Street Signs

Chapter 43

BRIELLE

From tranquility, the room was filled with different noises coming from the students as they were making the most of their free time before the first class discussion in the morning could start. Even Queen, who was sitting beside me, could not shut his damn mouth.

Meanwhile, I could not avoid my eyes from looking around for I was expecting Cheveyo to come. I was wondering why he did not attend the class yesterday without notice to any of us, especially to the instructors. As far as I knew, he could not be unprofessional like that, because every time that there was an urgency, he would always write a letter. I did not care though, but we were running out of time for the assignment, yet we still did not start it. However, about how many minutes of waiting, I was able to see him already. I did not plan for it, but my body just took me to him.

"Good morning!" I greeted him. I knew my cheeks blushed at that moment because that was the very first time I made the first move to another guy, aside from Zayden. Nevertheless, it was not malicious, it was just that I was still a little shy of approaching Cheveyo since he looked all professional... all the time.

Cheveyo gave the pleasantry back to me. "Sorry, I did not make it yesterday. There was an urgency, I was not able to inform you about it. Can we make it again later?"

Even without saying my agenda, he already knew what was it. And so, I just concurred with his statement since I had no choice anymore. If I would not allow to make it later, it would be impossible for the two of us to finish the book. I did not want that since the last semester, I had three failing courses.

Instead of adding more about the assignment, Cheveyo told me already to get back to my seat since the proctor was coming. "That one is strict, he might whip you when he sees you standing in the doorway," he said in a serious manner still, however, he sounded kidding.

The moment I went back to my seat, Queen looked at me as if he was trying to say something ridiculous again. I was not mistaken though, because before the discussion started, he whispered to me one thing: "Fishy." Nevertheless, I did not mind him because it was complete nonsense and really, really ridiculous.

After the cold temperature outdoors, our classroom was incredibly warm. The instructor must have stayed up late the night before; yesterday it was all about autumn, and this morning it was all about the holiday season. I took a breath and pause, a smile creeping across my face as if it belonged there. My cheeks were flushed as I removed my jacket and deposit it in my bag. The air smelled like cinnamon, and the room was nearly packed. I suppose it was because I had so many pals in one spot that my smile has lasted this long. But I guessed, there was more than that.

I was indeed miserable when Zayden died. Till now that it had been months already, there was still the feeling of melancholy, but I was glad I could smile again even just a little. Knowing that I had a caring family, also thoughtful classmates that had been lending me their notes often, I could not be more grateful now of this life. And as I could remember, it was rainy seasons when I lost him-- that it had been so dramatic, but now I was in a spring moment wherein everything started to bloom again. And the one that bloomed the most was the courage in me.

After the long hours of discussion for the day, it was time again to go home. Every student inside the room started to leave one-by-one, even Queen who was rushing for their family dinner time. However, some of the students, including me and Cheveyo, remained in the room for the purpose of the assignment.

"Where do you want to go?" Cheveyo asked. "We can't stay here till night, they won't allow us. Also, did you inform your family about this?"

I shook my head. "I didn't know you are coming since you didn't have any notice. Will it be okay for you if we do this in the house?"

There was silence for some time between the two of us, not until I realized how I stupidly delivered a message I did not intend to say. I wished I didn't blush so easily, that I could keep my feelings to myself. My cheeks flushed, and he recognized my emotions as if I had written them down in small notes and given them out.

"The assignment, I mean," I said.

Cheveyo smiled with his eyes even when his lips were still; however, his lip was kind of stretching, and that he was just trying to stop it. "I didn't find it green," he said. "I don't know why you do."

And that moment, I just wished I had died.

"But, anyway, as long as it's just fine for you, then we better do the assignment in your house," Cheveyo said. "If you're worried about me, stop it now. Remember that I rented a room in the university's dorm. My family won't be asking where I am."

"Alright then, I think we should go now."

When the two of us drove going to the house, the sun was still setting back to its cage. As the sun sank in the sky, new colors brushed across an artist's canvas, as if those rays were destined to make a wonderful piece of art-- one given to those who are open to capturing simple moments in life.

After minutes of driving, the two of us finally arrived at the house. And when I invited Cheveyo to go inside, he looked at me in the eye first as if he wanted to tell something. I asked him if he was nervous or shy, but he said he wasn't. I doubted it, but I tried to not mind it anymore since it was just normal to feel that way when it was your first time going to another's house. I felt the same way when Zayden invited me to his house for the first time. I was so timid that I didn't know what to do that time-- how to speak and act properly, and in a way that I would not annoy anyone in the house.

