Chapter 14: "You don't need me, are you sure?"

I saw Kristina leave her house after a few hours. She looks cute wearing her high waist dark blue square pants paired with a vintage white shirt. She had colorful pastel socks to match her all white sneakers.

I guess she's going to the library to study.

...Kevin will probably be there too.

Ah, he is really serious about his feeling for Kristina. This is annoying as hell.

I watched her as she walks away.

I got back in my bed and I was tossing and turning, I feel restless knowing they're together again. If this keeps up, they're going to be a couple by the next week. This is really getting to me. I tried to shift my focus, I started studying as well since exams are also coming up.

Just when I was reading and practicing my solving skills, it suddenly pouring heavily outside. The rain reminded me of Kristina. I think... that was the last time we had a proper conversation. It was a moment in time where everything is okay. A moment of weakness.

A moment where I disregarded everything else because that time, Kristina seems to be the only one that matered.

I shake my head, trying to get rid of these thoughts. It was a mistake to come back here.

My eyes trailed outside, I caught myself thinking about Kristina once again. I wonder if she brought an umbrella, maybe Kevin brought one for her. Ah... but if she didn't or he didn't, she'll be coming home wet from the rain and she might get a cold.

I don't care about her. I shouldn't care...I don't...

But in the end, I guess I do.

I went outside wearing an oversized hoodie and track pants with my slippers on. I winced from pain as I grabbed the black umbrella that I saw just in front our door and I said goodbye to my mom, "Mom, I'm heading out."

"Where are you going? Your hands aren't better yet."

I ignored her and I left.

My mom... she's not really my mom. She's my dad's second wife. She's nice and all but she's just like any of dad's personnel. She doesn't have a say in everything she does too. I pity her but then again, I'm in the same position as her. I'm in no place to protest.

I rode my bike on the way there carrying the umbrella.

And there I saw here. Just in front of the library, all on her own. She was closing her eyes and was feeling the rain drops on her palms. I walked towards her with my umbrella and I said, "What are you doing?"

She was surprised to see me and she flashed a bright smile at me, she says, "Funny. I was just thinking about how the rain reminded me of you, Angelo."

I was taken aback. She's still as straigthforward as ever.

I cleared my throat, "Are you alone?"

"Yeah, Kevin and the Ashley left early and I stayed since I needed to study more."

Ah... I was right. They were together.

Kristina continued, "What are you doing here?"

"I.. I was just passing by." I lied as I gave her the black umbrella I brought, "Here, you can use it."

"What about you?"

"I have an extra."

Another lie.

She took the umbrella and she left after thanking me. I left at the opposite direction but I looked back at her hoping she'd look back as well.

I said to myself... that if she looked back... I'm staying.

Just when I was about to give up and laugh at my idiocy, she looked back at me smiling as she waves goodbye.

Ah crap.

Looks like I'm staying after all. 

I waited a while before I went home. The rain was still pouring so I'm the one who caught a cold.

Kristina Valdez POV

I went back to my room after I changed my clothes. My face was so red. I was trying so hard to act casual with him. I thought I was beginning to like Kevin but all it took was a glance at Angeloto remind me how stupid my heart is.

It's always him.

It has always been Angelo.

At first, I thought it was only because he's someone I grew close to before, maybe I liked him because he was the only one I see and I don't open my heart to anyone else but I was wrong. He's my first love. I have been in love with him ever since.

I glanced at the umbrella he lend me. I laughed and thought to myself that this was all it took to get me back. My heart's so stupid, it's so unfair... can Angelo's heart be stupid like mine as well?

I can return his umbrella. I'll have another reason to see him.

I waited for the next day to come. 

The next day, I wore my uniform and bought the black umbrella Angelo lent me. I'll return it to him after dismissal.

I was hoping the classes to go by faster. And after a few hours of waiting, the bell rang for dismissal. I was excited to give the umbrella back and I saw Kevin outside our classroom, he gave me his daily dose of candy mix- that's what we call it.

He says, "Tell me what you think."

"Hmmm." I made him nervous and chuckled, "Just kidding! Of course they're good! It's my favorite."

"I was wondering-"

I cut him off as I remembered what I was supposed to do, "Oh, Kevin, just text me about it! I forgot I have something to do."

I immediately left but I paused at the stairs as I heard the girls talking to each other, "I heard Angelo was supposed to go to class today."

"Yeah, I heard that too but the teacher said he called in sick."

"Ahhhh, I wish I know his home address so I can take care of him."

Did he got sick after giving me his umbrella yesterday? I put aside these thoughts as I went to Angelo's house. I knocked and said, "Angelo..? Are you there?"

I continued calling out but then I heard a loud noise inside. I checked the door and it was open so I went inside and saw Angelo fall down on the floor. No one was home. Crap, he's burning up.

Angelo weakly opened his eyes and pushed me away weakly, "Kristina? Why are you here? I don't need you."

I ignored him and immediately assisted him to their couch. I tucked him in a blanket and I found a thermometer to check his temperature. It was at 39.

I told him and suggested, "We need to bring you to the hospital."

He grabbed my hand with his injured hand. I was trying to act so casual yesterday that I didn't notice his hands. He replied, "No."

"What do you mean no?"

"I...don't like hospitals."

I sighed and replied, "Okay. But you'll have to let me take care of you."

"I don't need you." He insisted

"But you do."

Angelo flinches and gave up.

I cooked some soup for him and got some medicine. I gently put some wet towel over his head as he tried to eat some soup but I saw his hand shaking so I grabbed the spoon and feed him myself. I was blushing the whole time and he was all red too, I couldn't tell if he was blushing too or it's just because he's sick.

After a while, he finally fell asleep. I received a text from Kevin, he texted, "Are you free for dinner tonight?"

I was replying yes but Angelo grabbed my hands and said, "Stay."

"But... I thought you hated me."

"I do. But I want you to stay."

His words and actions confuses me at times. What is he so afraid of? What is he so mad about? What did she tell him?

I replied at Kevin, "Sorry, I can't make it today, I have some errands to run."

Kevin Langdon POV

I'm just outside Angelo's house. It wasn't my intention to see her coming here, it's just I was tasked by our professors to hand some papers to Angelo. Ah. I feel my heart breaking.

In the end, no matter how much Angelo pushes her away, she still manages to find a way to stay. And it's only a matter of time before Angelo's defenses finally breaks down. And until then, I'm still planning to fight for her. I'm still here, Kristina.

I will always be here.

I replied as I walked away, "Okay, some other time then ^^"

"Okay!"

Ashley mocks, "Should I intentionally not join your 'dinner' again? I would gladly do so, I enjoyed using the car!"

"No, not today." I replied as I glanced at my phone.