A month passed by, the classes were satisfactory, and Miranda was able to catch up with lessons easily. "Looks like I haven't lost the touch after all," she said to herself completing her essays. She submitted them and walked out of the class. Her classmates were all fun types and she felt glad. Her roomies were from her class, Renee and Shia, one older and one younger than her. They became friends instantly often hanging out at Miranda's old hideout places she showed them. Renee had the best hair according to Shia they both have ever seen. Long caramel brown silky thick hair, layered. But Renee never gives a damn about it. While Shia, the tomboy in the hostel walks around carefree and happy like a rabbit hopping around with her two new friends and her high school sweetheart.
Miranda walked towards the cafeteria for grabbing a cup of coffee after the class, she was excited about going back to her studio. Tristen had made a promise to pick her up every weekend he comes to the city. She passed through the department of chemistry, passing through their huge lab. She got a glimpse of someone she thought she knew. She stopped walking. She took a few steps backward and put her head through the lab door. There were students in there and someone instructing them. The same cute face, wearing protection glasses and a long white lab coat, looking very familiar. His dark brown hair lying in style looking dashing. She recalled the same image she saw 4 years back in the same college, a guy walking out from the class in his lab coats smiling at her as he caught her watching him.
"Niall," she gasped.
Someone stood behind her calling out, "Trespasser, people,"
In shock, she opened the door, stepped in and everybody saw her. Everyone looked at her. "Hi," embarrassed, she waved.
"Mira, Waddup?" her roommate Shia's boyfriend Min Hyuk called out.
"You weren't sneaking in, were you?" Niall approached her taking his protection glasses off "or secretly admiring me," he whispered.
"Oh please!" Miranda rolled her eyes waved again and walked out of the lab.
"Mira, that's how people call you I see,"
"No no, nobody, just these new friends," she corrected him. "But what are you doing here? I thought you," she was stopped before she completed her sentence.
"I told you am doing research, so temporarily, am here working in this college,".
"As a professor?!" she said surprised, "Whoa that's huge," she laughed then.
"What?" he asked her.
"I just can't picture you as a professor kind of guy,"
"Why not? Should I be a businessman too," he easily got her pissed. "Ok am just kidding, I know am not a nerd kind but I love this so I guess there is absolutely nothing wrong in doing it,"
"I know I know, this is so right, am happy for you," she said smiling. "I better go, I don't want to take your time away, am sorry to intrude, I was just confirming it was you or somebody else, I was surprised to see you in there," she said in a hurry apologizing to Niall.
"Nah it's fine, listen, what are you doing this weekend?" he asked.
"Tristen is picking me up this evening. Going back to the apartment and spend the weekend there," she said.
"That's cool, maybe we could all hang out,"
"Sure, call me when you get there, there is one hideous café I go regularly we will meet you there,"
"Cool,"
"Wait," she said, "am I allowed to make plans with professors, am a student, it's against the college rules"
"But we are not dating are we?" he shrugged. "We are just some old friends getting together after a really long time," he laughed assuring her and left. Miranda smiled and walked back to her hostel.
She packed a backpack and waited in the back gate of the college for Tristen to come. He was half an hour late. "You are still the same dude," she said as she got in the car.
"Where to?" he asked. She had no plans and but neither did he.
"Ok we will just go for a ride around and I will catch with four years of your life here," she laughed loud and agreed to him.
They went around the city, to the corners that Miranda hasn't been to in the past four years, they bought bubble tea in between and she texted Niall asking him to wait at the Bloom's café near her apartment around 7.30 p.m. She informed Tristen that they have to get back and pick up Niall to join them. Miranda was tensed while Tristen seemed to have forgotten to ask about her problems. They reached the place.
"Miranda I forgot to ask you," but she stopped him.
"There he is," she said pretty excited to step out of the car and keep Tristen silent from interrogating her. She had no idea why she was running away from him when he is trying to help her. She took a deep breath and opened the door walking towards Niall. Niall took her by surprise giving her quick peck on her cheek and shaking hands with Tristen. "Ssup bud?"
