door.

~~

I was walking down the hallway, when I bumped into someone who was in a hurry.

He was holding some papers and files, which were now all spread on the floor.

"Sorry, I did not see you coming.” I told the guy immediately and began helping him pick up his papers.

“What?? Why are you apologizing? I was the one who almost crashed into you in the hallway.” The guy said this while stacking up the papers and some files.

Some of his hair streaked was dyed red. He was wearing a blue shirt along with tracks.

“Are you alright?” I asked him.

He raised his eyebrows for a second and said, “I am the one who should be asking you this question. Not you.”

“Well...”

“I am sorry. I have a place where I have to be. So see you around.” He said this while blinking his one eye at me, and then he took a turn toward the other hallway and disappeared.

Speaking of places, I have a place where I have to be too. I looked at my message again. Lunch table-5. Okay, it’s just lunch for like 15 minutes, and then we are back to our classes.

I grabbed my lunch from the cafeteria and began to search for the table, which was making me nervous. But my brain had already decided to just hurry this lunch thing anyway. The sooner you get it complete, the less things to be anxious. Denying Michael felt just not right. It’s just lunch, not a big deal. Just same like the café day I had with him.

“Chris! Chris! Hey buddy! Over here.”

I looked around for the source of the voice in the crowded cafeteria.

“Chris! I am right here!”

I don’t understand why, but I felt warm from inside. I looked towards the side where tables were placed next to the large windows and found a hand waving at me.

It was Michael. As I made my way towards the lunch table, I heard another familiar voice.

“Hello, Chris.” said Mason, who was seated next to the window.

“Hi.” I said.

I looked around the table and saw Clara and Stephanie sitting next to each other on the other side of the table.

“Join us.” Michael said.