Chapter 7: "Mutual"

Kristina and I walked on our way home, I suddenly remembered the events earlier and I asked, "How are you feeling now? You seemed very scared earlier."

"Uh, yeah... I'm okay now, it's just, I'm claustrophobic." she replied, "It's something from a long time ago that haunts me everytime I'm in an enclosed small space."

"Is that why you stopped playing hide and seek?"

She pauses and her voice sounded a little shaky as she looks at me, "Yeah, I just thought someone would find me no matter where I hide but that one day, I got stucked in the wardrobe and no on found me until the next day."

I don't know why but her story seems to affect me to the core, my chest tightens at the thought of it. She feels like she was about to be down for the rest of the day so I opened a bottle of soda and placed it by her cheeks, I stated, "Next time, you can wear your awful cologne and that way I can find you."

She bursted out laughing as she takes the cold soda, "Does it really smell that bad?"

"No, I just don't like the scent. Who the hell like that kind of scent?"

"Well, someone told me it was his favorite scent."

I stated, "'him' so it's a boy, look, he probably said that because he likes you."

She stops at her tracks blushing so I continued, "Why? Was it said by someone you like?"

Kristina couldn't answer, looks like I got it right? I wonder who she likes... that guy must be so lucky.

Kristina Valdez POV

How can he even say it that casually? I mean, I know he doesn't even know or remember that I'm talking about him but still, that took me by surprise! This is so unfair, he's so calm whereas I'm a bursting bubble ready to pop. I'm barely managing to keep my composure.

I went home and I took a shower. I went ahead and changed into my oversized sweaters and pajamas. 

"How was school?" My mom asks as I go downstairs

I blushed as I remembered everything and as I went to the dinning area, I saw Ashley, Ashley said, "Judging her face, I think her day went great."

"What are you doing here?" I asked annoyed

My mom stated, "She was waiting for you for a while now, she said she needed to talk to you. You two can go upstairs to your room and talk them, I'll prepare dinner."

And so we did, Ashley was still wearing her uniform. I guess she really did wait for me. As soon as we reached my room, I closed the door and check to make sure my mom wasn't listening, I didn't want her to worry.

"So what do you want?"

Ashley looks away, "I'm...so... s-" she continued as she gave me a box of chocolates, "Ah I can't do it, anyways, I really didn't mean to push you in the janitor's room. I didn't know you were claustrophobic."

I took the chocolates and asked, "What's this?"

"Compensation." Ashley was still looking away pouting, "I heard that you can't apologize empty-handed."

"That was an apology?" I can't help but laugh

Ashley was surprised, "Hey! Stop laughing, I tried my best! Why are you even laughing? I just bullied you earlier, you know?"

I was still laughing, "I don't know but you're not a bad person after all."

Ashley was embarrassed, "W-whatever!"

She wasn't really, she was just giving herself a chance for Angelo to notice her, her methods may be wrong but she didn't mean to hurt me. Ashley stoods up and said, "Well, that's all. I'll be transferring back to class A. I'm giving up on Angelo after all."

"Why would you give up on someone you like?"

"Are you really that stupid?" She continues, "The person he likes like him back, that's why."

"The person... he likes." I was sad... it's probably her

"Ah I give up on you too, you're both hopeless, he's blind and you're just plain stupid." Ashley says as she leaves, "Geez, seriously, you two are stressing me out."

I watch her leave our house as she stumps her feet... I really don't understand what she means though. I proceeded to the dining room and my mom set the table for us, she said, "You should've invited your friend to dinner."

"She's not my friend, mom." I replied while I was digging in the food my mom made

"Really? She came here looking so worried for you, I almost called you back home to make sure you're safe." my mom continued, "Anyway, your uniform's at your closet already, it arrived earlier in the day so I managed to wash and dry it immediately."

"Okay." I continued, "How was dad?"

"You could've come with me to meet him and his new wife you know that, right?" my mom suggested and continued, "Well, either way, I still look prettier than his new wife."

I laughed, "Of course you are mom."

I didn't want to meet my dad just yet, it's only been a year or so since they divorced and even though mom likes to joke about it now, she was so broken back then. I had to go every other day back home even if the university I was studying at was s train ride far from her because she developed drinking problems and would pass out from different places.

I guess I just hated how my dad left us without notice and he abandoned us like that. The next thing we knew was he had a daughter with his wife, that's why he's reaching to us now. To process their divorce papers. Pathetic, right? He's legally abandoning us.

I honestly have no issues if he had a new family, it's just a matter of how left us that made me feel so mad at him.

I was supposed to rant at my online friend K when suddenly I received a message from messenger. It's from someone named Kevin Langdon.

He texted, "Heyyy! How are you feeling? I heard from Ashley what happened."

I ignored his messages... how did he even knew about that? 

