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“I’m sorry…we’re what?” Becky asked, slamming her textbooks onto the desk with a large bang, a few students in the area turning around to look at the duo.
Class was about to start and she didn’t have time for this, hell, it was seven in the morning and she was running on four hours of sleep thanks to a certain brainiac.
Tobey let out a chuckle, playing with the small robot figurine in his hands when he saw the subtle dent beneath her books.
Becky reprimanded herself, letting out a slow breath in hopes of cooling herself down.
Seems like old habits were hard to get rid of.
Despite being in college now, Tobey would still carry around a small robot figurine, reminiscent of their old elementary school days back in Fair City when they used to be enemies.
Yet despite having drifted years apart, they somehow found each other again in another city, in another school… and she still remembered how he would fidget with whatever was in his hands when he would get nervous or anxious.
She started picking up more on these small habits of his the more time they spent together, as they tried to reconnect despite their rocky past.
With each passing second, Tobey tore off a limb from the magnetic robot, a sign of his growing anxiety.
Which made sense…given the nonsense that had spewed out of his mouth. “What do you mean we’re married?”
Yes, they had gotten closer compared to what their relationship was in the past, going as far as leaning one another…but never to the point where Becky had the thought of wanting to marry the guy (date, maybe, but she was definitely not ready for marriage).
Tobey let out another nervous chuckle, this time pulling the collar of his button up shirt as if to give himself more air to breathe in.
“Well, um…”
“Tobey. Just. Spit it out already, okay? I don’t have time to-”
“I made you sign a marriage certificate while we were creating our outline for our college’s upcoming research conferences. I actually already submitted it.” Tobey spewed out, turning away from her to spare himself from her upcoming rage.
Yet…it never exactly came.
“Tobey,” she started.
She knew he had feelings for her (he wasn’t exactly that discreet about it), but for him to do this? “Follow me.” Tobey pursed his lips, still avoiding her face. “Tobey, I won’t ask-”
“Okay” He said.
Tobey heard her get up from her seat and walk out to the lecture hall. He followed her behind, one minute being inside the school building and the next at city hall. More like in the family court.
There, in front of the two stood a confused clerk with a certificate- “Becky.” He looked at her with wide eyes. “Becky. Don’t-”
“Tobey.” Becky coldly said, “I like you. I really do. But this?” She held the certificate between them. “You can’t just do this without my full consent.” She tore the certificate. “I want to get to know-” Becky clamped her mouth shut when she saw the tears stream down Tobey’s eyes. “Tobey, I-”
“Becky. Just. Stop.” Tobey dug into his pocket and took out a ring. He walked up to her and placed the ring in her hand. “I…wanted to give that to you today…
Do whatever you want with it.” With that, Tobey walked out of the hall, Becky wondering if she overacted…
-
A month passed by, Becky dragging her hands over her face, staring at the documents and emails in her face.
Ever since she tore that document, Tobey seemed to have disappeared overnight, leaving Becky with having to work on their conference presentation on her own.
A ping rang from her phone, Becky wondering who was bothering her this time,
Opening the notification, she ran to her department building.
-
“Hi Mr.Hill!” Becky tried to cheerfully say despite the beads of sweat that trailed down her face. “I saw the email you sent me a few moments ago. What did-”
“Your spot in the conference has been rescinded.” Her advisor bluntly said, not even looking up from his computer.
“Rescinded?!” Becky yelled, slamming her hands on the desk. “What do you mean rescinded?!”
“Well Becky,” Mr. Hills said, “To rescind means to revoke, cancel, repeal…take back.” He explained. “In this case, I am rescinding my decision on allowing your project to be a part of the college’s research conferences.”
“I know what rescind means Mr.Hill! I read the dictionary every night before going to bed as a bedtime story!” Becky huffed. “I’m asking why is being withdrawn from the research conference? Is there something wrong-”
“Not wrong, but one of the main requirements for these conferences is for the panels to be presented by married spouses and rumor has it is -Ms.Botsford- that you are currently…divorced.” Her advisor stated. “And as you're now divorced, your panel will be-”
“I’m not divorced!” Becky cut him off, remembering the ring Tobey had given her a month ago.
She slipped her hand into her sweater, slipping the ring onto her finger, wondering how he had managed to get her such a fitting ring. She whipped out her hand, showing her advisor the beautifully engraved ring with a small diamond thoughtfully placed on the center.
Now that she actually looked at it…how did he know this was her dream ring?
She remembered only mentioning it in passing when they were kids…
She swallowed the lump that formed in the throat. “I’ve been happily married to Tobey for quite some time! Why would I self sabotage us during one of our most crucial-”
“Guess rumors were just rumors.” Mr.Hill said, letting out a small sigh.” I should’ve confirmed with you two first before withdrawing your panel.”
“So,” Becky started. “Tobey and I-”
“-are still presenting.” Mr.Hill said, “I’ll make sure to email the department the correction and CC you and Tobey.”
“I would greatly appreciate that.” Becky said, leaving the office only to stop in her tracks once she was out in the hallway.
She realized she wasn’t the only one who had to apologize and make things right.
She took out her phone and called Tobey. He didn’t pick up until the third ring.
“Ms.Bots-”
“It’s actually Ms.McCallister, Mr.McCallister.” Becky corrected him, wondering if Tobey would get what she meant. “Tobey…I’m sorry about tearing the marriage certificate and for-”
“No Becky. You were right. I shouldn’t have done that without-”
“No.” Becky cut him off. “I-” She sighed. “I overacted and I- do you want to get married?”
“...” Becky could hear the hesitation that ravaged through his mind.
“Tobey…I don’t mind spending the next couple of years getting to know more about you, just like I have this past-”
“I do.” Tobey whispered. “I do want to marry you…I always have…since we were kids…” he confessed, Becky feeling her heart skip.
“I’ll pick you up in an hour?” Becky asked.
“I’ll be waiting.”
Just like I always have all these years.