Chapter 5
1908 Words
“Oh my gosh! Are they back together?”
“But I thought Jericho doesn’t get back with his exes?”
“Why are they kissing like that?”
I closed my eyes as Jericho’s lips move over mine. Don’t get me wrong. I am not responding but he’s moving his head making everyone think that I am kissing back.
I am not.
He broke off from the kiss and looked at me. “I missed your lips, Ashejan.” He told me garnering mixed reactions from the crowd.
Some are disgusted that Jericho just kissed me. His fan girls are heartbroken because they think that we got together. And some are mad. They’re all probably thinking of the reason why Jericho kissed me.
He kissed me after breaking up with his latest fling.
“I heard you and that Jervic broke up.” He told me but his hand is still on my cheek and the other on my hand. “Is that true?” He asked me.
I gave him a look. “So what?” I asked him back. “And why are you kissing me?” I pulled myself off of him and glared.
He chuckled and took a step closer to me. “So? I can kiss you where and when I want.” He replied and I suddenly felt the urge to slap him.
“Who says?” I asked.
“What?” He spoke. “You’re single. I’m single. We can—”
“We can’t.” I reiterated. “We’re done.” I said as I turned my back on him.
“You think we’re done?” He asked as he walked beside me as I fix my things from our table. “I’m not asking for a continuation, Ashejan.” He told me.
I looked at him only to see him grinning widely.
He blinked. “I’m looking for a new beginning.” He spoke and I badly want to wipe that smirk off his lips. “What do you say?” He asked.
“No.” I replied curtly as I looked at Genina. “Let’s go, G.” I told her and she nodded. I looked at Jericho who didn’t even move a notch and sighed. “I don’t play your games twice and get fooled twice.” I told before Genina and I went back to the room.
--
I sighed as I walked to our house after this long day. I don’t even know where I got the courage to finish this regretful day.
I looked at our house only to realize that the lights aren’t turned on, meaning nobody’s home and I’m screwed because I don’t have the keys. I didn’t see this coming.
I sighed and sat in front of our gate like a beggar.
“Can this day get any worse?” I mumbled to myself as I placed my chin on top of my palm on top of my knees.
I sighed for the hundredth time as Jericho’s words lingered in my head.
I’m looking for a new beginning.
He’s looking for a new beginning. With me, probably, because he kissed me in front of everybody after breaking up with everybody.
Did he really think that I would fall for that trick when he humiliated me in front of everyone when he broke up with me? I thought he would pull a Hades Cortez stint on me – at least what he did was not like what that Hades did – but still! My dignity got hurt.
“Ashejan?”
I woke from all of my thoughts when I heard Knight’s voice. I looked up and saw him looking down on me. He’s smiling like he always does since I saw him.
“Don’t have your keys?” He asked me and I nodded. He breathed. “So that’s why you’re sitting here in the cold.” He told me. “Come on!” He extended his hand. “Come to our house first. I’m pretty sure I’m alone as well.”
I looked at him then at his hand in front of me. “No need!” I shook my hands in front of him. “I’ll just wait here.” I added.
He looked at me and then sat beside me. “Okay! Then I will wait with you!” He beamed happily as he looked at me.
“What? No!” I beamed. “You go home. You may catch a cold!” I told him.
He looked at me and laughed. “No! I’ll catch a cold with you.” He beamed back.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “Are you serious?” I asked him and he grinned. I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re not.” I chuckled.
“Yes. I am!” He beamed. “And besides, I’m alone in there. I’d rather stay here.”
I smiled and just shook my head. He is really cute without him knowing it and I don’t know what power he has that makes me forget everything that happened earlier.
Julian’s bullying.
Jericho’s kiss.
He made me remember that he saved me from the bully and made me c***k up when he ate the burger like a kid.
“You’re not doing our homework?” I asked him and he gave me a look.
“I’m done.” He replied.
My jaw dropped. “Really?” I asked in disbelief.
He nodded. “That’s why I went home late. I finished it in the library.” He replied. “You finished? Want to copy mine?” he offered.
“What? No!” I chuckled. “What do you think of me, genius? I study well, too!” I beamed.
He laughed. “I was just kidding, girl!” He beamed. “I know you study well. You got A+ on your latest exam, right?”
I blushed in embarrassment. It’s true that I got A+ in that Math exam because I really love Math. But I feel uncomfortable when they mention it.
“Ooohhhh! You’re a Math genius, eh?” He started to tease and I immediately deny it.
We laughed and teased each other like we’ve known each other for long. It seemed like he’s grown comfortable with me and I’m happy that I’m kind of close with him.
But when I think of how people will think of me when they knew that he’s close to me, I always think again. No one should know that we’re close. No one should know that we’re neighbors.
“Hey,” he called me. “I heard what happened to you in the cafeteria.” He said being cautious enough to not hurt my ego, I think.
I smiled. “Oh, that.” I spoke. “It’s nothing to be honest.” I looked at my feet.
I heard him sigh. “I really don’t get why people tend to insert themselves in issues that don’t concern them.” He said. “I mean, it’s not their lives. They should even be pressured that they witness someone’s milestone while they have nothing for themselves.”
I looked at him and chuckled. “You’re a weird one, you know that?” I asked him.
He narrowed his eyes on me. “How did I become the weird one?” He asked me back.
I chuckled. “Because you don’t think like the rest of these people.” I replied. “Are you normally like this?” I asked.
“What do you mean I’m like this?”
“Like that. Normally cool. Caring. Kind.” I started to enumerate all the positive things I see in him and he started laughing. “What?” I gave him a look.
He shook his head. “Nothing.” He said smiling. “Don’t think of me that way, Ashejan.” He told me. “In fact, don’t ever think of anyone so positively.”
I gave him a weird, confused look. “So, you’re a bad guy dressed in a good guy scheme but you’re a part of a syndicate that abducts girls and kills them after r****g them?” I asked him and he laughed out loud.
“That’s insane! Your imaGenination is superb!” He beamed.
I smiled and shook my head. “People will think of you as a kind and nice guy because that’s what they see. People see the surface, unless they get to get deeper.”
He smiled. “Well, I’m ordinary.” He started. “I’m not pretending to be something I’m not. But I’m nothing but Knight. I mean, I’m a normal nerd who likes to study more than have friends.”
I looked at him. “With a face like that?” I asked him and shook my head. “You’re a campus heartthrob spot on, Knight. You’re not ordinary in their eyes.”
He smiled. “Then let me be ordinary for you.” He beamed. “Just like how ordinary you are to me.”
“I’m not ordinary though.” I told him. “I’m a girl who dated a lot of men who broke up with me when they thought they’re done. I’m the Dating Queen. I’m the girl who—”
“To me, you’re ordinary.” He cut my words. “You’re just a girl who goes to school, excels in classes, have a very supportive and strong best friend. That. You’re ordinary.” He smiled.
I smiled back. I’m not so sure of what we’re talking about but being called ordinary is something. At least he doesn’t think of me as the girl touched by a lot of men.
“You don’t degrade yourself because of what people tell you.” He told me.
“But you do.” I told him. “You’re handsome but you say you’re ordinary. You’re degrading yourself.”
“Not that kind of degrading!” He whined. “I mean, the way you see yourself. You should always see yourself in a positive light. Because if you don’t do so, who will?”
I smiled. “I’m right, Knight.” I told him.
He blinked at me. “What?” He asked.
“You’re a nice guy.” I smiled and I felt a tug in my heart.
- Writer