I slept the thoughts away and the next morning I woke up sligtly earlier than usual because I decided to prepare my food for today. Yesterday, we weren't able to eat lunch due to the events that transpired and I noticed that Angelo doesn't bring lunch so I wanted to make him one too.

I know he probably won't ask me again but it's better to be ready!

I wore our school's summer uniform, it was a white short sleeved polo along with a gray necktie and a gray striped pencil skirt. I wore my white socks and black school shoes. I let my hair down and clipped my fringe. I transferred the scrambled eggs with japanese mayo and sweet teriyaki I cooked in a cute lunchbox and added some rice then I left.

I arrived at school with Angelo already there, he's always earlier than me then I glanced at Ashley's seat, it was already vacated, she really did transfer back to class 4-A already. Angelo was still wearing casual clothes, I sat beside him and gently poked his cheeks to wake him up.

"Goodmorning!" I smiled at him

He opens one eye first then the both of them as he sits down, he yawns, "Goodmorning, Kristina. Oh, you're already wearing your uniform!"

I tucked my hair in my ear shyly and replied, "Y-yeah... how about you? Haven't you got your uniform yet?"

But before he can even answered, his friends went inside our classroom and messes Angelo's hair, they mocked, "Are you still sleeping, sleeping beauty?"

Another remarked, "Yeah, where's your uniform? You got them earlier than us." 

Angelo blushes as his friends continued to mock him, "Oh, are you purposely not wearing them? What? Trying to look good for some girl?"

"What? No!" Angelo replied as he drives them away, he glances at me for a while and then he left the room.

Our classes began and our professor started their discussion, our Chemistry professor started asking questions, "Okay class, who can tell me about the Gas Laws?"

Everyone was obviously avoiding eye contact with the professor except Angelo but the professor saw me instead and asks me, "Ah miss, you're a fresh face here, so can you tell me anything about it?"

"I...uh..."

Our professor grew impatient, "Now, you should've studied more instead of being busy fixing your hair and style. You're just another pretty fac-"

I cut him off, "The Gas Law refers to the relationship anmd behavior of gases considering certain variables like pressure, volume and temperature thus the formula: PV=nRT. I guess you should've listened first instead of judging me. I'm not that lazy after all."

I sat down with my heart pounding out of my chest. Woah, that was intense. This is probably the first time in my life that I actually stood up for myself and guess what? That felt pretty great! The class seems satisfied with how I roasted our professor, they said he had a reputation here that he embarasses new students just to show his superiority.

The professor gritted his teeth and forced a smile, "That's right, I apologize for that."

Angelo was snickering at me as he reaches out his hand asking for a high five so I gently tap into his hand and laughs as well. The rest of the class finished awkwardly and the next classes started as well.

Angelo whispered in the middle of watching a documentary played by the teacher, "Are you free? Do you want to eat lunch today?"

I smiled and nodded a lot. He puts his finger on my forehead to stop me from nodding and he continued, "One nod is enough for me."

We waited for the lunch break and as the bell rang, Angelo stood up playing the rooftop keys in his hands and asks, "Shall we?"

"Let's go!" I replied

I was shocked to see him bring some lunchbox as well, I remarked, "Oh, you bought lunch too?"

"Well, yeah."

We headed to the rooftop and we sat down, We were awfully quiet until we said at the same time as we handed each other a lunchbox, "Here, for you."

We were both surprised, I asked, "Oh... you made me lunch?"

"You made me one either." He continued, "Well, yesterday, we didn't eat even though I asked you to eat with me so I cooked something today to make it up to you."

I laugh, "Funny, I was thinking the same thing which is why I cooked something for you too."

I opened the lunch he made me, it was shrimp tempura with some sweet sauce, a salad and bacon with a special white sauce, he explained, "I didn't know what you would like so I kinda... got you a variety of meal."

Ah, that's right, he doesn't remember me but I clearly remember how much he likes teriyaki. I stated, "You didn't have to go all that trouble for me you know? I'm sure I'll like whatever you cook for me."

"Even if it's brocolli?"

"Maybe except that."

"Or asparagus?"

"And that."

We both laughed happily as we ate our meals and he softly said, "I didn't have to but I wanted to. After all, it's for someone I like."

I was so shocked at what he said that I choked  on my food, he offered me some water and a handkerchief, I asked, "Sorry, what did you just say?"

He wipes my mouth with his handerchief and mockingly says, "It's a secret."

What... wait, did I just hear that correctly? Someone he likes? What does he mean by that? Did I just freaking received a confession that I ruined by choking on my food? WHAT? Wait, let's calm down now. 

Maybe he likes me as a friend... or a classmate? 

He can't possibly like me... like, a like-like kind of thing, right? Does he like me as in relationship kind of like or just fling king of like? Just how much more confusing can he get? For someone as slow like me, I don't understand what he means by that!