Chapter 2: Good to see you again… or not
8 years ago…
She was waiting for the bus but to no luck, there's none coming. The sky is dark and it looks like rain is about to pour down. She forgot to bring her umbrella. She patiently wait for the bus even though her feet is already aching form walking too much inside their university because of her classes being in different locations. Her class just ended an hour ago and now she's still waiting to get on a bus to get home.
"Damn, this is taking forever!" she said as she's been pacing back and forth and looking to the direction where the buses supposed to come from. And then, it rained. Hard. She can't help but feel frustrated and decided to make her way to the nearest shed she could find. But to her luck there is none. "Could this day get any more worse!" the girl screamed and tears are starting to form in her eyes when suddenly she can't feel the rain anymore. She looked up and saw the most magnificent blue eyes she had ever seen in her entire life.
A boy is sharing his umbrella to her. She looked at him as see that he's grinning at her in the most childlike and charming way. "I can't help but stand behind you anymore, so I decided to wait for the rain and make my way here." He said laughing. She got irritated and felt like this boy is mocking her so she made her out of the umbrella and walk towards the rain. "Wait!" she heard the boy and mostly sure that he is running to catch up to her. When he finally reached her he grabbed the girl's arms, "Wait! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that saw you and heard that you were having a bad day. And it rained. I'm really sorry."
She looked at him and saw in those deep blue eyes that the boy is being sincere. She gently shook off his hands and wrapped her arms around her. "My name is Peeta by the way. I go to DLSUD too." He smiled.
"Yeah, I can see that". There's no need for her to know that because she knows what the uniforms in her university looks like. Peeta slightly taken aback by her attitude continued apologizing to her. He can't manage to screw this up now. He's been waiting for his chance. Now, is that chance and he has to be careful.
"I totally understand if you don't want to tell me your name. I just, um, I just want to give you my umbrella". She was surprised by this. They stared at each other's eyes, with not one of them wanting to brake the contact. Finally, Peeta did. He handed her his umbrella and made his way away from her.
He only took 5 steps when he felt someone tugged his uniform. He turned around and saw her standing closely to him, stunning grey eyes studying him carefully. He lowered his gazed until it settled on her lips. "It's Katniss". He looked at her questioningly making her repeat it. "My name is Katniss".
They both stare at each other's eyes until a bus stopped in front of them.
Present (2013)…
My mind is debating on what to do. I'm pretty sure I'm about to pass out, I feel like I'm suffocating.
Peeta, Delly's about to get married to Peeta.
I'm frantic and unable to withstand my dizziness. I hold on to the steel chair beside me and look at them again. Delly looks at me with worried eyes, "Kat, are you okay? You look pale", as she moved beside me to steady me, I tried to steady my breathing.
"I'm fine Del, just jet lagged". I looked at Peeta and he just stood there with cold eyes directly at me. My body shivers to his stare, but it's not just a stare, Peeta's glaring at me.
"Come 'on, I'll help you to your room", as Delly was about to go with me Peeta took my arm and carried me.
"Let me Del, it would me more easier if I carry her". Please don't let him Del, please don't.
"Right, okay. I'll leave her to you. I'll go to the pharmacy and get some medicine". And with that, Delly left me in the arms of Peeta.
I can't help but keep my head down as Peeta carry me on to the stairs and inside what supposed to be my room. Even with all this dizziness, I can tell that I have a great view. He slowly get me down to the bed and left me without a single word. I lay in the bed with my right arm covering my eyes. I feel overwhelmed. How did it turn out like this? Why now? Why here? Why him? There's so many questions circling in my thought and I can't help but feel saddened. I don't want to cry here. No. I can't let that happen. But I did. I can't stop the tears going down my cheeks and onto the bed sheet. Since the day I left Peeta, I haven't cried then. It too late to feel sorry now, but I do every day since that moment. I didn't realize that I've fallen asleep.
I opened my eyes and see someone standing in the terrace outside the sliding window of my room. I get on my feet and slowly make my way to where that someone is. I stopped when I immediately see that the one standing outside is a blonde guy. I was about to back up when he turn around. He instantly smiled and sigh in relief as he make his way inside. I also felt relieved and sat on the corner of the bed.
"Why do you always sleep on me?" Cato said with a smirk on his face.
"I don't do it on purpose you know. Why are you here anyway?" I raised my head up to meet his eyes and I can see him eyeing me, it scary because his looks are intense I can feel it through my bones. I shiver to the thought, that his looks are slowly undressing me, I quickly shake my head in an attempt to erase that thought.
"Are you cold? Are you still dizzy?" Cato rushed to sit beside me and took off his jacket to put it in me.
