Chasing over the Belief (Secondary Series #1)

06

Chapter 6

Affection

"Good morning, Amora!"

Felix greeted me as I glared at him when I entered our classroom. My friends shook their heads with Charlotte giving Felix a look which he only shrugged and kept staring at me with a wide smile plastered on his lips.

I took a seat on my chair and put my bag down before I felt a paper on the open cabinet attached on my table when I placed my book there. I opened the yellow paper and saw familiar writings before I sigh.

'Hope you had a great night. Have a great day Amora.'

It surely came from Felix because it's been like this for a month now. I glance at him only to see that he's waiting for my reaction which I only gave him a small smile, though I don't even know if I can call it a smile.

Of course I wouldn't forget last night because he just had to call my messenger when my brother is in my room which leads to Christian answering the call and the two of them talked some random things making me almost like grounded from my own phone since they talked for like an hour before Christian returned it to me and left my room. I actually thought Felix would end the call already but he didn't and said to continue with what I am doing. He even threatened me last night that if I'll end the call then he'll tell the whole school that there really is something going on between the two of us. So I just had to let my phone stand on my stable table while I do my assignment and him just watching and disturbing me.

It's been 3 months already since Felix transferred to our school and he's been pestering me more and more after his argument with Noah in our P.E. class last month. His actions frustrate me every time because he's already disturbing me and causing me headaches.

"Aiden Noah and James Isaac have finally arrived!" James announces as the both of them entered the room with Noah smacking James head because of what he did.

Noah smiled at me as I returned the same before he glanced at Felix giving him a blank expression then took a seat on his chair beside Nicole.  James then gave Felix a high five before seating on his chair.

"Sometimes I don't really know if you're just being stupid or what." Charlotte commented, glaring at James.

James had his forehead creased with what Charlotte said. "What did I do again this time? I just arrived, Isabelle!"

Charlotte only shook her head before returning back to writing something on her paper. Our teacher arrived and our class continued until the first break, in which we decided to just stay in the room, before the class started again and dismissed us for lunch time.

A tray with a plate of blueberry cake was placed on our table suddenly after Nicole, Emma, Charlotte and I took a seat just a few minutes ago. "Eat this after eating your lunch Amora okay?"

Felix said before patting my head then gave a sincere smile and left to seat two tables away from ours. I roamed my eyes around the cafeteria to see almost everyone's attention on me and Felix.

"He's really going overboard." Emma commented.

"Is he courting you or what? It makes me want to puke everytime he says something like that or calls you Amora." Charlotte says as I sigh and gulps before taking a deep breath because I can feel my heart's beating fast once again.

Nicole nudged me that made me look at her before she signaled me to look on my side only to see Felix staring at me. He put down his spoon and fork before pointing at me and acted like he's holding utensils and ate before nodding at me.

"I'm not really sure if him calling you Amora is just calling you by your name or is just his way to call you love without you trying to give it any other meaning." Nicole whispers as I turn my attention to her before glancing at Felix again, who is now busy eating his food.

Since Emma and Charlotte were suddenly called in their club rooms while Noah and James are called by their taekwondo coach because we have an hour and a half spare time since the teachers are suddenly called for a meeting until 2:30, only Nicole and I walk our way back to our classroom. We were walking silently when an arm was suddenly draped over my shoulder making me almost jump.

"You're going back to our classroom already?" Felix asks as I nod before giving him a nudge on his stomach to make him lose his hold on my shoulder since the eyes of the people around us are focusing their attention again to nothing but the two of us.

"Will you please stop? The students are staring." I said trying to warn him as he just shrugs.

"How about try not thinking about what others say?" he asks again before draping his shoulders once again making me and Nicole stop.

I was about to say something when Nicole tapped Felix hand that place on my shoulder. "I know that the four are not around but please, try not to give the students any bad idea with whatever's going on between the two of us because Feli has a status to take care of."

Nicole's comment made Felix remove his arm on my shoulder and distance himself a few inches away from me. "Better." Nicole says with a smile.

"You're scarier than your other friends." Felix said when we continued walking which only made me and Nicole laugh.

"You should be..." Nicole started. "because the moment you hurt Feli here, i'll burn you."

I laugh with what Nicole says but Felix only looks at her in disbelief. The three of us stayed together until we got inside our classroom and before our girl classmate who talked with Felix before when he was just new here approached him.

