1 Chapter 1: Homecoming Confusion
I inhaled deep as I opened the window of my car. It`s been years since I came to this place, the same place I chose to forget 12 years ago. I was 13 when I fucked up and so I had to leave. The place looks the same except from the buildings and houses built along the high-way. I am having goose bumps from the nostalgia and the different emotions this return is causing. If not for an assignment, then I wouldn`t be here.
Now, about that, I almost forgot to beep Dexter, my boss, that I`m almost there. Just in time that I saw a convenience store, I parked in the almost empty parking lot and went inside to grab a drink. There are 3 customers seating separately, one guy who is wearing a jacket which is weird because it`s summer and the temperature is blazing hot, our eyes met and I saw the coldness in there, I smiled though, playing the role of a tourist, he just looked away still poker face. The girl in bright yellow dress is busy ogling her ipad, a pack of some crackers is in her table. She`s probably is in the store for the free wi-fi connection. The thirty something lady in the corner table seem so preoccupied and I think I even saw some tears. Whew, women these days.
A smiling boy of about 16 greeted me at the counter.
``Good afternoon ma`am?`` I just smiled at him and went to the cooler to get a bottled water. I also grabbed some snickers and went back to the counter to pay.
``How much?`` I asked while looking at the guard who immediately looked away. I noticed him looking intently at me since the minute I walked in as if he`s trying to remember who I am. I went to sit in the table opposite the poker faced customer while browsing my memory if the guard is someone I know from the past. My memory failed. I opened my bottled water and took out my cell phone from the pocket of my jeans and sent some message to Dexter. I looked up and saw the man across my table looking at me and it surprise me that this time he was half smiling with a puzzled look. He stood and walked to my direction.
``Oh my, Meera right?`` he extended his right hand. ``I can`t believe I finally met you!``
I was stunned but I stood up and took his hand with a puzzled look. ``I know, I`m Dylan, that guy on the chat room.`` He said with a smile so far away from the empty look from earlier.
``oh yeah, from the chat room, right.`` I said silently cursing myself for pretending to be whoever that woman is.
"Have you changed your number?" Dylan asked as he comfortably sat in front of me.
"I have been trying to contact you since last month."
"Yeah, about that. Ahm, I got busy and had to do some errands for the boss and I'm sorry Dylan but I really have to go." I said as I grabbed my bottled water and walked thru the door. The guard is busy looking at me and Dylan and forgot to open the door for me.
"Hey Meera, wait!" Dylan followed me outside trying to grab my arms but I shifted away from him as I opened my car.
"I'll get back to you okay?" I told him as I slip into the driver's seat. He looked disappointed but he managed to smile.
"Just give me a call please?, you have my number." I smiled at him and drove away.
'what was that?' Who the hell is Meera?
``Have you changed your number? `` Dylan asked as he comfortably sits in front of me. ``I have been trying to contact you since last month.``
``Yeah, about that. Ahm, I got busy and had to do some errands for the boss and I`m sorry Dylan but I really have to go now.`` I said as I grabbed my bottled water and walk my way thru the door. The guard is busy looking at me and Dylan and forget to open the door for me.
``Hey Meera, wait,..`` Dylan followed me outside trying to grab my arms but I shifted away from him as I opened my car.
``Dylan, I`ll get back to you okay? `` I told him as I slip into the driver`s seat.
He looked disappointed but he managed to smile. ``Just give me a call okay?, you have my number.
I smiled at him as I drove away. `What was that?`