They took the seat in the corner of the café near the glass wall and gave the orders. She ordered the café special pizza, pastries, and cold coffee.
"You seem to know the lady well," Niall commented as they were greeted by the owner of the café and giving her discounts.
"I come here often since I live nearby, this was our favorite hangout place,"
"Our?" Tristen asked confused.
"I used to have one such place too, but I don't go there anymore," Niall said smiling as he thought about his old days.
"What happened really? Between you and Clara?"
"Long story," he exhaled.
"All ears man, let's hear about your story, then hers," Tristen said sipping on his cold coffee. Niall laughed.
"We met around the third month after we joined college. We never saw each other before then. We met in the movie club gathering. We had similar interests. Niall was carried back to his college days. Fresh out of high school and took a huge leap into commitment.
"That is my favorite movie too," Niall walked along with Clara as they entered the audiovisual hall together for the screening. "I am Niall,"
"Clara," Clara introduced herself smiling, walking, and sitting further away from him. Clara was one pretty girl in college who had several men behind her. But she had eyes only for Niall since the screening of "500 Days of Summer" Movie. They soon started dating. The pretty girl from English, and the unimaginably handsome guy from Chemistry. Their secret places in the campus, their rendezvous bunking their classes, going on movie dates, studying together, sneaking out of the hostel to have late-night snacks, and their weekend cycling inside the campus. Things were normal than he expected it to be. An ideal couple of the college.
Things between Clara and Niall were pretty smooth till they were in their senior year. Clara began to be extremely possessive and insecure in her relationship as other girls kept approaching him, and afraid they are going to soon stop going to see each other daily. While Niall became the most lovable and an active student in the college. Their first huge fight was after a stupid dare given to a junior girl which involved Niall. Clara lost it that day and the relationship continued with a crack ever since then.
Clara was worried every time she saw the girl, which was all the time, being in the same department. She forced Niall to do his post-graduation in another college and came back to the same college to keep an eye on the junior girl. But nobody knew about this cruel intention. But fate couldn't be twisted ever.
"Do you remember coming to the club to celebrate the farewell party? Accidentally we met that day remember? Niall asked Miranda.
"We did?" Niall laughed as she asked in surprise.
"Yes, we did. You are a really bad drinker, have to say," he said.
"Your friends were all drunk and you were a bit too but you were keeping an eye on them but when they were on the dance floor so you spent time talking to me,"
"Did we?" Miranda was shocked.
"Yes, we talked about how you wish to enroll for the education stream but also wish to complete post-graduation. But got forced for doing an internship,"
"Oh yes I remember now, I was considering going to the education field," she said recalling from her memory. I cannot believe I forgot about it,"
I started seeing you unexpectedly very often from then. Then I happened to know you are dating my senior from college,"
"When did you break up then? Tristen asked him out of curiosity.
"8 months back, officially, she dumped me actually unable to trust me, leaving me out of her sight,"
"That's kind of sick man,"
"I know, nightmare!" Niall agreed with Tristen and they completed all the food served to them.
Tristen all of a sudden walked out of the café to attend a call while Niall and Miranda decided to split the bill.
"I need to rush back, the newborn calf is not doing well, and dad is asking me to take it to a vet. I better get back,"
"Relax, and just drive slowly okay, don't worry. Is it Pepa's?" and Tristen nodded. Miranda got up, gave him a quick hug and he rushed out, to head back home while Niall and Miranda had no idea what to do.
"Who is Pepa?" Niall asked Miranda confused as they walked down the footpath to her apartment.
Miranda laughed hearing his tone. "It the cow Pepa. It is her calf who has fallen sick now,"
"Oh!"
"Pepa was born on one Thanksgiving Day, everybody was so delighted," Miranda felt so relaxed as she walked down and continued with her story. Niall was eager, on the other hand.