I decided to sit on Noah's chair since I don't want to hear what they're talking about.

"You're jealous?" Nicole asks as I turn my attention to her after glancing at Felix and our classmate.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

She scoffed. "Its funny how you don't even understand your own emotions. It's all written on your face!" Nicole's last sentence made Felix look at our side which made me stand up immediately.

"I'll just go to the library." I said excusing myself as I left the room before I heard Nicole's laugh and Felix asking her what's happened to me.

I made my way to the library because I also want to read a book in there since there's a storybook section in there also. I entered the silent library room and went straight to the storybook section where there are no students around and is placed in the second to the back shelf.

I scan through the books before taking out one and sitting on the floor in an indian seat position then opening the book. I was silently reading the book when I felt someone took a seat beside me on the floor.

Felix is seated beside me when I look at my side. He immediately tried to make eye contact with me but I averted my eyes to not reach his. I turn my focus to the words written on the book I am reading but his presence and scent is enough to disturb me from my own thoughts.

"What are you here?" he asks, trying to get my attention.

"Reading." I only answered.

"Why are you reading here?" he asks once again.

I am so close to lashing on him because he really is distracting me too much these past few weeks already. "This is a library."

"So? Can't you read in our classroom?" he complained.

"Why do you-" I turn to his side to face him but only to meet his face just a few inches away from mine. "care?"

"Because the last time you went somewhere alone, you almost got in trouble." he answered, which made me clear my throat and turn my face to the other side and gulp.

There it is again. The rapid heartbeat. It's been like that for weeks now everytime Felix is around and sometimes I just wanna question it with, what's making you go crazy?

"That's odd." he suddenly said in a low tone, making sure to not make enough noise for him to be kicked out. "Does your heart still not flutter?" he asks which made me look at him confused.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"I'm running out of moves but you still don't look flattered." he answered.

So my reactions towards his 'moves' are not visible to him? I'm sure it does because even James, who is not really keen, keeps questioning me about my behavior.

"Will you shut up? We're in the library." I said, making him nod.

A student suddenly passes by the side of shelves we are seated in before he returns to take a good look at me and Felix then leaves immediately.

"Oh no!" I complained to myself in a low voice and was about to stand up when Felix held my wrist to keep me seated.

"Where are you going again?" he asks as I give his hand holding my wrist a look before looking at him.

"That guy who just passed by." I answered.

"What are you gonna do? Explain?" he questioned as he scoffed. "Why do you care so much about them seeing us?"

"Because I don't want them to get the wrong idea!" I exclaimed which made him chuckle.

"You're cute," he said. "Stay seated or I won't let your wrist go."

I followed what he said and went back to an indian seating position before he let my wrist go.

The issue between me and Felix still hasn't died down because he keeps on doing something that leads to the students getting the wrong idea. He will pester me in the corridors even putting his arm on my shoulder or will even follow me everywhere. Every lunch he'll give me some snacks or even pay for my own food in front of my friends.

I remember, there's a time when we were in the cafeteria and was in line when he suddenly pulled me out of the line and dragged me to a table before placing a tray of food in there. Then his only word is 'eat up'. Nicole and Emma almost got in a big argument because of what he did with Emma siding that he was trying to hit on me or what and Nicole siding that to not make a big deal of it. Luckily Noah and James were not around during that time. I just know that Noah is getting more and more piss as time passes by with Felix surrounding us.

Despite Felix's weird actions, there's a weird feeling that I am experiencing everytime he does what he calls moves. His appearance alone is enough to make me nervous already because I have no idea what he'll do. His words are not an exemption because when Charlotte says that he is like James, she's not wrong, because Felix is really good with using his mouth that even me, who doesn't even care before, is getting bothered already with the words he lets go.

I stood up from my seating position when I felt like it was already suffocating enough to be there before I told him that I'll go back to our classroom already which he also did the same. When we arrived in our room, the four were there already and they questioned us once again with Felix only shrugging them off.

That routine continued for the rest of the week. It's like I'm living in time to be Felix's entertainment because he really loves disturbing my peaceful day.

"Are you going to the studio today dear?" mom asks after I put down the utensils and wipe my mouth with a table napkin before I nod.

