Part 5: Pursuing Pink

I was determined that Joy and I didn’t see each other the next morning so I woke up earlier than usual, made breakfast and posted a note on the fridge for Joy. I wrote:

Joy,

Made some eggs for breakfast.

I had to make sure I left before he did.

I refused to discuss what happened last night. It was never going to happen again. I wanted to slap myself. Why do I care what he thought of me? I do not care. Repeat, I do not care.

Even the weather matched my mood with its cloudy and dark skies as I boarded the bus immediately, not wanting him to find out I attended the same campus, not wanting the people to see that I was with him or that I knew him. Joy was a spotlight, everyone and everything around him was showcased like a bug under microscope. And I wanted to avoid every bit of it.

I wanted to miss my lectures today because of yesterday incidences but then I thought that keeping my mind busy will probably help in stop thinking about all the nonsense that happened yesterday. So I entered a class when it was just about to start.

The following weeks after that, I avoided him. I made sure that we never see each other in the mornings or even after I get home from classes and leave for dropping my CV for my new work. I had told him my hours because again it was a common courtesy. After all I was living at his place and he has a right to know whenever I come and leave.

We hadn’t spoken to each other in two weeks and he had never sought me out, so I figured I was just another past time to him. That night meant nothing to him. I meant nothing to him.

It was Friday and I was as usual attending my lecture. And then suddenly to my wildest thought and surprise, I saw Joy coming towards my classroom. He entered with the permission of the Prof. saying that he wants to attend his lecture out of interest because this was not his major and he was never seen before in this class.

My eyes shifted to Joy. He was staring at me with sorrow in his eyes. I turned around to the front again, kind of ignoring him. Suddenly, the person sitting next to me passed me a piece of paper and signaled towards Joy. In his actions and muted voice, he could convey that this paper is coming from Joy. I didn’t recall how long I stared at that note before I opened it.

I am sorry I kissed you that night.

-  Joy

I was sure that he will look and wait for me after the class to have a conversation which was pending since many weeks now. But I avoided him again after the class and immediately rushed to the library and decided to spend some good hours in there without thinking about anything and without getting distracted with his presence around me.

It was Saturday today and I decided to go to library in the morning, after I finish my work at home and from afternoon till late evening I decided to visit every damn store possible to get a job. Hence I was expecting to arrive late tonight.

I was just placing his plate in the food warmer when I heard footsteps behind me. My eyes widened in panic.

“Why are you avoiding me?” he asked, straight as you please.

I nearly dropped the plate. He stood in front of me, a towel around his neck and only wearing his sweatpants. Sweat gleamed on his forehead, on his impressive chest and going further down to his toned stomach. He obviously just finished his work out.

I cleared my throat. “I …. I am not avoiding you.” He tilted his head, studying me, I stood my ground even when I wanted to squirm. “Do you need something?” I coloured my voice with irritation. He rubbed his hand across his face. “YES”. He walked towards me, slowly, his eyes so green and intense locking on mine. I stood froze, unable to move, unable to breath. There was something thick in the air which I could almost touch. He stopped a foot away, his hands in his pockets as his eyes held mine captive.

“I need you to stop”, he whispered.

“Stop?”

“Whatever you are doing to me.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“I need to get you out of my mind.” His hands reached for my hair and he tucked it behind my ear. “You. You are something else, Pink. I won’t be able to pull away next time”. He promised and walked away.