A Change Of Pace

I just bought a simple burger, and Shaina just drank a smoothie.

...

So, this is new.

She's the one who invited me to eat, and somehow, I don't feel any romantic tension here.

During things like these, I should be giggling and thinking of ways to make a move.

And I think that's what I'll do now. I won't miss this opportunity.

...

Shaina isn't really looking at me. She still has that emotionless look as she drinks.

Why invite me to this though? She won't even start a conversation.

...

"So this is how you eat with others, huh. Just literally eating with them, no conversations needed." I started to break the ice.

...

I should at least try to flirt at this moment.

But you know, I don't feel like doing that right now.

...

"So this is how you start conversations, huh. You just point out whatever the other person is doing as if that's a bad thing." Shaina replied.

"Hey, at least I made you talk." (Josh)

"Hmm, fair enough." (Shaina)

"Oh yeah, how are you exactly going to handle that guy earlier if I didn't interrupt?" (Josh)

"Are you saying that you don't think I can?" (Shaina)

"Did I say that? No. I just want to know how, I am not trying to degrade you." (Josh)

"Ah, you seem straightforward with your thoughts, good for you." (Shaina)

As she said that, she smiled a little. Again.

But a few moments after, that smile turned into a face of sorrow, with her face looking down.

She seemed to be lost in thought.

...

Hmm, I'm kinda interested about her. She seems to have gone through some harsh stuff.

I'll head on to that next time. My goal here right now is to make her think of me as someone worthy of courting her.

...

"Shaina? Are you watching a flashback of your life right now?" (Josh)

She flinched and went back to her senses.

"If so, what do you care?" (Shaina)

"I'm curious as to what have I said that caused you to do such thing." (Josh)

"I actually didn't expect you to respond like that since most people would think I'm rude and just give up talking to me." (Shaina)

"I actually didn't expect you to speak thoughts like that in front of me, who you just met less than an hour ago." (Josh)

"Hmm, yeah. I guess I didn't prepare much to be encountering such a person." (Shaina)

"Have you not met a person such as I?" (Josh)

"Ah, your conclusions humor me. No, I have met people like you. I just went off to cut my ties with them." (Shaina)

"Ah, and why is that?" (Josh)

"I have a certain reason to dislike people like you." (Shaina)

"Hmm. It seems that you do not want to share your reason to me, which is understandable. You also seem to wish that I would not have my presence here. And with that, I'd like to take my leave." (Josh)

I stood up.

I turned around.

She stands as well.

"I may have some problems with people like you, but I think there's no reason for me to stop giving them a chance."

She left the canteen with me.

...

Damn. That was an uncommon conversation for me.

I never thought that I'll be talking like that to someone.

Also, how did our conversation turn to that?

I didn't even make a single move.

...

As we walked outside the canteen, we were greeted with cold stares from guys.

I'm hanging out with a girl they all tried to hit on, of course they'll look at me like that.

...

HA! I'm in a greater position than all of you good-looking jocks who brag about athletics!

I am in a position where a possible relationship can come out anytime!

Even I, an average-looking guy, who's also just an average type of high school student, can hang out with an elegant beauty such as Shaina!

That's right, I have a better chance of success with Shaina than my month-long efforts with Aira.

...

Wait. I haven't even done any flirting though. How did I manage to get her to hang out with me?

...

....

Did we just become friends?

...

...

OR MAYBE, I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, AND SHE JUST STARTED TO LIKE ME!

HAHA! I HAVE WON FROM THE BEGINNING, FOLKS!

...

Then I guess if I flirt now, I'll have a better chance on progress.

...

While walking, I glanced over Shaina.

...

"What class are you in?" (Shaina)

"3-C. You?" (Josh)

"3-A." (Shaina)

"Ah, of course." (Josh)

"With the number of men who attempted to court me, it's normal to be glared at by people." (Shaina)

"Ah, so you're saying that I have a higher position than them?" (Josh)

...

Why did I say that?!

...

