Chapter Six

"Blue? It's you, isn't it?"

Alex swallowed, staring at the guy in front of him. The guy he had met about two weeks ago and had hoped they'd never see each other again. It was him. None other than Sebastian.

It took him by surprise how he still remembered his name as much as he tried to forget it. How he still remembered his face no matter how much he tried to blur it out of his memory. How he still remembered that day vividly despite his continuous attempts to have it as nothing but a forgotten memory.

"Oh my God," Seb said, moving even closer to Alex. "It really is you!"

"Eh?"

"I can't believe my eyes," Seb broke into a smile as he spoke. "I mean it's great that I'm seeing you again but at the same time I almost can't believe it. It really is you. You have no idea how much I thought I really was never going to get to see you again and..."

Alex watched Sebastian as he rambled on. He never failed to hide his emotions on seeing him as he kept on gushing. He looked just the same as he did two weeks ago except that he was now in a bright white T-shirt and ripped dark jeans. He had the same silver necklace he had on and Alex could finally see its pendant. His arms moved occasionally, adjusting the bag around his shoulders and in the process, showing off well built arms. As he spoke, Alex couldn't help but stare at his lips, noticing they'd gotten more pink compared to the last time he'd stared at them.

"Do you school here?"

Seb’s question pulled Adam out of his short trance. “Eh?”

“I mean, how are you here?” Seb asked. “Do you also attend this college?”

“No.”

“No?”

“Yes.”

“Yes?” Seb looked confused. “I’m confused. Do you or do you not?”

“I-“ Alex exhaled. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t to be happening. He wasn’t to be seeing him again not to talk of actually talking to him. “I have to go.”

“What?” Seb immediately held Alex’s arm as he was about to leave. “Go where?”

“My aunt,” Alex said then looked at the road only to see his aunt’s car approaching. “My aunt’s here to pick me up. I have to go now.”

He had literally never been that glad to see his aunt or anyone at that moment.

“But,” Seb held on to him again as he was about to leave. “Why? So soon. We just saw each other again. And you haven’t even answered my question.”

“I’m sorry,” Alex freed himself from Seb’s grip. “I can’t answer any of your questions. I just need to go.”

“Oh, okay but,” Seb held him again, this time Alex groaning. “Am going to see you again?”

He looked at him with desperate eyes and looked extremely similar to a puppy. His pupils were dilated as he slowly let go of Alex’s arm still waiting for an answer. “Am I?”

“No,” Alex shook his head and violently broke free. “No, you’re not.”

“Blue-“

Not bothering to listen to any more words Seb had to say, he left his presence and rushed towards his aunt’s car, getting in the second she unlocked it.

“Let’s go,” he breathed out, pulling the seatbelt towards him.

“What?” Aunt Carol was obviously surprised at his form of greeting. She turned towards him and on noticing his flushed look, changed her tone. “Hey, are you alright? Did anything happen?”

He breathed out as he stared at her. What could he say? He had no logical way to explain what had just happened without going down memory lane and along the line, revisiting pasts he didn’t want to revisit.

So he just simply replied, “No, nothing happened.”

“Are you sure?”

She looked worried as she asked and he couldn’t help but feel a bit of guilt surge towards him.

“I’m sorry,” he lowered his head. “But nothing happened. I’m fine.”

“Alright then,” she looked at him one more time then started the car. “How was your day then? And the school? Did it suit your taste?”

“It was great. Really great.”

“How’s college?!”

Alex had gotten back home about thirty minutes ago and his cousin’s loud voice was doing nothing but worsen his headache and interrupt his thoughts.

His aunt had immediately walked into the kitchen the moment they got back and though all Alex really wanted to do was go to his room and lie in his bed, he decided to be polite and try to help her in the kitchen.

It was mostly silent with only few words getting exchanged between them as they worked in the kitchen until Lucas arrived from school. He walked straight into the kitchen and immediately started talking in a loud voice making Alex wonder how he never seemed to run out of energy.

"It was okay, Lucas," Alex replied him. "I haven't officially resumed yet but it seems cool."

"And the girls?" Lucas asked, moving his head close to Alex as he watched him drink water from a glass. "How were they? Hot?"

Alex literally choked on his water, taken aback by his cousin's question. Involuntary, his mind went to Sebastian. "Um. The girls, eh?"

