Past. Present. Future

Jaz was staring at him and her.

He seemed happy and curious about what was happening.

Karlee pulled himself away from her and distanced himself from her a bit. He glanced at me

How did you know? Am I assuming something?

I felt like he glanced at me and then looked at her.

His face turned serious and he used the cold tone that he used to when we first met.

"Hey, it's me Z! I missed you!" the girl was all smiles and tried to move closer to Karlee but he pushed her slightly away from him.

" I know. What are you doing here? You should be somewhere else. You left with your boyfriend right?" he sounded irritated and cold.

" What? Who's boyfriend?" she said.

"Seriously? You're a perfect match. Lance Porsche."

Her face turned from smiling to grinning. Her eyebrow arched a bit and looked at my direction.

"Can we talk about it somewhere else. I need to tell you something" she grabbed his hand but he put it away before she could even take a hold of it.

"We're done. For a long time. We have been done. And I don't want to listen to your lies"

Karlee turned his back on her and went to my direction.

He pulled me away from Jaz's side and stared at him.

He looked scary like a lion ready to eat his prey.

"Stay away from my girlfriend!" He exclaimed on Jaz's face.

Karlee guided me to his car and we drove off.

I looked on the side mirror and saw the girl's face in shock.

We didn't talk to each other. Not a word from him or me. He just drives like he doesn't know where to go. His mind is off somewhere and I don't want to ask him anything. I stayed quiet for awhile until he spoke.

"I'm sorry." was all he said.

"I... It's OK. I--"

"I'm sorry that I was rude to you this morning. I didn't mean to say those things. It's just not a nice morning for me. The pictures, Z, and my attitude towards you. I'm sorry." he's calmer and gentle now.

"I.. I UNDERSTAND." I don't know what to say. I'm also surprised about what happened. I guess I'll try to understand him first for now.

"Back there, was a mess I was into before. I don't want to drag you into this but this time I might need your help." he stopped at the parking lot of an ice cream shop.

"Sure. As long as I can do it, I will"

"Please be my girlfriend infront of Z and Jaz."

My heart stopped. So this time he asked for what we've been doing for a long time now. I don't know if I'll be happy or not.

"aren't we pretending already? You with Jaz. So I'm like doing this in return to what you're doing for me. Sounds fair."

"don't worry, I won't fall inlove with you for real. I will not force you to love me because I know we're friends, right?"

OK., that hit me.

So we can't fall inlove to each other.

That all of this is just pretend.

And I am just a friend.

Noted.

I forced a smile. I saw him smiled too.

I guess, I should be more cautious about this.

I must not let my heart get too close to his.

We went to the ice cream shop and ate some weird flavors.

Like a date but not really. I don't really know, too.

He drove me home and said goodbye.

I think he's feeling better at least. He didn't tell me why though but he seems OK.

I went inside the house and saw Jaz sitting on our couch with my mom.

"oh honey, there you are. Jaz has been waiting for you to arrive, where have you been?"

I saw him smiling there like a crazy person.

I can't say I'm with my boyfriend because mom would freak out but I don't want to blow the cover up just because of Jaz.

" I went to eat ice cream. I needed one" Half true!

"Jaz has been here waiting for you for 2 hours already. I'll leave you two alone and I'll prepare some snacks for you both." mom left and went to the kitchen.

"So, ice cream. Chocolate or Strawberry?" Jaz started with a silly question.

Stereotyping much!

"What the heck are you doing here? Isn't it enough that you bother me in school. And now, here? Can't you take a hint. I don't like you. Isn't that clear enough?" I need to be forward or else this is going to take longer.

"Hey, chill. I just went here to check if you are OK. Since you saw Karlee's Ex-girlfriend." he sounds teasing as if he wants me to be mad about that.

"Ex-girlfriend means she's in the past. So I don't have to care about it. Besides, Karlee showed her what she needs to know. That I'm his girlfriend and you both should stop bothering us. Clear?" I walked out of the living room and saw mom coming in with the snacks.

"Mom, please, don't bother yourself with him. He isn't my type." I went upstairs and shut the door. I heard a car leaving. That must be him. Good riddance.

I heard a knock on my door.

"Hey, Jadis, it's mom."

I opened the door and let her in.

"Honey, what's bothering you? Did he do something to offend you that much?" mom was curious.

"I just don't like to be involved with anyone right now. I am busy with a lot of things already. I don't want any distraction." not a lie. I really like to focus on what I want.

"it's nice to hear that you are trying to be the best that you can be. But you can also have some inspiration, you know. It's not bad if you put it that way. I am not pushing you to like him. Give him a chance at least. I can see he is trying his best." mom has a point, if only Jaz isn't a popular guy. But he is, and that affects everything I worked hard for.

" I don't know mom. I just want to rest. It's a long day. "

Mom kissed my forehead and left.

I know she wants to say a lot more stuff but I know my place. I know what I want. And he isn't a part of it.

The next day was like level 2 of what happened yesterday.

I arrived early in school so I won't have to deal with too many students.

But then I regret that instantly when I saw Jaz in the hallway, standing like he's waiting for me.

"HI! Good morning!" he smiled as if we're close.

I ignored him and went straight to the washroom.

I know he can't enter the washroom, he can't follow me there.

I was surprised that he went inside and locked the door.

"What the hell are you doing?" I freaked out. He and me in that room, what else can happen?

"now, no one can disturb us here. We can talk and no running away"

"Ford!!!! Stop this. Let me out!" I screamed so someone can hear me.

"it's still early, no one's in the campus yet." he said and walked towards me slowly.

"what are you - - - stop right there or I will kick you hard on the face" he stopped.

"what's with you and violence?can't you be a little feminine?" he stood across me with enough distance. I can still smell his perfume from that distance.

"I can. But not around you. I'm part of the taekwondo club, this is not violence, it's a sport."

"I like you."

I was stunned. It came out of nowhere. He was staring directly at me. He didn't bat an eye.

I'm speechless.

"I like you the moment we first met. I don't know what made you special. I hate it when you ignore me but I like teasing you. I like your hair, your scent, your look. I think I like you more than what Like even means.

Jadis, I am inlove with you."

I froze. I want to say something mean to him but the words doesn't come out of my mouth. I was just silent but I can feel my body screaming out the words I can't say.

" I know what you and Karlee have. But it doesn't mean I don't have a chance. If I have to steal you away from him, I'll do it."

I don't want to be affected by any of his words. I was just standing there, I don't know what to say.

"I won't force you to anything that you don't like. But just let me do it for you. This is the very first time I am feeling this way for someone like you. I'm dead serious."

"Let me Jadis. I want you to just let me in and try to understand what I'm saying"

He opened the door and went out a different direction.

I washed my face with water coz my face feels like it's burning.

I went to the room and tried to rest a bit. My head hurt from thinking too much. What am I gonna do?