Getting up, he followed Mrs Kaleski inside.
She glanced up from her desk in surprise as he walked through.
“Seth, there’s still 5 minutes until the bell rings,” she informed.
“I know, I just wanted to ask,” he balanced on his heels, looking down, “would it be okay, if you moved Nina and I? I don’t really - it’s just everyone teasing - I don’t feel -”
Gosh, it was awkward trying to explain it to Mrs Kaleski. However, she simply lifted her finger, stopping him.
“I understand. I’ll move you and Nina to more suitable seating partners for this lesson.”
Seth pursed his lips, relieved. “Thank you.”
It was Seth who was moved. Nina didn’t even have the chance to say hi to him as she walked in.
He was swapped with his classmate Christina, meaning he had the opportunity to sit beside Bianca. As if the plan was woven just for him. And yet, some part of Seth felt ashamed.
Guilty almost.
He wasn’t even able to enjoy chatting with Bianca that lesson. Not that she’d even attempt to reciprocate his conversation.
By the end of the lesson, Seth was the last to leave. He’d taken his time on purpose packing up his things. He didn’t want to pass Nina, or be acknowledged by her; he felt all too weirdly guilty. Bianca was out of her seat right the second the bell sounded.
“Don’t bother giving it to him. I think he’s the one who asked you guys to change seats,” he overheard Bianca say to Nina.
It sent a pang through him.
When Seth was certain Nina and Bianca were gone, he turned toward the exit. As he reached the door, he noticed that atop the pile of rubbish gathered in the bin, was a crumpled envelope.
Was it…?
Taking the envelope, Seth peered inside the folds, opening it just the slightest. There it was, in Nina’s handwriting.
Seth inhaled sharply, closing the envelope. He pushed it deep below in his bag, intending to read it later that night, or eventually that year.
The letter was never read, and to this day, it still lies buried at the bottom of his old high school bag.
5
Now
Seth saw Nina Mendez once again at the train platform the next morning, after the night they walked home together.
She’d been tapping her foot against the yellow barrier, her head bobbing up and down to whatever she was listening to. She wore a long black, flowy skirt, paired with a white singlet.
When their eyes met, they couldn’t resist their laughter. The third time seeing each other on the same platform. How many more coincidences were there?
This time, she wasn’t on her way to university, but instead on her way to the Inner West to meet up with Veronica and Celine for lunch.
“Lucky you,” Seth declared. Fridays were his last day of the week for uni.
The fourth time Seth saw Nina was on Sunday. He was at his local shopping centre, doing the groceries for the week, when he heard a familiar, “Seth.”
There, on the same chips aisle as him, stood Nina. This time, in an oversized jumper of a baseball team. Her face was bare of makeup, yet she still looked the same.
“Nina,” he breathed, a little lost for words. It was Sunday morning, and he’d only had a banana for breakfast. He didn’t expect to see Nina so early.And looking pretty.
“Careful, I’m starting to think you’re stalking me,” she chuckled. She reached for the cheesy nacho chips beside him, her hand brushing his arm in the slightest. “Anyways, I would stop to chat but I’ve got some relatives visiting from the Philippines today and I’m in charge of making them some guacamole and nachos. I’ll see you around, yeah?”
