6 FRESHMAN YEAR FLASHBACK

22nd April 2010 12.00 p.m. Monday

Café Scene

A welcome party for Lukas? Does it mean we're going to play truth or dare again? No way! If Lukas's here, she's gonna dare me to do weird stuff! Please reject, Lukas! Please! "Thanks! I would love to," he replied. GAHHH—! Why, Lukas?! I have to do something! "Lukas, I'm sure you have some assignment to—" "OUCH!" I screamed as Maria stepped on my foot. What the hell? That's hurt! "Are you okay, Natasha?" asked Lukas concerned. "No! I'm—" "No need to worry, Lukas!" Maria intervened. What's wrong with her? "We need to talk, young lady," she whispered into my ear. "Why? What's—" Before I could ask, she drags me to the restroom with the boys staring at us.

"What're you doing, Natasha? I swear that man has his eyes on you and all you need to do is flirt with him, you dumbo!" she vociferated as soon as she closed the door. Hold on! What's this nonsense she's making right now? "What're you talking about? He just looks at me as a friend, not the joke that you made just now," I replied which made her facepalm. "Just listen to me, Natasha! That man has a big crush on you! I bet you 50 dollars if he confesses to you," "Since you're so expert in this thing, why're you still single?" I scoffed. "Don't you dare try to involve my love life into yours, Maria! Wait and see the magic!" she said before both of us leaving the restroom. "Hello, boys! We're back," she grinned while I just glared at her. It was great to have her as a host for the welcoming party. Her bubbly and happy-go-lucky personality made it even livelier but when it came to the truth or dare games...Oh, Dear! I don't like it. I still remembered... The first gathering between my best friends except for Lukas with my worst nightmare lecture, Mr Arnold. Maybe because of that day, he kept on being sarcastic and mean to me. Sigh... that nightmare flashed in my mind.

Flashback

4 years ago during freshman year...

2nd March 2006 11.45 a.m. Thursday

Same café scene

"Maria, this is Richard, my best friend since high school," I introduced to my colleague that I met during on course. "Fancy meeting you, Richard!" exclaimed Maria, lending her right hand. In response, he shook her hand and replied, "Any friends of Tasha is also friends of mine!" "Who's Tasha?" "Natasha's short-form name, Maria," answered Richard to her question. "It seems like both of you have been developing a good relationship," I joked as I put my arms on their shoulders. We then laughed and then that awful game... "Let's play the game to get to know each other! I recommend Truth or Dare," she said. My stupid previous self agreed to what she suggested, without knowing what would happen. The game was really fun that it continued for four rounds! But when at the beginning of the fifth round, he came...

"Well, hello there! Never expect to see you two here," greeted my professor, Mr Arnold Richards, with his holding his drink. Compared between the past himself and the future himself, the past himself treated me better than the future one. "What brings you here, sir?" I asked, being friendly to him. "As usual, refilling energy with a nice cup of coffee," he sighed. He then glanced at his watch and the frustration displayed all over his face. "What seems to be the trouble, sir?" asked Maria concerned. Hearing her question, he sighed with his hand ruffled messily his ginger undercut hair. "It's a secret but you can probably assume that it's the stress from work." "Why don't you play with us? We're playing Truth or Dare right now so who knows maybe it will try to relax you a little bit," suggested Maria. "It's really fun, sir! Maybe I can dig a little deeper about you," I joked. "My private life is quite boring. Are you still want to dig them out?" grinned the professor maliciously at me. Oh, God! I really regret until now for butting in on his life. But my stupid previous self hadn't seen that coming as I replied,

"You're going down, sir!"