The studio is for pottery. Besides focusing on my studies, I go there whenever I want to and it is located inside the art museum that is built through a partnership with Nicole's parents real estate business. That art museum contains some of my pot creation which is only displayed there. Dad especially had that building made, with my mom being the one to handle the museum, because of my passion over pottery and my mom wanting to display her paintings there but he ended up putting so much effort to maintain the museum with the amount of people visiting and other artists such as skilled painters, potters, sculptors, and more place their works in there giving full trust to my father over their work.

"I'm starting to make the new porcelain you asked me to make today mom." I answered with a smile as she nodded.

"Ate can I come with you?" Christian questions before I look at our parents to ask permission.

Supposedly, I should be spending my Saturday with Christian today here in our house because it's what we do every Saturday. Since Mom asked me to make a new porcelain, I had to start it already since her target date to display my work is in a month.

"I'll let you go with your sister but your personal maid will come with you and you'll listen to her okay? We don't want to take any risk." Dad responded which made Christian nod and let out a big smile.

Since he experienced a sudden shortness of breath, he rarely comes out of the house already because my parents don't want to take risk despite them saying that nothing is wrong with Christian. With that, every Saturday, we just stayed inside the house since there's a lot of things to do here anyway and my friends have been visiting during Saturday more often now making our Friday after-class hang out change to Saturday now. Christian's friends come here sometimes too so he won't feel lonely.

Mom and dad left in a separate car because they had to go to the company first for a meeting before mom goes to the museum to check everything in there since an event will be held next week for a new art display by a painter. Christian and I also left after that and even went through a drive thru because Christian wants some burger when he just ate breakfast.

"Good morning miss Felicity, sir Christian." the guard of the museum greeted as I smiled and greeted back.

We made our way to the studio with the head manager of the museum discussing to me the current status of each display and my works especially. "I'll leave you here now, miss Felicity."

I nod before he left and Christian took a seat in a chair in front of an easel as I looked at him and smiled. "You'll paint?"

He nods before he wears a canvas apron in front of his striped green-white shirt and a maong pants. If I am into pottery then Christian is into painting, though his work is still not being posted because he doesn't want to by saying he still has so many things to learn to make his work solid. We got into the arts because our mom is a skilled painter which is now inherited to Christian but I'm not really sure with whom I inherited pottery. Mom said she used to learn pottery before she pursued and chose painting.

"Miss Felicity, someone wants to meet you outside." the head manager said after knocking and entering the studio.

I looked at him confused before I took off my apron leaving me in my white shirt under my black jumper dress pairing it with a white sneakers and glance at Christian. "Please take a close look at him." I told his personal maid.

I walk into the halls of the museum to see a man wearing a white shirt underneath an army green trucker jack and a black pants pairing it with a black sneakers.

“Sir, this is the potter of that creation, Miss Felicity Amora Martinez.” the head manager introduces as the guy turns around to face us which made my eyes widened.

“Hi Ms. Martinez.” Felix greeted, smirking at me as I gave him a force smile.

“Hello sir.” I greeted back with a professional tone.

The head manager is switching his attention between me and Felix as this guy just keeps on smirking like he is amused or something. I turned to the head manager and smiled. “I’ll handle this.”

He left after that before I faced Felix once again and glared at him. “What are you doing here?”

“My tita asked me to check this museum out, her painting will be placed here next week.” he explained as I nod.

“What did you ask for me?” I asked him as he smiled and looked at the porcelain that I created.

“Mind explaining this to me?” he demands as I sigh and was about to complain when I saw a staff member.

I glared at him. “This porcelain was made in 2011 as per requested by Norma Martinez who is the former Chairwoman of Empire Group. This was made through heating clays to high temperatures and was formed with care....”

I kept talking, explaining about the materials used in making the porcelain and the meaning behind each design surrounding it but when I looked at Felix, he was just staring at me deeply.

“Are you even listening?” I ask, almost complaining.

He sighs and brings himself back to his sense before smiling and looking at the porcelain. “So you’re an achiever, a Class President, a potter, a heartbreaker, and also the person who caught my eye.”

His last words made me twitch and frozen on my spot. I can feel like I’m about to experience a shortness of breathing and I can’t even look at him in the eye.

