Chapter 3
1767 Words
I couldn’t stop staring at them. I watched Elliot and the woman with him walk inside the campus and I’m pretty sure that I am not the only one. Everyone is probably looking at them because Elliot has been a little popular here even before.
Of course, I am not the only one who had a crush on him.
Graziella sighed and that made me snap back to reality. I turned to her and saw her smiling on her iPad. “That’s Princess, his girlfriend,” she told me.
I nodded, trying so hard to not overreact. I don’t want her to think that I am still affected by it. It’s been years since I got rejected by her cousin and it would really be embarrassing if she thinks I haven’t moved on since then. Well, embarrassing for me.
“She’s pretty,” I said. Although, I really wanted to ask her how long have they been together. I wanted to know if she’s the woman why Elliot rejected me. I want to know what kind of woman she is and how she got to capture the heart of the Elliot Patricius Castro.
Graziella lifted her gaze before nodding. “She works in a bar Elliot frequents. I think I remember Elliot saying that she grew up with an abusive father and was forced to mature early and work for herself.”
My lips parted. “That’s hard,” I uttered as I turned to the direction where they went.
Graziella nodded. “She’s very kind though. After going through everything, she didn’t hold any grudges and just grew up beautifully. She’s a strong woman,” she said and the adoration and admiration in her voice couldn’t go unnoticed.
Graziella is kind and demure. And above all, she’s very much inclined to like hardworking people like those who overcame the hardships of life.
I bit my lip and nodded, unable to say anything because I don’t know what’s an appropriate thing to say.
“Good thing that she’s a good woman. She could straighten up Elliot so there’s nothing to worry about now anymore.”
She’s a good woman. She’s been through a lot and she deserves to be happy after all the dark days in her life. I shouldn’t be feeling bad about that. After all, I have always been claiming that I have already moved on.
I sighed and shook my head, trying to get back to reality. I looked down on my sketchpad and started to continue what I have been doing since the moment I sat here.
Graziella and I were quietly doing our own thing when we heard the bell ringing, signaling the start of the next period.
“I have sketching,” I told her as I gathered my things and stood up. “I’ll see you by dismissal. What time will your classes be done?”
“Three,” she replied. “I’ll be waiting by the garden for you if you finish later than me,” she chimed and I nodded. “I’ll be checking out some good restaurants, too.”
We decided to eat dinner together because I did not come last night. I’m not craving for anything so any cuisine would be good.
“Great. I’ll see you!” I beamed before waving and walking to my next class.
***
“Are you really not coming with me?”
I forgot that I have Gian as my seatmate for sketching. Sure, he’s a good person but he’s also persistent—persistent in showing me that he wants to date me.
To be honest, he’s not that bad. He’s handsome. But I think he would suit Graziella more than me. I think their personalities would really jive well together.
I gawked at him. “I’m going out with Grace tonight. We’re eating dinner together,” I told him before finally settling my seat.
He’s been asking me out since the start of the school year. Out, meaning out with other friends. And while I kind of appreciate how he’s trying to make it seem like he wouldn’t let me be awkward by having other friends around. But he should know that it’s not why I am not going with him. I have been telling him that however, it feels like he shrugs off everything.
Gian is better off as my friend. I also told him about that. But then it feels like he’s not listening to me at all. He still acts like he wants something more. I wish I am just assuming things.
He frowned at me. “Can I join you?” he asked.
I looked up and immediately caught his gaze. “No,” I replied. “Why would you go with us? Aren’t you supposed to be with your friends?” He told me he’ll be with his friends in a club. So, I don’t understand how he’s coming with us for dinner.
Unless he’s lying about going to the club with his friends.
He immediately pouted, looking dejected as I turned him down. “Okay,” he replied in a soft voice before looking at his desk.
I pursed my lips and sighed hard. I want to tell him something but I had to stop myself. It’s not like I can do anything to make him feel better. I know how it feels to not have the person you like like you back. I have been there before and I swear it hurts like hell when you finally get rejected.
But then, looking back, I feel like Elliot rejecting me was the best thing he could give me. At least, he stopped me from hoping for the impossible. He may have hurt me but at least he didn’t prolong my agony.
And that’s what I actually want to do to Gian. We could be friends. But if he doesn’t want what I can offer, then he can go his own way. If that’s what helps him to get over me fast.
I laughed internally. Am I really thinking that Gian likes me now? I am talking based on pure instinct and nonverbal cues I’m getting from him.
I shook my head and just focused in class. It was fortunate that our professor came on time and started the lesson right away.
Thankfully, Gian has been serious about his studies, too, so he was focused on the lessons other than trying to pester me once more.
When the class ended, he didn’t even say goodbye to me. He just walked out of the classroom like he’s trying to escape from someone. I sighed. Now I am feeling a bit guilty. Was I too harsh and adamant about rejecting him? Maybe I need to apologize for being too upfront.
I walked to the cafeteria at dismissal and saw Graziella talking to another student by the kiosk. It looks like they are talking about a project because they seem to be looking into one sheet of paper. The guy told her something and when she nodded, he immediately retreated.
“Are you okay?” I asked her when I arrived. We both decided to meet by the benches in the garden but because it’s far from the parking lot, we just agreed to meet by the student kiosk.
She nodded. “We have a project and we needed to go to a national park. We have to paint a good spot.”
“That’s strenuous,” I commented. “Is it by partners?”
She nodded. “Yeah, that’s Archer, one of my classmates in the class.”
I narrowed my eyes. “This is only one of the three classes that we don’t take together. I’m pretty sure that Archer would have been familiar with me but then he looks new?”
“He’s a transferee. He came from the West coast. From Seattle.”
“Why would he come here?” I asked again.
Graziella shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to him about his personal life, Shiela. Why? Are you interested in him?” she smirked, obviously teasing me.
I pursed my lips and rolled my eyes. “I am just asking. I didn’t know it would spark some speculation that I like someone just because I asked more about them.”
Graziella grinned. “Well, you kind of look like you’re interested in him. I think it’s about time for you like someone.”
I looked away. I haven’t told her about my feelings for Elliot. Sure she know that I like her cousin but she thought it was just a fleeting feeling. She doesn’t know how much I have liked him that I needed to create some space between me and Elliot for me to move on.
“Are you still not over Elliot though? It was just puppy love, isn’t it?”
Her question hung up in the air as I kept mum and swallowed hard. She raise her brow but then shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, acting so cool before her phone rang.
“Oops, speaking of the devil. It’s Elliot,” she uttered, smirking as she answered the call. Her brows are knitted as she heard what her cousin has to say. “What? I am going out with Shiela tonight. Do you need it now?”
I narrowed my eyes and wondered what Elliot had to say for her to say my name to him. I don’t like it. I don’t think it’s okay for her to mention my name to him when he’s already rejected me. I just find it so odd and awkward.
“Oh? You’ll just pick us up? Okay! I’ll send you the address when we get to the restaurant. Bye!” she beamed before hanging up. She looked at me and smiled. “His car broke down and he asked if he could borrow mine. He’ll just ask the driver to get it when we’re in the restaurant and then drive us home.”
My eyes widened. What did she just say? Elliot will drive us home later? Damn it! Where the f**k is my car!
“Or we could use my car—”
“No need. I know you’ll hassle your driver if you ask for your car again. Let’s just wait for Elliot,” she replied, much to my dismay.
Why the hell is this happening to me? Now, I have to make sure that I finally have the best acting skills to show that I have finally moved on.
- Writer
