My breaths came out in short pants as I finally reached the front desk and pulled my ID card to verify myself. Pasting an awkward grimace-slash-smile on my face, I waited patiently as the receptionist confirmed that I really did work in this company before she told me the way to the room in which my language class was being conducted.
That's right. I was being forced to go through a Czech language crash course offered by the HOHO tours to assist their employees, like me who sucked at it, to get better and be able to communicate with people during work hours.
I mentally sighed and lay over my made up bed to go back to sleep.
But in reality, I just walked inside a very bright lit room C3 and came to a halt when I saw Felix rolling a pencil between his lips just as our gazes clashed.
His eyes widened and the pencil spluttered from his mouth momentarily. I snorted to cover my own surprise and raised an eyebrow, "Well...if you like my company that much to have to go through my schedule, you could've just said so."
Pink tinted his cheeks but his brown eyes sparked with an interest, "You're the epitome of 'Originated from planet delusion' Thea."
Some of my earlier confidence subsided, my nerves turning into a wrecked mess of fast flowing blood mixed with constrained emotions, "Flattering, at least I'm wanted there." I made my way towards the empty desk behind his and set my tote bag on it.
He coughed once in his hand, muttering, "More like sent away from there."
I gasped in absolute offense but before I could form a retort to his comeback, a middle-aged woman in her forties entered the room and began the very first session of three month course I had apparently signed for.
With Carter's presence to haunt me even there, of course.
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"Language is the most important part of working in a foreign country. Now repeat after me, Ahoj, jak se máš ."
I burst out laughing at Felix's squeaky voice and clear cut impersonation of Mrs. Smith from our class. Smacking his arm, I said, "Stop it. You're being mean..."
He narrowed his eyes at me as I gave in to the urge of letting the corner of my mouth upturn, "Do it more."
He wiggled his eyebrows in mischief, "Ooh-lala, who knew little Ms. Thea here is secretly a sadist?"
I scoffed, ignoring the way I could feel my cheeks heating up. "Don't impose your kinky fantasies over everybody else, Carter."
The coffee shop was filled with continuous activity and movement, but my only focus was on the guy sitting before me as he clicked his tongue, leaning forward on the table with his arms folded and said, "So let's hear all about your kinks today."
Anxiety curled inside me, knotting my organs into a taught string. I casually rubbed my arm to resist shaking my leg as I tried to be nonchalant with the whole ordeal of sharing things about each other, "What do you wanna know?"
God, maybe after this conversation he'd finally decide to get rid of me.
Felix raked a hand through his deep brown curls, a deep frown on his face probably due to concentration until he finally reached to a conclusion. "Favourite hobbies?"
I blanched at such a common question, "Really? That's why you were being so dramatic?"
He moved a hand around him, "Just answer me."
I mulled over what to reply exactly before settling on a final answer, "Well, I'm a writer. I write books, fanfictions and poems whenever I feel like. But as of now, I'm trying to become a published author for real."
"That's goddamn impressive, Thea. How many have you written yet?"
I swallowed hard, "Five."
He let out a low whistle in astonishment. I didn't let him further question me about the same topic as I asked, "What about you?"
A dark look similar to the one of his half-day passed on Felix's face before he gave me his usual quicksilver smile. "I love to cook. The art of making new dishes, testing out different flavours and thinking about how to make the food better in general, it's exhilarating."
I blinked, "That's surprising to know. You don't exactly give off the vibe of someone who likes to work in a kitchen."
"For an author-
"Writer."
"-You sure are a bit hypocritical to judge a book by it's cover."
I snorted, "Fun fact: I buy most of my books by looking at the cover usually."
He gasped dramatically, "You're an abomination to books."
I threw the used tissue roll from my hand at him, "What do you know about books, Mr. Chef?"
An offended and somewhat surprised look passed on his face, "Well, I don't know about books. But I do have a cooking blog of my own on Tumblr."
I could hardly believe any of the words that left his mouth today, "Tumblr? Seriously?"
"Oh God, don't tell me you're one of those 'OMG Tumblr is soo 2K15' blah blah blah type."
I squinted at him, "No, I'm just surprised at everything I've learned today."
Felix slurped on his milkshake before saying, "As you should be. It'll serve as a reminder to you for future references to not judge stuff without knowing anything."
I grumbled unhappily, "I don't- I'm not judgemental, Carter."
Snorting, he replied, "Sure you're not. And I know Obama personally."
"Okay, fine." I huffed in annoyance, "Maybe I overthink a little more than anyone but I don't necessarily do it on purpose. It's a default reaction to every anxiety inducing situation. And maybe because of this, I've let this habit accumulate my lifestyle over the course of time in every way. It's all subconscious, nothing personal against anybody."
I definitely regretted spilling all those words without a second thought to Felix but God, it felt relieving to speak my mind for once. Yet, my inner voices got to their job of engrossing me in endless thoughts.
"Thea, let me be honest with you. I think you've anxiety."
"No shit, Sherlock."
He ignored me, "Severe anxiety."
I rolled my eyes, " I know. Let's drop it already. Why are you attending this language course anyway?"
Felix casted a fierce look towards me but when he realised that I wasn't going to relent on my decision, he sighed in defeat. "I'm from Germany, actually. I lived there for fourteen years and then my...family decided to move here. And I kind of still can't get a hold on Czech after the past couple of years and it gets really difficult to not be able to talk to the locals at times."
I blinked dumbly for the second time at him today.
"Wait, so you must be fluent in German?"
He frowned, "Yeah, pretty much."
I slapped my palm on the wooden table in excitement, "Shut up. I'm fluent in German too. It's actually my mother tongue."
"So you're from Germany too?"
I took a bite of my butter croissant, "Nein, I'm from Austria."
He stared at me openmouthed, "You're Austrian? That's one of my top bucket list destinations."
Even the name of that country left jitters running through my body. I hadn't visited home ever since...the incident happened.
"I heard it's one of the most beautiful countries of the world."
I traced a pattern on the table distractedly as I muttered bittersweetly, "Yeah, one of the most beautiful."
"Dorothea? Dorothea Zelda, is that you?"
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I PROFUSELY APOLOGIZE FOR MY LACK OF UPDATES THE PAST WEEK. Things have been chaotic to say the least. Heartbreaks, no motivation, laziness and a near broken leg.
october didnt october the way it shouldve.
anyway, november's been amazing ever since it began and im happy nowadays more than usual so thats good. i hope yall liked the chapter.
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