“Um… Sure!” Talia nodded as she closed her textbook. She stuffed her assignment in the bag as she took out her binder of the university. “I’m not sure if you want to know someone like me though… Do you want to befriend a freak who does her homework in this place?”
JD smirked at her answers. “Don’t say that. I put up a lot of courage to approach you just now. I really like smart girls, so I hope we can get along. Will you be attending this university next year?”
“I’m not sure. This school is way too far from my home,” Talia avoided his mesmerizing gazes as his words made her heart thumped any seconds. “I don’t know how to drive, so I guess I should just attend the one near my home.”
Pulling his bag onto his lap, JD grabbed a small booklet and handed the item to Talia. “Since you mention your situation, you could study the driver’s ed courses and get your permit.” Glancing up at Talia’s awestruck expression, he grinned at her. “This way, you wouldn’t have to worry about transportation. I believe you must be eighteen years old. Right?”
“Yes!” Talia nodded, reached out to take the booklet, and blushed when she touched his hand. “I just had my birthday two months ago on October 6th.”
JD smiled at her red face. “Cool! I turned 21 this past February 27th. I'm just three years older than you.”
This was the first time that Talia ever conversed with a guy in her whole life. During their conversation for the past two hours, she allowed JD to do most of the questioning while she just answered him with a short sentence answer.
As the minutes loomed further into the hours, she began to feel comfortable around him. Glancing around the table, the classmates stared at her like she was a puppy in heat. Do they think she was flirting with this guy?
“I’m pretty warm in here now,” Talia fanned herself. “I want to go get some water.”
JD looked around the lounge, noticing some people crowding in the surrounding. The atmosphere must have increased without him noticing. Nodding his head, he stood up from his seat. “Let’s go get some water, and then we’ll dance for a bit.”
In his abrupt movement, JD swung his bag and accidentally knocked over the two goblets on the table. The wine splashed and dripped on the table, causing some to fly toward Talia.
“Sorry! I didn’t mean to do that,” JD muttered as he snatched another tablecloth from the next table to wipe the wine. “Relax. I’ll get this cleaned up real quick.”
Talia stared at him while she looked at herself. This was the only new dress that she had this year. Would she even have a chance to get a new outfit again?
She wasn’t sure how to react in this situation, so she just mumbled. “No worry!”
“I apologize for dirtying your outfit.” He gawked at the red stain on her dress. Laying down his bag, he took off his blue jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Here, use this for now.”
Her heart thumped like the beating drums due to their close body contact. “Th… Than... Thanks.” She grabbed her binder.
“Come on, let’s go get that water!” JD held out his hands. “I’ll make this up to you. I hope you don’t take this to heart. I’m really sorry.”
As they grabbed their bags, JD took the mess and threw it in the trash can. After they headed to the dessert table to grab water bottles, they later stood against the wall in the hallway.
Even though JD offered to teach her to dance, Talia refused the invitation since she felt uncomfortable. So they continued their conversations in the hallway while Talia kept holding onto her binder. Should she head back to the resting area? The time must be around 11 PM now.
In a flash, a violent roar resonated through the vicinity, alerting people to glance at the entrance toward the gym. Several students stampede past them to head back outside the building to avoid the ruckus. Was there a fight just now?
Talia stepped on a bottle and stumbled before JD caught hold of her in his arms. They froze for a few seconds as they stared at each other in the eyes. Shoving back and forth between the students, Talia tripped on someone's leg and ended up knocking JD off his feet. They swirled and tumbled onto the floor, causing Talia to sprawl right above him. Face blushing deep red like fire blazes, Talia wriggled off him.
“Ouch!” Someone crashed right on top of Talia. “That hurts!”
Um… What’s with this smooth surface? This spot tastes sweet like honey.
Opening her eyes, she stared right into her JD’s pupils. Oh no! Her mouth was right on top of his lip! That means … She kissed him! Shocked to the bone, she shoved the person on top of her and crawled to her feet. She avoided eye contact with JD and grabbed her bag. Without paying any heed to JD's reaction, she ran away like her life depended on her escape.
Dear heavens! Help me! I really need a break from all these humiliations.
“Talia!” JD tried to get up and chased after her. “Wait up!”
She couldn’t stop herself anymore. Her body heated up and she didn’t have the courage to face Jayden from embarrassment. She glanced behind toward JD, who happened to fall against the wall of the building as three students tried to run past him. She turned on her heels and sped away. What would he think of her now? Did she look like someone who made a move on a guy?
The wind blew against her face as she arrived at the Arts and Entertainment department. Their accidental kiss still resonated through her mind. Blood circulated through her veins and heart palpitated as Talia. She flung the door open, dropped her backpack next to the wall, and crawled into her purple sleeping bag.
Lying on her back, the memories in the night flashed through her mind. Dear Lord! How could that have happened? Touching her lips, the butterflies bubbled within her stomach, causing her to twist and turn under her comfortable cocoon.
Oh my! I… I just lost my first kiss with JD! Does he even like me though? What am I going to do?
Recalling the painful truth of not asking about his relationship status, the happiness within her ceased in a flash. Would she even meet him again? If they crossed paths, then how should she face him? Everything so far seemed like a dream. She shouldn't jump ahead and assume they would become a couple.
Through the window, the wind blew and howled through the night. The cries in her heart were even worse than the weather outside. His face flashed through her vision, causing her to tremble from the tightness knot in her throat. What's with this feeling? Is she attracted to him? Was their kiss the cause of this sensation within her? Before she knew the time, she already drowsed into a deep slumber.
In the early morning, Talia packed her bags and headed to the bus with the whole class. She dragged her feet as she kept glancing around hoping to catch one glimpse of the man that made her heart thump for the first time. Loading her belongings and sitting on the bus, Talia trembled as her eyes drooped.
Where was he? Do I even have the good luck to catch a glimpse of him?
Talia threw up her hands and gave up hope the moment the bus drove from the university. Glancing around the bus, the other students seemed the same as the first time they went to the university.
She wanted to keep herself busy from recalling those memories, so she grabbed the driver's road manual from her backpack. Reading through the whole book, she didn't realize how many hours already passed until they arrived back at the school. To her surprise, her grandma was already waiting in the parking lot.