"Hmm, I think I just treated you better with the kindness you've given me." (Shaina)

"Then I guess I'm at a better position than them." (Josh)

"Don't get your hopes high, I can still discard you as nothing." (Shaina)

"Ah, with the things you've said, it just seems you have a big head." (Josh)

"Hearing that opens my mind. What made you make that conclusion?" (Shaina)

"You sound like bragging. You speak as if others are beneath you." (Josh)

"Ah, that does sound reasonable. Tell me, what will you gain from confronting me with this?" (Shaina)

"Nothing actually. I have no right to teach you for you are a being higher than me." (Josh)

"Are you mocking me?" (Shaina)

"Does it matter if I am?" (Josh)

"Hm, fair point." (Shaina)

Shaina smiled once again, and tapped my shoulder.

"Well, I guess we'll be separating. This has been a fun time."

She went on to her room, as I went to mine.

...

I DID FORGET TO FLIRT! DAMMIT!

I HAVE NOT MADE ANY ROMANTIC PROGRESS.

THAT WAS MY CHANCE!

...

I entered the room, and was greeted by someone I seem to despise.

It was her.

Aira greeted me with smiles.

"Hey! Where have you been? I've been looking for you!"

...

You've been looking for me? For what?

To play with my feelings and keep me thinking I have a chance?

Screw you, Aira.

...

I looked at her with a slight hint of disgust.

"For what?"

"Oh, nothing actually. I just wanted to hang out."

"I was just checking out new places."

"You got tired of our hang out place huh?"

...

No. I just got tired of you.

...

"Well It's more like I wanted time for myself." I replied with a harsh, bitter tone.

Aira flinched for a moment.

"O-oh. Uhm, would you like to hang out later? I mean, like walk home together and stuff?"

...

Ah, yes. The basic ploy to make me feel special and make me think you're actually in love with me too.

I will not be fooled, Aira.

Why do this? To fuel you own attention and acceptance problems?

Does no one else give you attention like what I gave by faking?

I will not let myself in with that type of problem.

I have no chance anyway. I have to get you out of my life so I can focus on winning with Shaina.

...

"I'll see about that. I might have some errands after class." I went to my seat.

"But we always walk home together.. And you never do any errands after class.."

...

What is this? Are you now taking the role of the childhood friend where they ask the main character to keep things the same because they don't want change?

Then confess to the main character?

Well, the childhood friend always gets rejected anyway.

Also, no. I will not be swayed by these charms.

Yes. We always walk home together. That was because I expected to have romantic advancement with you after all those efforts.

...

"Yeah. Let's just hang out next time then."

"Alright..." Aira went to her seat.

...

She sat there, with a troubled expression.

She puts her head down on her arms.

Her eyes looked straight at the board while we wait for the teacher. She was silent.

...

I always hear her being loud and jolly to me, so this is new to see her this quiet.

Come to think of it, she's only loud and jolly to me.

...

Well I guess this is a nice change of pace.

I finally get silence after months of pointless talk.

...

There's no one talking to her.

Is this because others don't like her, or it's just that everyone has their own groups?

She's a pretty likable person. I don't believe she won't have any friends.

...

You see, in this school, every start of a school year, students form their groups early on in the year. If you haven't chosen a group to join in, it'll be hard for you to maintain friendships with people.

That is, if you speak in general.

Why didn't she find groups before?

From the start of the year, I started being friends with Aira.

We hung out everyday, with no one else actually joining us.

...

Is it my fault she doesn't have friends?

...

Well I also had my efforts wasted, so I guess I'm not the only one to suffer here.

...

"Airaa!" Someone called out her name.

Three girls approached her and stood in front of her table.

"Hey! We just wanna talk with you, haha."

...

Wow. Such amazing introduction.

You don't start a conversation with that, it makes it awkward.

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"Haha! Alright. So what do you guys wanna talk about?" Aira responded with joy.

...

How?!

How did that work?!

...

I didn't bother thinking about their conversation.

But I did hear almost the entirety of it.

...

Aira seems to be enjoying this.

...

Was it really my fault she didn't have friends?

She could've found groups earlier this year.

...

Maybe it was just her choice.