Chapter 60

'Two hours, huh?' Lucy thought to herself as she stood in front of the kiosk, reading the ticket dispensed to her. 'I didn't figure the train station would be so empty this early in the night. I don't think I should be waiting here all alone for two hours. Maybe I can just walk around the city for the time being.' Lugging her duffle bag, she exited the empty train station. 'My train will arrive at ten. Maybe I can time it so that I can arrive here in time to catch my train. Then it will be an eight-hour train trip to the farthest city away from here. It should be morning by the time I arrive there, so I should be okay. And then... I guess I'll just figure it out when I'm on my own.'

She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn't realize she walked to the usual spot she would meet Johan. Her mind was now filled with the good times they both had when they were still friends. Back when she still smiled, a feeling of happiness that she wanted to last forever that began from that spot.

'Johan, why? Why did you have to just end it like this? I'm sorry I yelled at you, isn't that enough? I should've never have gotten angry at him.' She briefly paused as she clenched her fist. 'No, it's also his fault. He's being selfish. How can you just hang out with me and make me feel special and then just ditch me? Maybe Jenny is right, I should forget about him.'

Continuing on her path, leaving behind the spot as her feelings lingered on, she took out her phone and went into Google chat where the memories she had with Johan remained archived. It was such a powerful feeling that she just wanted to drop to her knees, but her conviction that Johan was equally at fault gave her the courage to continue onward. 'So what if I got angry? I was only thinking of your happiness.'

She reached the intersection where a red light halted her progress temporarily. As she waited for the light to give her permission to proceed forward, she started typing on Google chat, 'Johan, if you have to leave me, I just want to find out one more thing. Just one more thing.'

🖼️

A few moments after he sent her the text message, Margaret finally stepped out of her condominium and entered Johan's car.

"I guess not all of us have two cars," she commented.

"Or would you rather we drive in your BMW?"

"No, good sir. Only I get to drive my baby."

"Fair enough."

"But if there's anything that you beat me in is your fashion choices. Nice blazer you got on tonight."

"I just like wearing suits, that's all. Not like I'm an aficionado or anything like that, but I have learned a few things. Your blouse is also quite sharp."

"It better be for the price. Shall we go now?"

"Certainly."

The car pulled out of the driveway officially beginning their evening.

"Mind if I charge my phone on your dock?" asked Margaret.

"Go ahead."

As she placed her phone on his dashboards phone charger, "So how are you doing this evening?"

"Better than ever, I'd say. I put away all my worries and leave them where they belong, in the past."

"You keep mentioning the past, you know."

"Is that strange?"

"Kind of. Are you really going to give up on everything you've done up to this point?"

"What a way to put it, but I see no use to hang on to something that is keeping me back, especially since it's only brought me anxiety."

"Haven't you heard of the old saying, those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it?"

"What mistake is there to repeat? I'm still just a college student after all. If anything, I'm fixing the errors that my life has produced."

"But why exactly do you want to forget your past? I don't think you ever explained that."

"Nor do I intend to. The past is over. I want nothing to do with it."

Margaret leaned in close, "You're really going to forget the past? Then let's find out tonight. When the date ends, the real fun begins," and returned to her seat.

"Another one of your silly assertions?"

"Well, we are on a date, aren't we? I did tell you to call me, right? And you did."

"Yes, but don't think anything of it. I'm just saying that you are a beautiful woman, and you are interested in me. I'm a gentleman, after all."

"But are you attracted to me?"

"Come again?"

"Well, there's my answer."

"I believe you are attractive."

"I didn't ask for an obvious answer, I asked if you found me attractive."

"What makes you think I'm not attracted to you?"

"I didn't say you weren't, but the truth is stranger than fiction."

"Are you playing more games, Margaret?"

"Yes. Do you not like games?"

"When I'm not the pawn, I do."

"Interesting analogy. What the...?" Margaret grabbed her phone from the dock station. "My phone isn't charging," and placed it back. "Nothing. Is your dock station working?"

"It should. Let me try it with mine." Pulling out his phone from his breast pocket, Margaret took her phone off to allow his to be placed.

"Yours isn't charging either," she commented.

"Well, that dock station is old, and I bought it cheaply."

"And that's what you get for being so cheap."

"Six years of service isn't so bad. I'll just buy a new one."

"But it's times like these that it's very important to have a way to charge your phone. Look, you're down to 5%."

"Oh... I guess I forgot to charge my phone all day."

"Do you have anything else? Is there a USB port somewhere?"

"No, this car isn't that modern."

"What about a charger for the cigarette lighter?"

"No."

"Johan, are you serious?"

"I guess I got too comfortable with the dock station."

"Oh gosh. Well, I guess it's not so bad. I have 52%. I guess you can use my phone if you need it."

"Well, it's not like we're going to be talking on our phones now, are we? After all, we're on a... a... a date."

"Yeah, that's true. Just hope you don't get an emergency or anything."

"Yeah, I get it. I'll do something about it eventually." He pulled out his phone and swiped it to check the battery power, only to be shocked to find out there was a notification: one message from Lucy. He stared at his phone for a few moments, blinking a few times before remembering he was in the driver's seat. His attention returned to the road as he exhaled, his phone still in his hand hovering right next to him as if it was staring back.

"So where are we eating?" asked Margaret.

"I know a place," he answered nonchalantly, putting his phone back into his breast pocket.