I pulled out bottle of honey from my schoolbag, like I knew he would catch cough that morning.
"Here." I said with a low voice, keeping the honey on his locker. But he didn't touched it, he was coughing more and more this time,as if struggling for breath. I became terrified. Maybe I should help him.
I leaned closer him and forced some drops of honey into his mouth,then patted his back, easing the cough.He became calm.
" Why did you helped me?"
" Don't think I'm stalking you.Even though you were another person, I'll still help!" I said, with a long face, leaning back to my seat, with the bottle of honey.
He didn't said anything, but laid his head facing the window.
Even trying to be nonchalant is making me think of his health. Why?
**********
" Today we'll be talking about scalar and vector quantity." Our physics teacher stood at the board,his eyes on everyone in the classroom." Can someone give a try to the meaning of this quantities?"
Everyone was silent, like they never heard of the words before. I raised my hands and the physics teacher pointed at me, nodding.
"Okay, Chloe..."
I stood a bit nervous, staring at the board," Vector quantity is that which both magnitude and direction..."
He nodded, giving me a signal to continue.
" While scalar quantity has magnitude but no direction."
The class gazed at me, with a surprised look. They thought I would be dull forever?
The physics teacher nodded and said," Applaud her!" He told the class.
Everyone applauded me, except that one person that haunted my feelings! Liam.
" So...those are the meaning of scalar and vector quantity." The physics teacher said," This is a new term and I want everyone to study ahead.Two partners for a study,in the library. Find your partner and prepare to study in the library during break periods. I'll ask random questions next week. Is that clear?"
" Yes sir!" We chorused.
He nodded," Good" , then he left the class.
Everyone was choosing their partner, but Liam sat still and so did I.
Our class rep, Amy walked towards Liam and smiled, trying to catch his attention," Hi,Liam.Can you be my partner for physics study,in the library?"
" I'm not interested." He said and looked away.
Amy sighed, shifting the gaze at me. I tried to hide my face, but she was too smart to wave at me,"Hi, Chloe- Annie..."
I slowly raised my face at her. I was already thinking she would be thinking suspicious about me, especially for what happened yesterday.
She said with a smirk," You look more beautiful everyday..."
" Thank you..." I said, shifting the quiff of my hair to the side of my ear. She nodded and left. I thought this study partner of a thing was locker mate by locker mate...How come she walked over to Liam, asking him to be her study partner? Isn't it weird enough?
Liam coughed.Not again ! Not when everyone is in the class.
"Where's the honey?" He asked.
I widened my eyes and glanced at him for a while.Then pulled the bottle of honey and kept it on his locker.
" Can't you give me some drops?" He asked.
I whispered," Everyone is watching..."
" Do it now, I feel uneasy."
Uneasy? But damn...all eyes were on us.
I stuttered, out of fear,"I'm sorry... I can't" My eyes were becoming moist already.
" Do it now!" He coughed again, fidgeting.
In fear,I poured some drops in his mouth,my hands shaking that any form of mistake, I'll eventually pour the honey on his shirt.
The class screamed," Woah... Woah!"
I took the bottle of honey and sat back, feeling sudden heat around me.Why me?
" Lover girl! Lover girl!" They hailed.
Overwhelmed with guilt, I left the class.
Why can't they understand that I'm not in love? Why can't they understand that I'm just helping and he forced me to help him? Why is it always me?
**********
Break time...
I suddenly bumped into someone as I tried going to food canteen. He waved at me," Hi."
I stared at him for a while and waved back at him," Hi."
" I'm Xander and I'm a newcomer here. Can you take me to the canteen?"
I nodded with a smile," Yes,of course."
I just liked lending a helping hand.
" Thanks" He said,as I led him to the canteen.
Some students were staring at us and others had circled in gossips," Isn't she the girl in love with her new classmate?"
" Yes. She's the one...she looks too naive and innocent for that!"
" Don't you know that beautiful eyes are always deceiving?"
So...the rumor has spread? It can't be. The term just started and I'm already feeling tensed. Why me?
" Are you okay?" Xander asked, pulling me back from thoughts.
I smiled at him, nodding," I'm fine."
We got to the canteen and bought custard cakes,then I took him to the east wing of the school, where few students passed by.
He said he wanted me to tell him more about Bellingham High School.
The wind hurled around us as we munched the custard cakes.
He glanced at me," So... Can you tell me thing you know about this school?"
I nodded," Yes. Bellingham High School is a place where your educational foundation becomes firm. We have different, fascinating facilities.We have the laboratory,for science students. We have the big hall for entertainments.We have sports field , where all students engage in different kinds of sports. They're many more..."
" Woah." He said," It's really interesting...I resumed today.And I'm in grade 12." Xander said.
" Okay, you are actually my senior,then..."
He asked," What's your name?"
I glanced at him," Chloe- Annie. Everyone knows me as Chloe."
He nodded," Okay, Chloe... nice meeting you" He tried shaking hands with me, but someone stopped us. Who was that?