3.

NOSTALGIA. A bittersweet yearning for the things of the past. On days like this when Anna Davenport had her morning free, she would spend it at Josh’s apartment and from there, head to the hospital for her afternoon appointments. He would often times, call in sick in other to have an excuse to stay at home. He was ready to do the craziest things, just to spend time with her and see her happy. Josh had always placed her first and she knew no matter what, she wanted to spend a lifetime loving him. 

But her dream for a lifetime just had to be cut short by the damn accident he had to be involved in. Now she grabs her gym bag and drives herself to the nearest gym. Since there was no Josh to spend time with, she might as well use her morning exercising, just to get her mind off him.

While driving, her mind wanders off, just thinking about the two rude guys she had met this past week. Her rude next-door neighbor, she had ignored since the night he moved in, and the cocky and arrogant patient that had walked into her office for a PTSD evaluation. People like that, according to Anna needed therapy for their inflated ego, and she would be glad to be of such help.

She parks her car and as she walks into the gym, her eyes drifts briefly to the gyms motto in the entrance that read ‘to stay fit won’t hurt a bit.’  And that was true. Anna never liked going to the gym right from time, but situation changes and since she signed up for it a month after she moved into the neighbor-hood, it didn’t hurt a bit. She found herself enjoying it from time to time.

“Looking good Harold.” The blonde guy in his late twenties seated at the reception desk, gives Anna a bright smile as she signs in. He was good-looking and Anna often looked forward to seeing his ever-smiling face, whenever she steps into the building. 

“You’re looking great as usual, miss Davenport.”

“you still act like we’re strangers, when we’ve know each other for a while. I’ve told you to call me Anna, Harold.” She gives him a teasing smile, knowing despite her several pleas for him to call her by name, he still didn’t change. Maybe one day, their relationship would finally get to the stage where he becomes quite free around her.

She liked his vibe and having him as a friend would do her more good than harm. But he was still always shy and quite reserved around her, which she considered odd, since he was free and more interactive with some certain customers. Maybe he has a reason, she always defended.

“Are you flirting or signing in?” a thick voice with an irritated tone speaks from behind. It was then Anna became aware that a figure had arrived next to her. Harold’s face looked flushed like he was embarrassed and that made Anna get pissed at the guy that just ruined her chances of taking her relationship with Harold a step further.

She doubted he was going to get comfortable around her anytime soon.

“Why don’t you stay around to find out.” For some unknown reason, she found the voice quite familiar but she didn’t stay around to find out. His rude tone told her there was no way she’ll want to get herself involved with him.

“See you around Harold.” With that she leaves the reception area and enters the main building to start her morning exercise, not bothering to look behind her to check out the identity of the person that almost ruined her mood this early morning.

Dylan watches the red hair walk away and from her movement, he knew she was pissed at him. Well she shouldn’t have been flirting right in front of him, when he had more serious issues going on in his head. And what was with him and red heads, was the color the new trend? He had wondered. He gets himself signed in as he heads to the locker room to get himself changed.

Hannah, his ex, loved exercising and would often keep him company whenever he exercised at home. He had the basic instruments he needed right within his reach but exercising at home without her next to him no longer felt the same. Dylan hated the thought of staying in the midst of sweaty strangers just to exercise but he had no other choice. It was either he stayed back at home and wallow in grief or exercise here while trying to keep himself a little distracted.

Today especially, he desperately needed to get his head straight.

He steps out of the locker room just to bump into the familiar red hair he met at the reception office. The only difference being that the hair was packed into a messy bun.

He became convinced that she was definitely meant to spoil his morning hours.

“Why the hell are you everywhere?” From his tone, Anna could tell that he was irritated at her. The thick masculine voice sounded familiar and without even looking at the face, she could already feel her blood boil in reaction.

She bends down to pick up her headphone and phone that had dropped abruptly.

“Don’t you think sorry should have found its way out of your mouth?” she stands up straight and looks-up to finally meet him eye to eye. For a moment, she seems lost in the blue eyes that had so many untold secrets and unshared pain and the psychiatrist in her wanted to kick in, but as she took in his facial features, a look of dread took over her expression.

Why was she standing face to face with the rude, mannerless but good-looking patient that had showed up in her office for PTSD evaluation? Now she knew why the voice felt familiar and why her blood reacted to it.

Anna didn’t have much belief in coincidence but in destiny on the third encounter and she wasn’t liking how this was her second encounter with him. She had run into Josh on three several occasions and during their third encounter, they had taken interest in each other.

The odd part was the fact that she had met him consecutively at a colleague wedding- their first and second encounter- but the third one was the fact that he turned out to be her friends next-door neighbor. And from the moment they exchanged numbers, it had been all laughter and a fun-filled experience for Anna Davenport. The period of her life she always desperately wished to return to.

But here she was, face to face with someone she desperately wished would just walk past her.

Dylan Blake was still trying to take in the familiar beauty in front of him. Hannah had exceeded his expectations in terms of look, and from the moment they had first met, he admitted it within himself, though it took him a while to say it aloud.

“Hannah?”

As the name left his mouth, an anxious feeling swept through him. It felt like he was losing himself. Hannah McCall, his first love was dead. He watched her lose consciousness right next to him and he always dreaded that moment, but he was always sceptic about the fact that he was absent throughout her burial process. While she was placed under the cold and lonely ground, he fought for his life in the ICU.

There were moments he wished he never survived the accident just so she didn’t have to leave alone, but now he knew that being left behind hurts more than he ever imagined.

Now he knew why he had called the red head in front of him Hannah. She was the young psychiatrist he had met the past week who he had confused as Hannah, though she had gotten on his bad side.

“You still think I’m your ex? Then I must be really pretty to have you confused.” Anna turns around to leave and Dylan follows quietly from behind.

He checks her out and found himself oddly smiling as her pink and black tracksuit hugs her body tightly, thereby showing her curves in the right places. He stares at her converse and the thought that pops into his head was the fact that her job must pay quite well, given the brand she had on.

“The plan was to not meet again.” He speaks up in a cold tone when they finally arrive at the equipment room that was surrounded with quite a number of people exercising. He stretches a little bit to get himself prepared to carry the weight machine.

“Thought so too. I’m not pleased either to meet you here.” She meant it because she disliked the aura that surrounded him. And for a moment she considers the fact that he might have a personality disorder.

Anna walks towards the treadmill as running was what she always preferred to get started with. Dylan watches her leave his side without saying a word, when he notices a guy with ear pods on and eyes fixed on his phone jog towards her. They were both not looking at each other and if he didn’t call on either of them attention, they were definitely going to bump into one another.

And for no particular reason, he doesn’t call their attention and just wanted to watch everything play out.

For the second time this morning, Anna didn’t see it coming, when a blonde guy bumps hard into her. She finds herself on the floor and releases a sigh in frustration. The blonde guy in front of her had a shocked expression as he stretches his hands towards her, to help her get back on her feet.

He removes his ear pods from his ear as he tries to dust her body with his handkerchief.

“I should have paid attention. I’m so sorry. Hope you didn’t get hurt?” He looked concerned and sorry at the same time and Anna knew he wasn’t uncaring unlike some others.

“It’s okay. I should have been more attentive.” She gives him a reassuring smile so he didn’t have to feel guilty over it. He nods at her one more time with an apologetic smile, before he finally left.

She turns her head around as she could feel the strong gaze of someone on her back.