“Can I ask you a question?”
“What is it?”
“Do you like Althea? I’m just curious.”
“What?! No! What are you saying? Don’t say because someone might hear you and make an issue.” He answered blushing
“So you don’t like her even for a bit.”
He sighed and crossed his arms while looking at me seriously. He raised an eyebrow as he stared at me before shaking his head.
“Why? Are you interested in her? Do you like her?” Henry asked me back
“I was just asking because I never saw you act so cheesy before,” I said
“Oh. Do you want to know a secret?” he whispered suddenly
“What?” I whispered back
“I do like Athena. We both have the same characteristics and we click on a lot of things. Are you jealous?” He smiled and winked at me
“Oh shut up! Why are you spreading that rumor again? Are you trying to get rid of someone again? Who is the unlucky girl this time?” Althea said behind my back
“Uhm! I didn’t know that you were there.” I said while clearing my throat.
“I was here long enough to hear what he said about liking me. I still can’t believe that this person is telling that again.” she answered
“Why are you here?” Henry asked
“Aren’t you going to eat lunch? We are going to eat now,” she answered while looking back to our seat
I followed her gaze and saw Allyson and Jackson sitting there while looking at us. Maybe they are waiting for us to join them.
“Aren’t your friends coming to join us for lunch?” Henry asked him
“They will be having lunch in their designated room since they will finish their exams late. If you want to join us for lunch then feel free to have a seat with us.” she said before leaving us
“Why didn’t you tell me that she was behind me?” I scolded Henry
“Where is the fun in that? Are you going to join us for lunch? I hope you packed a lunch box.” he said smiling
I watched Henry as he walked over and started talking with Althea happily. Something changed about her but I cannot pinpoint what it is yet. I walked over to Daniel who was busy checking his notebook.
“Ahm! Aren’t you going to eat lunch? Would you like to join them?” I said while pointing at Athena’s group.
He followed my hand and I can notice the hesitation from his eyes when he saw whom I am pointing to. He smiled and then nodded slightly.
“I seriously hate you three! You should be thankful that all of you are way taller than me.” Athena said while fixing her messy hair.
The three guys were grinning and amusement could be seen in their eyes. They sat down laughing while watching Althea sit on the other side of the table.
“Aren’t you going to sit down beside us?” Jackson said
“No! You stay there and I will sit with Vladimir. You are just getting on my nerves.” She said, shaking her head.
“Where should I sit?” I asked to get their attention.
Her smiling face when she looked back suddenly became serious for a short time before she smiled widely. I got confused again if I was seeing things. Why am I noticing weird things today?
“Both of you can sit down beside me. I don’t want to sit with them.” she replied
“Hello!” Someone shouted when we were about to start eating.
All of the people in the room looked by the door and saw May and Jessica smiling. They bowed their heads awkwardly when they noticed that the room suddenly became silent.
“I didn’t know that there were other students here. I thought that you were the only ones using the room.” May said while blushing
“Then maybe next time, try to look around first before shouting.” Althea said
“Whoa! Whoa! What do we have here? Why are you two sitting beside each other? Are you on good terms now?” Jessica blurted out as she pointed at Althea and Daniel.
Athena’s eyes widened and she pursed her lips while shaking her head. Jessica didn’t notice her and continued talking.
“Or are the two of you going back to what you had before?”
“What did they have before?” Allyson asked
“Jessica, don’t.” May was horrified when she noticed Althea blinking fast. She stood up and tried to cover Jessica’s mouth but it was too late.
“Oh! You didn’t know. They were ex-lovers and from what I know they are not on talking terms.” Jessica said as she walked to her seat.
“They are what? Ex-lovers? Like in a romantic relationship?” Henry blurted out
We all stared at Althea and Daniel who sat there sighing with their shoulders down. Henry, Jackson, and Allyson have their mouths wide-open while waiting for an explanation.
“They didn’t know. Look at what you did.” May said while slapping Jessica’s arm
She covered her mouth and then looked at everyone’s facial expression. She slowly looked at Althea and smiled awkwardly. Althea waved her hand at her as if saying “whatever” while breathing deeply.
“So that was the reason why you have been acting awkward and uncomfortable around each other. I thought it was because you’re not close with each other.” Jackson said with his arms crossed
“Look. I don’t really want to talk about what we had before. It was already in the past. Can’t we just eat lunch?” Althea said
I guess everyone on the table could feel how uncomfortable she was so we all nodded and started eating quietly. Athena kept on sighing as she nibbled on her food and stared at Allyson’s food.
“Fine. Want to exchange lunch boxes with me?” I heard Allyson say before he pushed his lunch box in front of Athena.
Athena’s face brightened up before pushing her lunch box away and grabbing Allyson’s. I am getting confused again because Allyson only had stir-fried vegetables and rice on his lunchbox while Athena had pork adobo with potatoes. Allyson shook his head as he grabbed Athena’s lunchbox.
“Thank you!” Athena said before blowing a kiss to Allyson as if annoying him.
“Why don’t you tell your Nana to pack you vegetables for lunch? You’re always taking mine every time we pack lunch boxes.” Allyson said with annoyance.
“Stop talking. Just eat.” She answered back.
I caught Althea smiling for a moment as she watched Allyson eat. I looked at Henry and Jackson to see their reaction but they didn’t seem to mind them. A lot of things have happened today that I hope I won’t be distracted while having the exams later. I have a lot of questions that I wanted to ask.
I was inside the CR peeing when I heard someone come inside. I didn’t really mind since I was inside the cubicle. I freaked out when I opened the cubicle door and saw someone wearing a skirt while having her ears by the door.
“Ahhhh!” I shouted
“Oh my goodness!” she shouted also as she faced me
“What are you doing here?” she asked after recognizing me
“I should be the one asking you that question. What are you doing here? This is the men’s bathroom.” I said
“Of course, I know where I am. What do you think of me? Shush or I might get caught.” She said before pressing her ears at the door again.
I approached her and pressed my ears on the door so that I would know whom she was hiding from but I cannot hear anything. She pulled me to the cubicle when someone knocked at the door.
“Tell them that someone is in here if they knock or ask.” She whispered to me as she squat on top of the toilets cover
“What are you doing? Do you really have to do that?” I asked
“I am hiding my feet. What if someone sees that there are two people inside? I don’t want to get in trouble. You know how people get caught when someone peeps on the space below the cubicle.” she said smiling.
“You have been watching too many movies but okay. Do your thing.” I answered while shaking my head
“Have you seen where Althea went? She has a lot of explaining to do and she suddenly disappeared when the exam was over.” I heard Jackson’s voice
Athena gestured to me to keep quiet while shaking her head. I think I understood very well what is happening here.
“I know, we spent a year together and she never mentioned her past lover. Did they really have a thing in the past? I think she knows that we will ask about it, that's why she ran away so early.” Allyson answered back
“We still need to report to school anyways so we still have a lot of time to interrogate her. Just let her spend the weekend peacefully since we can still see her on Monday.” Jackson said laughing