"Are you okay?" I asked, trying to pat him in the back to ease the cough, but he pushed my hands away.
" I'm okay" He coughed again and sighed, as if I was the reason he caught the cough.
Now, we were both calm.
" When you get home, try taking medications..." I told him. He stared emotionless at me for a while and looked away.
" I'll try." He replied dryly.
I smiled, joggling to and fro on the bench. At least, he said something, " So..." I gazed at him, " Will you still bruise my hands with spatula?"
He stared at the trees without saying anything. Does that mean he'll still bruise my hands with spatula again? Has he really agreed to be friends with me, or...
" What do you mean?" He snapped.
I widened my eyes in delight and naivety, "I mean... are we now friends?"
To my very surprise, he stood and walked off to the class.
" Hey",I called, running after him, but he kept walking more faster, "Has he really forgiven me" I cried under my breathing, dogging him.
We got to the classroom and I had almost bumped into him, as he wanted to to sit down. Everyone was watching, as if they had been expecting us together; Including Milo and Lily.
I suddenly felt butterflies in my stomach. Maybe, this friendship is real. Hahahaha!.
I touched his arm slightly and gazed at him, " So..?"
He glared at me, pulling my hands away, " So what?"
Why did he suddenly changed his attitude towards me now I wanted to show Milo and Lily that he really wants to be my friend???
I brightened up, concealing my anxious and nervous facade, " So... are we friends? Do you like me?"
He suddenly furrowed his face, as if he never expected what I said I said. He withdrew from me, his eyes moist,"Stay away from me.Who said we're friends? Who said I like you? Avoid me." He said and left the class.
Everyone landed the surprise,mockery gaze at me." She's so naive." Phoebe rolled her eyes and continued painting her lips with those filthy lipsticks.
Another student guffawed,"She thinks she has won his heart?"
I suddenly felt shame and guilt all around me like a full aura.That moment, I craved for the earth to swallow me mercilessly.I slowly turned at Lily and Milo, but they looked away,as if they really felt the depth of my shame.
I thought Lily was wrong.Liam never liked me!
Oh, what an alchemy of shame!
How would I be so foolish enough to be dumb? Now everyone must think I'm in love with him.Now, rumors would spread around the whole school. What will I do now?
************I go back from school in shame.Nobody was home.I went to my room and slammed the door so tight.
Why would Liam do this to me? So...he never wanted to be my friend.So he could even have guts to bruise my hands with spatula again. Why am I this unlucky?
Maybe I need to level up.Yes!
I sat on the bed and reached for my phone in my schoolbag.I went to go goggle and searched curiously for 10 RULES TO BECOME NONCHALANT ( Student Version).
And the answer came out to be:
1.Know your worth before others.2. Study hard; be brilliant.3. Focus on your goals.4.Talk less.5. Mind your business.6.Help others without asking.7. Never beg.8.Always be early.9.Dress neatly.10.Avoid dramas...
All these? Fine. I'll do it! I'll make sure Liam feels my energy.He must beg, not me!
I jotted down the rules in my diary, trying to cram them.
But...Rule no.2. Study hard? I just can't. It's better I play games than keeping my head stressed out.
I searched again.WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T OBEY RULE NO.2?
The answer was: IF YOU DON'T OBEY ANY RULES GIVEN,THEN YOU ARE NOT READY TO BECOME NONCHALANT.
Really?? Then I must read!
Rule no.6...Help others without asking?So, since Liam has cough, I should take honey along with me to school tomorrow,to help him ease the cough? That's too crazy... but I'll do whatever the goggle say. I must become nonchalant for Liam!
And I promise to know my worth before him!
Maybe I should start from Rule no. 2 .
**********"Vector quantity is that which has both magnitude and direction!" I crammed aloud, walking to and fro in my room.
The door creaked open and I stopped. Mum walked in, with a surprised gaze.
" Is there an exam tomorrow?" She asked.
" No,mum." I tried to continue reading but she stopped me.
" So..how come you are reading that you are even disturbing the nearby neighbours? Have you finally changed? "
I glanced at her," What do you mean,mom?"
" I mean no harm but I can't believe you are reading your books already; keep it up! I await your results!" She said and left, slamming the door.
My results?
" I don't really understand this physics, Mom.Don' t count on me!" I said loudly, hoping she would hear me.
**********
I was resting on my locker,when someone tickled me lightly.I turned slightly and saw Lily. Her gaze at me was so surprised.
" Chloe? How come you came early today? You didn't play online games yesterday, right?" She asked with a light face." And gee... you are looking very neat!"
I looked away," I just want to become nonchalant!" I pouted my lips.
" What do you mean now?" She asked, leaning closer.
" Didn't you witnessed what happened yesterday With Milo? Liam rejected me and it's time for a level-up.He despised me because he thought I was a fool.He thought I can't level up!" I snapped.
But Lily guffawed weirdly.
I glared at her," Do you think it's a joke?"
" No. But you are really funny" She told me.
" How? " I pointed at her.
She widened her eyes," How? Do you know what it takes to level up? C'mon, it's just useless because Liam will always be who he was... you know, pulling a long face, so just be yourself!"
" I can't! I spent last night studying and you expect me to be myself? You don't even know how it feels to be embarrassed by someone you subtly care for!" I said. My eyes were becoming moist.
" I understand, Chloe, but you shouldn't be too reactive. Liam likes you, but he's trying to protect his emotions. Trust me."
I glanced at her, sniffing in my cattarh," Trying to protect his emotions by hurting my feelings?"
" Calm down Chloe.Here he comes. Don't overreact, I'll be back for a while." Lily said and left the class.
I felt that masculine scent walking past my locker. I sat still, facing the board. Now, only the both of us was in the classroom. That moment, I wished something would take me out of the locker without even asking for such help.
He suddenly coughed. My heart raced, without direction, just like scalar quantity.What does he wants now? He coughed again. I glanced at him and saw his eyes reddish. What was wrong with him? Maybe... I should help without asking, just like the NONCHALANT RULES stated.