"I'm fine now, thanks" I smiled at him and saw that he's studying me intently. It's kind of uncomfortable but to see him paying much attention to me is quite sweet.
"Okay then, anyway if you really do feel better we should go down. Delly said you should eat before taking any medication", Cato got to his feet and assisted me. We make our way outside down the stairs to the kitchen hall and saw Delly eating with Peeta on the other side side in front her.
Delly quickly got up her seat and rushed towards me. She may have ran because I felt the impact of her body. "Oh God Katniss, I was worried. Are you sure you're okay now?" she says studying me.
"I'm sure she's fine, it's not like she got knocked out", surprisingly Peeta said this. As I looked at him his eyes are still cold showing no remorse for me, and I get it. I can't blame him, not after what I did to him 4 years ago.
I let his glare go and sighed, "I'm feel fine now Del, don't worry". I tried to smile as genuinely as I can but I know I'm not giving more effort enough because I heard Peeta scoff and saw him rolled his eyes, before I knew it Cato is helping me to take a sit beside him. I felt his hands on my arm guiding me to the table.
"Don't worry sis, I'll take care of Katniss" I looked at him and he grinned at me in the most charming way, his grin made him look like a little child which is very adorable. I can't help but smiled at him in return.
As I was about to sit, Peeta got up his seat, "Well then, if you would excuse me I think I'll go to bed early." He faced Delly and gave her a quick peck in the lips and made his way out to the dining room.
"What's gotten into him? He's being a snobbish bitch" said Cato with a smirk on his face enough to flip Delly's switch.
"Piss off Cato! Don't call Pete names!" Delly said in a tone like a mother chastising his son.
Cato raised his hands as a sign of surrender, "Whoa! Chill Del. It's just that he's being rude about Katniss. Don't you think?" I turn to look at Cato and saw him gritting his teeth. I wonder what ticked him off to be angry.
"I know, I'll talk to him. I'm sorry Kat. I have no idea what's gotten into him. He's not usually like that." Delly tried to reach my hand across from hers.
"Hey, it's not a problem. I'm sure he has a reason. Although to be honest I don't want to know." But I do know. I totally do. I'm the reason. I sighed, "Anyway, I'll just look for a hotel and stay there for the mean time."
"You'll do no such thing Kat! You stay here. It's been a year since we got to spend some time together." Delly looked like pleading and I have no choice but to surrender and agree to her whims since she is the one getting married and she's my best friend. I just nod and looked at Cato who's still gritting his teeth.
Dinner took forever. I listened to Delly tell me the story on how she and Peeta met. Apparently, he met Peeta on her work. She's an accountant and Peeta's an engineer. Peeta is a friend of Delly's boss. And long story short, that how they met. It felt uncomfortable for me to be listening to Delly's story. Not because it annoyed me but because of the fact that I know that Peeta hates me. We ended our conversation when Delly decided to call it a night and head upstairs to her room. It seems that she and Peeta decided not to share a room until they are already married. I also decided to walk my way upstairs and Cato offered to walk me in front of my room.
"Katniss", said Cato as I was about to go inside.
"Yeah?" I looked at him questioningly, and he only smiled at me.
There it is again, Cato putting up his charm. "Uh, I, uh", he looked down on his feet and he scratches his hair, "Good night Katniss." He reached for my hand and squeezed it. I can't help but admire his shyness knowing that he is incredibly hot.
"And to you as well, fine gentleman". I smiled and winked at him and slowly made my way inside my room. I heard him laugh and his footsteps distanced from my room.
"What are you doing here?!" I almost jumped to hear a voice behind me and saw Peeta sitting at the edge of the bed, face serious or furious. His voice is not loud but full of conviction.
I don't know what to do I reached for the dorm handle, "Sorry, I must have gotten in the wrong room" as I was about to turn the knob, he's already in beside me leaning at the door.
"No, you're in the right room. I mean, what you are doing HERE?!" Peeta's gaze is so intense that I feel overwhelmed again. I can feel my lungs getting out of air. I try to steady myself. I try to calm me down and put on a strong face. I looked at him and see his deep blue eyes hasn't change. It's still perfect but now they are staring me with coldness and hatred.
"I'm here for my best friend's wedding". I tried to look him in the eye and hold his gaze. Peeta raised an eyebrow and started laughing. "Something amusing you?" I asked him as he still continue with his offending laughter.
"You", Peeta stopped his laughter and looked at me again with those intense glare. He slowly made his way closing our distance and stopped with just inches in front of me. "I'm glad to see you again Katniss". The way he say my name was so shivering. His tone was mixed with gentleness, coldness, cockiness, and it almost sound like a mock. He left my room and this time I wasn't able to hold my emotion. I cried for the first time in 4 years. I guess attending my best friend's wedding is not a great idea.