Chapter Four

 

“Am I late?” Seth asked when he walked into the library and saw me sitting by the waiting area with six books on my lap the next day.

“Nope, I’m just early,” I answered, getting up and almost dropping the textbooks had Seth not caught them in time. “Sorry.”

He took four of the books from me and shook his head in amusement. “So, where do we sit? Have you already outlined our meeting for the day and all the resources and the minutes we’re spending on each of them? Have you printed and photocopied them and laid them out on the table?”

I rolled my eyes. “Haha. That’s so funny. Here.”

I slapped a two-page research outline down on the book at the top of his pile and picked up my backpack. “I got all the books we need. Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” he asked as he followed me out into the open hall. “I thought we’ll be working in the library.”

“I changed my mind,” I told him, walking briskly ahead of him. “We’ll sit in one of the picnic tables—get some sunlight and cool breeze so I’ll feel less inclined to be annoyed for the rest of the afternoon.”

“Works for me,” he agreed, finally falling into a step beside me. “I don’t even know why you’re always so irritable. Is your menstrual period on all the time?”

I gave him a look of daggers. “The warm sunshine and cool breeze are fast losing their influence on my good mood right now, Seth.”

His grin immediately disappeared. “Shutting up now.”

“Good.” We reached my preferred table in the picnic area which today was only specked with a few people. Saturday classes are still on but most students spend their time between classes outside of campus to enjoy the weekend.

Seth put down the books and his Macbook down on the table and sat across from me. “By the way, what do you say we drive to the beach later this afternoon? There’s supposed to be a really nice sunset there today and—“

“No.”

“Okay. How about getting some hotdogs at Bertie’s? It’s Saturday steak special there too—“

“No.”

“How about some apple-banana smoothies at—“

“No.”

“Okay, then. I guess, that’s it for my suggestions,” Seth muttered with a resigned smile, shaking his head wryly. “So, let’s start. What do you have in mind?”

“You might want to read the sheet I handed to you first,” I told him, zipping my backpack open.

He started reading it silently for a couple of minutes before catching what I was doing in the corner of his eye. He paused and looked up curiously. “What are you doing?”

“You wanted to eat, didn’t you?” I asked, taking out one of those cheap Ziplock containers filled with fresh slices of carrots, cucumber and zucchini. I took out a smaller container with my home-made dip and another filled with my own concocted trail mix—a blend of dried raisins, pineapple, strawberries, pecans, almonds, peanuts and yogurt chips. Then I pulled out a couple cans of pop in a plastic bag, lined with ice packs on each side. “These are still chilled. Hope you like Sprite.”

“I sure do.” Seth had an amazed expression on his face as he helped me pull off the lids of the containers. “You should’ve told you me you had a small picnic in mind, I would’ve brought something. Now, I feel bad.”

“No, don’t,” I assured him. “I bring my own snacks ‘coz it’s cheaper that way. To be honest, I was worried you’d get hungry and drag me to one of those fancy places you rich people go to to eat. And I didn’t want to spend.”

He blinked at me then chuckled softly. “Don’t be silly. I can eat anywhere. And if we were going out to get something to eat, I’m not letting you pay. Not at all.”

Inside, I actually knew that. But I just shrugged. “Well, I didn’t want to owe you either. Anyway, hope these are enough for now. You can eat out later after we’re done.”

He didn’t say anything. He just had a big grin on his face as he sat back and flipped through the research outline.

The two hours breezed past us. Most of it was spent arguing on our ideas. Seth surely had some of his own and by the time we were done, my outlined presentation had changed drastically. I didn’t complain. It seemed more interesting now than when I did it.

“Are you sure about this though?” I asked him for the nth time as he typed up the new outline on his laptop. “What if they refuse?”

“They won’t,” he reassured me. “I talked to them yesterday to make sure they’d do it before I presented the idea to you. They’re happy to do it. The president of the local Indian community is happy to find a venue to present their heritage.”

“Will a week of practice be enough for them?” I asked again, still uncertain. I now sat next to him on the bench, looking over his shoulder. “What about costumes? And props? These things need time.”