He slowly walk closer to me while saying things. “It's interesting how an attractive girl like you has been making me feel new things.” he said before he stopped a few inches closer to me.

“W-what are you doing, F-felix?” I said stuttering while he tucked my hair strands over my right ear before I felt his breath on my ear that gives tickles on my neck.

“I’m making your heart beat fast so you know what I’m feeling whenever you just do nothing but talk, stand, smile, and walk.” he answered as he was suddenly pushed slightly away from me putting enough distance for one person to stand between us.

“What are you doing to my ate?!” Christian almost shouted which made Felix shock.

Felix looked at Christian and me before he chuckled. “So the sister is beautiful and the brother is handsome. What a good genes you have.”

Christian’s forehead creased as he looked closely at Felix's face. “Are you... Felix Alcantara?” he asks which made me shocked.

“You know him Christian?” I asked.

“He’s the one who makes you dress quickly after I told you that he has a message. I also talked to him last time ate, remember?” my eyes widened with what Christian said, the reason why I had to close his mouth immediately using my hand because he might spill more.

Felix looks at me smirking and I can see in his eyes that he wants to tease me already. The two completely get along well personally after my brother’s reveal that he even dragged Felix to my studio where I had to keep patient with Felix continuous disturbance while I’m doing the porcelain.

It continued until we left the building separating ourself from Felix which I’m really grateful for because I think I’m getting enough of him now and that I don’t want to see him for a while.

“Ate, I like kuya Felix. He’s a fun guy to be with.” Christian commented as we entered the house before I shook my head.

“KUYA FELIX?!” I recognized Nicole’s voice when someone shouted as I immediately turned my attention to the couch to see her standing in there already.

She approaches us hurriedly and even puts her hands on both sides of my shoulder. “You’re with Felix?! Alcantara?!”

“Yes ate Nicole. He was in the museum and stayed there until we left.” Christian answered before bidding his goodbye to us because he had to change his clothes already.

I looked at Nicole and she signaled me to go upstairs with her to my room before I sigh and followed her.

I stayed silent even when we entered my room already. I don’t know why but I feel really guilty.

“Tell me...” she started. “What really is the score between you and Felix? I thought you’re waiting for your fated boyfriend?!”

I smack her arm with her second question. “There’s nothing to tell okay? There’s nothing between me and Felix!” I defend.

“Really? Are you sure that’s what he thinks too?” Nicole asks, making me look at her.

“What do you mean?” I asked back before she sighed and took a seat beside me on my bed.

“The fact that he’s not even denying the issue between you two making it last long for a month now and his actions towards you that you explained as him pestering only does not match your definition of there’s nothing between you two!” she exclaimed.

I know what she’s saying but nothing really is going on. It can be just Felix's way of flirting like she does to others.

“I forgot that you’re dense, of course you won’t notice anything.” she commented as my forehead creases.

“What are you talking about?” I ask her which made her twitch before she clears her throat.

“I-i’ll leave now. Bye!” she suddenly said before standing up and was about to run when I reached for her wrist.

“Eleanor Nicolette Jimenez.” I called as she sighed and looked at me.

“What I’m saying is, you can’t even notice that someone likes you so much for a long time now so of course you wouldn’t also notice Felix's actions towards you.” she explains that made my jaw drop.

We talk for a few more hours until she needs to go home already because tita called her. I lay down on my bed when my phone suddenly let out a notification sound.

Felix: Thanks for today.

Felix: See you on monday.

Felix: Sleep well and goodnight

I didn’t reply to his messages and just put my phone down because he is already bothering my thoughts enough. I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep if he says more tonight.

“Where’s Charlotte and Emma?” I ask Noah and James who is sitting on the bench beside us here in the quadrangle while eating an ice cream.

“They went back to our classroom, Charlotte forgot her wallet.” James answers as I nod.

I told them that I’ll go to our classroom also because I forgot my notebook since we have a quiz later, I need to review.

When I was about to open the door wide, I heard Charlotte’s voice.

“Stay away from Feli if you’ll only treat her as if she’s one of the girls you wanna play with.” she said before I took a peek at whoever was inside the room to see her with Charlotte standing on the other side and Felix on the opposite side as them.

Felix's response made me feel butterflies in my stomach as if I already stopped breathing and was just staring at them.

"Felicity was never one of the girls I just flirted with. She’s special.”