"So Tristen and I named it Pepa, we were in middle school then. Pepa was our favorite. But you know what? Miranda started laughing.
"What?"
"Pepa stands short for Pepperoni Pizza,"
"What?"
"Tristen and I had a huge fight over leftover mashed potato that day and his dad bought us a pepperoni pizza from the nearby restaurant. So we named her that,"
"You named a cow after a pizza? you people are crazy,"
"I know right," and they laughed.
"Are there other stuff like this?"
"Trust me we have a lot," she replied.
"And you fell in love with him,"
"Hey, not that! It's not like that. Oh god, it's embarrassing," she flushed red. It's just I was, I just sort of had an infatuation. But the moment I came here, I realized it was stupid to do that to a person who is like a sibling but he got me really furious and I was so so damn embarrassed I never contacted him," Niall laughed loud listening to her proving her point.
"Why?"
"Because he dumped me over a girl who understands cows better than me,"
"Cows?" he looked utterly confused and burst out with laughter. "So the cows play huge roles in both your lives huh!?" he laughed harder. "Am so sorry it's just so funny,"
"Laugh laugh, it is very good for your health," she said looking at him, punching lightly at his shoulder, smiling.
He walked her up to the door of her apartment. "Thank you for today," he thanked her as she unlocked her door.
"Come in It's fine," she didn't think twice before she invited him in. She kept her bag on the shelf, dusted the couch, and asked him to sit down. She walked towards her refrigerator. Unfortunately, there was nothing there. "Am so sorry, everything is empty, I need to go out and grab a few stuff,"
"I will come with you," he got up and put on his denim jacket.
"It's fine, I know shopping could be tiring for guys. Just stay I will be back soon,"
"Why would shopping be boring? In fact, I need to get some stuff either, am staying over at my brother's place,"
"You have a place to stay here? You have a brother?
"Ah yes to both," he replied walking out the door as she locked it once again.
"I will need to do some serious shopping,"
He took his car and decided to go to a mall nearby. They parked underground and went up straight into the hypermarket. They went around the diary aisle, snacks, meat, and drinks aisle, cosmetics aisle choosing and checking new products. She was very surprised to see a guy enjoying shopping along with her. She liked it. It reminded her of Darren and how he treated her every time she went shopping waiting in the parking lot and calling her a hundred times asking her to hurry.
"Where are you? Am running late," Darren called her.
"Am purchasing. Give me 5 minutes I will be downstairs soon,"
"Hurry hon,"
"Miranda is it not over yet?" he would call again.
"Am billing. In a minute Darren," she would say and hang upon him. But she never cared about it blinded by love.
"Am glad I have you, what would I do without you? You know how much I hate shopping!" Miranda smiling would hand over a sandwich to him she bought which took her time to bill.
Suddenly she realized she was nothing but a caretaker in her own home to Darren. She brushed off her sad thoughts and joked around with Niall, trying on stuff, and playing around.
"Take that, take the salami, sausage, cheese, and pickles, fix breakfast with it. It seems to have a good discount," she advised him to buy the food for his morning breakfast. Miranda and Niall didn't realize the time was running until they were asked to pay the money soon and get out. It was almost midnight.
"We apologize for what happened,"
"This is not the place to date miss." The lady at the bill counter snapped at them. Niall held her hand asking to calm down and paid their bills together. They looked at each other as they stepped out of the hypermarket holding the bags. Being in a hurry, after getting scolded, they happened to buy stuff they didn't need either. Miranda couldn't help but laugh looking at his expression and bunny ears headband, almost like a fighter of the WWE ring. And he smiled watching her. He kept all the bags in his trunk and drove back to her apartment.
"Gotta sort things now," she said as she took the things out of the bag. He walked towards the kitchen area and helped her.
"Why don't you go freshen up, I will pack my stuff by then," and he made her leave the kitchen counter and sorted out everything. He kept the frozen food and meat in the freezer and arranged her refrigerator neatly. On the meanwhile, Miranda washed up and changed before she got out of the washroom. She dried her hair and got out to see that Niall had prepared her a night snack with the sausage. She tasted it and liked it.
