Chapter 6

ANVI

Lunch time came, Dernate really went to my classroom. Some students even whispered to each other in an audible way saying I'm a flirt, slut and a bitch for having another guy even if Jof and I just broke up. I just ignored them since I'm not really guilty about their gossips.

He offered to order for us. For the second time, he refused to take my money and told me that it's his treat. I just sighed in response. He volunteered. It's his choice. The cafeteria wasn't that noisy but it just made me tweak some of my hair.

I honestly don't know what to think or feel first. I'm confused to the highest level that it makes my head hurt. I leaned my forehead at the table and closed my eyes. It feels like my head is going to crack at any moment. I can't understand what I'm feeling. Minutes passed, a loud stomp at the table made me snarl.

"Dernate! Can you please have some—" What I'm about to say was cut when it wasn't Dernate who sat beside me.

"J-Jeniss?" The woman in front of me is wearing a suspicious look while grinning from ear to ear. Her blonde hair stood out from the wave of students inside the cafeteria. Her pink lips stretched like she was thinking about something naughty inside her mind.

She put her arms around my neck and laughed loudly. "Yes! The one and only! Now explain to me why did you mention your ex-boyfriend's name? Huh?"

Her arm around my neck tightened. If I were to compare my day yesterday and now, I would say that the former one was more peaceful. I removed her arms harshly using my right hand.

"Answer me!" she excitedly exclaimed.

Another problem. Jeniss had been very lively. Too lively to the point that it seemed like her energy is up to 500 percent. A day won't last without her shouting, yelling, or strangling my neck! Maybe she'll just become silent if she's tingled. I know, Jeniss is my bully. I actually don't have any idea how we became friends! And I don't know why I just let her do those to me.

Before answering her, I fixed my hair and frowned at her. "It's not what you think it is."

She squinched her eyes in a suspicious way. "Hmm? So what exactly is happening?" Her smile didn't disappear and it only became wide. Oh, here we go again. Jeniss and her mind.

"We just bumped to each other and decided to take a lunch together, that's it!" I defended. She's thinking the wrong thing.

Jeniss laughed. "You know you can't fool me, don't you?" Her eyes roamed on me until it reached my forearm. She was about to check it but I parried it away. Not for the second time today.

"It's a scratch."

"A scratch?" She snorted. "It's Kryzel, wasn't it?"

"N-no. It's—"

"Oh, come on, Anvi! We all know that Kryzel had the intention to do that. She's a violent brat!"

"Why do you keep on insisting that she did this? I never said—"

"Anvi!" she snapped. Her voice made me silent. "We both know that this wasn't the first time that she tried to hurt you. Remember when she bumped your head to your locker's door? When she slapped you at the audio-visual room while you were passing by? 

When she pulled your hair at the botanical garden? Anvi, you know how violent and possessive Kryzel is but you still defend her? What's really going on with your mind? I was absent yesterday so it's not possible that something happened, too."

I just looked down. Maybe it's because of the words that she just spat. Kryzel really did something yesterday at the school's hallway. I hate to admit it but Jeniss has a point. Kryzel did those to me the moment she had Jof on her side. It seemed like she just changed overnight. The fact that she had the courage to hurt me just made me frown more.

"Enough of talking about that nice cousin of yours," she stated sarcastically. 

She sighed. We both fell silent. Maybe she's right. I should just accept that Kryzel and I won't be in good terms again. Things will really change because it's bound to be. Because it has a reason. What reason to be exact?

Her expression shifted into being joyful again and her grin came back. "So, what's going on between you two?"

I scowled at her. "There's nothing!"

She laughed loudly again. "Oh," she answered confusingly but her grin eventually came back. "Maybe not yet."

Now she's the one who's speaking nonsensical things. This lady is just so annoying! She's so persevere and it could just make my eye roll. What is she trying to imply? Seriously!

"Please stop."

"But I heard that Dernate fetched you from our classroom. You know me, I have ears everywhere." She snickered.

"Jeniss, we're already over." I shook my head in dismay because of her.

I sighed and shifted my pace. Yes, we're over like no strings attached. This meal is just a payback because he said he owed me. Yes, that's the only reason.

"So as you and Jof."

Her statement hit me. She's really making a great point here. How can someone hurt me simply with their words? Am I that too transparent? Am I like a book who's easy to read?

The thought of letting go just makes myself feel down and blue. I was fond of Jof since I was still a college freshman. He just made my heart beat rapidly the time that I saw him play baseball with his teammates. But now...

"Look who's having a comeback," Jeniss addressed playfully when Dernate went back to our table.

I whacked my head because of what she said. Jeniss can really embarrass me in just a second! I'll avoid her someday!

"Jeniss!" I hissed. What she's doing now is making the atmosphere awkward! Like hello? Jeniss? Be at least considerate.

She just chuckled. She's getting into my nerves. For real. I sighed in frustration. Why did I have a friend like her? A friend that enjoys to embarass you in public? I eyed Dernate and saw that he stiffened in shock. Now what? Where did his courage go?

"Dernate? Still there?" Jeniss waved her hand in front of Dernate and the latter seemed like he snapped to reality.

"Oh, here are the orders." The spacing out guy placed the tray on the table and sat across us.

I just ate my food silently, enjoying and savoring every bit of it. I thought I am going to have a peaceful lunch even if Jeniss is present but I am definitely wrong when she started a conversation.

"So, Dernate. Now that Anvi is already single..." She laughed exaggeratedly. "Do you have a plan on having her back?"

