Matthews Dunlop.
My worst day ever indeed. The school was closed for the day and it was time for all students to go home. I looked around the classroom just to figure I was the only one remaining to leave. Probably because I was waking up from my afternoon nap. The day couldn't have gotten better watching Elena dine and wine with her enemy pretending to be her friend.
I tried my possible best to make her see his true intentions. Confronting her thousand times without no evidence wasn't the right option but I expected her to believe what I said. I was her best friend and I'd never lie or make things up to ruin her happiness. Well, fuck it.
I yawned tiredly and stretched my arms a bit. The day stressed me out with classes and my stupid feelings. Luckily for me, Clara was available to help me through the day. I always saw her around with Anabel and friends and I categorized them all together. Classy, Saucy, and rude to everyone on the school premises. The Clara I was getting to know was different from what I perceived. She was energetic and friendly. She was ready to listen and she makes a very good company hang around with.
Elena had a fun time with Kadjiri. A disgusting thing to watch. Chic-chat in class, laugh at the cafeteria and also become soon to be permanent seat partners. She was having a blast which was left for me to see. Even though she saw me as her devil, I was still worried about her well-being. I expected less from Kadjiri. He looked so innocent when he newly resumes in this school. Everyone wanted to be around him for his good looks and jovial personality. He just had to mix up with the bad eggs to pull a stunt on my bestie. Not on my watch.
But who cares anyway. She wasn't ready to read between the lines. I expected Elena to know me better. We have been besties since kindergarten. I don't recall doing anything to make her sad apart from the times when I teased her about little things which I always apologized for. Fuck everything going on. I picked up my bag and cleaned my eyes up, making sure my eyebags weren't visible. I took my steps out of the class while I exited, heading to leave through the school's entrance door.
My bicycle was parked in the bike parking lot. I selected it and plan to walk with it home since I wasn't in the right state of mind to ride it home. Planning on making my way out of the school premises, someone called my attention.
"Hey, Matthews. Wait up." I turned to see who it was and saw it was Clara. It took me by surprise, I wasn't going to lie. I didn't see our supposed friendship coming even though she had been throwing herself at me at the time. Why go for what will hurt you when you have someone out there who loved you? I thought. I did as she asked, seeing her run towards me.
"Hey Matthews," she greeted again. "I thought you left school already. Been looking everywhere for you." I thought everyone left, remaining on me.
"I thought y'all left me since I was taking a nap and no one woke up," which was true. She chuckled.
"I didn't know about that. I'm sorry," she apologized which I didn't see the need to. Probably she felt guilty for not waking me up. No one was obligated to anyways. "You'd look cute when taking a nap though," she smirked.
This got to me through my thick skin. I wasn't a fan of compliments but I loved being the object. She looked at me like she saw her favorite snack. Her eyes were all gazing at my face while she rolled her hair slightly with her index finger. Goodness knew what was going through her mind.
"Thank you," I was nervous not in particular. I laughed anxiously not knowing what to say as my reply. I watched her while she played with her hair. How she accessed me from my head to toe. She looked like she was expecting something more than just a thank you.
"Do you mind if I collect your number? Probably I can call you later at night," She asked. This felt so weird coming from the opposite gender. No one had ever asked for my phone number following the fact that they found me cute and all. I was caught up with my choices. I wasn't sure if I wanted that closeness between us but it wasn't wrong of me to cherish the moment. I sighed while my eyes were filled with shock.
"Well. I don't mind," I kind of stammered in between my words, watching out for what might come out. I was being careful. Saying something hurtful might create the wrong impression. She brought out her phone and gave it to me to put down my digits. I did as she requested and handed it back to her with care. I watched her save my contact with my name and a love emoji behind it. She waved her hands while she said goodbye and took her to leave.
That was a moment I'd never forget. Everything happened so fast as much as I tried to be so careful with it. I admired her confidence and I could admit she was very pretty and charming. Nothing stopped her from going after what she wanted, which was me. I could use this to my advantage than stalking someone who wasn't ready to listen to me at all.
Night finally came upon the city. Mom was busy making dinner for the family while Dad was stuck to the television, trying to get something from the daily news broadcast every night at eight. I was in their center and by the center, I meant the dining table. I had to myself my geography book, trying to study the few topics that I've been taught.
