Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 48

I never expected the guy I was staring at to actually be Darren.

He was usually rocking those silver specs and had this laid–back artsy dad vibe going on. To put it bluntly, he gave off this slightly stuffy and old–fashioned air.

It was like he was a whole different person from the smooth charmer standing in front of me

now.

What a stark contrast.

“So, Xaviera, you’re disappointed to find out it’s me?” he teased.

I waved my hand dismissively, clarifying, “No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that your current look is a dead ringer for a character in our game, and that’s why I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

That probably came across a little rude.

Darren seemed taken aback, he sighed and said, “And here I was thinking you had a thing for

this version of me, Xaviera.”

I raised my eyebrows, momentarily at a loss for words.

Just then, Tina and Kevin came bounding over from the right and greeted me enthusiastically.

“Xaviera, you have no idea, before you got here, a bunch of chicks were hitting on Professor Yearwood,” Tina said with a hint of pride, lowering her voice, “and they even brought him coffee.”

Kevin mimicked in a falsetto, “Sweetheart, sweetheart, what flavor do you like?”

1

really do

“If you guys

Kevin wisely backed off.

found out that Darren, the university professor, was often bossed around by Tina

our

various unique anime promotion techniques. I actually learned quite a bit from the

so I suggested we all go out

ended up at Aurora

a second–floor private room, we bumped into

“This guy looks familiar, Xaviera. Is

about to set the record straight when Darren beat me to

before extending her hand, “Handsome young

I thought, frowning slightly.

University,” Darren replied politely, “and I’m a classmate

he spoken than Hilary’s look became more scrutinizing.

to go ahead and order while

you settling down well, unlike Hogan, who’s

Only

a bit off, with powder caked at the corners of

to hide it from you, Hogan’s really been over the top lately. He’s even been pushing me to bring Ms. Irwin

off, turning her face away, looking like

with it. There’s nothing between mother and son that can’t be worked

about those people

the rich ladies called out to her, Hilary stopped and then returned to the private room,

getting the hang of

me, still hustling for my daily bread.

tonight; we were all old classmates, reminiscing about our college days, laughter filling the

was

strange sense of contentment, like maybe life had its moments.