I almost choked. How can she be so nosy? Good thing I ordered a juice so I immediately gulped it. My scowl rested to Jeniss but she just smiled sheepishly. Dernate on the other hand, looked like he's hesitating.

"Jeniss. Maybe you should eat now. Look, it's already late for lunch—"

"You're not the one I'm talking to, Anvi."

I rolled my eyes. Fine, whatever. Does she even listen to my opinions? No way. That would be impossible.

"So, Dernate?" Her attention deviated to Dernate.

The latter looked at me and I secretly shook my head to warn him. He shouldn't dare on answering Jeniss' question hilariously. I will punch him if he would.

"Don't listen to this lady beside me, Dernate. Answer now."

"I a-actually..." The tension was felt among us. What he'll say now will change everything forever.

I gulped my own saliva because of the pressure. I also felt my sweat starting to drip from my forehead. Why do I feel like this? Am I nervous? Then why?

"I actually—"

Dernate's answer was never heard because the heavy rain poured harshly to the cafeteria's roof. I somehow felt at ease of not hearing his answer. It made me sigh in relief because I wasn't able to hear anything he said.

"What? Can you repeat your answer?" Jeniss almost shouted for us to hear her.

The raindrops on the ceiling produced a spatter sound when landing on the roof. Some students are looking worried maybe because they don't have any umbrella and they have to go somewhere. Some students who had umbrellas are starting to get out from the cafeteria. 

Before Dernate could respond, I stood and spoke, "Jeniss, let's go back."

She looked at me surprisingly like I just said some absurd thing. "Just to remind you, the rain still pours heavily! We don't even have any umbrella." Jeniss dismayingly brushed her hair.

"Then I'll just run. Bye, I gotta go." I turned my back against them and headed to the exit. I need to run from this situation.

I stopped at the walkway and stared outside. The rain is really pouring hard that I can't even see the way clearly. Now, my bad why I haven't brought some umbrella. I heaved a deep breath before preparing myself for running. Okay, Anvi. You can do this. I was about to run when someone called my name.

"Anvi!" I looked back and knew that it's Dernate, bringing a jacket.

He handed it to me as soon as he reached my location. And when did he have a jacket? As far as I remember, he wasn't wearing one earlier.

"Why are you giving this?"

"Use it."

"What about you?"

"I'm fine."

"What about Jeniss?"

"She said she needs to go somewhere."

"But—" 

He tsked and grabbed the jacket. He stretched it wide then put it on my head. He even fixed some creased pleats and arranged the cloth that blocked my eyesight. Some strands of my hair were disheveled but he just put those on the side of my face.

His hand rested on my shoulders and stared at me. Dernate was tall that I needed to look up to see him face to face. His messy hair looked good with this pointed nose. The uniform he's wearing matched his lean body built that was visible under his white polo. But the thought popped off when I felt my heart beat fast. Maybe I was just exhausted because of the rain that's preventing me to do what has to be done. Maybe that's it.

"Let's go." He held my right and tightly, preparing for the run. I looked at it then to Dernate who's now staring at me. His gaze just made me uncomfortable.

"But the rain still pours so heavy! You might—"

He grinned. "I thought you want to go to your building?"

He intertwined his fingers with mine as he started to run. I have no choice but to follow since he's holding my hand. As soon as we got out from the cafeteria's shed, the raindrops started to hit us. It sent shivers because of the coldness it brought to me. We continued running until we're halfway down the field. Fortunately, I spotted a shed near us so I immediately dragged him to stay there temporarily.

I removed the jacket. Half of my uniform are already wet! I have no extra ones! Now I'm regretting being a stubborn lady! I am ready to scream when I heard Dernate laugh. I instantly looked at him and arched a brow.

"Why are you laughing?" Is there something funny? We just got damp! I have no extra clothings and he's just laughing?

"Stop that!" I yelled but instead of stopping, he just continued. His wet hair is dripping with rainwater as it sways for every move that he makes. Dernate looked like he just took a bath because his clothes got wet from the rain.

"Now, did you realize that it's really raining heavily?" 

"Shut up!" I left him and went to run under the pouring rain again with the wet jacket. That wasn't funny! The frown on my face became visible when he cope up with my pace while laughing.

I hate him!

I made my run faster but to no avail, he easily catches up. Fine whatever. We arrived at the building. I am already shivering because of the coldness plus the strong wind that's blowing harshly. Was there a storm?

I'm having goosebumps. Everytime the cold wind pierces my skin, I just can't help but to quiver. It feels like I will freeze any time now. I should just have listened to Jeniss! Dumb Anvi!

"Wait here," he said and left me standing at the near pillar. He went somewhere and came back bringing another hoodie. Where did he get it this time? 

"Here. Change at least your upper shirt."

"Why are y-you doing this?" I shivered as I spoke. I couldn't take the coldness anymore but I know I should endure this. This is because of my bullheadedness, afterall.

"No more questions." He dragged me to the near girl's restroom. 

I sighed. I immediately changed and got out after. There, I saw Dernate standing beside the door, shaking in coldness. My forehead creased as I walked towards him.

"Now what? You should just have used this jacket than to lend it to me—" I didn't finish what I'm about to say when he reached for my shoulders and hugged me like his life depends on it. His body is really shaking in coldness! I can't speak at this moment as I was surprised by what he did.

Seconds later, he uttered, "I'm fine. Your hug would be enough."