"Could you take those books away? It's time to eat dinner," Mom said as she held the tray to serve us our dishes. It was finally time to eat dinner after starving. I did as she asked and put my note on my back in the parlor.
Mom had prepared one of my favorite dishes, rice, and stew with beef. Not what I was craving but it looked delicious. I helped her with the tray and served the food on our plates at the dining table. Dad was so engrossed with his news channel which made him decide to eat his meal in the parlor. I wondered what was so special about the news that made him focus on the screen. I think it was a thing amongst old people. Always not having fun, reading newspapers and watching the news all the time. I wasn't bothered anyway. My mom and I sat in the dining to enjoy the meal she prepared.
"Mom your food tastes nice," I complimented as I dug into my meal to take more spoons of it.
"First time you said that in a long time," She smiled. I don't think she was wrong. I hardly praised her for cooking but it doesn't mean I didn't like her meal. My mom was the best cook ever, after me though.
We continued with our meals while we discussed each other's day. From her words, it was obvious she had a blast. My mom was a nurse. She loved helping people out with their health issues. She stood with humanity. I found my mom to be a strong woman with the way she took her job seriously. I'd have probably fainted at the sight of blood from some patients. It made me cringe even at the sight of my blood.
Just as I was about to talk about my day, my phone rang. We had a rule in the house at the dining which was no phone calls while we ate. Not everyone kept to the rules and I was about to be one of them. It was an unknown number when I checked. I wasn't eager to pick since I knew not about the contact but it kept ringing persistently.
"Matthews, are you going to pick or not? It's really disturbing," Dad voiced out from the parlor. It was getting to him. I looked at my phone again and the line rang. I had my doubts about picking but I had to.
"Hello?" I answered as I picked up. I was so skeptical and anxious.
"Good evening. It's Clara." I was relieved a bit. "Sorry for calling this late. I just wanted to check up on you."
"It's no problem," it was kind of a problem since she called me right there at dinner. I wasn't supposed to pick but I broke the rule. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing great thank you, how are you doing? You good?"
"Yes, I'm. Just having dinner."
"That's great. What're you having?"
"Just rice. You could come to join me," a thing we said at home when we tell them to join us for the meal but we don't mean it.
"Oh thank you. I just had dinner too. I had yam and eggs."
"Oh, that's great."
The silence grew between both of us while we talked. I had nothing to say also with Clara. I gradually took spoons of my food to eat when I ran out of words.
"Alright. Make sure you've got a good night's rest. Bye," she broke the silence at last.
"Bye. Take care," I replied.
"I love–" I couldn't give her the privilege to finish up her speech before I hung up the phone. I hope I wasn't rude. I watched my mom stylishly observing me while she ate her food. We weren't able to have a discussion back then. It won't be bad if I brought it up now.
"Mom, can I talk to you about something?" I sighed and dropped my spoon. My appetite was lost.
"I thought you'd never ask," I never knew she was waiting for this moment for me to open up. She always wanted to be close to her kid. I was the one drifting apart.
"I have issues with Elena." It caught her off guard. She dropped her spoon and focused more on my words. Of all things, Elena and I having issues was something my mom didn't see coming.
"What happened?" She asked.
"She likes this guy but he's planning on playing her which I found out. I told her about it but she didn't believe me. I think I've feelings for her too but I'm not ready to lose my friendship with her which I think I've lost already."
"Oh, baby. So sorry about that. It's kind of hard where you are stuck between keeping your best friend and taking things a step further. I also had that kind of issue once." That was surprising.
"Really mom?"
"Yes! I loved my best friend so much and he was aware of it. But we didn't decide to take things further because relationships don't last forever. When you guys break up and become exes, you lose the friendship at that point. Except you are ready to take the risks."
Mom made a point. A valid one. High school romance was always for a short while. We all get excited because of the love feelings we felt and we don't look beyond what we see. But I couldn't stand Elena being in trouble even though she wasn't with me.
"What about Elena being played by the boy she thinks she loves? How so I reveal his true nature?"
"Son. Nothing stays hidden under the sun. Follow your heart because it knows what's right," she tapped my palm and rubbed it slightly. It gave me strength to know my mom confided in me.
The main question to ask was what does my heart feel I should do?