His Secret Admirer

CHAPTER 6

Judith POV

By the time I woke up, I was in a bed. What happened to me? I sat on the bed, and the cloth from my forehead fell down. “Ah, you’re awake? How are you feeling?” The nurse asked me.

“Why am I here?” I asked her. My head was spinning. “Someone brought you here. He was so worried, he told me to take care of you.” She told me, smiling. He? Who saved me from that small room? Could it be…. Elijah? I was hoping that it was him.

“Who?” I asked her, furrowing my eyebrows. She was about to say something. before she could tell me, suddenly another student came in with a bleeding head. “Rico, what happened?” The nurse asked in horror.

“He smashed his head while we were practicing.” The other student who took him said to the nurse. I knew they were from the soccer team. “I am sorry, can you please move away?” She then asked me.

Since I am already awake, I don’t have any reason to be on the bed anymore. Rico looked like he needed the bed more than me now.

I walked out of the room, bringing my bag with me. After I went out, I looked at my watch. It was two PM already. It means I missed the history test. Should I tell Mr. Harris that Gina locked me in that room this morning?

He was supposed to be in the next class by now. If I go there right now, I might still have a chance to talk to him. He knew I was a good student.

I never skipped his class and always maintained good grades on every test. I hoped he was kind enough to give me a second chance this time.

I fastened my pace towards the other building. I stopped as I heard the sound of people talking in the hallway. This is weird. The test is already started, so all the students were supposed to be in the class.

I hid behind the wall and peeked to see who it was. My heart stopped beating as I noticed it was Elijah. It was the same leather jacket that he wore this morning when he rode his bike. A smile crept onto my face.

Now that I’ve seen him, I think I should thank him for saving me and bringing me to the nursing room. I could only see his back. I had no idea to whom he was talking. He suddenly turned around, and my jaw nearly dropped to the floor. It was Gina. The next thing I know, she already attacks him with her lips.

Tears started to cloud my vision. I thought we had something between us. I was such a fool. A boy as popular as Elijah is not a match with me. He was supposed to be with Gina. She’s beautiful and equally popular as him.

I quickly ran away before they could see me.

I kept on running and hid in the corner of the library. I ran here because I felt this was my safest place. I am on the second floor because no one actually gets up here to read. I could cry as much as I wanted here without anyone disturbing me.

***************

Elijah POV

I pushed her away and wiped my mouth in disgust. “What do you think you’re doing!?” I said, blaring in anger. “You always rejected me, and now all of a sudden, you chose that girl over me!” she said in a degrading tone.

I raised my hand and was about to slap her, but then I stopped before it could reach her cheek. “You!? I warned you for the second time. Don’t ever speak like that again about Judith!? You’re the one who locked her in that room, right?” Her face instantly went pale, and then I knew I’d just caught the culprit.

“Eli… I didn’t—“ she took my hand, but I quickly swatted them away harshly. “Don’t you ever touch me again,” I said in a stern tone. She looked like she was about to burst into tears.

I don’t have time to argue with her now. I have to go back to Judith. What if she had already woken up and she was looking for me?

By the time I got back there, the bed was already occupied with the other person. “Where’s Judith?” I asked him. “What? Who is Judith?” The boy asked me back in confusion.

“She already left half an hour ago.” The nurse then told me. “Left? But she just fainted? Why did you let her leave?” I asked her, slightly raising my voice. She let out an irritated breath.

“She’s fine already. Can’t you see his condition is more serious?” the nurse replied, pointing at the boy with a bandage in his head. She’s making me crazy.

I raked my hair into a mess. “Do you have any idea where she’s heading?” I asked her back.

“No, she was in a hurry earlier. And I was busy treating the other student.” She told me. I turned around and left the nursery room. If I were Judith, where would I be right now?

I went towards the library, and the same boy from earlier was still there. “You’re looking for Judith?” he looked up and asked me. “Yes, how did you know?” I asked him back.

“She’s upstairs.” He told me. “Thanks.” I gave him an awkward smile before I took the stairs to the second floor. I saw her sitting in the corner of the room. Her back was facing me.

“Hey…..” I said. She was startled to find another person here. She got up and turned around. “Elijah, what are you doing here?” she asked me back. The way she called my name is a bit different than usual. It’s almost like she didn’t happy to see me.

“I was looking for you….” I said, taking a step forward. She frowned a bit and turned around. “Why did you look for me?” she said, tugging a strand of hair behind her ear. I could tell that she was nervous. Why is she behaving like this?

“Are you okay? I found you—“ she suddenly turned around, facing me with eyes full of tears. “Don’t..” she said, stopping me. “Don’t act like you care about me. I am a nobody…” she said, walking past me. I followed her down the stairs and grabbed her hand.

“Wait, I do care about you,” I told her. She tried to shake off my hand, but I only tightened my grip. “What’s the matter with you?” I asked her. More tears flow down her cheek.

“You asked me? You shouldn’t be here right now, having this conversation with me.” She said, then proceeded to go down the stairs, leaving me there speechless.

**************

A week had passed since our last conversation at the library. Judith still came to the class, but she always avoided me at school. I even waited for her at the same bus stop every morning, but she never showed up. This morning I finally got my answer as I saw her getting out of the car.

Her dad is taking her to school. That’s why she never takes the bus again. I had no idea why we even had that fight the last time we met. Why did she suddenly get mad at me? She sat in the front row of the class and always came out first before anyone else to avoid me.

“So, how is it going with Jones?” Steve asked, teasing me. “Shut up!” I elbowed him on his stomach, and he only laughed back at me. My eyes went back to Judith. I won’t let her escape from me again today.  

I am having enough of this cold and distant behavior. The class started, and I couldn’t wait for it to be over so that I could talk to her.

I wasn’t prepared when the bell suddenly rang. I quickly picked up my bag from the floor and before I knew it, she was already going out of the door.

“Hey!.. Where are you going?” Steve called me as I left the classroom.

I made my way out and I still got a glimpse of her at the end of the hall. I think she was heading to the school garden to eat lunch. I grabbed her hand from behind and dragged her into the empty classroom.

She yelped in shock. She must be thinking that someone is kidnapping her. I quickly covered her mouth with my hand. I locked the door and she looked surprised to see that it was me. “You?” she said, looking angry.

“Yes, it’s me!” I said in reply. “What do you want from me?” she asked. “I am getting tired of this.” I told her.

“Tired of what?” she pushed me back. I didn’t know she could be this feisty when she’s angry. It’s kind of sexy, actually.

“I want some explanation. Why are you angry with me?” I asked her, taking a step closer. She looked troubled to give me the answer.

“I am not angry with you. I just need you to leave me alone.” She said, her voice is breaking.

She was lying. She is clearly angry with me.

I took both of her hands. “But I don’t want to.” I told her, staring deep into her eyes.

“Why, Elijah? Please… just leave. You should be with Gina instead of me.” She replied, then breaking the eye contact. “Gina?” I asked her back, looking confused.

“YES! You’re dating Gina, right? I saw you both kissing that day at the hall.” She said in an accusing tone. I let out an amused chuckle. Now I know why she got angry with me. She saw me that day with Gina. Could it be that she was… jealous? I thought she never cared about me.

“So what if I kissed her?” I asked her back, smirking at her. “You’re disgusting!” she spat, her hand went towards my face. She wanted to slap me, but I catch it first.

“Does it make me her boyfriend just because we kissed?” I asked her back.

“I don’t want to answer that.” She said, still looked unhappy. I caged her in between my arms, bringing my face closer towards her.

“Tell me, Judith. If I kissed you right now, will you be my girlfriend?”