Somebody Who Cares, Part 5
Ryo tapped his foot on the ground as he waited
at the college campus. She should have passed here by now. He stared
at his watch. He was growing impatient. Where was she?
Suddenly, without warning, Ryo fell to the ground. He shook his
head for a moment wondering what happened.
"Oh my gosh," a female voice said, "I am SOO sorry!
I didn't mean to knock you down. I'm late for class see, and...oh, let me
help you up there."
Ryo brushed himself off as he stood with the help of his companion.
For a second, their eyes met.
And Ryo suddenly realized who she was.
"Rika?"
Rika's jaw dropped. "How do you know my name?"
"Don't you recognize me?"
Rika stared at him for a moment. He DID look awfully familiar,
but she couldn't place his face.
"It's me, Ryo."
"Ryo?" She said in disbelief. "Is it really
you?"
"And who else could I be?"
Suddenly, she turned on him, acting much like the old Rika.
"A big jerk, that's what. Do you have any idea how much you worried me
bucko? And what are you doing here anyway? Stalking me?"
"Well, um, actually, I was looking for..." Suddenly he
was cut off by a third voice.
"For me?" The both turned to the voice. It was
Katharine. "Kat, what are you doing here?"
"Duh Rika, I'm on my way to class, you know, the same one you and
I have together?"
"But why was Ryo waiting for you? He's my old friend!"
"If you be quiet for two seconds, I can explain. I ran into
him a few days ago downtown. He didn't think I could help him, but I said maybe I
could. I was stunned when I found out he was looking for you. I explained to
him that I was your friend, and that we went to the same college. I asked him to
meet me here so we could set up a 'surprise meeting' so you could run into him again
without making it seem he was stalking you. But I guess all that already
happened..." She trailed off.
"Well," Rika started, "I think we should settle this
later tonight, sicne we both should be hi-tialing it to class, which we are already late
for. How about we all just meet at Pizza Hut for dinner at around 7 or so?"
"Sound good to me."
"Ditto."
"Good, see you later Ryo."
"Bye Rika! Don't fall asleep in class!" He waved
to both of them, then walked of the campus.
He was hoping for a more intimate encounter with Rika. Not that
he disliked Katharine or anything, he just wanted to be alone with Rika, since he had much
to tell her. What happened after she left, why he couldn't reach her, but most
importantly, why he came back.
