Chapter 34
I stepped into my hostel room, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside me. Jo had escorted me to the door, exchanged a few brief words, and then left abruptly, his demeanor stiff and his eyes clouded with a hint of displeasure. I sighed, closing the door behind me, and wondered if I'd made a misstep with my response. Had I been too noncommittal? Had I misread the situation entirely? The uncertainty lingered, making me question my decision. Maybe I should have given him a clearer answer, one way or the other. Now, all I could do was wait and see how things played out.
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It was Thursday morning, and I made my way to class, checking my phone along the way. My eyes scanned the screen, but there was no message from Jo. A pang of uncertainty hit me - could he be avoiding me? I sighed, realizing I didn't even know his class. With a mix of frustration and concern, I pushed aside my thoughts about Jo and stepped into my classroom. I had a test to prepare for, and I needed to focus. But my mind kept wandering, thinking about Jo and our last conversation. Later that day, the whole school would be buzzing with excitement - it was party night. I wondered if Jo would be there, and if our conversation would finally pick up where it left off.
I settled into my seat in class, pen poised over paper, as the teacher handed out the chemistry test. My heart skipped a beat as I scanned the questions, recognizing some of the material from Monday's lesson. It wasn't going to be a cakewalk, but I felt somewhat prepared.
As I worked through the test, my mind began to wander to the party tonight. When the test finally ended, I breathed a sigh of relief. Tomorrow would be the last day of testing, and I couldn't wait to be done.
After class, I made my way to the coffee machine, a spot where Jo and I had often met. I waited, nursing a cup of coffee, hoping he'd show up. The minutes ticked by, and I checked my wristwatch, surprised to see that I'd been waiting for almost an hour. Jo was nowhere to be found. I felt a pang of disappointment, wondering if I'd misread the situation entirely. Maybe he wasn't interested in meeting up after all. I sighed.
As I scanned the sea of faces, my gaze locked onto a familiar figure in the distance. Jo. He was walking away, his long strides devouring the space between us. I quickened my pace, dodging students as they poured out of the classrooms like a tidal wave. "Jo!" I called out, my voice strained with urgency, but he didn't flinch. He continued walking, unaware of my presence behind him.
I picked up speed, my feet pounding the floor in a rhythmic cadence as I chased after him. The sound of chatter and laughter swirled around me, a cacophony that threatened to drown out my thoughts. As Jo began to descend the stairs, I followed suit, my legs pumping to keep up. "Jo wait!" I cried out, but my words were lost in the din of the crowd.
In my haste, my leg slipped on the stairs, and I felt myself tumbling forward. Time seemed to slow down as I struggled to regain my balance. a pair of hands grasped my arms, holding me steady. I turned to see my rescuer, and my eyes met the piano guy's. Again. It was as if he had a sixth sense for knowing when I needed help. Where did he keep coming from?
"Careful," he said softly, for the first time ever, he straightened up, released me, and walked away, leaving me to continue my pursuit of Jo.
By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, Jo had stopped and was looking in my direction. His eyes locked onto mine.
My eyes locked onto Jo's, my voice laced with a mix of concern and frustration. "So, you avoiding me?" I asked, my tone direct and piercing.
Jo's expression shifted, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice like a whispered secret. "I'm not avoiding you, Sarah. What makes you think that?" His words hung in the air, a fragile bridge between them.
My gaze never wavered, my eyes boring into Jo's like a searchlight probing the darkness. "You haven't been responding to my messages like you usually do." My voice was a steady drumbeat, insistent and unyielding.
Jo's shoulders seemed to relax slightly as he offered an explanation, his words dripping with a calm he might not have felt. "I was busy, that's all. What gave you the impression I was avoiding you?" His tone was a gentle breeze on a summer day, soothing but unconvincing.
My eyes searched his face, my gaze roaming over the contours of his features like a cartographer mapping uncharted terrain. "If it's about last night... I can give you a reply now" I said, my voice trailing off into the silence like a whispered promise.
Jo's expression softened, and he placed a gentle tone on his words, like a balm applied to a raw wound. "Just take your time, Sarah. Take your time." The words hung in the air, a fragile promise of reassurance.
And then, without another word, Jo turned and walked away, leaving me standing alone, watching his retreating figure with a mix of confusion and concern. The distance between them grew, a chasm that seemed to yawn wider with every step. My eyes lingered on Jo's disappearing form, my heart heavy with unspoken questions and doubts.