The day after her college graduation - that was when Elly M, as I knew the young charismatic lass by, and myself were due to meet for the first time. Four protracted years had passed since the day we had crossed paths virtually. Vaguely, I could still recall the bizarreness of the encounter. She had been a mere adolescent then at fifteen and yet, nothing like it at all. Had the fact been willfully omitted from the profiles, I never would have known as she gaily conversed within the sim I had, with a bunch of mates, laboured upon, gleefully crashing into every other party we had hosted on Fridays. Elly was by far, one of a kind, a great beam of sunshine amidst my gloomiest desolate days. Once a child to myself and most of the clique, she had become something different altogether four years later. She had begun to mean something more - something that I could neither duly express or even explain to myself. And, deep down, I genuinely yearned to meet the little miraculous thing.
“Uhh table reserved… number twelve I think?” I mumbled incoherently to the awaiting steward. Having stayed abroad for nearly a decade had altered much. I was clearly losing touch with the language, as much as a native I was - I sighed hopelessly to myself, trailing nonchalantly behind the strolling steward. “It is in here, sir. Please enter.” The kindly man holds the door ajar, smiling graciously. “Thank you.” I nod my head in a gesture of appreciation as I hastily attempted to calm and quell my shaky nerves. Almost stumbling in, I softly slam the booth door shut, throwing a stare at the petite figure across the room. Elly was nothing like I had imagined, dressed in the conventional high school uniform with her glossy brown hair casually done up in a messy bun. There was little glamour about the lass and I assumed this was a first meeting. Controversially however, she had an odd sense of familiarity. As if I had known her since long ago. Only I had not. I casually dismissed the notion.
“Hey. Sorry I got here late. The traffic was bad.” I mused, smoothly sliding into the cushioned chair. “It’s okay. I just got here too. What’s up?” She dismissively laughs, glancing upwards. “Hey, are you serious?” Elly stares wondrously at me, as if in awe. “Pardon?” Awkwardly, I turn away, avoiding her eyes. “Luca, why are you here?” She glances questionably at me, somewhat bemused. “And when did you start getting shy?” “I think. You got it wrong.” Inclining backwards, I attest. “What wrong?” She strangely raises an eyebrow. “I… This is Phil. You know, from the game.” I clarify. “Oh! You…you look like someone I know of.” Elly stutters, taken aback. No doubt, I was surprised myself as I pondered over the many possibilities. “I wouldn’t be much surprised. I… had two older triplet brothers. Out of contact though.” I wondered if I really wanted to know, or even to remember it at all. “Oh god. Oh god. You… you are Mitch. You are Mitch, aren’t you?” The girl suddenly grips tightly, possessively onto my arms. It couldn’t be… “Who are you, Elly?” I whisper, a sound so delicately distant. I had missed her. All these last ten years. To think she had always been around me! Almost in tears, she replies, way too quietly, “It’s me. It’s Sera.”
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