3

Veronica's

"So, how's your day?" Ellie asked me.

How is my day, I don't know what the answer is because in the half day I stayed at this school, the result didn't turn out well.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" Ellie asked again so I turned to her.

Somehow I am thankful to Ellie because she is not like everyone else, she remained my friend and she didn't care even if I was the one everyone blamed for my boyfriend's death.

"Yes I'm listening to you," I replied quickly.

"I thought you weren't listening to me, what happened? You are dumbfounded and you're thinking deeply."

I sighed, "Nothing, this is the most stressful day I ever had. I thought everyone would understand me, but they didn't."

"Is Tariq's family still angry with you until now? I thought they didn't blame you for their son's death because you just woke up in that forest and saw Tariq's body in half."

"I just don't want to talk about that, Ellie. I should keep quiet and be silent, this is the way I know, especially since everyone thinks it's my fault. Everything that happened to me is a countless misfortune, which is they're right because it's my fault. "

She rubs my back before smiling at me to show her support, "Don't worry, Veronica, even if your boyfriend passed away early. I'm still here."

"Thank you," I replied.

Ellie never let me down, and she never left me no matter how many times we fought. Our friendship grew even stronger.

"Hi, can I sit here?"

I stopped my thoughts after hearing that voice, and immediately looked behind to confirm if my suspicion was correct and I was right because he was standing behind us.

I was not mistaken. Until now, misfortunes follow me.

"Raver, what are you doing here?" I asked while gesturing to my friend.

"You suddenly disappeared after Mister Gomez's class, and it's a good thing I found you right away."

"A-ah, is that so? Ellie and I are going to do something really important and maybe sir isn't rushing us the project, isn't he?"

He scratched his head so hard before turning to my friend, her saliva was almost dripping on the floor and I was just shaken because of her awkward reaction.

I quickly kicked Ellie to wake her up to reality, and then I tried to laugh so that my friend's embarrassing and unforgivable expression would not be obvious.

"Isn't it Ellie?" I asked her again.

She blinked, "A-ah, are we going to do something? I forgot we have cheerleading practice, so we can't go."

"Ellie!" My eyes widened because of what she did, she put me in an unexpected situation even more!

"Hi, I'm Raver and you are?" Raver said and held out his hand in front of my friend and he almost hugged the man in front of us.

"I'm Ellie Rose Vergara, just called me Ellie."

"Nice name, I like it."

Ellie smiled broadly, "I like you too."

I rolled my eyes because I'm sure this woman is in love again, so I immediately pulled my friend's hand.

"You know, Raver. Veronica and I don't have any important things to deal. That's why she's all yours and I still have a date to attend—I mean practice to go to."

"Is that so? Veronica and I can cancel our meeting, so you can continue your date with your friend."

"Of course, Ellie," I secretly pinched my friend, just in case she understood what I wanted to say.

"No, you're going to talk about that project. It's all about your grades and that's important, so I'll go ahead and have fun!"

Ellie got up from her chair and quickly took her bag, she even winked at me before leaving. Sometimes I wonder if Ellie is my friend or not.

And since my good friend had left me to deal with this guy, I had no choice but to face Raver. I don't know why I ran away from him earlier, maybe because of the trauma that Tariq left me.

I'm scared to fall in love again and why did I think of that?! I will never ever falling in love again and I will not be in love with any man, that is my promise to myself after I saw Tariq lifeless next to me...

"Are you okay, Veronica?" He asked, which brought me back to reality.

"I'm fine," I replied to him, "We'd better talk about what project we're going to do, my grade and your grades depend on it."

He sat down next to me and stared straight into my eyes, "I'll listen to you."

It was confusing, as if the cycle of my world suddenly stopped when our eyes met. I felt that those around us had disappeared.

Why am I feeling this way?

"Where do you want to start? I'm willing to listen to your opinion," he said.

I blinked, "Why don't you suggest so that I can hear your opinion, beside we're partners. We should share what ideas we have in mind."

"You have a point and to make it better, I think we should know each other. "

I chuckled, "You mean getting to know each other? Why do you want to know me more?"

He shrugged his shoulder, "I don't know but I found you interesting, don't be malicious about what I said okay? I just really want to get to know you more, I feel like the outcome of this project will be good."

I paused for a moment at what he said and I don't know why. Was it the effects of my deep thoughts? Or am I just infected with my friend Ellie?

I no longer know the answer and it seems the questions swirling in my mind made me feel stressed. Is it all my fault?

"Veronica?" He called my name and snap his fingers in front of my face "Are you okay?"

I nodded and smiled sparingly, "Don't worry, I'm fine, Raver."

Hopefully...