09

“They won’t,” he reassured me. “I talked to them yesterday to make sure they’d do it before I presented the idea to you. They’re happy to do it. The president of the local Indian community is happy to find a venue to present their heritage.”

“Will a week of practice be enough for them ?” I asked again, still uncertain. I now sat next to him on the bench, looking over his shoulder. “What about costumes ? And props ? These things need time.”

“They’ve already done some of these acts in the heritage festival the city holds every year,” he answered. “They have costumes in stock as well. All we need to do is write the transitioning script. You can narrate some of the story and I’ll work the tech room for the lights, music and effects. We’ll reserve the lecture room on Monday for their dress rehearsal on Wednesday afternoon. Sounds good ?”

I sighed and reluctantly nodded. “Yup. You better be there Wednesday afternoon or I’m kicking your butt.”

He grinned and patted the tip of my nose. “I’ll be there, don’t worry. At least we already have an excellent presentation outline to show Dr. Han on Monday.”

I moved my face away from him and wrinkled my nose. “Hopefully, that will be the last presentation we’ll ever have to do for her.”

“Oh, come on. You won’t admit at all that this is somewhat fun ?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s fun now that we have an interesting enough idea for a presentation but not fun that we’re wasting our Saturday mornings away on this.”

I don’t know if it was just my imagination playing games on me but I could swear his laughing eyes had dimmed a bit even if he still has a hint of smile on his face. “I don’t think I’m wasting my Saturday morning away. You’re pretty fun to be with.”

I wish I could be consistent with my attitude towards Seth but right now, with that very quiet statement said with a disappointed child’s expression, I couldn’t manage coming up with a smart and sharp retort.

“Seth… I… Well, I didn’t m-mean that you weren’t fun or that I, you know, don’t like your company or anything l-like that—at all. It’s just… Well, it’s just that… Well, I, uhm…”

His eyes lit up much more brightly again, their corners crinkling as he laughed. “Oh, Ali. Don’t worry, you didn’t hurt my feelings. You don’t have to look so guilty.”

My cheeks flushed warmly and in embarrassment, I quickly hopped off of the bench and started packing up my bag and books. He reached up to grab my wrist but I pulled it free.

“You’re really annoying, Seth, you know that ?” I grumbled, packing everything up with an almost supernatural speed. “One minute you seem honestly nice and I’d feel bad but the next, it turns out to be one of your pranks. It’s real grown up of you.”

“Oh, don’t be grumpy now. You don’t have to take me so seriously,” he cajoled, helping me pick up my stuff.

I rolled my eyes and snatched the books picked up. “I take everything seriously, you know that. Well, that’s it for our project meeting. Thank you for your participation. I’ll see you Monday outside of Dr. Han’s office.”

I quickly turned and hurried away and Seth rushed to get his laptop and notepad before dashing after me. “Wait up, Ali. I was dropping you off at the bookstore, remember ?”

“I remember never agreeing to that,” I answered, ignoring him as he tried to catch up with my quick steps. “I have time. I can walk to the bookstore so you can go.”

“It won’t be a walk in the park with all the books you have with you,” he said, trying to pull the books away from me but I tightened my death-grip.

I tried slapping his hands away. “Of course it’s not a walk in the park. It’s called a job. Let go, Seth. I really need to get going.”

He really looked frustrated now, his cheeks slightly flushed. “And I don’t understand why you’re being so hard-headed about me giving you a lift. It’s free, it’s practical and it’s rude to refuse a favor.”