Project: LOVE [Chapter 9 - Edited]

“Hey, Lara!”

I looked behind me and noticed Kasey standing there, propping her bag against one of my chair’s legs. I smiled.

Maybe everything is okay.

“Hey, Kase. Good morning,” I greeted, fixing my posture to face her. My assigned place is in the front row whereas Kasey’s in second – her seat was just after mine. She sat down. “How was your date with Oliver? If only you told me sooner, we could’ve arranged for a double last Saturday. You went to the evening concert together, right?”

She scratched her chin. “I was hoping you weren’t going to bring that up, especially since that wasn’t a date.”

I chuckled and grabbed my phone that was on top of the armrest. “Wasn’t it? Well still, it appears like you spent most of the day together.”

“You know what we were up to,” she rolled her eyes. “At least give us credit for that dinner, or else you both would’ve landed at the food court again.”

“Hey, I wouldn’t mind. There were still other stalls we hadn’t gotten to try out,” I waggled my eyebrows. “Thanks though. Your cooking’s delicious, like it normally is.”

“It better be,” Kasey raised her hand and showed me her index finger. The middle section was wrapped in Band-Aid. “I got this cut for your sake, you know. If I didn’t cook – nevermind. You don’t really want to know what Oliver’s fried chicken tastes like. It looks yummy but…”

I chuckled as she formed a small cross using her forefingers, shaking her head slightly in the process.

“Additional thank you for saving me from food poisoning then,” I opened the inbox folder and tapped a message. “I’m also glad that the food didn’t taste like blood, or else we would’ve thought those were undercooked.”

“Excuse me, I keep my meals clean,” she flicked me on the forehead. “And I didn’t lose that much blood. You’re mean to me.”

“I’m just having my fun, Kase.” I stuck my tongue out.

I re-read the text Kasey accidentally sent me last Saturday. The reason why I refused to let Miguel know what made me laugh was because he could get embarrassed. After all, I had proof that he asked for Kasey and Oliver’s assistance. That wasn’t something to be ashamed about, but I figured that since he knew that I didn’t tell Kasey anything about when the date was, he’d think that I’d find it weird that he told her about it instead. It didn’t really bug me when I thought about it more though. Had he been quiet like I was, Kasey probably would’ve annoyed him to share specifics anyway. It was just a matter of who’d take initiative to give or gain information.

“Miguel, how’s the dinner going? I wanted to stay so that I could check on you and Lara, but Oliver dragged me away. We’re at the concert, so whatever you do, don’t go here unless you want Lara to catch on. Tell me about how the date went when you get home, alright? That’s an order! I’ll be holding on to my phone.

P.S. We weren’t able to finish our Walking Dead marathon because of you, so you better win her over. That’ll compensate for my Daryl Dixon fix.”

“Really, Kasey? ‘Win her over’? Shouldn’t it be, ‘let her agree to be mascot’?”

And honestly, you just had to confess to him about your attraction to Daryl Dixon, didn’t you?

“Hey, whatever works,” she winked. “Either way, you agreed in the end – also, please don’t read that text anymore. I’ve already been scolded by Oliver over that.”

“So you honestly didn’t notice that you were sending it to my number? You’re that used to messaging me, huh?” I grinned and Kasey shrugged. I sighed as I turned my attention back to the screen. “Anyway, he earned it.”

After I scrolled past other messages, I locked the phone and slid it into my pocket.

“Did anything juicy happen? He didn’t tell me much; only that you went around together and had a good time,” Kasey rested her face on her palm. “You need to teach him how to be a good storyteller.”

“Pfft. As if I really need to,” I rubbed my nose. “Hmm, anything juicy, huh.”

My thoughts wandered back to the greenhouse, to the few seconds when Miguel said he wanted to understand me. I’m not entirely sure why, but those words just glued itself to my mind, preventing the moment to be lost to a pile of other memories that I store away.

“A little.”

Kasey’s eyes widened. She shook my arm. “You – you’re smiling! What happened? Do you have a crush on him now?”

