Your Number

Beau Riley

--

A few days had passed since our last interaction. Everything came back to normal. It was as if everything that happened back then was just a pigment of my wildest dream.

Good thing I was able to check reality from mere dreams.

It was not my imagination.

It was real because after that day, people seemed to have recognized me as the 'cute boy that is good at e-sports'. I had to get used to the attention first before I finally managed to politely smile back.

I was now wearing contacts in the meantime, as I haven't had the free time to buy new ones just yet. Maybe this weekend.

Either way, other than the unusual attention I got from some people, nothing much has developed recently. I had been doing the same thing, though.

Just like right now.

I was sitting in the same space I used to be, where I could easily catch a glimpse of whoever was coming inside the library. Yes, I was still hoping to see him every single day. It's not like watching good-looking people is a crime, right? I'm not coercing nor threatening him to do something for me, anyway!

It's just me and my harmless admiration for Sage.

I waited, and waited, and waited. Just as I was starting to get impatient with waiting for him, he finally showed up.

This time, he was all alone. And unlike the usual routine of just going straight ahead on the shelves, he swiftly turned his head to look around.

Our eyes met.

I swear, I almost felt my heart leap off my chest at that moment. My hands were getting cold and wet with sweat. I hastily looked away from him and shifted my gaze to the book. Inside my head, I was chanting nothing but:

It was just an accident; he did not notice me. It was just an accident; he did not notice me. Hoo... Calm down.

I flipped the next page with my slightly shaking fingers, trying to read the passage in there just to divert my nervousness. I seriously had to work on my stress response. I always react heavily when it comes to him. Soon, this kind of problem will probably consume me.

But surprises were never too late.

Just as I was finally immersed in what I was reading, about animals in the desert, a shadow suddenly loomed over me and over the snake's figure on the page I was reading.

I looked up at the shadow's owner with squinted eyes.

The shadow's owner must've been a Greek god.

Once again, for the second time in my entire dorky life, I was face-to-face with Sage Johnson. He was standing closely on my right side as he stared at me with a friendly smile.

"Hi, I'm Sage."

I blinked at him.

"I said, hi."

I finally snapped out of my reverie as I hurriedly closed the book to completely turn my body towards him. Now, I was finally facing him. "Hello," I greeted back in a small voice. We don't want to attract the librarian's wrath, do we?

"What are you reading?" he asked as he pulled a chair to sit beside me.

I took a quick side glance at the book I was previously reading before I looked back at him. "Animal Encyclopedia."

"Oh," he mouthed with a nod. "Have you always been here?"

I shook my head in response. "Not all the time."

Liar. My day wouldn't be complete without coming here just to take a glimpse of you, Sage. Every single day.

Nonetheless, he seemed to eat up my lie with a thoughtful nod. He then brought out his phone from the pockets of his black dress pants with a bashful smile. "This might sound quite weird, but, uhm, can I get your number?"

Oh, no.

I can feel my cheeks and ears suddenly heating up because of his request. With pursed lips, I tucked away the stray hair that was starting to block my eyes. Then I nodded at him. "Sure."

Look, I couldn't play hard to get with him. I'm sorry, I'm weak for his expectant gaze and bashful smile. He was just so cute, I couldn't reject or say 'no' to him. He has always been this lovely!

And so, with a gentle push of my phone, I let him copy my number on his own phone. I watched him intently as he typed in my number with his thin, pinkish lips pressed together tightly. He was so focused on whatever he was doing.

This kind of Sage Johnson was something that I'd always want to observe more.

The way his green eyes would darken as he focused them on the phone, the way his golden brown hair would slide down to his forehead to cast gentle shadows on his gorgeous face, and the way his perfectly shaped eyebrows would sometimes furrow in every number he typed—he was such an angel.

Is he even real? I would forever wonder that.

I wanted the world to freeze this moment and let me cherish his existence in front of me more. Just a little bit more.

However, the world would never listen to its inhabitants.

He easily finished typing my digits with a satisfied smile on his face. His lively green eyes were now on me as he tapped my shoulder. "This is great. I really want to get to know you more. I've been searching for you these past few days, you know?"

"Why?" I tilted my head at his remark.

He paused at that. It took a fraction of a second for him to immediately relax his body before he cleared his throat. "Like I said, I want to get to know you more."

"Then why do you want to get to know me more?" I asked again. I had to. I didn't want to assume. It's better to draw the line as early as possible.

He licked his lower lip first before he answered, "You're a cool guy, and I want to play with you more."

I sighed in relief. Ah, so it was that, huh?

Okay, that would be better. I'd rather him approach me because of the game than have romantic interest in me. I was too bold to assume it was the latter.

"Well then, text me if you want to play games with me. I'm usually free at seven in the evening. I can only play until ten, though," I said as I grabbed my phone to hide it in the pocket of my hoodie.

"No problem, no problem. I can adjust," he whispered with a rushed tone.

It seemed as though he was scared I would suddenly back down on my offer if he did not reply immediately. Or maybe it's just me and my assuming ass.

"Okay." I nodded at him before opening the animal encyclopedia again. I turned my body back to my original position before he arrived. I hope he got my signal to leave me alone right now. There is something about being around Sage Johnson that drains the hell out of me.

Thankfully, he seemed to catch my nonverbal cue.

"Then I'll see you around, Byu." He smiled before taking his leave.

I watched him walk away as a small smile formed on my lips. He dared to ask for my number, but never my name. Unbelievable.