It's already lunchtime. Many students are inside the cafeteria to eat, but Georgina stays at the back of the school building. Until now, she feel embarrass of what happened before. Even her friends, Maila and Janna, keep asking her since when they become in a relationship. But luckily, she escapes from them, but not from Jaceriel Yuson, who keeps following her like a loyal dog.
Even though the weather is nice, no one is around to pest her and no worries about thinking she can't still hide the fact. It annoys her. The man doesn't stop blabbing something; he complains a lot although he just came.
"I already said many things but you seem out of your focus," she flinch on what he said.
"The pile of complains you said is non-sense and besides, can't you just make friends with other? Stop bothering me."
He laughs and leans on the tree next to hers. "It's fun. You look serious even yesterday when we first met."
She shrugs her head, looks up at the clear sky where a group of birds flies towards the east. A long silence came between them. In the middle of silence, Jace glance at her. A little smile escapes his mouth as he pokes her cheeks out of nowhere. It catches her attention, looks to him with annoyance.
"What are you doing?"
"I wonder what a woman like you thinks a lot about making such expression." She chortled out-slap his hands away.
"Well, I'm thinking about how to get rid of a man like you." She utters. "You make me feel embarrass to death. I can't even face my schoolmates because of what you said. How come I broke a rule? A Student Council President dared to flirt with a man?"
"No one accuse you though,"
"Are you serious? For pete sake, can't you read the rules and regulation of both the school and Student Council? Don't just act on your own and ki..." she stops before the words finish. She doesn't want to remember it anymore.
"Ki? You mean kiss? Do I need to tell you first before I did it?" He gives a playful smile.
"Argh! Y-you... Damn annoying man." Georgina stand up and walk back inside in a hurry. There's no way she can talk it out with him. He knows how to annoy a person and it's working on her.
On the ground floor hallway, she continues to walk with head bow down. She didn't need to look to notice those students stare on her. If there's a hole in front, then she'll jump as soon as possible to hide in embarrassment. After a few seconds, she bumps into someone. Since she's almost running, the impact is powerful. A hand of someone wraps around her waist to not fall on the ground. She winced when a familiar smell lingers. The moment she looks in front, they both get shock to notice each other. Without a word, she stands up properly and removes his hands-distance herself. It's Giovanni Javier.
"Look where you are walking," he said.
"S-so..."
"Babe, how come you can walk that fast?" Jace stops behind her while catch his breath.
"Gina, we've met again. How small the world is in reality, don't you think so?" Kiela came behind Giovanni with a smirk. "Are you fighting?" She asked, cling to his boyfriend's arms.
"F-fight? We're not as sensitive as you. So, better waste your time in your relationship to get stronger and not prioritize your jealous side. Van hates it."
"What? What do you know about him? You've gone almost two years without a single explanation. People change Gina, it's just like you've gone ahead on it."
Georgina bite her lower lip, hold tight on the side of her skirt to suppress the anger.
"Let's go Keila, don't waste your time to a useless woman who doesn't know where to stand," Giovanni blurt out before he bump into her.
No words, just a tear about to fall from her eyes. Those words he utter made her body freeze in shock and disbelief. Until now, it's impossible to ignore whatever words came out of his mouth. It hurts, the truth hurts. The fact she's not yet move on from his past is the evidence of it. The fact, how the truth always hurts her made the guilt arise.
"Are you okay?" Jace asked, but instead of giving him an answer, she continue to walk. "Tell me you love that man, right?"
She flinches. "So what? Tell me whatever you want, but I will not lie to myself anymore. I know how stupid I am to love a person who doesn't even love me anymore and whom I pushed away. Stop following me, will you?"
They didn't notice, both of them are in front of their classroom. Only a few students who just pass by in the hallway so, they've thought no one heard their conversation, but it's not. On the other side of the door, Marga and Joshua are in the middle of their verbal fight.
"Ms. Martinez, why do you keep ignoring me? What did I do wrong? I'm handsome and rich but it seems like I'm an invisible air who just pass by." Joshua grab her wrist but she slap it away and give him a death glare.
"How come you're smart but didn't get what I want?" She chuckles. "Stay. Away. From. Me. With a biggest period." She emphasizes every word and walks towards the back door.
"You're too cruel." He mumbles, follow her.
Marga was about to open the door when she heard Georgina's voice outside. It seems like she's about to cry any minute. Her hands stop mid-air near the doorknob.
"So what? Tell me whatever you want, but I will not lie to myself anymore. I know how stupid I am to love a person who doesn't even love me anymore and whom I pushed away. Stop following me, will you?"
"You're not stupid, Hon. You just love him so much."
'Jaceriel Yuson?' It's the first thought came into her when she heard the voice. On the other side, Joshua's brows frown while looking at her, who looks surprised and flushed face.
