I feel another touch on my head, I hear a soft sound of something falling to the floor. I bend down, carefully so as not to lose my balance and fall from the chair, and pick up the crumpled ball of paper.
When I return to my starting position, I come across a guy trying to hide behind a book. I notice how he's laughing.
I wait and when he decides to try and look around the book, putting his face in a good position, I throw the ball.
Unfortunately, and as I already mentioned, I'm horrible when it comes to any kind of sport, including throwing balls. So, as you may be thinking, the ball didn't hit him in the face. Not even close.
Like a boyfri.... Wait! We're not official yet... because I didn't want to... I'm starting to believe that I should have just said yes when he asked me to. It's what I wanted! Sometimes I can be very stupid (Sofia would say "not just sometimes").
Getting back to the point, like the fantastic friend he is, Seungmin bursts out laughing, while alternately pointing at the ball, which is a few meters away from us, and me.
Dumbass! Laughing at my misfortune. He will see! Don't be careful, no!
-You really are a child – I tell him, while he aims at the ball, which he just picked up, to hit me with it again.
The ball hits my forehead, causing me to close my eyes. When I open them again, I see Bea approaching our table with our orders.
- So, Theresa, have you and Anna already sent your application? – she asks me.
Now is not the best time, besties!
- No. We agreed to do it together tomorrow.
When I look at Seungmin I come across a confused boy. Please don't ask anything! Please!
- Application? For what?
I don't think I like your curiosity. I don't want to tell the truth. It wasn't supposed to go out like this.
- Hmmm... it's for something... volunteering! Exactly! It's for a volunteer thing – really smooth, Theresa. Nothing suspicious. You didn't even seem nervous or anything.
- Volunteering? For what?
For what? I don't know! I just invented it! Think, Theresa, what could you do? Something plausible. Wait! I remember getting an email from school about volunteering at a kennel next week!
- In a kennel!
- It sounds cool! Do you know when it is? Maybe I could also participate if I have time. I love dogs!
What? If he comes, I'll really have to sign up! And I'm going to have to encourage Anna, too. Why do I do this to myself!
- Hmmm... Theresa? – I turn to Bea – I wanted to tell you something. Can you come with me to the back?
And without waiting for my answer, she walks towards the kitchen. I follow her and, when I enter, she is already looking at me with a questioning look.
- Why didn't you tell him the truth? Volunteering at a kennel?
- I haven't told you yet that I was thinking about going to Frankfurt.
- Why? He should've been one of the first people to know. You just started dating, he should know you won't be here for six months!
- I know. But besides being afraid of his reaction, I also don't want to say anything to him until I'm not sure if I will go.
- Still, it's best to tell him as soon as possible. The longer you put this off, the worse it will be. Either way, if you join the program, he will be super happy for you, for sure. Obviously, he'll be sad that he won't be able to see you for a while, but we will all do.
- I'm trying to find the right time to do it. Don't worry. I'll tell him, okay? Changing the subject. How is it going with the boy?
- What boy?
- Anthony. Duh!
She changes to a sadder expression.
- We're not talking.
- Why?
- In the last few weeks, whenever I sent him messages, he took almost day to respond and was cold, so I started doing the same. Afterwards, we were planning a time to see each other since he lives far away. We agreed to meet this past weekend.
- Ya! I remember you talking about that. You were very excited.
- Well, the night before, he sent a message saying he couldn't make it. And that's fine with me. Sometimes things appear out of nowhere that we can't avoid. I understand. What I don't understand is that a friend of his who I follow on Instagram posted a story at a nightclub with him and his friends. And the worst part is that the club is half an hour away.
- Dickhead! He really is a jerk!
- I know, right? I stopped talking to him and he started with all that bullshit of sugar coating me with nice words, so I told him some truths. And he still hasn't said anything. I hope he doesn't think I'm a be the one to start the conversation. He spends every single day with his friends and now he can't come just one weekend to see me, which he hasn't done for months. I don't accept this!
- Exactly, Bia! He sucks! You too good for him!
- Exactly – at that moment, I notice how a tear starts to run down her cheek. I pull her for a hug.
- Come on. Don't be sad because of an idiotic boy.
- I really like him, but it pisses me to feel like I'm the only one who tries. I'm tired of this "will or won't go" between us. Why is it so complicated to just go?
- There ... there – I run my hand over her back in an attempt to comfort her – The boys are all pigs.
She laughs, which makes me feel more relieved that she's calming down.
- You better go see your boyfriend. He'll start thinking I kidnapped you or something.
- We're not dating!
-That's because you're stupid, T – and with that she heads to the counter, serving the new customers who have just entered.
I sit down in my chair, pick up my croissant and bite it. As I'm a fantastic eater, lots of croissant pieces either fall out or end up on my lips.
I try to clean up as quickly as possible, afraid that someone has seen my poor figures.
Obviously, someone saw it. Seungmin bursts into laughter in front of me.
- Ahahah! You got all dirty! And then I'm the child!
I crumple the napkin that came with my order into a ball and throw it in the guy's face. Surprisingly, I hit him square in the forehead. Oh! Take it!
- Ow! - what an exaggeration!
- You really are weak, if that hurt you.
- I'm weak? Do you want to see how weak I am? – and starts to get up.
In order to prevent him from coming any closer to me, I pick up his computer.
- You come closer and I drop it!
With that, he sits back down. When we calm down he asks me – So, when is this volunteering thing?
Why couldn't he just forget about it?!
- Next week, Friday afternoon.
- Cool! I have nothing to do that day. If you and Anna don't mind, I'll go with you. What you say?
- Fantastic - there goes my afternoon watching series. Sad. On the good side of things, I can spend all afternoon with Seungmin. And Anna.
I really have to convince her to come with me. It would be strange for me to say that I was going with her and now she's not going, you know? And also, she can look out for me and help me avoid saying something I shouldn't say to Seungmin.
You must be wondering when I think about telling him everything: in two weeks, after the results come out.
Just two more weeks. I'm already getting nervous. How am I going to start the conversation? What are the best words to use? I don't want him to be hurt or sad.
- Theresa? Do you want it or not? – Seungmin's voice interrupts my thoughts. He's handing me the plate with the slice of chocolate cake he ordered.
I should just think about the present. I worry about the future when it comes.
Next chapter...