5 Being A Writer Or A Lover (1)

"That can't be true, can it? Ugh, my juice..." Parker asks.

Esther wipes her mouth with her handkerchief, "Depends, Asher has gone back home. She might make an attempt after lunch."

"What would Asher say?"

"I don't know, I only met him today. I thought you would know."

"It's been months since I saw him, and we really don't talk that much."

"Are you serious?"

"Hehe, might as well finish all these delicious food. But should we go and find out?"

"Why?"

"What if he accepts her confession?"

"Okay let's go."

"That was quick. But let's finish this first."

Two years ago

Inside a school, someone confessed to Esther.

"Please! I like you okay! Please go out with me!"

Esther's response, "I'm sorry, I can't."

"But... Why?"

A boy interrupts, "Give it up man, she won't go out with you. Obviously, she'll go with me."

"You? You're even worse." Esther walks away.

She broke every heart of every boy in her school, it only takes a miracle to make her fall in love.

Every time she walks in the hallway, other girls would talk about her behind her back,

"Wow, she said no to all of them."

"Even the most popular and hot guys in school."

"She doesn't care if they get heartbroken."

"So cruel."

Esther thought to herself, "All of you... Have poor taste when it comes to boys. Not everything is about looks, and I prioritize my studies over stupid love relationships."

Present-day

"Here?" Esther asks Parker.

"Yeah, that's what I heard."

"I have one question, why in the open field where there are so many people?"

"I heard Asher likes an open view with a light breeze."

"No, I meant why in a place where it's crowded?"

"Maybe she wanted to show everyone that she can make him fall in love with her. I heard he turned many girls down because he's more focused on his family, something like that."

"That's a good reason. For themselves to be humiliated in front of many people."

Both of them sat on the bleachers, waiting for Asher to appear.

Esther thought, "He turned down a confession many times too? He's getting more interesting by the minute, I'm guessing this only ends in rejection."

Parker looks around for Asher, she noticed a group of girls preparing.

"Are those the girls confessing to him?" Parker asks.

Esther looks at them as well, "I don't know if Asher likes slutty girls like them."

"Come on Esther, don't be such a judge. They might be a little shy since it's a big crowd."

"You're right I shouldn't. I don't want to ruin your title as the slut queen."

"I'm not a--"

"Shh, he's here."

Parker pouts and they both return to their seats as Asher appears.

"Why am I called here again?" Asher thought.

Ten minutes ago

Asher was about to leave his house when suddenly several baseball players came by.

"Yo Asher! Been a while!" The boys greeted.

Asher's response, "Hey guys, long time no see too."

"Hey man listen, someone wants you to be on the field right now."

"You want me to play? I'm really busy right now, I have to go somewhere."

"No no. It'll be just a sec, trust us on this."

"Alright, but why?"

"You'll know. And hey, if you want to make a comeback, just call us. We want an all-star player like you on our team, you know one of them is gonna say just like old times."

"I wish I could but, not right now."

"That's a shame, oh remember, go! Field! Meeting! Someone! Right now!" They said as they walk away while Asher waves goodbye.

Now

"Who's this person they want me to meet? If I get myself late, Esther's not gonna like it." Asher said to himself.

Parker said to Esther, "Wow, they're all waiting for this girl to show up, and Asher looks like he's in a rush."

"He doesn't want to be late I know that, and I wonder if he knows anything about this."

"What do you mean?"

"Would he really be coming here if he knew what happens next? I can't believe I'm saying this but, let's stay for a little longer."

"You might be right about that. He really looked serious when he said he wants to sharpen his skills at writing stories."

Asher grows impatient by the minute, thinking that Esther might scold him for coming late.

"HI ASHER!!" Some cheerleaders walk forward to talk to him.

"Are you serious? Those girls look like prostitutes." Esther commented.

Asher waves back at the cheerleaders and asked, "The guys told me that you want me here?"

"Yeah... We want you. I want you so bad!"

