The Nerd In Disguise

Chapter 18

"So Leslie, what are you going to take for College?" Father asked while we are having dinner. Though im grounded for today, mother still accommodate Leslie and invited her to eat with us tonight.

Leslie took the napkin table and gently cleaned her mouth before answering. "The truth is, i don't know." Leslie admitted. "My dad wants me to be a successful entrepreneur like him but my passion is drawing, i see myself in fashion."

"What kind of fashion?" Father continued asking. I felt like this is such a sort of interview. "There are types of fashion careers, like garment technologist, fashion illustrator, fashion designer."

"Fashion designer." Leslie stated. "I have been looking around the internet, watch on YouTube of how to improve my skill so i will be able to creat my own set of fashion design."

"That's fantastic!" My overly exaggerated father exclaimed. "Let's think this way though." He slightly pushed the plate. "Make your own sample design and if you need an inspiration just think of my daughter."

"Dad.." The words drew out slowly from my mouth. Here we go again.

"Fine." Father said with a playful shrugged. "I was just trying to suggest because—"

"Do you mind working with me in the future?" Mother earnesty required with a smile on her face. "I will need a promising designer for my future clothing line."

"Oh gosh really?" Leslie's mouth dropped as her eyes twinkled like stars in the sky.

I don't know but i found it really entertaining to watch Leslie's every reaction. How her face lit up with a smile that never leave her lips. Agh. Those lips... Within seconds, I found myself deeply reflecting back on what happened in my room. I kissed Leslie Heart without any inhibitions, in my own free will and i must admit that i like it.

"In my job, there is no permanent models. We come and go like a passing cloud because the market in modeling is very demanding." Mother said thoughfully. "Next year I'm planning to have my own fashion agency and a boutique."

"Wow." I was utterly surprise. "Why i didn't know about this?"

"Because you are too busy minding your own business." Father laugh. "Girls to the left and to the right."

My face flushed in embarrasement. I even dropped the fork and knife i was holding. "Father—"

"Honey.." Mother restrained ang gave father a meaningful look before returning her attention back to Leslie. "Show me some of your work Leslie then let's talk."

"I will." Leslie can't contain her happiness.

After we ate dinner, my parents especially mom continue talking with Leslie about fashion thingy that i couldn't understand. So i was sitting there and watching some tv series on Netflix. I'm happy though because Leslie has a bright future ahead of her. It was almost nine when Leslie decided to go and i walked her in the car. We are just silent like always and totally enjoying the cold weather tonight.

"Did you know the story of Altair and Vega?" Leslie speaks after a minute as we continue walking while watching those sparkling stars.

"Mmm no." That is the first time i have heard about it. "But Vega is a star right?"

She nodded her head. "Yes Lily. Altair and Vega are two of the brightest stars in the sky in the constellations Aquila and Lyra. In old Chinese legends, two people are joined together in love but separated by the stars." We both stopped walking and Leslie pointed her finger in the dark sky. "They represent probably the saddest most romantic love story of all time."

"What happened?" I liked to hear stories about the universe.

"Altair lost his parents at a young age. After their death, his brothers decided to split their father's property. Altair, being the youngest, got left with nothing except an old bull. Once he was older, Altair separated himself from his brothers, bought a small field and a few cows, and with the aid of his bull, set himself to work." Leslie started narrating as we continue walking towards her car. "One Sunday evening, Altair sat down under an oak tree and practiced an old love melody on his flute. All of a sudden, a white dove gracefully swooped down from the sunset painted sky. When the dove landed, it turned into a beautiful young woman."

"That's interesting." I said with a smile.

Leslie chuckled. "Altair got scared and asked the beautiful lady. Who are you?" She even tried to changed the tone of her voice. "The lady apologized and introduced herself as Vega, the princess of the heavenly skies. She was really hypnotized by Altair beautiful melody and they become friends. Vega would descend from the Heavens at sunrise and ascend right before nightfall since Vega, being a heavenly being, was not allowed to interact with mortals."

Leslie and i both leaned against her car as our hands brushed against each other. "Please continue.."

I felt her pinky promise finger looped around mine. "One day, Vega's mother, the Lady of the Sky, got suspicious of Vega's whereabouts. So she sent a messenger to follow her who discovered that Vega was interacting with a mortal. He quickly reported back to the Lady of the Sky. She was so furious that she descended to Altair's field, found Vega, and dragged her back home." Leslie returned her eyes to the sky as we both imaging the story. "Altair was stunned by what he had seen. He started running to find Vega when he heard a voice calling his name. He turned around to see his bull talking and the animal offer a help to fly up Altair in Heaven hoping to see his beloved Vega."

"Probably the lady of the sky will noticed Altair." I said. "She will used her power to stop the poor guy."

"That is correct Lily." Leslie stated. "She turn the milky way into a river.

Altair came to the edge of the river and shared a final look with Vega. They both started weeping, wishing there was a way they could be together." I took a deep breath. This story makes me remember Hera and Asteria. "When Vega's father, the Emperor of the Sky, saw their love, he became sympathetic. Hoping one day to fulfill this love, he created a wide bridge of magpies across the river. Now, Altair and Vega wait for the day they cross the river and are together once more."

The wind blew hard makes my hair covering my face. "Well i guess." I turned to look at Leslie. "I have a new favorite story now."

Leslie move and faced me. The universe mirrored through her eyes. Without any words, she stroke my hair with her fingers and tuck the loose hair behind my ear. This simple gesture makes my stomach scruntched. I felt my heart on my throat when i noticed Leslie slowly crossing our remaining distance. My hands found their way on Leslie's waist as i waited for whatever is going to happen. My heart stopped beating when i felt her lips brushed at the corner of my mouth.

