I'm sitting in a big chair in the study area.
Some girl sits to my right,
some guy in front of me at a table.

He approaches and fumbles some words
out of his mouth,
something about sudoku.
His speech is strange.
I can't tell if it's an accent
or if he just speaks weirdly.

Either way, it's the most awkward
conversation I've ever heard.
She's obviously mildly annoyed,
he doesn't seem to get it.

He knows her from class already.
Chemistry or some such.
Both seniors. Same Major.
He's probably been eying her for
three and a half years.
She has probably never noticed him.

He persists, talking about classes and teachers.
She forces out some curt pleasantries
for about five minutes
before she pretends she needs to go somewhere.

She heads up the stairs to call her friends
about this weird guy who just started talking to me.
He walks away to the right,
not returning to his table.
Does he not understand?
Or is he about to cry, understanding perfectly?

I hate him.
I hate him because he is awkward.
I hate him because I fear I am awkward too.

-Seth