3
Luna
The alarm blares intomy ears and wakes me up at six in the morning.I blink a few times to clear my hazy vision and lift my hand in front of my face to hide the sunlight piercing through the windows in rays that feel as sharp as strings that I can pluck and create music with.My textbooks are open and strewn about on the table which leads me to realise that I had slipped into slumber while working on the research for my report.I worked for a few hours after the blonde guy had left, after which I’m guessing my eyes couldn’t hold open anymore.But it’s okay, I set an alarm beforehand.Even if I did accidentally fall asleep, I won’t waste too much time sleeping.
I quickly text my Mum letting her know that I am still in the library.I don’t want her to worry about my whereabouts, although I did mention yesterday that I would be here late.She would have preferred for me to study at home but I cannot concentrate in my room, which is right next tohis room.I get out of the library to get some fresh air and bask in the sunlight properly.I smile automatically; all it takes is a few minutes outside four walls to appreciate the beauty of nature.I spot a truck near the entrance that sells hot drinks, and it would be amazing to start my day with my usual beverage – hot chocolate.It might not be the healthiest choice, but it is the most comforting drink to start the usual chilly London mornings with.
I grab the drink from the barista and thank her, and immediately hold the cup right in front of my nose to inhale the sweet chocolatey smell.The smell wakes me up for the morning, and a soft hum slips out of me as I sip the steaming drink.I take a few steps backwards with my eyes closed, enjoying the taste of the drink, but I slam into something hard and lose my balance.The drink slips out of my hand, and I fall backwards until someone catches me in time to prevent the back of my head from meeting the ground.
I peek out of my eyes to inspect the damage caused, but the same deep blue eyes from yesterday stare at me from above.I briskly stand up, smoothing the creases on my dress.‘Umm ...Thank you,’ I mumble out of embarrassment.
‘That’s okay.We meet yet again, stranger,’ he says, his hands flailing around, him not knowing whether to put them in his pockets or not.
‘I suppose that’s possible since we study in the same university,’ I respond, equally awkward.
‘You never really answered my question yesterday.’
My hot chocolate is now a sad-looking puddle on the ground.‘What was the question?’
‘What made you interested in stargazing?’He sounds genuinely curious.
I would be lying to myself if I said that I wasn’t curious about how his interest came upon either, because it wasn’t often that I ran into another stargazer.But my unfinished research lies open in the library room, and the break in my routine caused by the hot chocolate puddle sends alarms in my head.Telling this stranger about my interest in stargazing would open the Pandora’s box of feelings that I have carefully taped shut.It is also nagging me how he keeps asking about it.‘Umm, I ...I’m sorry to crash into you.I have to go.’
‘No, please wait.I’m sorry if I overstepped.Let me make it up to you by replacing your drink.’
I would have normally said no, but I wouldn’t mind having my routine fixed.I nod.
Once I get the drink, we walk in tandem, but a silence hangs between us, no one wanting to break it.As we reach the room where my things still are, we turn to face each other.‘Well, thanks for the drink ...’I pause, hoping he prompts me with his name.
‘Ah.Cooper.My name is Cooper Murphy.Nice to meet you ...’He extends a hand to me and waits in turn for me to respond with my name.
I return the handshake.‘I am Luna Vikram.Nice to meet you, too, Cooper.’
Awkwardness fills the space between us.‘Soo, I still have some things to get back to,’ I say, nodding towards the room.
‘Yeah, of course,’ Cooper responds.
‘I’ll see you around,’ I say as I push through the door.
