Leus
"Aera, watch our football game later. I am one of the first eleven to play." I told Aera. "Ha? Ha?" It is my 10th time asking her, though.
I started asking her before our class started, and until now, I have been asking her to come and watch our match later, but why is it so hard to make her come?
This is the first time one of my friends has rejected my invitation. Should I cry? Would it work?
I thought she was going to answer me, but she put her index finger to her lips, signaling me to be quiet.
How in the world could she do this to her one and only friend?
Why does it feel like it is so unfair?
"Mr. Concepcion," our professor called me, so I turned in front and saw my professor almost glaring at me. "Please do not disturb your seatmate when she only wants to listen to our lesson, will you?" she added.
I nodded, defeated. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry," raising both hands to surrender and sit properly. I can't help but pout at her. "I just saw the corner of your lips moving up." I whispered, since I could not let our professor see me again.
After the dismissal of our class, I sat in front of her, facing her.
This time, I will be able to ask her again. I do not want our professor to send me out because I was loud. No way.
"Come on, watch me play later. I want you to meet my friends as well," I said, trying to persuade her as much as I could. "They are kind, but not as handsome as me." I added, since I must not lie.
Honesty is the best policy.
She handed her pad paper to me.
'Why do you need to introduce me to your friends? They might not like me and also don't know what you are playing.'
I sighed. "All we need for us to win is just to score. And here I am thinking that we are friends already. Are you just denying our friendship? I am disappointed." I replied, looking dissatisfied with her.
She is now checking me to see if I am joking or not. So I even fake my facial expression as if I am cheesed off and look at the other side.
God of handsomeness, please help me to persuade her.
I glanced at her when she tapped my hand.
"Why..." She showed me her pad and there was a written message that she was 'sorry' for her attitude.
If I was really mad, just looking at her would make me forgive her already.
Foul.
I should be mad here. Why am I thinking of forgiving this new friend of mine so quickly?
"I thought that we were friends already. So I am really expecting that you will come to see me play later. I am just a little bit disappointed." I explained and showed her the little bit of a sign.
She started to write something on her pad. I sneakily read what could be it, and I guess I could be an actor someday.
'I am just afraid that the other might be more angry with me. That is why I needed to reject you. Please don't be mad at me. I really want you to be my friend. Please don't think I don't want to be your friend'
"As long as I am with you, they won't harm you. I'm not going to let them, okay? I said after reading her answer.
I also want her to know that all men won't harm her. I don't even know her story, aside from that she's from an orphanage.
"You are going to watch me play later, right?" I asked, confirming if she would watch me later.
She shyly nodded her head, making me relieved.
Sorry for acting, but yeah, it is worth it. I should keep this acting card with me.
After our class, I ran to our dressing room to get ready for our play, 30 minutes before the game started.
"Is it today?" Cavin asked me while he was stretching.
I nodded. "Yeah, be sure not to scare the hell out of her. I think she's really uncomfortable with any gender, especially a man. " I answered him.
My friends know about Aera already, and I told them that one day I would introduce her to them.
When it comes to making new friends, I tend to observe every detail I can find. So that I know what to avoid or anything. If they change, I will do the same thing, so that I can read them.
As I observed about her, she's not only scared of men. Girls can make her uncomfortable as well. She doesn't like being touched by someone she doesn't know.
I tried to tap her hand last time. When she saw that I was the one who did that, she smiled at me, indicating it was okay to do that.
"You told us that she's from the Saint Angel Orphanage, right?" Keon asked while tying his shoes. "Do you know what happened to her? Being ended up at the orphanage means she came from a hard path." he added.
"Actually, I really wanted to know what happened to her, but I just couldn't push myself to ask her. It's like it was too sensitive to ask for." I replied.
Since we have known each other for just a week, I should be cautious with everything. If she's a man, I could ask her anything I was curious about, but she's too different. First, she is a girl. Second, her case is somewhat of a Pandora's box. Lastly, she looks like she is too fragile.
"So, you are now comfortable with girls?" Ricx pissing me off.
"I'm always comfortable with girls!" I answered, almost shouting. "It's just something that happened a few weeks ago!" I shouted, reasoning to save myself from embarrassment.
They laughed at me as if it was too funny to see.
"I'm sure Aera isn't a trap. It's a sign that you are now healing from what happened." Drake said while laughing his ass out.
If Aera is a trap, I don't know anymore. But please no, not her.
"Her beauty isn't something to be one of the traps! No, I won't allow it." I said while tapping my face.
"She's a beauty. She doesn't even need to speak. And if she could, it would be more dangerous for men like us," Allen said while holding his chin. "Do you think some of the students here are after her?" He added.