"Yes the girls," Lucas nodded. "Ah, were they so hot to the point you're so flushed by the thought of them you choked on your water?"

He hated how with every word Lucas uttered, his mind travelled towards Sebastian.

"I don't know," he finally replied Lucas. "I didn't really notice them."

"Oh," Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Not everyone has to be like you, Lucas," Aunt Carol joined in. "Just let him be and stop asking all these unnecessary questions. Come on, you just got back from school. Go freshen up. You too, Alex. I bet you're exhausted from touring the college all day. Now go, I'll call you both when dinner's ready."

With no objections, they both left the kitchen to their respective rooms.

Alex fell into his bed the minute he got to his room, glad he finally had some alone time. He rolled, his blanket following him and groaned as he recollected the day’s event.

What were the chances? Just how in the world had he managed to see Seb again. He had moved. Not to another city, or state but a total country. A country not less than 7 hours away so what were the chances that Seb would have just moved?

It made no sense and more than anything, it was terrifying. Seeing him was bad enough but the thought of him actually attending the same college was worse. How would he manage to survive college if the possibility of him showing his face any moment existed.

He groaned again, pulling his hair this time as he did. What had happened to the universe supposedly giving him a chance to start afresh? What had happened to new beginnings? What had happened to him putting his whole past behind him and starting all over?

None could do. No matter how hard he thought about it he couldn’t bring himself to make a conclusion on what to actually do. He couldn’t run away. He couldn’t go back to the past and at the same time, he couldn’t imagine himself trying to move forward.

“Alex?”

He heard a knock on his room door and pulled himself out of the blankets he had stayed buried in since. He got up, feeling sore in his back as he walked to open the room door.

Not much to his surprise, it was his only loud cousin. “Yeah?”

“Were you asleep?” Lucas asked, peeping inside. “Mum called for us. Dinner’s ready.”

“Is it?” Alex asked in disbelief. “I mean, so soon. That’s so fast.”

“Ah you were obviously sleeping,” Lucas shook his head. “It’s been over an hour. Anyways, come downstairs. We’re waiting.”

He turned to look at the clock immediately Lucas left and truthfully, it had been over an hour since he laid in bed. He covered his mouth in surprise and walked over to the bathroom to get freshened up.

He took a shower, changed his clothes and headed downstairs to the dining with hair still damp. His aunt and cousin were already seated waiting for him with a plate already filled with food, waiting to be devoured.

“Lucas said you slept,” his aunt said as he walked into the dining. “You must have been really tired.”

“Um, something like that,” he replied. There was no use arguing otherwise. “Thanks for the meal.”

“Come on don’t mention it,” she waved with her hands. “Just sit.”

Seeing Lucas seated, Alex already knew they couldn’t have a quiet dinner. He had only taken few bites out of his food when Lucas opened his mouth to do what he seemed to cherish the most.

“Mum,” he spoke up. “Do you think I should register to the same college as Alex? I haven’t really made up my mind.”

“That’s up to you,” she replied him. “Whichever college you want to go to is your choice. Just make sure you get in.”

“Okay! Don’t you go back on your words later on,” he pointed his fork at her as he replied. “Cool.”

“Um, Alex,” Aunt Carol called out to Alex, having him raise his head. “You’re resuming tomorrow, right?”

His stomach churned. “Yeah.”

“Okay,” she nodded. “I really don’t want to seem like I’m prying but I kinda know how you spent your high school life.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah,” she continued. “I know you barely had any friends and you spent most of your times by yourself and I understand you for that but this is college. You’re in a new environment and new school and you’re no longer that high school boy so I’d really love if you could loosen up a little.”

“Loosen up?”

“Live life to the fullest!” she smiled at him. “Have fun. Make friends. Attend parties. Just have a very social life and make the most of your time.”

“Oh,” he had began to begin to toy with his fork and pasta. “I- okay. I’ll try, I guess.”

“And maybe,” her smile changed into a mischievous one. “You could finally have a girlfriend.”

He finally dropped his cutlery to look at her. She smiled at him as she said the words that came out of her mouth so easily.

“I’d be really glad if you can have a girlfriend.”

She smiled. She was still smiling and literally had no idea what was already going through his mind as she uttered those words.

She literally had no idea.