"It's spicy," she said stuffing her mouth. He sat opposite her in the table and had them. He then opened the bottle of wine he bought for himself and poured her a tiny bit. She looked at him and the glass.
"I have a feeling you can't handle alcohol, so," he shrugged and kept the bottle aside.
"Are you not gonna drink?"
"I gotta drive,"
"Fair enough," she said and asked him to pour a bit more. "You are strict I see,"
"I can be a bit controlling too if it's regarding my people," Miranda smiled and gulped the wine down in one shot and munched on the snack. "Let's try calling Tristen," she said and took her phone from her purse. Tristen didn't pick up. She kept the phone aside and opened a bag of chips.
"We should have grabbed dinner Mira," he said and opened the bag of cupcakes.
"Hungry now," she walked over to the kitchen shelf and came back with two cup noodles.
"Seafood or spicy chicken?" she asked him. She secretly wished he would choose the seafood flavor.
"Seafood, I have never tried them," happily she handed it over to him. She always preferred spicy chicken over any flavors.
Miranda had noodles, cupcakes, and wine altogether feeling content, she gained her appetite back after months. Niall watched her eat well and opened her the box of her favorite vanilla and nuts ice cream and served her two scoops of it in a bowl. With noodles stuffed in her mouth, she lifted her head to face Niall standing in front of her with the bowl. He waited till she swallowed everything.
"I can't! I really can't," she confessed.
"Look," she pointed to her tummy full and round with food, "there is a limit it can hold," Niall laughed.
"Mira it's just ice cream, have what you can," he said and made her eat.
"You fell sick not long ago,"
'Why is he concerned about it?' she thought in her head and accepted it. He sat down and continued to eat his cup of noodles. She kept the ice cream aside after eating two spoonfuls. Miranda carried the empty food covers and put them in the trash bag and reached for the ice cream bowl. But to her surprise he took them and had it all, going through his phone.
"I better get back, it's late, I will let you sleep, and you look tired," he got up and grabbed his huge two bags of groceries.
"Don't forget to keep the meat in the freezer alright," she reminded him before he left as she stood on the door watching him walking towards the elevator. It felt like she had known him for years. She felt the sudden closeness pretty unreal but interesting. She got the feeling it's not gonna be like it was before, just everything around her, friendship and family. She felt thankful for Tristen and Niall spending time with her. Coming back to reality from thoughts, Miranda heard her phone ringing. She ran and picked them up. It was Tristen.
"How is Pepa?"
"Pepa girl is fine, the calf is alright too. Why are you still up? I was hesitating to call you in case if you were asleep, I didn't wish to wake you" he said.
"No, Niall just left and I am just getting into bed,"
"Niall was there all this time?"
"Yeah, we went shopping after you left and had dinner now and he left,"
"Alright, Take care Miranda, I will come next week and we will go for a hike or something okay. I met your mother and told her I was with you,"
"hmm, I called her in the morning, I will again tomorrow,"
"Alright sleep, goodnight,"
"Goodnight Tris," and she hung up the phone, lying in the bed. "What a day! Can't believe you work in the college Niall," she said loudly and slowly drifted off to sleep. She didn't notice the text from Niall that said he had reached home.
Niall climbed upstairs with all goods waiting for his brother to open up the door. "You're late. What are these? Why did you buy them all?"
"Miranda!"
"I made the maid purchase everything necessary for your stay here when you called me you needed to use this condo,"
"I went shopping with her how can I not purchase anything and come back?"
"That's how you spent time with her?" Daniel asked Niall and he smiled. They walked into the hall and settled down. Daniel is the firstborn in the Weber family. Happily married and the father of two girls, now running the family business alongside their father, William Weber.
"It is late, you should get back,"
"I have informed Melanie and the girls that I am spending some quality time with their uncle Niall," and they both got into talking about random business news.