Both Milo and Lily widened their eyes,"Phoebe?"
" It must be Phoebe!" Milo said," She always does it to most of the students, even in the other classes!"
I arched my eyebrows,"A School spy and baddie?"
Milo nodded," Exactly!"
I bit my lips," How should I shun her? I think she's the reason why the rumour between I and Liam spreaded around. Who knows how far our picture has reached!" I said, clenching my jaw.
" She has been a secret spy..." Lily whispered.
I withdrew from them," I'll go and search for her.Maybe, I'll give her the first and last warning from me!"
Lily tried to pull me back," Don't go, Chloe. She's dangerous, and you know!"
" Who cares?" I felt the rise of sudden hotness in me," I'll shun her the way it needs to be!"
I said and left the sportsfield, scampering directly to the class.
I was walking through the hallway when I saw Liam and Phoebe at the class's doorway.
They looked like they they were arguing. What are they talking about?
I approached closer and heard most of the things they said.
" This is a school, not a love- house!" Phoebe snapped at Liam.
Liam was silent for a while before he said," If you are not pained,why will you report us?"
Phoebe clenched her jaw and pointed at Liam, obviously speechless," You..."
" Well, this should be the first and last warning or you want to get expelled! And also... avoid her or try me!" He said, each word filled with fulfilment and seriousness.
I never knew that Liam was this defensive, even though he was trying to play the lone- part .
Phoebe's eyes became moist as she glared at Liam,as if he had shattered the steeze, which she had always been known for .
Then,she saw me. She pointed at me angrily and walked away.
I tried to run back to the sportsfield, but Liam was already walking craftily to my direction. I subtly trembled, fiddling my fingers and moping at the floor.
That lemonade scent hurled around me,as expected... I was expecting him to break the silence but he rather walked past me.
Why? Why didn't he said anything? Why is he too mysterious and unpredictable?
I looked up and ran towards him. He stopped.
" What? You heard everything, right? So what?"He wasn't looking at me,as if he was hiding something from me.
" Liam...thank you for defending me!" I smiled at him.
He said nothing, but stood still,his hands nonchalantly in his pockets. As he was about leaving,Xander bumped into us, breathing hard.
Liam didn't moved again., but folded his hands around his chest.
" Oh, I found you now! My team won and I would have liked to teach you how to play the basketball.Are you interested?" He said,under his breath, standing akimbo with a friendly smile.
Well, maybe this is just a little opportunity for me to learn how to play the basketball game... Harry knows how to play it perfectly but doesn't knows how to teach! He would eventually knock off your eyes while teaching you.
I nodded at Xander, with returning the smile he always gave me," Yes."
" Then let's go!" He said, glancing at Liam. He tried to yank me off, but Liam held me back, with one kind of possessive force I never understood.
Not again! I don't want to go to that library! I don't like reading!
Liam glanced at me," Study or play?"
Study or play? I was really afraid to say 'play!' at Liam's face. I need to work with his interest, just because he defended me. Yes!
I glanced at Xander," Err..."
Xander nodded, smiling like one weird Indian phycho." I understand,I understand... study comes first before any other thing. Maybe we can plan another date to try the basketball game"
I nodded," Thank you"
Then,he left.
That awkward silence suddenly grew between I and Liam. My face became hot as I stared at the floor.
Why was I always shy around him? Why do you heart skip at times,when he's around?
" Why are you not afraid of following the so-called Xander around, but afraid of what people will say about us?" He broke the ice,his voice craving instant reply.
" What do you mean?" I stuttered.
" Why are you afraid of me lately?"
My heart skipped.Afraid of him?
" I'm not afraid of you..."
" Then why are you distant from me?" He leaned closer. I withdrew, still confused of his sudden drama. Why was he asking this much?
" Please...move some steps backwards. I can't breathe..." I whispered,my eyes moist.
He slowly withdrew.
I looked away. Why was he that close?
" I'm sorry for causing you discomfort." He said,a bit of grudges and hostility in his tone.
Did he just apologized? Wow!
" Don't worry about me. I'm fine"
" Did Xander asked you to become his friend?" He asked.
" No..."
" Why are you distant from me?"
" ...I just want to know my friendship limit."
He smirked," I see"
" Can we go to the library? "
He said nothing but led me to the library.
Why is he so weird?
**********
It was Saturday and nobody was home; Mom and Dad went to China to retrieve Dad's company profile documents. So, I decided to go shopping.
I dressed up in my favorite cullote and crop top. Lucky enough,I saw and entered a trambus which I had been praying for.
All eyes were on me,as I jumped in.But who cares? People will always stare.
I reached for an empty seat and lo and behold,Liam was the next person sitting after the empty seat.He was putting on earphones and sat still... Why? Why is it always him? Now,he would think I'm stalking him. I tried to find another seat but a woman at the other row pointed at me.
" You little girl... isn't that seat empty? Aren't you satisfied?" She said," Sit there and stop gallivanting!"
Everyone gazed at me.
That hotness crawled into my blood, as I cautiously sat.
" Why is she acting weird?" A girl asked her friend.
" Looks like she's a misogynist. She seems not to like that handsome boy sitted beside her." Her friend replied.
How's it their business? Yes, I'm a misogynist. A verified one!
**********
PARKER'S MALL....
Few people alighted from the trambus, including me. The Parker's Mall was very big and people visited there on Saturdays mostly,to buy whatever they want. Especially foodstuffs. But my aim of going there's to buy junk foods actually!
You know...Sweets, custard cakes,sour belts. That's all of my fantasy.
I pushed the trolley,as I added snacks,each step I took. Then I felt someone brush his arm over my hair.
I turned and saw Liam walking by. My heart skipped. Not again.
I picked everything I want quickly and scurried to the sales attendant.
" How much is everything?" I asked the sales attendant.
He smiled at me," Five dollars only!"
Five dollars? How expensive!
" I'm with just four dollars. Can you..."
" I'll pay for everything,Sales attendant." That voice from behind froze me.
I turned at Liam," No, don't pay. I have money!"
" Let me..." He insisted.
I shook my head," No. Thank you!"
I pulled out five dollars from my minibag and gave it to the sales attendant," Here."
The sales attendant pointed at me," But you said you have only four dollars with you!"
I winked at him, leaving," Yes. Sometimes,we need to haggle. It's business!"
I felt fresh air as I left. Gee... Liam must be thinking I'm stalking him,which I'll never do.
I needed to play nonchalant, since he's playing too hard, even though acting like that doesn't fits me...
" Should I help you?"
That voice again?