Want Me

3

I was blankly staring at my book, it was an important Math class that I have to concentrate, instead, I zoned out and went back to the thoughts about that night.

When Adrian asked me that question I said “No” right away. But later he stated, “You are going to regret this.”

I was confused, he ended the question funny, but I don’t think it in that way. The way he looked at me and the way he asked its not at all normal. I have closely seen him for years. The next day I stayed in Andrew’s room and helped him in the assignments. Ivan left the house in the morning itself, in this confusion I couldn’t talk to him.

Adrian went for archery practice before I woke up. Like how I avoided him he dodged me too. Maybe it’s for real or a mere joke I can never date him.

The bell sound bought me back to my senses. I turned my head to see Adrian who’s packing his bag. I am going to talk to him now, no matter what. Then I remembered Amanda who asked me to accompany her to the cafe nearby. She is my other best friend.

“Amanda, I going to talk with Adrian, can you just wait for ten minutes?” I asked.

“Sure buddy, I will meet you at the entrance,” Telling that she left the place.

I went near to him. Noticing my presence Adrian lifted his head up to meet my eyes.

“I want to talk to you, shall we?” I smiled.

He nodded in yes. “I have asked you this before, but now I am asking you again. Why you are not talking to me?” “Did I do anything wrong? Tell me the reason before doing this to me, okay?” I added.

“You did nothing wrong,” Adrian told, “But things have changed, Anvi. I don’t want to see you just like my best friend.”

“Then?”

“Never mind. You are always my friend, you will be. Don’t confuse yourself and go home,” Adrian sighed.

“Then why you were gazing at me like that?” I stopped him. I am not dumb to notice the difference. That cringe, locking up gaze.

“If you want my answer can you truly answer my question?” He told stepping close to me.

“W-What?”

“Do you have a crush on Ivan?”

“What are you talking about?” I scoffed, just acted obviously like a movie heroine.

Adrian laughed. “Do you think you can hide it from me?” He asked and nodded No.

“Look, you have misunderstood something, Ivan was like my big brother,” I bluntly lied.

“Oh,” he raised his eyebrow in disbelief.

“I am telling the truth,”

“Okay, leave it.”

His words kept ringing in my ears, even in my dream. The next day I totally avoided him, I had my lunch with Andrew and Amanda. Adrian with his new set of friends, since he is in the basketball team he is quite popular in school.

He didn’t care about me for the rest of the days. I started to come back to my routine, kept studying and going to ballet practice I had so many things in my life than following Ivan.

It was a rainy Friday, the last hour of the day. I was eagerly waiting to leave since this weekend we have less homework to do and I am already planned to go shopping with my mom. But all my plans got collapsed when Mrs. Rachel our English teacher announced about a group assignment on a detailed biographic about any English author.

I hate group assignments, no one will care until the last date, and then they will push me to work extra. I hate that more than anything. But my face lit up when our teacher announced Adrian’s group because I am one of them. With me, Andrew and Amanda were in that group. To simply say all A’s of my class are in a set. Before leaving the class, she told us to finish it before next Friday.

I was happy that Adrian was in my group because when it comes to this presentation and research thing, his content will stand out compared to mine or anyone else. Even last time he was greatly appreciated by our science teacher, he won’t easily appreciate anyone but Adrian proved that he is different. He is the cachet of our class, an unapproachable person. He doesn’t care about anyone and was very cunning too. But I like that quality, he is so perfect than Ivan or Andrew.

When I was about to leave with Amanda, “Ali Baba,” Andrew shouted from the back. He was sitting beside Adrian.

I gritted in annoyance, moved near to them with Amanda.

“So next week we have to submit the presentation, I am planning to finish it at the weekend itself, I hate dragging it till the last moment. So there’s no compulsion but who’s ready to join me?” Adrian asked.

“I am out,” Andrew said. It’s obvious!

“Sorry, the weekend I am going to my grandma’s house. It’s her birthday,” Amanda gave a reason that I never expected.

Adrian looked at me, “I will help you,” I agreed. In this way, I can also know how he works for this presentation which I am always curious about. I know he studies a lot, but my egoistic self has always blocked me to admire that.

“Okay, after we complete, I will send your notes. Please read that before coming for the presentation,” he finalized.