"Gross. Can I vomit somewhere? Just not here." Esther comments again.

One cheerleader goes closer to Asher, "Listen, Asher, I've been lonely lately. I want someone to share my love with, and all these other girls too. So I have one thing to say... Will you be my boyfriend?"

The crowd cheers with excitement except for Esther, Parker is somewhat confused on how to react to this.

"Uhh... Listen..."

"Jennifer."

"Jennifer... I don't think I have time to explain this... But... I can't..."

Jennifer tries to kiss Asher but he simply avoids her face, Esther slightly smiles at Asher's moves.

"...fall in love with someone right now."

"Why? Am I not that beautiful?"

"I'm busy with my family and personal stuff, something like that.

"What!? You mean you don't like me?" Jennifer tries to be pitiful.

"It's not that, I have work to do so I don't have time for that."

"What?! You want to choose work over me?"

"Yes, so my answer to your question is... No."

"OHHH!!!" The crowd shouts as Jennifer kneels down in defeat.

"Should we leave? Our lunch break is almost over." Parker asks.

"No, not yet. Look." Esther points at Jennifer.

Jennifer asks Asher, "Why? Why don't you love me you selfish asshole..."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I said why don't you LOVE ME!!??"

Asher stays silent.

Parker asks, "Should we interfere with--" But Esther already makes her move.

"No one will say no to me! No matter who they are! You think you're so good looking!? I gave you a chance to be my boyfriend, but your idiotic brain blew it! So what if you're working!? You should be working for me! Serving for me! Me! Only me!!"

Esther dashes through the crowd.

Jennifer continues to yell, "I don't give a damn about your family! Didn't your parents die years ago! Why do still have a family?! Stupid! BIG! DUMB! STUPID--"

Esther suddenly appears and slaps her in the face. The crowd was surprised by Esther's appearance, no one made a sound.

"How could he love a selfish girl like you." Esther silently said to Jennifer while her eyes are burning with fury.

"Let's go, now." She holds Asher's hand and leaves Jennifer without saying another word.

On the other hand, Parker hears chatting from people near her as she takes Esther's bag and hers.

"I never thought Esther would do that, or she'd be the one to do it."

"Why wouldn't she do it? Jennifer's gone too far. She always wants more and more."

"Yeah, between her and Esther, she's more witchy and controlling."

"What about Esther?"

"Esther? She's not so bad, minus the part where she'll chase you if you don't put the books away properly. It's sorta funny when you're the one watching though."

"Well, I'm not an idiot so I guess I'm safe."

Ten minutes later

Asher and Esther returned to the library,

"Hey, Esther..."

"What?"

"I'm sorry if I'm late."

"That's alright. You're not the only one who's late anyway."

"It's best if we don't talk about what happened earlier." She thought.

"And I'm sorry if I didn't fight back, I don't know what to do back there " He continues.

"You have nothing to be sorry about. She was going too far, and I'm actually glad you didn't fight back."

Parker comes in, "Hey guys... Uhh... How long did this awkwardness start?"

They didn't respond.

"Come on guys! At least smile a bit! Do I have to dance around to make you smile?" She tries to talk to them.

Before a stranger leaves, he said, "Hey there short stuff. Nice to see a cute girl whining to her babysitters."

Parker turns around and throws a book to the stranger, "Shut up! This isn't your business! Get out! OUT! Or else I'll kick your ass!"

When the stranger left, Asher starts to laugh, and Esther tries to resist laughing.

"It's not funny!" Parker is starting to get annoyed.

Esther holds her laughter while saying, "This... This is a library, Parker... Stop yelling..."

"Come on Parker... Loosen up a bit..." Asher adds.

"Geez! What's up with you two! A short joke and you guys just burst into laughter." Parker tries to leave.

"We're sorry." They said in unison as they hug her.

"It's not an apology when you two are STILL LAUGHING!" Parker covers her own mouth for shouting too much.