I deal with the heavy and lingering stares of countless of students as I slip from one class to another throughout the day. Though no one approaches me at all, I know that they have an assumption that I could possibly be the one who was said to run along with Sam. For years, I’ve never been so ashamed about myself, nor have I ever tried to humiliate myself. I pity those other red-haired who is probably treated the same way as I do.
Sam decides it best to stick with his disguise. He even sits on the farthest portion of the room, and since the gossip revealed that he was called as ‘Mr. Beltrami’ instead of being ‘Mr. Siadhail’, students turn to his direction whenever the professor acknowledges the students for each class.
I wonder if I’ll successfully make it passed another day if it continues to be like this. I am sure as hell that I won’t.
My classes end just before noon, and Mom contacted me before my Mechanics class ends that she’ll meet me at the campus restaurant. She told me that she’ll be there first and I don’t need to worry about what our meal will be. And though the restaurant is packed with a huge number of people, students and professors alike, I easily found Mom, sitting by the corner of the place. On the table is a food for two of steak, mashed potato and steamed vegetables, along with some orange juice to match everything up.
Mom instantly stands from her seat to greet me with a hug and kisses me on my cheeks. When we finally settles down, she asks me with a warm smile, “How’s your first day? You skipped my Physics with your class. Something happened?” She eyes me for a moment and realizes what I am wearing, but I instantly hush her.
I reach out for my phone, scroll down the messages and show her that message of Chitchatted UCD Gossip. I watch her while drinking some of my orange juice as she reads it quietly, scanning it with her eyes lightly. And midway in her reading, she frowns.
Afterwards, she hands me back my phone and leans closer on the table. She holds my hand and worriedly asks me, “Are you all right?”
I bite my lower lip and nod timidly. “It’s just the first day and this thing happened.”
“Does anyone recognize you?”
“I doubt it, especially now with this whole disguising that I need to do… I don’t have a wig to hide my hair, and red-hair is common so it would just be fine. But the students on the same class as mine in Chemistry, as well as Professor Seaghdh, will surely remember me and Sam together. It’s true that we ran.”
“How do you evade such crowd?”
“Fire exit.”
She gapes at me. “You know that you can’t use that until emergency.”
“But the scenario clearly screams ‘EMERGENCY’ in my head.”
“This disguising is Sam’s idea, is it?”
“Yeah. We couldn’t risk being followed everywhere. We separated ways and acted that we don’t know each other.”
“How about Sam? How is he? Is he all right?”
I look at her intently and within my sight, I notice students and people seated onto smaller tables outside the restaurant. Through the open window, I can hear their chatters as well. But just exactly at within my sight, I notice Sam completely geared up on his disguise. He is looking at my direction with such tinted sunglasses covering his eyes. No one even dared to approach him at all since he looks like an ordinary young man right there, especially with him still wearing that blonde wig of his. I expect that he’s eating lunch, but all I could hint to be placed on his table is a coffee mug.
“Yeah,” I answer to Mom’s question before she could see that I am staring at the outside. “He’s fine. He’s playing it low-key.”
---------------------------------------
I didn’t meet Airin since I’ve returned to my dorms after lunch with Mom. I didn’t even receive a call or text from her. But either way, I am so exhausted to keep myself working all the rest of the day. How wonderful the day turns out, being my first day in College. And yeah, I meant it to be sarcastic.
My phone buzzes about few minutes before midnight. And I am so enthusiastic to see whose message it is, wanting it to be Airin to ensure me that she’s safe, and for me to finally tell her about the truth of what Chitchatted UCD Gossip had revealed to every student in campus. But I am disappointed to find out that it’s not from her. Either way, I am glad to have someone to talk to about all of this for now.
SAM : Hey, everything fine?
ME : Physically and spiritually, yes. Mentally, socially, and emotionally… I don’t think so. And you? It’s a tough day for you, Mister Siadhail.
SAM : I am glad that it’s not only me. We’re clearly on the same boat.
ME : You’ve been watching me all day. Even when classes end, you could have go home already than to be my stalker.
SAM : I don’t intend to stalk you. I need to ensure that you are safe, and that no one will try to approach you to ask you if you are the girl along with me as said by Chitchatted. And also, I live in dorms. Dad thought I could try one, at least.
