"Juri, what is your skin care secret?"
"You must have slept well, you look refreshed."
"Are you inspired or have a boyfriend? You look blooming."
"What the heck are you guys talking about? I am stressed with all these completion deadlines! Don't bother me!" It all started a few days ago, recently my thesis groupmates have been noticing a change in my appearance. However, I did nothing and I am more furious as these days, the graduation is coming near. I am swamped with paperwork and completion deadlines that I also reject receiving part time jobs.
"Hey Juri!" A sweet voice called at me at the door of the classroom.
"Liezl?" She has been visiting me from time to time and even asking me to grab dinner after class, she became my first female friend from the other department. She told me that she has taken a liking to me and that she wanted to hang out more.
"Let's have a bite for lunch." Now that she mentioned, I look at the time, it's already noon and I'll have a vacant period until three in the afternoon. Maybe I could take a breather, since Liezl's classes ended now and she has a lot of free time to hangout before getting home at five.
"Sure!"
So we decided to eat at the newly opened restaurant near the station. The good thing is that it has a wide space and offers a room dining for those who want privacy, the cost is student friendly and the food as well.
"Oh gosh, the drama department has been in chaos for a week now."
"Why?"
"Well, it's because of a certain person, you must have heard of the news already right?" Was it because of Kallistos?
"Uhm...Not sure, I am not that updated with the campus news."
"Ah, it's all over the university grounds! You know that it's graduation is near, that both the drama department's ace students requested for an early graduation."
"Early graduation?"
"Well Kallistos and Ellenor are the male aces of our batch, it is just sad that they both have to leave the country and will miss the ceremony."
"Kallistos left the country already?" I was shocked to know this, I just heard from the gossips that there is a rumor about his identity, but for him to have left the country. It's beyond my comprehension.
"Didn't he tell you?" Huh?
"No, why would he tell me that?"
"What? Aren't you two a thing?"
"What 'thing'?" Confused by her words I furrowed my brows.
"A 'thing' like a couple, dating, lovers, that you know?" I paused for a moment.
"What?" Looking at my astounded reaction, she continues, "Everyone that night knows that Kallistos has his eyes all over you Juri!"
"T-that's not it, how can you say so?" Did everyone know about it?
"Well, Kallistos never approached a girl first, even so to remember her name."
"For real?"
"Yeah, everyone in this campus knows that great wall Kallistos, he may take your offer of seduction but he never sleeps with a woman twice, and never remembers their name."
"He sounds like a complete douche."
"He is though, also there's not a chance for him to be a gentleman who butts in just to protect a woman, that's why at that time, we are all surprised." The scene where we first met, repeated in the back of my mind, my first impression of him was just like a knight in shining armor I've ever read in novels and fairy tales.
"It is not concrete, that may be his assumption to others. We are never like that…"
"What? How come Ellenor keeps on mumbling that Kallistos is pestering him to contact you Juri."
"He did what?"
"Well, yesterday Ellenor called me, he is already out of the country so he asked me to give your number since Kallistos have been persistent to him even to the point of threatening his life." She chuckles, how can it be funny?
"Well, that's half the reason why I called you out to have lunch together." There is a lot that I don't know about him, with so many things left hanging, we shared the same bed that night but we parted without any word of promises or assurance of what is between the two of us.
"We didn't talk about us." My answer choked her while drinking.
"What? You two did not?"
"Yeah…"
"But I clearly saw how he stares, he even came after you on the balcony since he is worried about you, then after that…" We must have been too obvious since she can count it all.
"Did others notice it too?"
"No, only us who are close with Kallistos, just me, Ellenor and Jericho, the others are too drunk that time."
"It's funny, I am hearing how affectionate he is from others…" It really disappoints me.
"I didn't mean to Juri, I thought that the two of you are in constant communication. That there must have been a misunderstanding since he was dealing with his family problems."
"Liezl, how much do you know about him?"
"That…" As to whether to talk to me, I persuaded her.
"Liezl, I will only tell you this because I trust you, and based on your words, you seem to be a trusted friend of Kallistos for you to speak on his behalf." Her eyes wavered, I need to know who this 'man', what I got myself into and if I can expect something from this.
"Excuse, here's your order." They both paused and let the staff serve their food, Juri salivated at the aroma of the food served to them forgetting about the question she's pressing Liezl at, she stared at the flower like side dish that was served.
"What is this? Is it that I smelled nice?" She asked the staff.
"Ah, that is a rare flower from the South Sangue, it is used for the side dish and decoration when served meals." the staff smiled at her, then left them.
"I didn't know they would be serving Southern Sangue meals, it feels like I am really at home seeing this meal."
"Anyways, Liezl, I suddenly craved, let's eat first then talk about that matter later."
"I see, I'm really sorry Juri, I am just in a pinch and I am not sure where to start."
"I understand…" She smiled at her friend, then she took a bite of the meal.
"The staff saids this is edible right?"
"Yeah however it's a bit---" Liezl was astonished to see her enjoy chewing the edible flower, she even gulped it down.
"Hmm… It's a bit like orange, don't you want yours? Can I have it?" She asked, then Liezl grabbed her hand that was about to pick the flower. Carefully in a small voice with her eyes trembling, she asked.
"Juri, did something happen between you and Kallistos?"
"Wh-why do you ask?"
"Juri, that flower is… in Sangue, that flower is often not eaten by women because of its extreme sourness. However, when a woman wants to confirm if they are…"
"They are expecting what?"
"If they are expecting...to have a baby… they would eat it."
"..."
"My mother tried it when she was expecting me to be born and when she checked with the doctor it was confirmed positive."
"I must have a sour taste bud if it's like that."
"Mom did so with my other siblings, and it always confirms it."
"It's not too sour."
"When pregnant the taste elevated, and most pregnant women said it taste like orange, but to non-expectant said it taste like puke."
"Ah...." Juri dropped her spoon and stared blankly at the pretty yellow flower.
"Liezl...I...I…"
"Juri!"