An Autumn Day Part I

November 8, 2011. Another ordinary day in a foreign place. In three weeks' time I'm turning 28. I will be celebrating my birthday alone. No friends to laugh with, no family to sing the Happy Birthday song for me, no birthday cake this time and no candles to blow. Only the falling leaves are there for me. They will be dancing for me on my special day whilst the cold wind dictates the beat.

This morning, I went to the university library to finish my case study. That was, I think, a good way to make myself busy and for me to conquer boredom. I was in my thick brown coat. It looked like everyone else didn't feel the coldness of the weather except me. Coming from a tropical country with only two seasons, this whole place is really something alien for me. Thirteen degrees celsius is already too much for me. I can't imagine how I will deal with the wicked temperature when the winter comes.   

When I arrived at the library, the only vacant table was the one at the corner, near the big window. The glass window was a bit misty. I can hardly see what was happening outside. I took my hankie out and wiped a portion of the window. A clear picture was suddenly painted. What was illustrated in the painting was a beautiful lady enjoying a book under a lofty tree. I stared at her for several minutes. I wished I knew her. I wished I could talk to her. I decided to go outside and sit on a chair across her. By the time I got outside of the library, she was no longer there. I still went to the exact place where she was. I waited for a few minutes thinking that she might be back after a while. An hour has passed but she still hasn't come back. I packed my things and decided to leave and have my lunch.

I headed to Breadeaux Pizza at Broadway Ave. I sat near the entrance, almost facing the door. The waiter approached me and asked for my order. I asked for a glass of mango juice, pepperoni pizza and bottled water. While waiting for my order, I was busy observing all the people in the restaurant. There was a group of MBA students on a corner probably discussing business and marketing stuff. I knew that they are MBA students because I always get to see them at the lobby of our main building. I'm almost certain that they are ahead of me by at least a semester.

My order was finally served. After sipping about half of the mango juice down, I saw the beautiful lady pass by. She was with a guy. The guy was taking a puff at his cigar while walking with her. I saw that they're enjoying each other's company because both of them were smiling and laughing.

I wanted to go after them but I wasn't done eating my food that time. I was thinking that the guy is probably her boyfriend.Of course, I was hoping that he's just her close friend or, better yet, her brother. (to be continued)