Year 2015
Rella's POV
“Rella, you know these two right, Robert and Keith."
"And guys...Rella.” Veronica laid down the basic introduction of three humans.
Meanwhile, my mind went into a complete state of shock, being unable to decipher the fact that Keith was standing in front of me. He was real. My eyes weren’t playing tricks on my sanity. I was not dreaming of him. I was not dreaming of him. I was not dreaming of him.
It’s been more than a year since I last saw Keith. I take a quick note of his round, cleanly-shaven face. My eyes fall upon his most prominent features: the thin lips that carried a pale pink colour and the jet-black hair that greeted me with a hello.
Keith’s hairstyle hasn’t changed in years. It still remains in that buzz cut. He must really hate growing it out.
The soft morning sun glinted on the pointy tip of his pale nose.
He looked at me. Contrary to his big, bushy eyebrows, Keith held a gentle gaze. One can call it a “friendly-looking face.”
Our eyes made contact for mere nanoseconds before he pulled away to look at Robert who had started talking.
“Hi. You look familiar.” Robert said to me. “Do we like know her from somewhere, Ver?” He asked his friend.
Back in our old school, I was the air not many breathed. So of course, I didn’t expect them lads to recognize me right away. Veronica remembering my name at its entirety was enough of a surprise already.
“Wha-you don’t remember her? She’s Rella Warren! We all studied in the same school…in Connecticut…WE WERE IN THE SAME CLASS FOR F*CK’S SAKE!” Veronica yelled the last part making Robert and Nancy flinch in unison.
Yup, she was overreacting. Yes, it was entertaining.
“Geez Vee, don’t shout near my ear. I’m sensitive.” Nancy, the one who is known for doing the exact same thing, said.
I chuckled softly and responded to Veronica with an, “It's okay.”
Her glare towards Robert softened upon hearing me.
“Ah yes I remember now. It’s nice to see you again, Rella.” Robert greeted me with newfound enthusiasm after somewhat realizing my identity. I greeted him back with similar energy.
Next in line was Keith.
“Hey Rella” He says and flashes his perfectly postured pearly whites at me. His smile which is always blindingly bright hurts my eyes and my pride.
Like we get it Keith, you have wonderful teeth; now can you stop flexing on us peasants with crooked canines?
“Hi Keith” I respond with a tight lipped smile to prevent teeth showing at all cost. Those tilted and twisted f*ckers bring me nothing but embarrassment.
“It feels amazing to have more people here from our hometown.” Keith commented.
“Yeah it’s making me miss home.” Veronica confessed and I received a friendly pat on the back from her.
The five of us plunked our asses round a large rectangular table. First period starts in about 10 minutes.
We, instead of going to class make the smart choice to kill the remainder of our time here only, inside the cafeteria.
All of a sudden, Keith extends his right hand in my direction. He was aiming for a handshake but wasn’t saying anything.
When I judge his mute action with utter confusion, he mouths an “OH” as if regaining his memory.
“I forgot to say it. (He chuckles) Welcome to New York, Rella.” Keith beams merrily and thrusts his hand again, with increased enthusiasm this time.
Somehow I found that sweet.
Why are cheesy sentences pleasant to the human ear? Or is it just my ear?
I smile at him.
When I start raising my hand to meet his, my action gets interrupted by Robert bursting into laughter and Nancy joining him.
I pull my hand back with caution.
What now?
“Who even says that?” Robert shook his head at Keith.
“I’m so sorry you had to hear that, Rella.” Nancy apologized to me between snorts and giggles.
“Dude, that’s cringe!” Veronica’s face was scrunched up in disgust and disbelief at what she just witnessed coming out of Keith’s mouth.
So, is this what they call a bunch of normal reactions?
“But-I umm…I just wanted to say something nice to her. It’s her first time here so I thought I would welcome her that way.” Keith was flabbergasted. He didn’t know what he did so wrong and his hand devoid of company remained hanging in mid-air.
My palms were growing sweaty. Before shaking his hand, I had to rub it against my jeans to clear off some of the sweat. Keith literally jumped in joy when he felt my hand against his. After all the verbal torment he went through, someone had to boost his long lost confidence. By default, that someone became me.
The softness of Keith’s hand contrasted heavily with the firm shake he gave me. I also felt how plump and meaty his fingers were, while mine resembled dry branches from a dead tree.
“Thank you, Keith.” I said smilingly. I could see the other three giving me sorry glances but, little did they know that I never minded anything in the first place. Nevertheless, I gave them polite nods.
“And Keith, it’s not her first time in New York. Rella has been here before to meet Ben, right Rella?” Nancy spoke up, feeling the need to correct Keith for some reason.
“Yeah, a few times actually.” I confirm. Keith nods and mouths another one of his “OH’s”.
“Who is Ben?” Unexpectedly, Veronica questions.
“He is my cousin brother. My aunt lives here. I often visited them during vacations, back in the day.” I tell her.
“Ah brother, okay.” Veronica laughs lightly.
“Ben is such-a-catch. Is he doing uni now?” Nancy chirps near my ear, very excitedly. Still don’t like when she does that but okay.
“Yup he hates it. His complaint being, there are no “cute girls” in his department.” I reply, rolling my eyes at the thought of that idiotic brother.
Nancy knows Ben from a picture of his that I uploaded on my Facebook last year. It was meant to be a birthday post for him. Nancy fan-girled over him in my dms, sent him a friend request and fan-girled some more when Ben accepted it.
“BEN IS SINGLE NOW?” Nancy gasps. I nod slowly, knowing exactly where this was going to go.
“Whoa…that means I have a chance. YES!” Nancy giggles and takes out her phone to stalk Ben’s profile.
I knew it!
“Wait, y-you…you have a cousin named Ben?” Keith asks putting extra emphasis on the words ‘cousin’ and ‘ben’. His bushy eyebrows were lightly furrowed.
“Yeah I do. Why?” I ask curiously to which the lad quickly changes his expressions.
“AH nothing; don’t mind me.” Keith lets out a shaky laugh.
He then looks at his wrist watch. “Class, it’s time for class.”
Keith stands up from his seat and the rest follows.
10 minutes expired within the blink of an eye.
All of us flock towards our respective classes with a promise to meet during lunch break.
I take one final look at Keith only to discover him already looking at me.
‘ba-thump’ my heart strikes.