“What? No! I don’t like him that way,” I squinted. “He just said something that made me really happy. You know, like that time you confessed that you were worried for me. I mean the period when we still weren’t close.”

And what if I am smiling? Is my normal expression a frown? I know I look deadpan, but do I rarely smile? I usually do… in front of friends, family, and relatives.

Right. I just answered my own question. I probably do pout most of the time.

“But I’m a girl and he’s a guy! That’s kind of different. You don’t feel anything? Not even a little bit?”

“Not even a little bit,” I repeated, making it a statement. “Plus, I don’t see the difference. You’re both my friends.”

Before our conversation could continue, Sir Mac entered the room and greeted us as he headed straight for his table. Kasey and I fixed our positions and made ourselves ready for class.

“Morning,” he said, taking out his class folder. “Did you all spend the wonderful weekend to rest?”

“Some of us had a wonderful weekend, alright.” I heard Kasey say softly from behind. I snickered as I decided to let that comment pass.

We watched Sir Mac hook his laptop to the projector and check the seat plan. According to him, three of us were absent.

“Okay, first thing’s first,” he began, double-clicking on a PowerPoint file. The screen then showed a picture of a stunning spring landscape. White and pink petals danced with the wind, over a dirt path in the middle of a field of flowers. He played soft music that I thought would be fit for a yoga session. “It seems like there are some groups who are already starting on the project. Is it because of the bonus?”

He laughed as he stepped down from the platform and went around. I felt a light kick from behind. When I glanced at her, Kasey was smiling at Sir Mac innocently. Typical.

“A student sent me a text message, asking if it was really necessary for the bonus to be on a podcast. I wondered why, so I searched the internet for what exactly a podcast was,” he said, moving his fingers to appear as if he was typing on a keyboard. “I realized it was a lot of work. I didn’t intend it to be that way, so you can do what is easy for you, as long as it is still in video format. The reason behind that is so that I’d know that you’re actually the one working. If it’s a written post, I will have a hard time knowing if you or someone else typed.”

Grumbles filled the room. Some students shook their heads and leaned back on their chairs, looking at Sir Mac disappointedly, whereas the rest sighed out of relief. I frowned.

So, he just gave the primary instructions without actually knowing what a podcast was?

Seriously?

“Sir, can we do livestreams and vlogs?”

Sir Mac turned his attention to the student who asked. “Vlog?”

“It’s a shorter way of saying video blog, Sir.” I pitched in, noting the changes that were being made.

“Ah, yes. You can do vlogs as long as it’s easy to find,” he nodded. “Livestream too. Like I said, you’re free to do anything as long as it’s accessible and in video.”

Vlogs huh. Well, that is easier to make than podcasts. Hopefully, he won’t change his mind anymore after this.

“I think that’s all there is that needs clearing up so far, unless anyone else has any questions?” He looked around. No one raised anymore inquiries. Sir then clapped his hands together. “Just so I know, who’s actually started on the bonus? If not started, at least thinking of starting.”

I heard a subtle noise. Of course, the source had to be the same person who’d been teasing me even before class started. She was doing all those “psst!” sounds just so that I’d turn around. Well, she got me. I looked at her.

“Raise your hand,” she said in a playful tone.

I wasn’t able to reply because right after she said that, Sir noticed us. He smiled at me.

“Oh, Lara. You’ve already gone out with someone?”

“I, uh…” I blinked, thinking of what to say. “I… did? Sort of.”

“Is he a special guy,” he asked, winking. “Are you using this project as an opportunity to get closer to a boy you’re interested in?”

It’s a bit more like the opposite situation, really – minus the romantic implication.

“He’s just a friend.” I politely replied, suppressing the urge to slap Kasey’s leg.

“Ah, a friend,” he nodded. “Be careful though. If you don’t want to possibly fall for your friend, then maybe it isn’t a good idea to choose him as your partner. The set-ups may get to your head and eventually, you may find yourself starting to feel something more for him.”