“Done,” Andrew nodded and Amanda happily agreed.

“Are you coming with me, Ali Baba?” Andrew asked.

“Yeah, can you drop me at my ballet class?” I nodded.

“No, don’t go. We need to discuss this… about this presentation,” Adrian said.

“But, I…” Adrian cut me off. “Don’t worry, I will drop you at the class,” he told.

“Okay then, happy weekend,” Andrew grinned and left us. A few of my classmates were discussing the presentation and the rest were already gone.

“When you have to be in the ballet class,”

“Umm, six-thirty,”

“Okay then we will finish it soon,” he told since there are only ten minutes for six-thirty. I headed inside following him. Adrian was tall like Andrew, but muscular compared to him.

While looking for our topic Adrian handed me a book, Wuthering Heights. “Emily Bronte was our subject,” he told.

“Hmm, your wish,” I told and he smiled.

We came out of the library and walked silently, neither I nor Adrian doesn’t start about our previous conversation on my crush. He opened the door of his car.

“Thanks,” I told and got inside. The drizzling rain was falling steadily and it’s so cold plus this awkward silence kind of turned the mood so different. Strangely Adrian didn’t start the car even after getting inside.

“Tomorrow, let’s meet in the café near to your house,” he said.

I nodded. He stopped the car before my house. “Thanks for the ride,” I told and prompted to get down.

“Anvi, be there at eleven,” I agreed. I wish he won’t ask me about Ivan tomorrow.

Before getting inside the building I looked at Adrian, he is still there watching me with a smile.

The next day...

I kept the dripping umbrella that sheltered me from the pouring rain at the stand near the entry. I looked for Adrian and there he is sitting at the corner end of the coffee shop. The smell of coffee, rain, and lavender filled in that space, there’s not much crowd so I easily spotted him. He was already into work and reading something in his laptop. When suddenly he raised his head and looked at me.

I smiled but he didn’t smile back. I know he must be pissed off since I am ten minutes late. But what I can do, the rain was pouring out without giving a prior warning.

 “Hi,” I told. He nodded sipping his coffee.

“Sorry I am late,”

“That’s fine, sit,” he told. When my eyes stuck on his face, I strangely felt something in the pit of my stomach. The table was small, it feels we were so close and after a long time, I am facing him like this.

“So I have started the article, it’s not difficult as I expected,” he told and showed some articles about Emily Bronte and explained about what we were going to present. While he was reading I felt more than the topic, he greatly interested me.

I kept looking at his eyes, his ocean blue eyes were glowing brightly today. For all these years I failed to notice this. Like he said now things have… changed I guess.

“What do you want? Coffee?” he asked.

I nodded and took my wallet to give money, but he just walked passed me without caring about it after all this coffee shop is owned by his mother so there is no need to pay. He came with coffee and with some cookies, they tasted heavenly in this cold climate. Adrian closed his laptop and stared at me. "Anvi, do you remember. I used to walk with you to your house carrying your umbrella when it rains," Adrian said which made my face lit up in a smile. Now he is back as my friend!

"Yeah, how can I forget that. Those are the best time of my life,"

"But now, it's all changed. You aren't talking to me properly since from the start of high school."

"Anvi I am still your friend. You only changed, I'm not." Adrian accused me.

"What I did?" I asked.

"Nothing, just don't talk about it," he avoided answering my question.

"Adrian, tell me what I did?" I pressured him.

"We have to finish it within one hour, let's concentrate on this," he told and opened his laptop.

What he is trying to cover, he has something in his heart but afraid to say it to me.

Perhaps he likes me? I thought and looked at him. No, he won't and he can't.

After finishing up the presentation Adrian showed it to me. I understood why he is smart cause he so serious-minded if he decides to do something he won't distract from that thought and he puts his best in that.

He mailed me the articles to learn while packing his belongings.

We came out of the shop, I took my umbrella and the rain was still pouring, "Okay then, thank you Ad. You made it easier for me," I smiled.

"Thanks to you, you helped me to finish it soon," he said shoving his hand into his pocket.

"Bye,"

"Do you want me to walk to your house?" He asked caressing his nape and that made me smile.

"If it is okay, then come," I said.

