Continuation of The Past

*PRESENT*

My chain of thoughts broke when someone started patting on my shoulder.

“Hey girl, Is everything ok? Why are you drenching in rain?”, An old lady asked me with a worried expression on her face.

I smiled at her concern and said everything is fine. But she didn’t seem to be satisfied with my answer. She looked intently at my eyes as if she could sense the storm that’s going on within me.

“Come with me”, saying this she dragged me along with her. We both shared her umbrella. After walking for a while, we reached her home.

“Make yourself comfortable dear, I’ll be back in a moment”, saying this she went inside a room. After a while, she returned with a towel and night dress. She handed me them and said “Go and take bath dear. There is hot water inside.”

I thanked her and went inside. After taking a long and refreshing hot shower, I came into living room. I saw that old lady serving hot soup into two mugs. She smiled at me when I sat beside her in the living room.

“Take this my child”, saying this she handed me a mug. I took it into my hands and smiled at her.

“Now, tell me what happened.” She asked me.

“I fought with my cousins before leaving the house, So, I was upset and sat at the hill point to get some peace of mind.” I said while staring at the mug that is full of hot soup.

“Look at me my dear child” she said. I looked at her who’s already staring at me intently.

“I know that’s not the main reason why you were there in that messy weather. You can tell me anything. That’ll only be in-between us and I won’t judge you. So, please pour out whatever storm is there within your beautiful soul.” She spoke.

After hearing her comforting words, my eyes automatically started their water falls.

“It’s okay my dear child.” She spoke while placing my mug on the table and held my trembling hands.

I suddenly remembered about my parents. I asked the old lady if I could use her mobile to inform about my whereabouts to my parents. She agreed and handed me her mobile. I informed my parents that I got stuck in rain and an old lady helped me. I told them I’ll return home when the rain stops.

“Thank you so much.” I said while giving her mobile.

“You’re welcome my child.” She replied.

 “How did you know about the storm that’s going on within me?” I asked curiously.

“Experience my dear. I was once in same situation like yours. So, when I looked at you, I saw myself in you.” She replied.

“So, who’s the boy that broke your heart?” she asked. Her question caught me off-guard.

I hesitated to answer at first. But while looking at her assured eyes, I finally spoke, “Al…Alex”.

I stammered while saying his name. That’s because I don’t want to utter his name. And the reason for that is the pain that follows his name. I started crying once again.

I started telling her my story.

“So, what happened after the confession?” she asked.

*PAST*

I didn’t know how to react for his words. I started overthinking.

What if he’s a player?

What if he’s toxic for me?

Should I stop contacting him?

But what about the feelings that are brewing for him?

Can I control them?

I thought to stop texting him but whenever I got a text from him, I couldn’t stop myself from texting him back.

This continued for few days.

“Hey, shall we meet?”

– Alex

“What? Are you serious?”

 – Ellie

“Yes.”

 – Alex

I didn’t reply for some time.

“Hey, what happened?”

– Alex

I turned off my mobile data and kept my mobile aside.

After sometime my mobile started ringing displaying his name on screen.

I didn’t answer his call. I don’t know why but I started getting nervous when he asked me to meet.

I thought to deal with this matter later and drifted to sleep after turning on airplane mode on my mobile.

Next day when I turned off airplane mode, my mobile started getting bombarded with many missed call messages. When I turned on my mobile data, I saw many incoming messages from Alex.

Suddenly my mobile started ringing displaying his name.

I answered the call immediately.

“Why were you not answering my calls?” Alex asked impatiently.

“Did I do something wrong?” Alex asked.

“Why aren’t you replying me?” Alex asked.

“Because you are not giving chance for me to reply.” I said while smiling like a maniac.

“Ok. Then tell me now.” Alex said.

“Yesterday, I was tired. So, I drifted off to sleep early.” I spoke.

“Bullshit. Come on Ellie. Tell me the real reason.” Alex asked in serious tone.

“Hey, really. That’s the only reason.” I spoke.

“Ok then. Now tell me when can we meet in person?” Alex asked in calm yet dangerous tone.

I caught off-guard. I remained silent.

“Hey, if you don’t want to meet then it’s totally fine.” Alex said.

I started feeling bad. So, I started saying something which I didn’t knew I’d regret later.

“No. I want to meet you.” As soon as I said this, I heard a sigh of relief from other side.

“Do you have any plan?” I asked him.

“I was dying to meet you since the time you left my home. Nope. I don’t have any plan. But I’ll make one now.” Alex said.

I remained silent for few moments.

“Hey Ellie. Are you there?” Alex asked.

“Yeah.” I replied.

“Yesterday, I was worried sick as you didn’t reply to my texts and calls. When you switched off your phone, I thought you were not interested in me and that’s the reason you started avoiding me as soon as I asked you out.” Alex said sadly.

“That’s not true Alex!” I exclaimed.

“In that case, I wouldn’t have confessed you, my feelings. I just got panicked.” I spoke.

“I’ll let you know when and where to meet if that’s ok for you. Or would you suggest where to meet?” Alex asked.

“I don’t know much places. You only decide when and where.” I replied.

“Ok then. I’ll plan ASAP. I can’t wait to see you, my angel!” Alex said in teasing tone.

“Sadly, I can’t say the same.” I teased him back.

“Ouch, that hurts!” Alex exclaimed dramatically making me laugh out loud.