I froze. Who else would it be,after his lemonade scent hurled beside me.
" Let's go to the library for study." He said strictly, slightly pulling me back from Xander.
My heart skipped. What did he wanted now? The both of us studying? So...the rumor didn't reached him.
Xander glanced at Liam," Hi,bro..."
Liam said nothing but headed to the library, urging me to come with him.
" You haven't told me the class you are in.." Xander called out,as I slowly dogged Liam.
Liam suddenly turned back at Xander and snapped," She doesn't knows!"
He stood, glaring at me as if he was angrily waiting for me. I finally met him, walking cautiously behind him, trembling.
Was this me being nonchalant or what? I couldn't even explain how I was feeling tensed and frightened.
" You were talking with your new boyfriend and forgot that you have to study, right?" He said, walking faster.
What boyfriend? Meaning???
I said nothing. My heart ached more.I felt intense hotness around me.I just wanted to avoid him. I wanted the rumors to die down but he just acted insensitively, as if he didn't cared.
"Why are you breathing hard?" He suddenly stopped," What are you scared of?"
I looked away,"N-nothing..."
He glared at me for a while and continued walking.The hotness grew more as I dogged him.We finally got to the library and all eyes were on us. I suddenly felt sheepish, but Liam felt nothing. Just bold.
He led me to a vacant seat, pulling out some textbooks," Sit." He said.
Avoiding his eyes, I sat down.
" Isn't it her?" A girl standing with her peers, pointed at me.
I trembled uncontrollably, my head hitting hard.
" Are you okay?" Liam glanced at me," Or...are you missing yourself boyfriend? You can go ahead and visit him,if you want!" He snapped, throwing a textbook at my side," Read the important key words there. I'll be back."He said and left.
And suddenly,some set of girls walked towards me. I never knew them before.
" Hi!" Their 'Queen' waved at me.I only nodded, avoiding eye contact with them.
" I know you don't know me, but I just learnt that you are trying to act bigger than yourself!"
I glanced at her," What do you mean?"
" Well..."
" Here he comes..." Her girls told her.And they left, without hesitating. How powerful was Liam's presence!
Without saying a word,he kept a glass of orange juice and sandwich at my side." Thanks..." I fiddled my fingers.
" Have you studied those keywords?" He asked.
" ...No"
" What stopped you from doing so?"
" Nothing."I looked away.
" Why are you acting scared?" He asked with a hoarse voice.
" Didn't you heard the rumor?" I stuttered.
He muttered," Does it matters?"
" Everyone is thinking I'm in..."
He stopped me from finishing those words,"Clear your mind."
He stared at me. I slowly raised my head and met his eyes. First time he stared softly at me. The hotness in me mellowed but I still felt some pinches of discomfort.
He suddenly coughed.
I pulled out the bottle of honey and gave him some drops," Are you okay now?"
" Kinda. Give me more" He said. And I obeyed.
" Is it okay now?"
He was silent for a while before he replied," Yes."
" Why don't you take medications?" I asked him.
" I don't feel like." He replied.
I felt kind of relieved that he was replying me words to words now, unlike before.
I slowly ate the sandwich and gulped the juice as I studied the keywords in the textbook.
I stole a glance at him, peeking at his eyes. I couldn't believe he was that generous, unlike him,in the first place.
" What are you staring at?" Oh,here he comes with that question.
I smiled," You are really kind,Liam."
He looked away, touching the nape of his neck," Stop flattering me."
" I won't," I giggled, forgetting everything that made me felt haunted; forgetting what other students would say. That moment, I felt like our friendship was close, even though he never wanted us to be friends.
**********
We walked back from school together.
I dogged him silently, glancing at the dancing trees.
" Do your parents know you have a school boyfriend?" He asked.
My heart skipped. I confronted him," What are you talking about?"
He looked away, touching the nape of his neck," Who's that boy you were spending your time with?"
" He's Xander. A newcomer; he resumed today and asked me to tell him more about our school... I wasn't spending time with him!" I told him.
" How come you know his name?"
I glanced at Liam,"He told me."
" Why was he trying to shake hands with you? Is he your boyfriend?"
" Isn't it a normal thing if someone shakes hands with you?" I asked, arching my eyebrows and searching for answers in his eyes.
" Stop staring at me that way." He snapped and walked past me. I confronted him again and smiled.
"Are you angry?"
" Don't shake people unnecessarily. They can steal your intelligence through handshaking, even though you are still dumb!" He snapped.
I pointed at him," But I'm not dumb!"
" You are." He insisted, with a tone of harsh, playful voice.
I tried jumping at his front, but his leg hitted mine. I almost fell but got caught in his arms.His eyes were the first thing I saw,when my phobia of falling subdued.
" Why are you so playful?" He gazed at me.
Stunned that I got caught on his arms, I pulled away from him and stood erect, my eyes moist." It won't happen again!" I said and walked away.
" Stupid girl!" He called.
Stupid girl?
" What now? Why are you calling me stupid girl?"
He said nothing, but looked away.
" You didn't even thanked me for bringing that bottle of honey to school. Who knows if you would have died,if I hadn't brought it!"I told him.
" Then I die..."
" You are not afraid of dying? Do you know how your parents with feel if you die?" I pointed at him.
He said nothing, but sighed.
" Why were you trying to act nonchalant in the morning? Do you think it fits you?" He asked.
" How do you know I was acting nonchalant? Tell me!" I widened my eyes at him," Is it that obvious?"
" Hmm." He muttered," Stupid girl!"
I frowned at him," I'm not stupid."
We were quiet for a while,as we walked.
He said,as I dogged him step by step," Thank you for being considerate."
My heart skipped. First time he appreciated me, but it felt like it was a daydream.
I jumped at his front and giggled," You are officially welcome."
" Thank you for helping me with the library study!"I told him.
He said nothing but smile with his eyes, looking away, touching the nape of his neck. Does he has an injury there?
" Why do you always touch the nape of your neck?"I asked him, jabbering.