He chuckled softly and nodded his head. Putting his bag inside his car Adrian bought the umbrella from my hand and we walked. Adrian was looking good in that black shirt and denim pants. I kind of felt nervous around him.

I feel so happy when I see Ivan, my heart will go crazy. But with Adrian, I feel something that is unexplainable. A fear, anxiousness, admiration, and affection. Why he is making me think this way?

It's just a five minutes’ walk to my house, "Come in, Ad," I told.

"Thanks but I have to go," he told.

"Anvi, are you sure. You aren't having any feelings for Ivan?" He asked out of nowhere.

"Adrian, some matters are better to be untold," I said since that's not a big thing to exaggerate. I know it's just an infatuation and I am trying to forget that.

Adrian's face changed, he had an amusing smile to hear that. "Okay, I can understand," he turned and walked.

I watched him until he is out of sight. I don't know why he is so curious about this. What if I say yes, is he going to change anything? In just five or four months Ivan will join in the military and I have to work hard for getting into the medical school. I don't want to complicate the things around me.

Sunday went great, my mom and I went shopping and we bought some dress for me. I got my hair trimmed and enjoyed the day happily.

When Monday came, I mentally cried to go to school like a small kid. Anyways I have to go, so putting one of my new dress and tying my hair in a ponytail I got ready.

My mom drove me to school, "bye mom and have a great day," I told after getting down.

While I am walking to class, I was surprised to see Andrew talking to hazel but when he kissed her I had a heart attack.

He is such an actor, he told me that he won't go back to her but now... Liar!

"Hi Anvi, how are you?" He imitated like a girl.

I gave a disgusting face. "Don't do like that,"

"You are back with Hazel?" I asked.

"Yeah, kind of," he said.

"Can you explain?"

"I thought she is a good girl not like you, so I asked her again." He told.

"Oh, don't be a stupid this time and be serious, Okay,"

That time, I heard Adrian clearing his throat. I turned to see him, he smiled which made my heart to throb faster.

"Good morning, Anvi," he wished.

"Morning," I whispered.

"Hey, you guys did a good job in the presentation. You saved me guys, Thanks," Andrew told.

"That's fine, buy me ice cream, Ad will you join us, please."

"Yes brother, it's been a while since we three went out, and I will ask Hazel to join us, you guys okay with that?" Andrew shrugged.

"No problem, ask her to come," I told.

"Aww Ali Baba, you are so cute." He pinched my cheeks harder.

The day went so boring, today Amanda was absent due to stomach upset. She must've eaten a lot on her grandma's birthday, poor girl.

In the evening, I informed my mom that I will be late for home, she asked me to come safe. Andrew took us to a restaurant for dinner. He told the food will be great here. Hazel talked with me for the second time. She is a good person and the most beautiful girl in our class.

Adrian was silent as usual and acted like he doesn't care about anything. Andrew ordered all his favorite dishes plus my cocoa- Vanilla ice cream. While eating I saw Andrew was so much in love with Hazel. The way he talks with her, the way he looks at her and the way he smiles. He is like a romantic movie hero.

Poor me I don't have anyone, I am going to die being single, I sighed.

When I turned my gaze to Adrian, he chuckled. Did I tell my thought? Why he is reacting perfectly for whatever I think.

"Babe, let's go out," Andrew said and took Hazel out with him.

I understood the reason when he passionately kissed her, the glass walls clearly showing everything, stupid guy.

I blushed to see that, "better turn this side, your face might burn," Adrian said folding his hand.

"What?" I felt so embarrassed.

"Did you kissed anyone before?" I asked Adrian.

"Yes," he nodded.

"Who?" I asked curiously.

"You,"

"That isn't a proper kiss, we did just for a game and that happened when we were in middle school," I ranted since I don't want to admit that he is my first kiss.

"But that's a kiss," he corrected.

I sighed, "Okay, I am asking have you kissed anyone like them?"

He nodded in No. "Why? Don't you like anyone in our school?" I asked.

"Yes, of course, I like someone but I was waiting. Waiting for the right time," he smirked.

"Who is that girl?" I leaned on the table.

He came close to me and gazed my face, his eyes were again glowing in the lights. With a mischievous smile,

"I won't tell you, it’s a secret," he whispered near my ears.

I looked at him and wondered who is that person. Definitely, she will be different so that the great Adrian was waiting for her.