Everyone’s eyes were on me now. I quickly gazed at all of them. Some had mischievous looks on their faces whereas others seemed intrigued.

Thanks, Kasey. I needed the attention.

“I don’t think I’ll like him that way.”

Sir Mac smiled. It was the type of smile a grandmother has when we try to hide something, and we know just how sharp a grandma is.

“Just a word of caution.”

I nodded my head and finally, he turned away. I let out a breath. Behind me, I could feel the laughter that was bubbling inside of Kasey.

Just you wait after class.

Without further incidents, class resumed like normal, with Sir Mac discussing concepts in front, writing keywords on the board and a few classmates struggling to keep themselves awake in the middle and back. I could hear some snoring already, actually.

“Lara.”

I gazed at my seatmate. She grinned.

“Who’s the guy?”

I sighed internally, making sure to keep my expression the way it was.

Well, without much incidents, anyway.

********

After class, Kasey waited for me outside as I packed my things. As I was storing, my curious seatmate from earlier waved at me, so I waved back. Though I had a hard time brushing off her question a while ago, she settled for an answer of “you better wait and see” – thankfully.

I wasn’t embarrassed to say who, mainly because there was no reason for me to be, but I was trying to avoid getting Miguel and I some unwanted attention. Sure people would find out, given that we had to do and share videos, but until that time comes, I’d rather save both of us from trouble. Based from their reactions earlier, my resolve to stay quiet strengthened, because they gave me the impression that they’d poke fun at us if they had nothing better to do.

I put on the right backpack strap and headed out the door. Kasey was leaning on the opposite wall and waved to some people I barely knew. I pinched her side.

“Ouch! What the heck, Lara?” She winced.

“That’s thanks for earlier.”

Kasey stared at me as if she wanted to nip me back. I merely gave her a smug grin.

“Anyway, do you want to go anywhere?” I asked, checking the time on my watch. “I’m free for three hours.”

“Not really. I feel like lazing around somewhere, but I can’t think of where,” she yawned. “What about you? Do you have any place in mind? Preferably somewhere we can nap.”

“Nap? It’s early in the morning and you’re already thinking of sleep?” I wore the left strap. “Then again, you almost got busted earlier. It’s a good thing the guy next to you tapped you.”

“Give me a break, not everyone’s a morning person like you,” Kasey rubbed her eyes. I glared at her. “Well, okay, we’re both morning people, but something kept me up last night so I didn’t get much sleep.”

Good. If she wasn’t going to take back that I was the only early bird, I would have reminded her of the time she woke me up 4:00 am. She said couldn’t get back to sleep, so she decided to call me to chat. It kind of annoyed me then, especially since she wouldn’t let me hang up on her, as much as I asked her to let me sleep some more.

Now I remember why I picked up the habit of putting my phone on silent before I go to bed.

I thought about where to go until I saw a student leaning on a pillar, eating a chocolate marble slice. That was when it hit me.

“Are you ready to have diabetes?” I asked, crossing my arms.

Kasey furrowed her brows. “Diabetes?”

A grin lit up my face. “You like chocolate, right? Dark chocolate, milk chocolate… any type of chocolate?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the parking lot. “Then I know just where to go.”

********

Fifteen minutes later, after driving through streets lined up by towering buildings, small business structures, and trees, I parked in front of a homey café. I unbuckled the seatbelt and got out of the car. My passenger stood there beside my Hyundai, door still open, reading the sign.

“Hey, close that so we that can go in,” I called out. She nodded, closed it, and helped me make sure all the doors were locked. The guard smiled at us as we headed inside with the wind chime still ringing in the background.

Upon entering, the aroma of cocoa beans, baked goods, and pop music welcomed us. It was pretty cold too. I noticed that some individuals seated in their respective tables rubbed their hands together occasionally and touched their mugs. The management probably had the air conditioners on full blast.

“Lara, I’m in Heaven,” Kasey gasped as we stood in front of the counter. “And you’re an angel. Why didn’t I know about this place before? Chocolate treats, chocolate drinks… chocolate everything! Yeah, I can definitely feel diabetes settling in right about now.”

