"So, you're Vy, but not my Vy. The Vy I know, I mean. You've read the story and you know what happens. And you intend to change it, because it's too sad? For the female lead? Who is she, by the way?"
Dee looked straight at him. His mouth was full with noodles, making him a funny sight, smiling with puffy cheeks. She smiled, but her eyes remained unchanged.
"Li."
"Li?"
"Yeah. Li. From our class. Why?"
"Nothing. I don't know. Just never saw it coming. Li? Really?"
"What's so surprising about it being Li?"
"You like Li?"
"We're friends."
"And that's enough to ask her out?"
"I don't know. Not really. Maybe, I do like her. I don't know."
"Wow. I can see why it's so sad for her."
"Ha ha. So very witty. Why're you so surprised it's her? Don't try to escape by turning it onto me."
"What do you mean turning it onto you? It is about you. You asked her out. You like her."
"And why is that so surprising?"
"I don't know. I just, I don't know. Whatever. You asked her out?"
"Yeah. We were chatting as usual. It was the middle of the night."
"You chat into the middle of the night usually?"
"Yeah. Pretty much. Everyday. Every night, I should say."
"Okay."
"I don't get you. Why are you surprised at everything?"
"Just continue. You asked her out. How?"
"Told her, I like you. Can we go out, like on a date? She didn't reply. Hasn't made contact since."
"She didn't. I get that. You sprung it on her, out of nowhere. Why didn't you call her? Or message her?"
"I do, in the story. Rather, Vy does. She never replies to any messages. Never answers any calls. As it turns out, she's actually troubled by all the messages and the calls. And since I'm trying to save her from all the suffering, makes sense to not try to reach out to her at all. She'll like that better."
"I don't understand, really. But I get it, I think. You're just saving yourself a lot of torment and embarrassment."
He was surprised. But he couldn't disagree. Vy did suffer a lot through the holidays. First, wondering about her answer. Not knowing if she hated him now, or if she was just considering. Second, he hated himself. Unable to understand what came over him. It was a momentary impulse that he gave into. But from the moment he expressed the thought, he couldn't throw it out of his head.
"Yeah. Maybe," he agreed.
"So, according to you, you've read the story. So you know what her answer is?"
"I do. I know exactly what she's going to say. She'll ignore me all morning, on the first day of the next semester. Just after lunch, she'll drag me aside. Moni will be alongside her. She'll say she only ever saw me as a friend. So, no she doesn't like me. Worse, her uncle saw the message. Told her parents. And all of her family was asking her about me. Why did I ask her out? Was she in a relationship? She told them there was nothing. I was being an idiot, and she had no such feelings for me. Took their time, but they finally stopped. But they clearly didn't believe her wholly. So, she's furious. She'll give me a blasting. And then, she'll ask me to stay as far away from her as possible. I'll say okay, and walk away."
"Wait, she dumps you before even the first date?"
She was so very close to laughing. Wasn't sure herself what held her back.
"That's the beginning. Yeah."
"You're so sad."
She burst out laughing.
He didn't try to stop her. And actually smiled too.
Bay came over just then.
"You liked the noodles?" Bay asked Dee.
"Yeah," Dee replied, nodding strongly. "So very yummy. Uncle Bay, I'm definitely coming again. A lot of times."
Bay was pleased. At the praise for his noodles. And at being called uncle. He looked at Vy appreciatively. Wasn't all of this something Vy gave him?
"Sure," he told Dee. "You're always welcome."
Vy paid for both. Waved at uncle Bay. And left.
Dee dragged him to the neighbourhood's park. She needed a walk, however short or long, after every meal. Tonight was going to be a longer walk.
It wasn't a very big park. It was in the shape of a bowling pin. The grass was on the inside. And on the outside was a paved trail for walkers. The sun had set. As the lights came on, the older people left, leaving the park to the younger people, who respected their privacy.
They were halfway through the first lap, when Dee remembered what brought her here in the first place. She glared at Vy, and spoke in the harshest voice she could manage.
"You made me forget. You really don't remember?"
He was truly confused. Looking at him, she wondered if he might be telling the truth.
"The project," she said.
And he was enlightened.
The project was mentioned in the story, albeit briefly. It wasn't of particular importance.
Everyone was supposed to make teams and prepare projects. One for the fourth semester, a smaller sized project that was worth a very small grade. The same team was to make a bigger project that encompassed some of the fifth semester and all of the sixth semester, and was significant to the overall college grade.
Vy and Dee were a team. Vy was the smarter one, with a better head for algorithms and a better understanding of code. So, he alone prepared all of the project for the fourth semester. As for the main project, they bought it from an institute that sold projects to lazy college students like them.
Like the Vy in the story, he too studied computers. He was the same intelligent. And the same careless through college. He realised this was an opportunity to do something for himself as well.
"Let's write our own program," he said, with a wide grin.
Dee was stunned. He was so bright, she felt blinded. And then, she scolded herself in her head. What was wrong with her?
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I don't know, yet. But we'll think of something. Let's write our own program. And let's do it together. It'll be our very own program. Like our baby. How would you like to be a parent to a program with me?"
She burst out laughing. He was lame. Yeah, this was him.
"Sure," she agreed. "You'll have to help me though. A lot."
He grinned. Took her hand. And continued walking.
There were many jokes to tell, jokes that would have their friends shaking their heads, and looking at them confusedly as if asking how they could laugh to such silly jokes.
She walked him back to his building. And before leaving, she had one more question.
"Why did you tell me?"
He knew what she meant. But he didn't have an answer. Why did he tell her? Wasn't as if she would believe something so incredible. Certainly wasn't like he was expecting something from her. Wait. That was it.
"Because I could use your help," he said.
"My help saving Li from you?"
"Well, yeah. That too. But mostly, help getting her to Ash safe and sound."