The Urge To Cry

BACK IN FLORIDA

2019

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"I'm so sorry, Sir. I didn't see you." Melinda pleaded, hurrying over to the man who was currently on the ground. She didn't mind if anything happens to her bicycle due to the sudden force she applied in getting off the bicycle while letting it fall to the ground, next to the man.

The man with a pained expression shot Melinda death glares. He slapped Melinda's hands away when she offered to help him up. He stood up, dusted off the dirt from his shirt and glared at Melinda once again.

"I'm sorry, Sir." Melinda bowed, apologizing sincerely once again.

"Why are you calling me sir? I'm barely 26." He said, rolling his eyes. He folded him arms and stared at Melinda, giving a hint that he planned on having a conversation with her.

"Ermm.. Sorry. What can I call you then?" Melinda asked. She promised herself to get done sharply with this man and scurry off to school.

"Benjamin." He said. He looked up, glaring at the sunrise. He was heading somewhere and if he didn't leave, he would get late. "Be careful while cycling next time. See you whenever we see." Benjamin said and walked away.

Melinda was dumbfounded. He didn't even let her speak a word. He told her his name but, didn't wait for her to say her own name. Weird! Melinda glanced at the retreating back of the body built guy and was suddenly reminded of the man exercising under the rain last night.

"It's him." Melinda muttered, smiling all of a sudden. Why was she smiling? "Benjamin." She called his name, nodding as she tried to check the fitting of the name to the name bearer.

Waving the thoughts of Benjamin off her head, she pulled her bicycle up and climbed on it. She started paddling again, on her way to school.

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Melinda got to school and packed her bicycle at her usual spot, beside the security guard's resting container house. It was very close to the main building of her department. She grabbed her tote bag and chained the bicycle to an iron pole. "See you later, Bikey." Melinda waved childishly at the inanimate object and strode towards the main building.

While walking, she got attracted to a girl who was relaxing under a tree, talking with her friends. Well, who wouldn't know that girl? "Shania Lockewoods of the Aeronautics Department." Melinda muttered with yearning evident in her tone. Well, Melinda was one of the many girls on campus who wanted to vibe with Shania Lockewoods. Melinda was just too shy to approach her.

'I feel like crying.' Melinda thought as she kept staring at Shania who was now laughing, maybe at a joke her friend cracked. "Hm? Why do I feel this sudden urge to cry out loud while shrieking my lungs out?" Melinda asked herself aloud as she squinted her eyes, thinking.

"Shania, Gloria, Bertha, it's time for Mr Jones class. I heard a new student is joining us!" A girl yelled from the main entrance door of the building next to Melinda's department building.

Melinda clutched her neck, feeling the intense urge to let an outburst while staring at Shania. Tears had began to gather around Melinda's eyes and she found it difficult to turn her eyes away from Shania. Infact, Melinda watched Shania's every move. From standing up and walking with her friends into their department building.

'What is happening to me?' Melinda thought as she chokehold her neck. She could feel a loud cry in her throat, she was scared to open her mouth so as not let it out. Her eyes were red already and she was slowly feeling pains in her limbs. She crouched.

"Here, water."

Melinda heard a voice behind her and she quickly turn back still at her crouched position, to find her senior, Quinn from same History department. Melinda chose not say anything and just kept staring at the handsome dude on lens and a stretched hand, holding a 50cm bottle of water.

"Are you going to take the bottle of water or I should ignore you?" Quinn asked frowning at Melinda while looking down at her.

Melinda raised her hand and took the bottle of water from him speedily. She quickly unbolted the bottle and gulped from it with her eyes closed. "Ahh! Tha…" She was about finishing her statement after opening her eyes when she saw that Quinn was no longer there. "Huh?" She looked from left to right, but he was gone.  She stood up, the unpleasant urge was gone.

"Hey, Mel." A familiar voice called and Melinda looked at the person who called her.

"Lucille." Melinda smiled widely upon seeing the familiar face. It was her best friend since a year ago.

Lucille hugged Melinda tightly and released her afterwards.

"The rain was so heavy today, I thought you wouldn't be attending classes today." Lucille said, hanging her hand over Melinda's shoulder while walking into their departmental building.

"Take a look at my legs. I also thought I wouldn't be coming but, here I am." Melinda joked and they both laughed. Melinda suddenly remembered what her one time crush and senior, Quinn did for her and decided to go after him. "Lucille, you can get going to class. I have something to do." Melinda said, breaking their body contact.

"Oh! Then don't take too long."

"I won't."