"What's wrong? I thought you want to leave fir..." she cover her mouth before he can finish those words, still have the menacing glare.
"You look ugly when you're about to cry. Hug me whenever you want. I'm all yours."
"N-no thanks. I don't need your body."
Both Marga and Joshua flinch when the doorknob move. They look at each other with wide-open eyes. She let go of him, look around to find a place to escape. Though no one is around besides them, her mind went blank for a second. Instead of going back to her seat, she walks towards the front door. She didn't notice a pile of water on the floor so, after a few steps, she slip on it and thought of falling down on the ground but a hand wrap around her before it happened. Her hearts skips a beat in fear of falling down.
"Be careful. I didn't know you're clumsy." Joshua said with a sarcastic tone and a wide grin.
"Y-you... L-let go of me,"
"Marga? Joshua? What are you doing with both doors close?"
In an instant, Marga came back to reality and notice their awkward position that seems Joshua hugs her from behind. She removes his hand and pushes away with quivered eyes, try to avoid her cousin's stare.
"G-Gina this... This is not what you think."
"Hon, it looks like we just disturb them. Shall we go eat first? We have at least half an hour to spare." Jace said with a smirk.
"Though they are my cousin and co-Student Council member, I won't tolerate flirting."
"H-hey, I'm trying to say, it's not what you think," Marga try to explain herself.
"It doesn't count flirting. What they are doing is courting... Let's eat first."
"W-well, you should be the one to treat me."
"Of course," Jace smile before he wraps his arm around her shoulder and turns their back to them.
"Ugh! Georgina Alvarez... Don't think that there's something going on between us. I will tell you as early as now, there's nothing between us." Marga shouts in frustration, but the two give a playful smile as they close the door. "Damn her. Argh. It's your damn fault."
"What? All my fault? I didn't do something. I just want to be friends with you, though."
"Dream on. Don't follow me or I'll report you for harassment." Marga glare at Joshua, gives a last warn look before she storms out the room.
*****
The two came inside the cafeteria and finding an empty table but others occupied almost all of them. Some students stare in their direction-whispers on each other. As soon as Georgina glares at them, they'll look away and continue to eat in silence.
"I told you, the cafeteria is not a good choice. Let's go outside." She's about to walk outside, but Jace grabs her wrist—walks towards the corner.
"H-hey, I told you to eat outside."
Both eyes widen in surprise when she saw Kiela and Giovanni looking in their direction. She tries to pull her hands on Jace's grip, but he's strong to be dragged. In the end, they stop in front of the two. Jace put the tray down with a genuine smile on his face while Georgina looks away with annoyance. Even without looking back, she can still feel the intense stare of her ex. She knows well, they shouldn't be running on each other, but here they are facing each other after a few minutes.
"There's no available table here. Can we eat here?" Jace asked.
"Sure. It's not like we own the table alone. Besides, it looks fun." Kiela said in a sarcastic tone before she cling on Giovanni's arm.
"Thanks. Let's sit and eat Hon," Jace pulls a chair for her so she can't ignore it anymore and sits with heads down.
An awkward silence lingers on their table. It seems like a dark menacing aura keeps building up as the time passes by. Only the sound of their utensils and noise from students around them.
Few minutes pass by like that, no talks or glance on each other. They just focus on their food in front.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Since I think you still like my boyfriend, you better be aware of this..." Kiela breaks the silence. "Van and I are already engaged on each other. Soon we will be husband and wife. You better know where your position is."
The moment she heard those sentences, the spoon slip on her hand. It trembles as both brows frown. She didn't know about this matter. Kiela and Giovanni being engaged with each other is too far away from reality. Back then, he always complains to her how he doesn't like Kiela's attitude but to hear it and neither of them tries to deny means what she said is all true.
"Congratulation to both of you. Isn't it good news? Am I right, Hon?" She startled when Jace squeezes her hands still with a smile.
"Y-yeah,"
"I think you didn't expect it because you thought Van can only fall in love with you, right?" Kiela said. "Well, sorry to disappoint you... He can love someone other than you."
A silence continues between the four, but after a few minutes when Kiela's about to say something again, Georgina slams both palms on the table and glare to her—full of anger.
"There's nothing going on between me and Mr. Javier so, please shut your mouth. It looks like between us you're the one who can't move on from the past." Her voice raises that catch other students' attention.
"Hon, calm down and let's finish."
She heaves a deep sigh before sitting down again and continue to eat. In the middle of it, she felt a gaze piercing her and when she turn towards Giovanni's direction; he stares at her. She looks away and gulp as soon as possible. Those eyes were full of anger and disappointment. 'It's scary,' she thought while drinking water.