“They’ve already done some of these acts in the heritage festival the city holds every year,” he answered. “They have costumes in stock as well. All we need to do is write the transitioning script. You can narrate some of the story and I’ll work the tech room for the lights, music and effects. We’ll reserve the lecture room on Monday for their dress rehearsal on Wednesday afternoon. Sounds good?”

I sighed and reluctantly nodded. “Yup. You better be there Wednesday afternoon or I’m kicking your butt.”

He grinned and patted the tip of my nose. “I’ll be there, don’t worry. At least we already have an excellent presentation outline to show Dr. Han on Monday.”

I moved my face away from him and wrinkled my nose. “Hopefully, that will be the last presentation we’ll ever have to do for her.”

“Oh, come on. You won’t admit at all that this is somewhat fun?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s fun now that we have an interesting enough idea for a presentation but not fun that we’re wasting our Saturday afternoon away on this.”

I don’t know if it was just my imagination playing games on me but I could swear his laughing eyes had dimmed a bit even if he still has a hint of smile on his face. “I don’t think I’m wasting my Saturday afternoon away. You’re pretty fun to be with.”

I wish I could be consistent with my attitude towards Seth but right now, with that very quiet statement said with a disappointed child’s expression, I couldn’t manage coming up with a smart and sharp retort.

“Seth… I… Well, I didn’t m-mean that you weren’t fun or that I, you know, don’t like your company or anything l-like that—at all. It’s just… Well, it’s just that… Well, I, uhm…”

His eyes lit up much more brightly again, their corners crinkling as he laughed. “Oh, Ali. Don’t worry, you didn’t hurt my feelings. You don’t have to look so guilty.”

My cheeks flushed warmly and in embarrassment, I quickly hopped off of the bench and started packing up my bag and books. He reached up to grab my wrist but I pulled it free.

“You’re really annoying, Seth, you know that?” I grumbled, packing everything up with an almost supernatural speed. “One minute you seem honestly nice and I’d feel bad but the next, it turns out to be one of your pranks. It’s real grown up of you.”

“Oh, don’t be grumpy now. You don’t have to take me so seriously,” he cajoled, helping me pick up my stuff.

I rolled my eyes and snatched the books he picked up. “I take everything seriously, you know that. Well, that’s it for our project meeting. Thank you for your participation. I’ll see you Monday outside of Dr. Han’s office.”

I quickly turned and hurried away and Seth rushed to get his laptop and notepad before dashing after me. “Wait up, Ali. I was dropping you off at the bookstore, remember?”

“I remember never agreeing to that,” I answered, ignoring him as he tried to catch up with my quick steps. “I have time. I can walk to the bookstore so you can go.”

“It won’t be a walk in the park with all the books you have with you,” he said, trying to pull the books away from me but I tightened my death-grip.

I tried slapping his hands away. “Of course it’s not a walk in the park. It’s called a job. Let go, Seth. I really need to get going.”

He really looked frustrated now, his cheeks slightly flushed. “And I don’t understand why you’re being so hard-headed about me giving you a ride. It’s free, it’s practical and it’s rude to refuse a favor.”

I stopped in my tracks and glared at him. “Don’t you have anywhere you need to be? Shouldn’t you be out with your pals or girlfriends, enjoying the high life on a beautiful, amazing Saturday?”

He blinked and scratched his head. “I chose to be here with you today. Is there something wrong with that choice?”

Stop, my heart, please stop, I heard my mind saying at the sudden heartbeat increase. Seth is a skilled and reputed ladies’ man. I didn’t have to be an honors student to figure that out. Buying his endearing dialogues will land me smack in the middle of one of his jokes the next minute—that I was sure of. And I was not one to make a fool of myself.

I took a deep breath and steeled my expression. “The problem with that is that it’s not even an option. Look, I don’t know what your agenda is but let me assure you now that I’m not up for it. I’ll see you Monday, Seth. Bye.”

And with that, I turned around and walked away.

For a moment there, while I was walking, it dawned on me that this seemed to be a classic Seth-Ali scene—me storming away in indignation and pride and him standing there watching me disappear into the distance with his mouth hanging open and his eyes almost believably sad.