"Goodnight Lily." Leslie whispered before getting inside her car and leave me dumbfounded.

••

Today i have a P.E class and meaning we are going to play volleyball. I feel elated because i miss playing this sport besides i have a lot of energy to give. The bad thing though is Aerin is here as well but she is with her friends. Gosh. This b***h acted like she didn't do anything bad to me. I'm still upset with her because of what she did to me two days ago and it's honestly difficult to forget. I'm already dressed up with my volleyball uniform and only waited for my teacher to give an instruction to start the game.

"Are you ready?" Cameron suddenly appeared by my side with a playful smile on her face. She looks so sexy with her volleyball uniform.

"I'm ready to beat you up." I replied jokingly.

Her laugh is like a beautiful symphony against my ears. "Make sure you will because if you don't." Cameron took one step towards me. "I will punish you."

My eyebrows raised. "Punish me?"

"Just kidding Lily." Cameron chuckled with a shake of her head. "But.." We stared at each other. "How about let's have a deal. To make this game more exciting."

I shifted my weight on my faith. Why Cameron is full of surprises. "Like?"

Cameron put her finger under chin and pretend to think hard. "If my team wins, you will have a date with me tonight but if you win then—"

"Lily is going with me on a date if we win since we are teammates." Leslie exclaimed out of nowhere.

Cameron shifted her eyes to the girl across her. They both stared at each other hard, meaningful. As if it's a huge sin to blink and to breath. I'm not dumb not to notice that the atmosphere suddenly change and i could smell the competition in the air.

"Are we deal?" Leslie directly asked Cameron.

"Excuse me girls but—" I tried to intervene.

"Okay deal." There is no emotion in Cameron's face but her eyes says it all. Wow. I can't believe these girls. They are both inconsiderate about what i want, about my decision. The deal seal in a hand shake.

We heard a whistle from our teacher and all of us went to our respective team. We are devided into two teams like the firrst time time. Leslie and I are teammates, while Cameron and Aerin are in the same team as well. They are going to be our opponent. Well good thing, Aerin isn't my teammate anymore.

Leslie and I are going to play as open spiker for our team. I have seen her playing volleyball and i know we have a chance to win. But Cameron... That girl can play like a beast on the court but the look of Leslie's face says that she won't back down easily.

Aerin is going to be the setter for red team and is going to serve the ball first since they won the toss coin. She is behind the service line when teacher whistle. Aerin toss the ball in the air and strike it towards us. Our libero easily bump the ball and pass it to directly to the setter as she toss the ball in my direction. I paddled a little backward trying to measure the distance. I put all my strength on my legs before jumping as high as i can for maximum power but two blockers are in front of me. It's too late though because i already hit the ball with my palm and it passes through between the blockers and landed flat on the floor.

"Woohh!" My teammates cheers.

Then our setter served the ball. It was bump by Cameron and give it to their setter. In a blink of an eye, Cameron is now running fast from zone 4 to zone 2 as she perform a fast attack. We didn't have a time to react because she already scored.

The game continued. Both of our teams exchanged a powerful and versatile attacks until we reach the 5th deciding sets. We are all exhausted but we don't want to lose this game. The score is 13-14 and the red team is leading.

"Come on girls." It was Leslie who stands as our captain. She is sweating hard but still look beautiful. "We only need one point to tie the game."

We have a decent first ball and our setter toss it to the zone 2 where is Leslie's waiting. She leaped really high because there were three offensive blockers in front of her including Aerin and Cameron. I went behind Leslie for the cover just in case for a fail attempt. Leslie's body is in full swing as her arm extended in the air and gave all her power when she spike the ball.

I watched how the ball hits the blockers' s palm, rolls along their fingertips and it sends out of the line. The moment Leslie's feet landed on the floor she turned around and we gave each other a high five before she went to the service line.

The score is tied 14 - 14.

Aerin easily bump the ball towards the setter but the ball is a little far from the net. Cameron jumped in full swing so we all ready and anticipated a powerful attack. Damn this green eyes girl has a hang time and i saw her push the ball with her finger tips as our feet stuck when the ball suddenly dropped on our side.

The score now is 14 - 15, the read team is leading and one more point for victory. But we stay composed. Cameron went to the service line and hit the ball nonstop against the floor. She is making sure that it will be difficult for us to receive her serve. I took a quick glance at Leslie in the back row, she gave me a half smile as if she knew what is going to happen.

Cameron threw the ball in the air as she run and jumped with all her power. She slapped the ball with pectus and flew towards me. It was in full speed like a fiercing bullet and before i know it hit my chest then dropped down the floor. The red team jumped in victory. I hang my head in shame. We lose and it is because of me. If i can only...

"That's okay.." Leslie whispered. "In sport, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose."

I looked up at Leslie. There is no single frustration in her face but i want to know what's on her mind especially now that im going on a date with Cameron. It's not that i didn't want too, but im thinking about Leslie. "Leslie.. I.."

Leslie shook her head with a sweet smile on her face. "Magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat." She held my hand gently. "Maybe next time we can go out. You know, there's no more competition. Just only you, me and the universe."

It put a smile on my face. "You are so—"

"Lily!" Cameron says my name as she finally stood there next to me. She really looks happy though. Well, she really works hard to win the game and she deserves the date she wants. "I will claim my prize." I gave Leslie a sideways glance when she dropped my hand. "See you later?"

I smiled at Cameron. "Yeah, see you."