“Well, take it easy. I brought you here to keep you awake, not so you’d stuff yourself silly,” I nudged.

“I could live here and survive. Are they accepting part-timers?”

And she’s gone – probably to fly off to cloud nine.

Heh, she might already be there.

“Anyway,” I coughed, trying to attract her attention. “I’m going to look for seats. Go ahead and order.”

“Hey, wait a minute,” she gripped the sleeve of my shirt. “What’s yours going to be? Tell me now so that you won’t have to line up again later.”

I studied the overhead menu. “I’ll have red iced tea and a slice of chocolate mousse cake.”

The cashier nodded and placed my order. She then looked at Kasey. The girl, meanwhile, was still deciding on what she wanted to eat.

“I’ll pay you at the table, okay?” I patted her on the back and left.

I surveyed the area. Soon, I realized, there was only one available place we could sit at. The spot was by the side, next to the ceiling to floor windows. A dark, wooden round table was nestled between two red swivel armchairs shaped like half of an egg. I made my way there and chose the seat with the back facing the door. I sat, took out my tablet, and placed the bag on the floor. After a while, Kasey appeared, carrying a tray of goods.

“How much do I need to pay you?” I subconsciously asked, focusing on what was on my screen.

“Eh, no need. Think of it as thanks for bringing me here,” she said, putting the tray in the middle of the table.

“No, seriously,” I looked up at her. “How much?”

She shrugged, sat down, and grabbed her cup of hot chocolate. “I am serious. Besides, you need to save up again.”

I stared at her confusedly.

“What? Didn’t your mom or brother blow a gasket when they found out how much you spent the other day?” She sipped her drink. “I’m talking about the groceries.”

“No. I never told them about it,” I said. “They didn’t have to know.”

“All the more reason that you don’t have to pay me. You used your own money, so you need to save again. Remember, Christmas is in a few months,” she gave me an eyebrow flash. “I expect my gift to be at my locker before the break comes, if not, I’ll hunt you down.”

“What? Since when was giving gifts a requirement?”

“Since you met me.” She grinned, lowering her cup. I rolled my eyes and smiled. I understood what she meant.

“Thanks for the treat,” I said, taking my plate of cake.

“You’re welcome, Lara.”

We ate our snacks quietly, having no conversation at all after her reply. When I’d glimpse at her, she’d either be looking at the plate or staring out the window, watching the people and cars pass by. Not once did I notice her look at me, nor open her mouth to say anything. Even if I said something that could be a good topic for a nice chat, she’d only give short replies, then it would just end there. I sighed.

I guess everything wasn’t fine yet.

“Are you mad at me?”

For some reason, I couldn’t keep the question to myself any longer. It felt so weird when she wasn’t her cheerful, talkative self. If I did anything wrong, I wanted to know, so that I could apologize and get us back on the right track.

Kasey turned to me, as if I said something she wasn’t expecting.

“What makes you say that?”

I took a deep breath and let go of my fork. “It feels awkward right now. I actually wondered about it since Thursday – you know… the day you gave me the cold shoulder when I was walking up to you, Miguel, and Oliver.”

She went silent for a while, then flashed a smile. Something was wrong. It felt… forced.

“You’re thinking too much. That was just me pretending not to notice you, because I thought that if we stayed, since you saw us together, you’d figure out that we were going to prepare for Saturday.”

If that’s true, then why are you faking your expression right now?

“Is that really all?” I looked at her in the eye. “I feel like that’s just a reason you made to cover up the real story.”

Her smile faded for a second, but quickly came back.

“That’s all. Don’t overthink things, Lara,” she giggled. “There’s nothing you have to worry about. Nothing’s wrong between us.”

I continued to stare at her but ultimately gave up. She still had that deceptive expression on her face.

Why won’t you tell me the truth?

“Okay,” I picked up my fork and cut a piece of cake. “If you say so.”

Kasey gave a small and strained smile as she watched me as I ate. I flinched.

“Trust me.”