SEBIAN

Should I call her or should I not? I know she will be in class right now and might not pick up but if she picks up what do I tell her? Should I ask her about the project? Maybe I should wait and call her during the lunch break, that would be appropriate. She will have no excuse then to not pick up the call. Lying comfortably on the bed in my room, I came to this decision. I have been thinking about her since yesterday after I left her house. I don’t understand why this was happening to me, maybe because I spent more than just mere seconds with her. Yeah, that’s probably it.

“Hello?” “Yeah... Hii. Sebian here.” “Yeah, I know. Tell.” She sounded a little restless. “Are you busy? I can call you after the college or do you have to go to the mart today?” I started blabbering. “No, no, listen. I am not in the college; I am actually at the diner.” “Ah... okay.” “I came here instead of my father. I can’t cook but I can help with other things here, so...” “Shall I come there then?” “What? Why?” “I can help as well. Also, I can cook. I will be there in 30 minutes.” I cut the call and got ready to leave.

In about 25 minutes I reached there. I saw Alin going from table to table taking orders. I went in. “Hi.” She smiled at me. She wore a red casual shirt and black jeans; her hair was tied in a bun. She was busy jotting down something on a note. “Get me to the kitchen, I can help in cooking.” “It’s not needed Sebian. Uncle Len is there, he will take care of it. You sit here and order something.” She was done with writing down the orders and gestured me to sit. “I am not here for ordering. I came here to help so let me.” I told, maybe a little loudly because her face seemed a little red. “Let me help. Tell me what I can do.” I calmed down. She stopped for a minute and then spoke, “You wanted to help with cooking, right?” I nodded. “Come then.” “Uncle Len, my friend here says he can assist you.” “Really... that’s great! We are understaffed today, so I will appreciate all the help. Uncle Len looked at me and told. “Okay then,” she handed me an apron. “Keep up, I will be back with more orders,” she told and went out.

By the time I was done in the kitchen my hands and legs were aching like hell. No, my whole body was in pain. I was used to occasionally making one or two dishes for the family for dinner but standing for hours and cooking was definitely not my cup of tea but since I volunteered I can’t complain now, can I? Alin kept coming with more orders and taking them out and occasionally asked if I was doing okay, to which I just replied her to not worry about me. Now, when it’s finally all over I can’t seem to move my body anymore.

“So, it’s done for today. Will you be here tomorrow as well boy?” Uncle Len asked me. What? Tomorrow? No, I don’t want to ever do this again. “Oh, we have college to go too uncle.” Suddenly Alin came inside the kitchen. “And after that we also have a project to work on so we both can’t be here tomorrow.” I sighed in relief. “I have called Ricky and Rosa, they will be here tomorrow, so don’t worry.” “Well then, that will do. Now you both should leave, I will close here and then go.” “See you, uncle Len” Alin spoke. “Bye” I told as well and taking off the apron came out of the kitchen.

We were driving back when Alin suddenly spoke, “Shouldn’t you be thanking me that I saved you from another time in the diner’s kitchen?” “Well, you didn’t need to. I would have loved to come and help.” “Really... then I should give a call to uncle Len and let him know that you are free to come and work again tomorrow. He will be so glad to hear it.” Saying this she took out her phone. “No, don’t.” I grabbed her hand stopping her from making the call. “Thank you for saving me back there. Don’t call him.” Hearing my words she kept her phone back in her pocket and laughed loudly. I forgot about the road and kept on looking at her. Her laugh sounded so free. A sense of happiness and something else rose inside me. I have never felt this way with any of the people I have been with. I felt a connection with her.