The sunrays that fell on my face urged me to wake up and continue with my daily routine, but I didn't even feel like opening my eyes. Last night's embarrassment was still fresh, and I didn't understand how to react if I saw him again.
I continued to lie on my bed even though I wanted to get out of it and search for jobs. That moment kept replaying in my head, making me go insane.
"This is not right." I told myself and sat straight, pacifying myself.
I convinced myself it was not something to take seriously even though I knew it was difficult. Quickly, I took my shower and got ready to go out. The feeling of someone watching me still lingered. It was not just some random feeling. It was scary and haunting. I tried to check if there were any strange people in the area, but I found none.
I knew there was no reason for anyone to watch me, but my gut feeling said otherwise. Probably because I still didn't forget the night when two scary drunk men chased me only for me to reach Wolfe's hands.
Ignoring my crazy thoughts, I reached the restaurant where I saw the job posting on my way to the club previous evening. As I reached there, the signboard "Closed" saddened me.
A disappointed hum escaped my lips, and I turned to leave. That was when I saw him. With his honey eyes and attractive smile, he was charming as usual.
Matthew! My childhood crush.
"Matt?" My eyes widened as he stepped closer to me with the same excitement.
"Elira?" He pulled me into a gentle hug. "How have you been?"
I pulled myself out of the hug, nodding my head. "I am good. What about you?"
He simply nodded. Until middle school I had a big crush on him, and then he shifted to another place for high school. I never told him my feelings, and as days passed, they faded. But not entirely. The excitement was the same even after all the years.
"When did you come back?"
"A few days ago. I got a job as the math teacher at the school where we studied."
"This is amazing." A big smile appeared on my lips. "I am so proud of you."
He nodded. Then he asked, hesitantly, "I heard you quit your high school…"
He didn't finish the sentence. The hesitation was clearly visible on his face.
"Yeah! Financial condition was so bad." I replied.
There were a few seconds of silence between us. Then I broke the silence, laughing, only to calm down the situation, "You became fat."
"Am I?" He looked at his muscular arms. "I am not fat. This is muscle."
"I know."
We then talked for a few more minutes before he said, "It's getting late. The classes will start."
"Of course!"
He waved his hand at me and started to leave, but he stopped going away. He turned to me, and in his hurried steps, he walked towards me, saying, "I don't have your phone number."
A slight blush erupted on my cheeks at the closeness. I put my number into his phone and called to mine.
"I also don't have your number." I gave him a bright smile.
We both looked at each other with the same smile and excitement like how we used to in our school days.
"You may not know this, but I missed you. I will keep in touch with you." He finally said before walking away.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach, and the redness on my cheeks started to grow more. Seeing him again was the last thing I expected. And, somehow, the dead part in me started to feel alive.
Later in the evening, I went to Hydes. As soon as I entered inside, a few of the staff glanced at me and kept their gaze on me, which started to make me nervous. Along with them, the manager glared at me for a reason unknown to me, and angrily he stepped towards me, and in his hoarse voice he said, "Ms. Elira Yung! You are not wanted here anymore. You are fired."
That was it. My heart shattered.