Chapter 3 – Untouchable

“Hayden, is this okay?” my workmate, Leon shows me the picture I took last week. I hold my chin as I observe the pictures. It’s clear and it’s fine with me.

“Nice, it’s actually good and we can present it to the dean of the university,” I say and I click my tongue.

He gave a thumbs-up to and he started processing the videos. I was busy practicing my photography skills with a pen and a glass. I want to make it look aesthetic.

Suddenly, there’s someone who texted me that’s why I check my phone.

From Larissa:

Hey, it’s me Larissa. Did you save my number?

To Larissa:

Yup, I’m actually free today that’s why I have time texting on you. We’re actually processing the graduation pictures I took last week. I’m just practicing taking pictures with a glass and a pen.

I slid my phone through my pocket. I slightly gaze to Leon who’s actually chuckling right now. What’s his problem?

“Man, why are you chuckling?” I crossed my brows when I asked him. He chuckles a bit more. He drops the mouse that he’s holding.

“Dude, I’ve seen you texting someone and you’re smiling like there are butterflies in your stomach. Can you tell me who that girl is?”

He’s actually watching while I talk with Larissa? He’s incredible. I didn’t think that I was smiling the whole time I was texting Larissa. I just can help but to smile because we became close to each other just because of that night.

“We’re just friends.” He laughed hilariously. “I didn’t mean that we’re friends but we’re not a fling. We just met one night and we became acquaintance.”

“That’s it?” His face looks like he’s waiting for more. Should I tell more? I don’t need to because I don’t know what to tell!

“T-That’s it…” I shrug my shoulders and I just focus myself on my camera and my phone rings again. It’s Larissa who’s calling. Why is she calling?

“It looks like your Cindy is calling you,” Leon commented.

What did he just said? Cindy? Larissa’s name’s not Cindy.

“Cindy?” I gaze at Leon.

“Your Cinderella and your princess.” I rolled my eyes at him. How dare is he?

“Leon…” I eagerly said before I answer the call.

“Hey, I think that texting is boring that’s why I decided to call you.” I can trace the excitement behind Larissa’s voice. Her voice is sweet and calming. It’s like fun is in her all the time.

“Nice. I’m actually waiting for your reply and I’m actually going to call you before you called me,” I lie. “By the way, uh, your voice’s so sweet and I like it.”

I don’t have anything to say that’s why I said it. I just praised her voice. Why do I have problems on talking to someone?

“Thank you!” Her voice becomes sweeter. She’s like a modern woman with prestige personality. Her voice’s like a child like she’s being playful all the time.

“Actually I like your voice too. It feels that I am talking to majesty or a singer. I personally think that you’re attractive and handsome. It’s good having a friend who’s actually handsome. I actually dreamed having a friend who’s good-looking.”

It seems that she doesn’t lack energy while talking. She’s talking in a fast manner like a horse running behind her. I always get annoyed by those people who talk a lot but Larissa’s different. I want to hear more of her. I want her voice. I want to hear it every day.

“Are we friends?” I asked right away. I don’t know if it’s proper to ask her like that but silence deafened me when she didn’t answer. “I’m sorry but I’m just curious if we’re friends. I like to be friends with you and I just want to clarify if we’re friends…”

“Of course we’re friends!” Her voice seems reluctant. “I treated you as my friend when I first met you because you helped to get home without hesitation. Thank you for helping me!”

“Yeah…”

I actually don’t have anything to say or to reply but that word. She seems unbothered by that I just asked and it’s strange because Fiona’s always mad at me every time I ask something wrong. Larissa’s different; she even didn’t get upset by what I just asked.

“I actually want to deepen our friendship that’s why I’m asking and pleading you to go on a date with me.”

“A date?”

It’s not proper for a girl or a woman to ask a date with a guy. It’s a shame for us to not ask ladies to have a date with us. Larissa is a nice and decent woman. She can actually be everyone’s ideal with those prestige deep-set blue eyes and thin luscious lips and smile. Should I go a date with her?

“Yes! Will you go out with me?”

“Of course!” I answered without hesitation.

“Nice! I need to go. Tomorrow, two o’clock, let’s meet where you dropped me last week.” She drops the call and I slowly slid my phone inside my pocket.

“You’re going on a date with her and she’s the one who asked you about that?” My happiness and excitement was interrupted by Leon who’s done printing the pictures.

“So you’re listening while we’re talking in phone?” I raised my brows on him.

“Your voice’s too loud and I can clearly hear what you’re saying but I can hear what the girl’s saying. Good luck in your date, bro.” He laughed as he handled the pictures to me.

“Bring that to the school. They’ve been waiting for a week for those pictures. You should also prepare for you so-called date with that stranger.”

I didn’t mind what he’s talking about. I just drive my car to the school where I took pictures last week. The head teacher who welcomed me last week was the one who also welcomes me today. He’s not wearing the same wide smile he’s wearing last week. I can sense that there’s a problem. I wonder what it is. I should touch his skin to know what it is.

“I need the dean for the pictures.” I almost go inside the office but he stops me with his hand.

“The dean’s not here and I’m the one who’s assigned to get those pictures.” His voice seems powerless. He didn’t have the energy to answer. Maybe, there’s a problem.

“Here are the pictures,” I say before offering the pictures to him. Unluckily, his skin touched my skin. I slowly lost my sight in the world and I traveled through his past.

His wife was standing beside the door when he got home. His wife’s holding a teacup while drinking the tea. On her left hand she’s holding a printed paper. The head teacher slowly walks to his wife. The wife slowly showed the printed picture. It was the head teacher kissing a stranger. His wife outraged in anger and she slaps the head teacher. The head teacher’s wife even offered an annulment to him.

I want to know more information when I came back to present. The head teacher’s not here anymore that’s why I walk towards my car.

How long did I touched his skin? How long did I travel on his past?