It's Okay

Chapter 4: Denmark Lopez

I saw everything.

I saw how Retri looked at Shia and how she blushed at what he said.

Don't tell me, Shia is that man's new victim.

"Den?"

I turned to Ara who was with me. She's one of my classmates and an assistant representative of our class.

"Is there a problem?" she asked. "You suddenly stopped."

I shook. "I'm fine but--" I turned to Shia who was now heading to our room. "Do you know the person who Shia talked to earlier?"

"Eh? You don't know Aicy Feliz of HRM?" I looked back at her. "She was last year's Ms. Vind."

"Oh? I didn't know her." I said and continued walking and she followed. "I don't like watching those kinds of pageants."

"Why did you ask? You are interested in her?"

"Nah.” I shook my head. “I'm just wondering since Shia was only here for a week. I thought, she doesn’t know anyone in this school aside from Sir Justine."

"Maybe she just asked her something." He clung to my arm. "Come on. Lunch break is almost over."

I just let her do what she wants but I still can't forget that man's look at Shia. I really have a bad feeling about it so I had to make sure that they would not do anything funny to her.

And when we entered our room, my eyes immediately searched for Shia and I was kind of relieved because she is now with Nico.

"Denmark." Charlie stopped us. "Can you be with Shia tomorrow for her special exam?"

"Huh?"

"Nico and I are going somewhere by lunchtime tomorrow and at the same time Shia will take her exam so we can't go with her," she said.

"And why does Denmark have to accompany that woman?" Ara asked. "Won'ts he be able to go to the faculty alone?"

"That's not the reason why I want him to accompany her." Charlie turned to Shia who was being teased by Nico. "She's pretty, right? So there's a good chance that she can be the target of playboys all over campus. But If she's with someone, either Nico and I or Denmark, no one will try to approach her."

"Seriously, Charlie? Do you plan to bother Den? He's busy--" I cutted Ara.

"It's fine, Charlie," I said. "I have two hours free time for my lunch break so I can accompany him."

"What? But--" I immediately stopped Ara before she could even say anything. She just pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. “I really can’t believe you, Charlie.”

"Shut up, Ara." Charlie pulled me closer to Nico.

"Did you go somewhere else? We even got here before you even though you were the first one that left the library " I heard Nico ask Shia. "Where did you go?"

"You are really not going to stop, right?" Shia sighed when Nico shook his head. "My mom called so I stayed on the bench in front of this building. After that, I met my cousin who also studied here so I stayed outside for a while."

"Really? I thought you met a man and you immediately fell for him." And Nico laughed and turned to us when we finally got close to them. "Hey, Denmark," he greeted Shia on his shoulders. "Did you agree?"

"Yeah. He agreed," Charlie said and removed Nico's hand from Shia’s shoulder. "So stop annoying him if you want to go tomorrow."

Nico laughed and shook his head. "It really hit you so hard."

"Are you leaving tomorrow?" Shia asked. "Eh? I thought you would accompany me to the faculty for my special exam?"

"That's why Denmark is here." Nico stood up and put his arm on my shoulder. "He will come with you. We still have so many important things to do tomorrow. But you don't have to worry. You definitely won't bother him if that's what you're thinking."

"Sure?" She looked at me to confirm so I nodded. "Really?"

"I have free time tomorrow so you don't have to worry. You won't be a bother," I said. "Besides, I will just be coming with you there so it is not a big deal."

"If you insist, then thank you."

To be honest, I feel nervous now that I'm facing her this close. The nervousness that I am feeling right now is much worse than the first time I talked to her.

Woooh! I think Nico is right. It really hit me hard.

"Hey! Stop daydreaming and go back to your seat." Charlie turned my back to Shia and pushed me slightly. "Go back to your sea!You will look stupid if you suddenly smile like that." She just whispered her last sentence but I heard it. Am I that obvious?

"You're that obvious, Mr. Lopez. So if you don't have the courage to confess your feelings, be careful what you do." He pushed me again. "All right, there you go."

I just shook my head and headed back to my desk. I am not brave enough to let her know what I feel for her so I should have to listen to them.

"Denmark." Ara blocked me before I could finally get close to my desk. "Why did you agree to accompany that woman?"

I know, Shia is actually receiving special attention from our professors because she came here too late and they are giving all the support that she needed to keep up with our latest topics but most of our classmates see that in a wrong way.

They think that the professors are so kind here because she is Sir Justin's step-sister. That's why they don't like her.

Ara is one of those and they are also my friends which is why I make sure no one will know that I like Shia. I know they won't like it and maybe Shia is the one they're heating up.

"Shia is our classmate. And being the representative of this class, it is my responsibility to help her." I sighed and tapped her head. "Don't think too much, Ara. You might go crazy."

"Hmp. You are too nice."

"And that's the main reason why Ms. Liza chooses me to be the representative of this class,” I said.

"And that is also the reason why Abigail left you." He scolded me. "I won't say sorry for opening that topic but I just want to remind you what may happen if you keep being nice to everyone."

I just didn't answer because people like Ara are the type of person who wouldn't be nice to someone if they didn't need it. Well, at least not on their friends.

I sat down in my chair and when I turned my head to the window, I saw a woman that was passing by outside our classroom and I didn’t expect that.

"I can't believe this." I heard Helen say, also one of Ara's friends and classmates. "She really has the guts to go through here with that man."

"There's nothing we can do if that woman is a b***h," Ara said that made me look at them.

"Hey!" I was about to tell them to stop but they glared at me.

"Don't you dare to defend that b***h, Denmark," Ara threatened me. "I will really get mad at you."

I just sighed and didn't talk back.

Even if I stop them, they will not listen to me because for them, no one deserves to hurt me. Yeah, they protect me that much.

Sometimes, I feel like I was some kind of damsel in distress that they need to protect. Even though I am the man in our circle.

Well, not that I am complaining.

I understand that they love me that much. But sometimes, they are being so dramatic and over acting. They even bullied a girl because they thought she made me cry when in fact, I cried because I was peeling an onion.

But I am glad to be their friend. I just hope they stop being so overprotective.