Soon, ten minutes passed with no reply. The once ballooning elation began to dwindle. He wanted the conversation to continue, so what could he say? Chewing his lip, he started to type, then stop, then started again, before settling on one to send.
Seth: I listened to a few tracks from Laufey this morning, btw…
Sweat began to build on his palms, and he pushed away his phone, as though it were on fire.
Gosh, he shouldreallydo some work.
Opening his laptop, he logged into his work email and furiously checked through the first page of unread emails. His neck continued to heat in anticipation, and tried to occupy himself by opening up a brainstorming document that he was going to add notes to.
But all he could think about was how it’s been two minutes now since he sent the message and no reply.
Shaking his head, he trained his eyes on the document, digesting the new idea for a co-op online game that was reminiscent of the Waterboy and Firegirl one he used to play back in middle school.
Yet, every now and then, his eyes flickered to his phone on his bed, wondering why it hadn’t buzzed yet.
About a half hour passed until he heard it vibrate. Jumping up, Seth grabbed his phone and checked the notifications.
Nina: oh my goodness, really! What did you think? Do you have a favourite?
He couldn’t help his grin as he opened it instantly, typing a response within seconds. He told her which track from the album was his favourite, and asked for more song recommendations. The conversation dipped into discussing the kind of music they both liked.
Nina was an all-rounder, liking anything that caught her ears, and not really having apreferenceto a specific genre.
Seth was more grounded, often enjoying OSTs much more and the occasional, trendy rnb track here and there.
Eventually, he got a notification for a meeting he was required to sit in and take notes for. His shoulders deflated, saddened at the thought of having to end this discussion with Nina. He wanted to keep talking to her. All day.
Seth: Sorry I’ve gtg, got to sit in this meeting
Nina: wow, forgot you’re a fancy gaming man. Have fun in your meeting!
A smile fluttered across Seth’s lips. He didn’t want this to bethe endbut just…a pause. With that, he sent the last message.
Seth: I’ll talk to you later :)
His pulse quickened as he waited on her response. A minute flew by, with his heart making no effort to slow.
Then, after approximately one minute and forty seconds, Nina replied.
Nina: Looking forward to it :)
They’d spent all night talking, once Seth had finished his work day. From 7pm, they’d texted about what they were having for dinner, and the movies that they’d be watching.
Nina’s family were havingpancit,this Filipino dish that her Dad cooked. Then, she’d be watching a Barbie movie online with Veronica and Celine.
Seth was having a schnitzel with fries that his Dad cooked for them. After dinner, he was planning to try out the new popular horror game that’d just released for playstation.
Just before they both went to bed, Seth texted, asking how the Barbie movie went. It had a lot of giggles and singalongs, she’d told him, before enquiring about his horror game.
Good atmosphere, but not enough jumpscares so far, he told her.
Settling under his coverlet, they continued to text, with Nina chatting about the games she enjoys, even if she wasn’t as big a gamer as Seth.
It wasn’t until he noticed that it was 1am, and they both had university tomorrow, that he suggested they call it. He fell asleep, smiling.
The next morning, as he waited at the train platform, tapping his foot patiently to the OST of the game,Undertale, memories of their texts came flooding back.
From the emojis she’d send, to the way she’d use caps when she was excited. Nina texted the way she spoke: with such loud veracity. With every word that was sent through, he’d always hear it in her voice.