Indeed, someone should make the first impression at its best. A first impression was a canvas with an image; over time, we enhanced it by adding the small nuances, oddities, and quirks that define a person. And that was why it was important to be the best version of yourself-- that was how I won the hearts of Uncle Hernan and Aunt Yadora.

The door of the house was opened and in the doorway, there was my dad standing while crossed-arms. He seriously looked at the two of us while waiting for us to come to him. With those sharp stares that he had, I knew already what he was thinking, and it was something I didn't like about his mindset.

"I didn't know we have a freaking gorgeous visitor today," Daddy said when I and Cheveyo finally arrived at him. "Brielle, who is this man?"

"U-uh, Dad... this is Cheveyo," I said, stuttering a little. "He's my classmate and we'll be doing here the assignment 'cause I know you won't allow me to stay outside till night."

Cheveyo nodded his head to Daddy but did not even make a simple smile. He remained with that poker face, that defined him as a person who had an attitude. Though he used to be like that, Daddy would think he was rude because, in the first place, he didn't know him.

I moved closer to Daddy Sy and whispered to him, "He used to be like that." I was still about to wait for my father's response when Cheveyo spoke, which also made me distant from him.

"It's an honor to see you face-to-face, Mister Sy," Cheveyo said. "I hope you're doing fine so far."

"I am," Daddy smiled. "You just proved my daughter wrong that you are rude."

My eyes widened. "I didn't say anything like that, Dad!"

Daddy looked at me, still holding his smile that seemed to be teasing me. "Shut it, my daughter. You have to be always kind to your visitor. Anyway," he turned his gaze to Cheveyo, "why don't you come in so you could start now your project?"

I and Cheveyo went straight to the living room and began there writing the book; meanwhile, Daddy Sy went to the kitchen to prepare food for us. The two of us planned to write a fantasy book instead of a romance that was first planned. We could not write one, especially since we had not experienced yet a fairytale.

"Your dad is cool," Cheveyo said as he brought out the laptop for encoding.

"Yeah, he is," I let out a soft chuckle. "That's one of his ten personalities." For the first time ever, after uttering that, I heard Cheveyo laugh; just a little, but at least he laughed. And my eyes indeed widened because of that and for some time, I was just amazingly staring at him.

"What's wrong?" Cheveyo asked.

I turned my gaze away from him and just said, "Nothing," so we could officially start.

We start the story by encoding the chapters we wrote down in our notebooks and revising them after. We actually had our plot and setting already, it was just that the chapters weren't complete yet, so we really had to take more time to finish it before the cutoff. And while encoding, Daddy came to give us the food but left immediately after.

When it was quiet again between the two of us, Cheveyo had taken the time to break the silence, "Did they stop following you?" he asked without looking at me.

I stopped encoding, and from the laptop, I turned my glance at him. "I don't know," I answered.

"Do you know them?"

"No..."

"Then, why are they following you?"

"C-can we just not talk about it?"

Cheveyo also stopped encoding, then looked at me. "If it's worth talking about, what's the reason to stop? It's like you are disregarding your safety, your security because of what had happened."

"And in that night, why are you there?"I asked him.

"What if I told you I really planned to save you?"

I wasn't able to respond quickly. My mind stuttered and for some reason, the thoughts inside my head were like trains that had no intention of stopping. That one question left me hanging and made me look stupidly at that guy who just jumbled my thoughts, not until Akie appeared.

"Big Sis, who is that?" Akie asked as he sat on my lap.

I introduced Cheveyo to him, as well as him to Cheveyo. A smile touched my lip as they shook hands and smiled at each other. I was glad Cheveyo did not show Akie his poker face, or else Akie would really cry.

"I thought he's your new boyfriend," Akie said.

My cheeks burnt because of embarrassment. I told him right away to stop because knowing him, he might add more ridiculous statements to that. I feared it because he even chose to stay with the two of us and told me he would watch over me just in case Cheveyo would do bad to me. And because of the feeling of discomfort, I asked sorry to Cheveyo.

Cheveyo said it was fine and after that, he looked at Akie. "Don't worry, little boy, I won't do bad to your sister. She's way too precious to be treated like that."

"I know, but are you courting her?"

"Unfortunately, not. But who knows when I asked her and she agreed?"

"Oh, so you're planning about it?"

"Not really, because it's already decided."

Like Akie's eyes, my eyes also widened. He didn't see it coming, so I was. And because of great astonishment, he ran away and called Daddy.

I was still in great surprise when Cheveyo looked at me. I looked at his eyes and tried to find sincerity in the words that he had mouthed, and now the fear was in me. I feared we would not be able to complete the book right away because of the awkwardness he had just planted. Because of what he had said, either intentionally or unintentionally, I was able to read him a little.

But, what was his real intention?