Chapter Forty-Two: Jelly Baby Pt 1
Tom dating someone? Huh, I mean it’s nothing special or shocking—he’s quite popular and can swoon any girl he likes, but what pisses me off is how he tried to play with my emotions.
Was it really that satisfying for him to say all those cheesy words, thinking I was swoon by it? Ha! That’s where he’s wrong. Very wrong. So wrong.
That’s it! That’s the end of the straw. I knew it all along; that too good to be true guy was nothing but a playboy. Saying ‘I love you’ to me without any hesitation! Did he enjoy with making fun of me?
Or was I secretly a dare he did for fun? Was my life really this cliché? Or maybe I’m just having a really really long bad dream.
“Avery, the..uhm, the paint…bru---”
“What?!” I snapped angrily, then realized that I was lost in my own thoughts again. I stared at Emily who looked taken aback by my outburst and I sighed, loosening the grip of the
paintbrush.
“Sorry, I’m kinda hot-headed right now,” I murmured, feeling a bit guilty that I screamed at Emily for no reason. I hope she understands. I don’t want to hurt her.
“It’s alright,” Emily smiles faintly. “—how about you take a breather outside? You could use one, and don’t worry, I can do the painting by myself.”
“You sure?”
“Yup. So, take some time off,” she reassured me.
“Thanks,” and with that I left.
I could use some fresh air right now. Really badly. I sighed, running a finger through my loose locks of hair as I headed for the rooftop, passing through people running errands and putting up posters for their stalls.
Right. The school festival was four days away.
I couldn’t care less if I was just some person lurking in the shadows---but no, I must be in the limelight. It feels weird and queasy. I’m not used to this.
My footsteps never felt so loud and so was the beating of my heart whilst I took the stairs.
Was everything he said all a lie? All those bold proclamations, cheesy words, and uncomfortable affection of his…a front? Or maybe he got tired of waiting, and finally realizing that pursuing me led to nowhere.
I should be at ease, right? He’s going to be with some other girl and wouldn’t bother me anymore. He’s going to say all those corny and sugar-coated words in her ear. Then they’re going to do what other couples do and…
My foot came to a halt, the door right in front of me never felt so big. I loosened my clenched fingers and reached for the handle, twisting the knob open and flung the door wide.
The cold gush of wind took me by surprise, but nevertheless was welcomed. Before I could do anything, the door slams with a loud thud behind me and I sighed, shoving my hands underneath my jacket.
“Sup.”
My eyes travelled to the figure sitting on the floor cross-legged with a bread hanging on his mouth. If he wasn’t good looking, he’d look extremely weird and gross.
I snickered, eyeing him. “What are you doing here, Oskar?”
He smiles, taking a huge chunk of bread and chewed on it. “Break time?”
“Oh really?” I snorted, making my way towards him and took a seat beside him, sitting on the cold cement floor. “---let me guess, you’re slacking off and aren’t doing even one bit of labor.”
He chuckled, holding the remaining bread on his hand, then extended it to me. “Want some?”
I scrunched my nose at him in disgust, flicking his hand far from me. “With that in your mouth? No thanks.”
He shrugged, bringing the bread to his lips and nibbled a small piece. “Your loss.”
“Yeah…no.”
“So what’s up, Avery?” he inquired, eyeing me intently. “---you seem angry.”
“Is it that obvious?” I grumbled.
He casually shrugged. “Well you’re always grumpy, so no.”
“Har har, funny,” I rolled my eyes.
“Seriously, did Tom piss you off again?”
I flinched. He took it as the correct answer.
“Right. So, what did lover boy do to you again?” he propped a hand under his chin, eyeing me in interest. “---made your heart flutter…or perhaps… kissed you?”
“Ow! Ow! Avery! I’m sorry! I was joking,” he cried when I pinched his sides, making him wail in agony. “---don’t pinch me. Please.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes as I removed my hold from his body. “It’s nothing special.”
“When you say it that way, it makes me more curious, you know?”
“I swear you sound like a girl,” I waved my hand for emphasis. “---and am I obligated to tell you this? Doesn’t this seem uncomfortable for you?”
“Not when it’s someone special to me,” he winks and I gagged.
“Ugh, what’s with you? I swear every guy I know just has to have something wrong with their minds,” I grunted, eyeing him in distaste.
“You attract weird people, Avery,” he poked my nose with his finger and I scowled.
“You’re saying I’m a weirdo? Gee, thanks,” I sourly cackled.
“I didn’t mean that. I mean everyone is weird okay? You’re not weird, just that we’re ‘unique’,” he finger quote-on-quote.
“Righttttt,” I looked at him skeptically, but shrugged off the subject and blew a stray of hair that covered my eyes.
“So?”
“What?”
“What’s troubling you?” he tilts his head slightly. “---love life? Friendship? Or are you finally transitioning to be a woma----"
He stopped, seeing my hand up in the air, ready to smack him and he smiles a bit worried. “---lady-like, I meant that.”
I flung my hands to my sides and huffed. “I wanna kill someone.”
“Geez. It’s that bad?” he sucked the air in between his teeth. “---want me to help you hide the body? We could meet up at midnight and struck them at their vulnerable state.”
I looked at him weirdly, then he blinks and smiles faintly. “So it’s a no?”
“Were you always this talkative, Oskar?” I blurted all of a sudden.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean when I first met you, you where—you know? Chill and calm, and now you’re so loud-mouthed,” I tried to explain, but ended up making it more complicated so I gave up.
“I didn’t know too myself,” he smiles. “—but anyway, that’s not the important matter here.”
I glanced at him hesitant, not wanting to say anything and yet, he seems like he’s the only one I can say things like this. I sighed, giving in and looking at the soles of my shoes. “It’s just that…Tom is…seeing someone?”
“Really?”
“You’re not that surprised?” I stared at him, kind of hoping I’d get some reaction from him but he seems calm about it.
He replied. “Well, what would you do if he’s really seeing someone?”
“I don’t know. It’s none of my business,” I lift my knees and place them close to my chest. “---plus, it’s not that big of a deal.”
“But it’s troubling you,” he points out. And maybe he was right. Maybe I was troubled about it for this entire time.
“I feel....angry. I mean if he’s really seeing someone… shouldn’t he be more devoted to her?” my chest starts to feel heavy and I don’t know why.
“Why spend all that time on me? Saying all those things. Is he that much of a player?”
“Well, wanna go to Han’s Ice cream this week?”
“Oskar, I’m not in the mood for some ice----”
“They say ice cream helps,” he flashed me a reassuring smile. And for some reasons, I believed him. “—and it’s my treat.”
“Really now?” I eyed him.
“Really.”
“Even the most expensive one of the menu?” I joined along with his proposition.
“Unless you’ll wait for me washing the dishes till late,” he chuckles and I huffed at him.
He’s weird and works in such mysterious ways. But maybe that ice cream wouldn’t be bad.
“Okay.”
“You’ll go?”
“But promise me you’ll listen first.”
“Okay, okay.”
Oskar is weird sometimes, but really, he’s nice.