"Mr Arnold, we're right now in the fifth round. The rule is simple. All you have to do is answering the truth or complete the dare that was given by one of us," explained Maria. "When it's your turn, you can choose any one of us and give them the truth or dare," she continued. The professor gave a nod and Maria announced to begin the fifth round. The fifth round began with Richard first, the next one was me and the third was the professor, ended with Maria. "Richard, who do you choose?" asked Maria. His eyes went straight on me. Uh-oh... he gave me a sly smile and asked "Natasha, truth or dare?" Dang, it! He would have made me do something weird if I chose dare but that also same goes to the truth. Which one should I choose? "Well, I pick truth then." Richard stared at me, probably thinking to give me a good question. "Mary, Mr Arnold and me, which one would you snog, marry and kill?" he asked. I was shocked to hear it as I looked at him open-mouthed with disbelief. I gazed at Maria who was smiling at me and then to Mr Arnold...his face didn't tell me anything at all. "Time is golden, Nat. Make the choices quickly," he smirked. Curse you, Richard! "I would marry Richard because he is my best friend," I answered, a smile formed on Richard's lip. "Thank you, love," he replied, winking at me. Yuck! "And then, I would snog Mr Arnold because he's my professor. But not a sexually romantic kiss but a friendly thank you kiss!" I stated which caused Mr Arnold chuckled a little bit. Then, I glanced at Maria who was pouting her mouth. She's not going to accept this! "I'm sorry for choosing to kill you but in reality, I will never do horrible things like that to you!" I assured. She then smiled, which to my surprise, she hugged me. "Tee-hee! I know you won't, Natasha, I know you won't do that," she chortled. "Enough with the cringy drama!" joked Richard who was smiling smugly. Maria then made a gesture of smelling and replied, "I think I smell jealousy." The group burst into a laugh. "Your turn now, Natasha," stated Maria. My eyes then landed on the professor where we were in eye-to-eye situation. The professor motioned his mouth 'NO' but I ignored it. "Mr Arnold, truth or dare?" He glared at me and motioned his mouth maybe the word 'YOU'RE DEAD'...I don't know. "Truth," sighed the professor. Now it's my chance! I finally got the chance to ask him THIS. "What was your first impression on me, sir?" His eyes widened as he curiously asked, "Is that the question for me?" I nodded. He ruffled his hair and looked at me as he replied, "My first impression on you was that you were a nice and happy-go-lucky girl who kept on smiling every day non-stop even during my lectures." My cheeks dusted with pink by his words. "Well, it's your turn n... your turn now, sir," I stuttered as my mind went into a state of flustered excitement. All this time, I thought he had his own negative impression on me but I was wrong! Oh, how happy I was! "Richard, truth or dare?" asked the professor to Richard. Without prior thoughts, he answered, "Truth." Whoa! It only took him a few seconds to think. The professor folded his arm, setting his eyes on Richard who was also staring at the professor. "What was your relationship with Natasha Harper?" was the question from the professor. Richard smiled at me as he looked at me. "She's my best friend from high school." I looked at the professor to see his reaction but... his face somehow told me he didn't satisfied with Richard's answer at all. "Thank you, mate," thanked the professor, smiling at my best friend. Was that a sarcastic smile? Analyzing... "Now, it's my turn!" exclaimed Maria, cutting off my gaze from the professor. "Who should I ask?" hummed Maria which to my surprise her eyes met mine. She grinned...Not again! "Natasha, truth or dare?" And that moment she destroyed my life as I chose dare.

"I dare you to kiss Mr Arnold since you're keen on snogging him,"

My eyes widened upon her dare with Mr Arnold gave me a really dirty look. "Can you change it?" I felt nauseous when I imagined myself kissing my own professor. "I agreed with what she said. This is nothing but a childish dare," he sighed, glaring at Maria. "Don't look at me like that," sulked Maria, fidgeting her hands. She didn't lift her face as she was talking to us. I saw it clearly that tears started to form on her eyes. I felt guilty right now... But blame it on Mr Arnold. I admitted he was scary when he was in his bad mood. "Look at me while I'm talking, you—" he was interrupted as I grabbed his collar and forced him into a deep kiss. Maria squealed in excitement while Richard facepalmed, reacting to the kiss scene. "Have you lost your mind, Natasha?" yelled the professor after pushing me forcibly from him. He then glared at Maria who was giggling softly which made him irritated. "You insolent child! Your joke went way too far and don't you ever speak to me again!" She started to bite her nails, trying not to meet his gaze. "As for you, young lady! If I ever see your face again, you're gonna regret for the rest of your life!" he threatened, shifting his glare from her to me. He packed his things and left the place. After he left, Maria bursts into tears and placed herself on my lap. I patted her head, trying to comfort her. She mumbled something but I couldn't hear what she said. Sigh, thanks to you... He didn't want to see my face again.

Since that day, my life went miserable. During his course, I avoided seeing his face. For no reason, he kept on picking me when it comes to answering his questions. But I didn't meet his gaze during it. At that time, I really didn't want to get on his bad sides. It lasted for two months when Mr Arnold wanted to meet me in private after the lesson. He gave me two letters which one of them was for me and the other one, I was told to pass it on Maria. He told me to read it when I went back to my dorm and dismissed me. I still had that letter until today.

'Dear Natasha Harper,

I apologized for my rude behaviour towards you and your friends on that day. I really felt guilty for venting out my anger at your friends, especially Maria. Since that day, I had noticed that you avoided looking at me during my course. I can see that you took my words seriously. But in my defence, you kissed me which is very inappropriate and also took me by surprise. Anyway, I do hope that you forgive me and we can get along in the future."

Sincerely, Arnold Richards.

The content of the letter made me smile for the whole week. As for Maria, she was so happy that she created a cat plushie for him the next day. The issue between both Maria and me with Mr Arnold finally solved with peace but that day still haunts me until now especially his scary face.