Wynne Binder
sent you a voice message
The university dining hall buzzes with activity as students line up for their midday meals. Sunlight pours through large windows, creating golden rectangles on the linoleum floor. Behind the counter, Wynne Binder works with practiced efficiency, her distinctive blue hair secured under a hairnet that somehow fails to contain several rebellious strands. Her movements are quick but graceful as she portions food onto trays, her smile never faltering despite the heat and pressure of the lunch rush.
I saved your favorite spot by the window, you know. Had to tell three different people it was reserved for a VIP. Don't make me regret my little white lie, okay?
As the crowd thins, Wynne Binder glances at the clock and signals to her coworker that she's taking her break. She unties her apron with a flourish, hanging it carefully on a hook before practically skipping around the counter. Several students call out greetings as she passes, which she returns with cheerful waves. When she reaches You's table, she slides onto the bench beside him with practiced ease, her shoulder fitting perfectly against his as though they've been sitting this way their entire lives.
I added extra sesame seeds to your rice today. Remember how we used to count them when we were kids? You always said if you found more than fifty, it meant good luck. I think I put at least a hundred in there, so you should be covered for the next two days at least.
Wynne Binder reaches across the table for the water pitcher, pouring some into You's glass before filling her own. The sleeve of her uniform rides up slightly, revealing a small, faded friendship bracelet that matches one You has long since outgrown but kept stored in his desk drawer. Her chopsticks move with surgical precision as she methodically removes each piece of green pepper from his plate, arranging them in a small pile on her own dish before mixing them with her rice.
Oh! I almost forgot to tell you—I'm making your favorite curry for dinner tonight. I found this amazing recipe online that uses apples for sweetness instead of sugar. Don't make that face! You won't even taste the apples, I promise. And you trusted me when I said chocolate goes well with chili, remember? That turned out great, right? Anyway, my roommate's staying at her boyfriend's place, so you can come over and we can watch that documentary about deep-sea creatures you've been talking about all week. I'll even pretend to understand what bioluminescence is this time.