ME : Well-played, mister. Well-played. How many other things are you not telling me? The fact that you didn’t tell me you’re entering College, UCD to be exact. And that you’re enrolled as an undergraduate of Chemical and Bioprocessing Engineering, and on the same classes as I do. And now, you are bored. Wow… I never expected that General Beltrami will allow you, too. Which school residence are you in?
SAM : Roebuck.
I instantly let go off my phone that it drops at the bridge of my nose. I almost scream, but I am glad that I suppress it. I press my nose and double-checks his reply. And hell… no doubt that I read “Roebuck”.
ME : Don’t tell me…
SAM : Tell you what?
ME : That you’re…
SAM : That I’m?
ME : The one…
SAM : The one…?
ME : …door.
SAM : Wha?
ME : YOU’RE THE ONE NEXT DOOR! GO HIFREANN LEAT! YOU DIDN’T EVEN TELL ME THAT I AM LIVING IN A DORM JUST NEXT TO A FAMOUS ACTOR NAMED BRIÓN SIADHAIL!
SAM : Tá brón orm! I won’t deny that I forgot about it. Perhaps, let’s say that… Surprised? :)
ME : Damn you…
SAM : You must learn to watch your words, mademoiselle. You’re going to be one successful Chemical Engineer and all your clients are going to hear from you are your curses.
ME : Are you trying to make me laugh?
SAM : Probably. You’re much more beautiful when you laugh wholeheartedly. But a genuine smile is enough to brighten my day. ;)
ME : Eww… Romance is for Brión Siadhail, not for Sam Bryce Beltrami.
SAM : I’m not trying to flirt with you. I’m just being simply honest. You’re beautiful, inside and outside.
I am used with hearing people telling me that I am beautiful or charming. But I always take it that they don’t mean it, that it is not even genuine in a sense. But even if it is only through a text message, I tend to doubt if that’s how I could only take Sam’s words. It’s different even simply just by reading it.
SAM : I would certainly continue disguising myself until the fuzz is not yet over. It would also be better if you do so. Though your disguise for the rest of today is indeed a chic one. Intelligence is very visible. Only heightens your abundant cuteness. <3
ME : You’re completely playing with me. T-T
SAM : I’d love to play with you, but I know enough not to play with someone’s feelings.
SAM : BTW, I might not attend classes tomorrow.
ME : It’s just the second day of classes and you already have one hell of a very good attendance. Not to mention that you also started with the issue buzzing around.
SAM : I plan to spend the rest of the day thinking for tomorrow.
ME : You’re going to meditate inside your room for the whole day tomorrow? Or you’re going home for the time being? Or going to another TV network to announce to the world that you really want them to stop meddling with your life, because if I clearly remember, you just made your point crystal few days ago.
SAM : I don’t know where. But I know for myself that I need to think. Can you suggest?
ME : Grab a pen and paper, and write all of your thoughts there.
SAM : Damn, I can simply type it down if I want to.
ME : Damn you, too. You ask for my suggestion. And I’m clearly just suggesting. P.S. Might I remind you as well of your word usage, Honourable Beltrami? I guess, Baron Beltrami will be so interested hearing about this.
SAM : You won’t dare…
ME : :P
SAM : …suggest one place where I can think.
ME : Disguise yourself, go out to the open. Be part of nature than cameras and CGI screens. Take a stroll. Do whatever normal teenage boys does. Remember that you’ll be in disguised. No one would try to divulge you as Brión Siadhail.
SAM : That made me wonder…
ME : About what?
SAM : Nothing. It’s nothing to be worried about. It’s just… Anyway, good night and sweet dreams, a mhuirnín.
ME : What is it about, Sam?
ME : Hey! SAAAMMM!
ME : Hello?
ME : You asleep?
ME : Yeah. You’re already asleep.
ME : ….
ME : Goodnight, Amadán.
The following morning, I received a message from Sam.
SAM : I am still not asleep. I told you before that I will wait for you, too. Take care.
That is the last time I’ve heard from Sam. He’d been absent in all of our classes for the next two weeks.
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