Some of my classmates want to talk to her, but they can't since our professor warned us to not scare her.
Before we started our first class, and before she entered our room that day, we were asked to not scare her or make her uncomfortable. Aside from her disability, she is very sensitive. So we never had the chance to talk to her that much.
They even asked me if I could introduce them to her because we are close. So I think some of them are after her.
"I think so, but the important thing is that I am her friend." I said, making them grin widely.
When the time comes, we started to practice in the field. I immediately searched where Aera was sitting.
"She won't dare go home and ditch me, right?" I asked myself.
I can't see her everywhere.
"Can't see her?" Allen asked after passing the ball to me.
"Yeah." I answered while trying to search for her in the crowd.
There is no available space or seat wherever I look. She'll get scared if she is there. I won't be mad if she doesn't come. I can introduce her to them next time.
"That was a good play! I thought we were going to lose in the last minute." Drake said, still in shock because of the last minute of our game.
Before the minute ended, Cavin made a goal. Well, he is our second striker.
The score ended up 3-2. Our school won. We will prepare for our next game, to be announced next week.
"She failed to watch our game?" Ricx asked.
"I think she's not yet ready to see your ugliness, guys," I answered. "It was too packed a while ago, I don't think she'd be okay if she was there." I added.
Although I wanted her to watch us play, I also prioritized her safety. She might encounter things she doesn't want to.
We started to clean ourselves before going home.
"Cavin, ride me in!" Keon said, while we were about to go out of the dressing room.
"A*shole! Am I your chauffeur?" Cavin retorted, not liking the idea.
"Oh! There you are!" Allen said that made us immediately leave the room. "Sorry, did I scare you?"
When we got out, I saw Aera distancing herself from Allen.
"Aera? What are you doing here?" I asked.
Is she waiting for us?
'Didn't I say I'd watch your game? Congratulations'
She said after she showed me her pad paper.
"Did you really watch us?" I asked her back, so she started to write again.
'Yes, but I am on the second floor. There isn't as much space there as a while ago'
"He thought you hadn't shown up." Allen butted in.
"Anyway, they are my closest friends among the whole team," I started introducing. "This guy is Allen." I said, referring to Allen, who was beside me. "Cavin, Keon, Ricx, and Drake."
"Hello, Aera!"
"You're prettier in person!"
"But you're also pretty in the picture that he showed us.
"You're not a trap, aren't you?"
"Shut your mouth! You're scaring her, dumb idiots," I scowled. "They are kind but kinda a*sholes, so you don't have to be scared of them." I felt relieved when she smiled at us before writing something.
'I'm glad to meet you. You guys were great. Especially, Cavin'
"Hey, I am your friend. You should compliment me first before complimenting him. It looks like you abandoned me already," I said, complaining. "I scored as well, you know?" I even added.
"Do you know what a trap is?" Drake said after pulling Aera to walk with them.
"What the hell?" I asked.
"When we say trap, it is a Japanese term where a male or female acts or looks like the opposite of their gender. And Leus is a victim of it." Ricx shares the story as if I am not here.
"We won with the other school as well two weeks ago. To celebrate it, we decided to drink at a bar. A hot lady served us and got attracted to him." Keon added, pertaining to me.
"She's really a hot one! We thought the bastard was too lucky that night. She even tried to sit in his lap and guess what happened next?" Cavin added, laughing already.
Aera looked at me, waiting for me to finish the story.
"I'm not against to gays, but I'm not into them. I felt..." stuttering and I couldn't even finish what I had to say. "You know, every man's thing? He sat on me. I can definitely tell what it was." I continued waiting for her reaction, if she would smile or not.
"We didn't kiss, okay? We didn't. Before everything happened, I stopped him already." I added, to save myself from embarrassment.
"Because of that, he's a little uncomfortable around girls. Thinking it might be a trap again." Cavin said while laughing.
She smiled at me, saying it was okay to feel or do that. Good thing she's open with these kinds of matters.
"Do you want to come and eat with us? It's my treat." Keon asked Aera, but she shook her head before writing on her pad.
'I'm sorry. Sister Ailee texted me to come home after your match. I hope you understand me'
"It's okay. There's always next time, and maybe we can do that tomorrow," I answered. "Should I drive you home?" I asked.
'You don't have to. Maybe next time. So I can introduce you to Sister Ailee and the children in the orphanage if you like'
"Let me join too!" Ricx butted.
"I wanted to know and see as well, so count me in." Drake added.
"One for all, all for one." Allen added.
"Is it okay to bring us with you next time? We'll promise you to act with manner." I asked.
She doesn't forget to smile every time someone looks at her. That's one of her good sides that everyone would like. Is she like this since then? I really wanted to know.