Chapter 15 Friends

When your crush notice you after years of looking at him from afar, the feeling was like euphoria. Simple sweet gestures convey a million volts, current and power for the undying attraction to become active. That's what I felt for the past few days.

Even Auntie Julie always nagging at me when I'm being clumsy and she's furious at me for an unknown reason, I didn't mind it because, at the end of the day, I won't become productive if negativities consumes me.

I also always exchange messages with Asher and we are friends on Facebook.

It had been two weeks since the second semester had started. We were busy last semester and now is even more double. Many school works need to be completed. Just like today, we are busy with our major subject. Well, it will be the preparatory stage for college and when we reach college, we won't be shock and hard to cope with.

"Andrea, let's go!" Amber beamed as she pulled me going to the canteen to buy snacks.

"What do you want?" I looked at the cooked food and I can't decide. "Choose what you want, my treat."

"Are you sure?" I asked as if there was a lightbulb appeared in my head.

"I know what you are thinking. I'll treat you free but that doesn't mean you want my pocket to go bankrupt. Have mercy, will you? I'm trying to save money," she let out her concern that even the vendor was listening to her litany.

I laughed silently. "Don't worry, dear. My tummy will behave."

"I know you, Andrea. Don't me," Amber said and decided to buy our snacks. Look at her. She was asking what I want but in the end, she will decide.

After getting our snacks, we went to the Talisay since our next period was free time to do our projects so we have time to spend.

"What agency do you want for your work immersion? Have you decided yet?" Amber asked out of the blue.

"Is that still being asked?" out of my nose I mumbled. What to decide when in the first place, I already know what would be! They already know.

"Whatever," she paused and rolled her eyes, feeling annoyed at what I respond. "If only I have the right, I will strangle your stepmother to death."

"No, it's a crime."

"It was unfair." I was smiling at her crazy thoughts. As if she can do it.

Hours had passed so really fast and it was dismissal. In the hallway, I saw Asher and his group of friends, the same strand as his. They are happily talking with each other. Ken saw me and nudged his elbow to Asher. That's why he turned his head and noticed me. He smiled at me and I can't help but smile back at him.

I was about to pass them but to my surprise, they walk with me but they are still on the topic.

Asher and I were close but not close because I was avoiding him in a crowded place in school. I avoided him whenever I was near him especially if he was alone or someone was looking at him, I just don't to create another story. I only joined him when no one is around.

But this time was different, I'll just pray many times for this not to become an issue. Ken looked at me and shifted his gaze to Asher as if there is he want to say but I didn't understand.

"I just can't imagine what kind of brain does Isaac Newton have. If I were given time to go back in the past, I will go back," a guy in their circle of friends said. I was familiar with his name but by face is yes.

"As if you will go," another guy named Robin commented. "In your dreams, Josh."

"So what are you going to do if you can travel back in time?" Asher said but there was a hint of irritation because Ken kept on poking him on the elbow.

"Physics was good. Physics was my beloved subject but I can't figure out Isaac's mind. Is his journey in life was powerful that even innocent numbers and letters involved in his messy mind? And he was to be blamed for calculus subject that those derivatives were torturing our mind," Josh complaint.

"The speed of light is worse. How fast it is to travel! If only Asher's confession to his crush was as fast as the speed of light, he wouldn't have reached the so-called friend zone."

 "You don't need to speak, Robin. You, as well, the best friend of the universe," Asher said to Robin in a sarcastic tone and Robin chuckled admitting that it was true.

"Good for me, I was so happy with my love life," Ken said happily to annoyed them since he was the only one who have a girlfriend. He looked at me apologetically. "My apology, they are just a bunch of idiots with zero progress in their love life."

I chuckled a bit. It was my first time hearing them having a conversation, usually, I only heard them from afar and I was eavesdropping, but I didn't feel that I was out of place. They are further not like other guys talking below the below or offensive but they are comfortable to be with since they are talking wholesome topic. "No worries."

"Don't slap in our face the truth," Robin bantered. "If I were to choose, status doesn't matter. Right, Asher?"

Asher nodded. Looking at how he agreed as to what Robin said confirm that Asher was admiring someone and it was not me. I believe that if I were the girl they are referring to, I should feel something. You know, the so-called girl instinct.

I just don't know what to describe my feelings to Asher. It is somehow called love but at my age, I can easily be blinded by what it was because I was expecting what I want. The thing I know with love, it was based on how you grow over time and embrace the whole aspects of that person, not on gullibility or ignorance.

"I have to go. Lila is waiting for me in the coffee shop," Ken said when we reached the outside of the school premises.

"The lover boy," Robin chaffed.

"Nice walking with you, Andrea!" Ken waved his goodbye to us and immediately run on the opposite side of the road leaving us four.

"Well, we will play billiard at station one. Want to come?" Josh offered and only Robin agreed to join him. "Okay, take care."

Robin put his arm around Asher and whispered something to him causing his ear to blush. He even tapped Asher's shoulder trying to console him. Boys will always be boys, they have the language that only they can understand.

"Don't mind them. Even me, I have no idea what they are whispering to each other. It hurts that I'm out of place with the two while Ken prefers to be with Lila. You know?" Josh whispered that only the two of us can hear. I nodded and chuckled a bit that made Asher look in our direction looking so bad while frowning. Josh suddenly look troubled. He approached Robin and pulled him away from us.

"See you!" Josh shouted and gestured a finger heart in his two hands. I waved at them.

"How about you?" I asked Asher but his black aura was still present that made me sighed. I suddenly felt curious about what Robin whispered to him. Is it bad or embarrassing?

"Are you going home?" Asher answered my question with a question. I shrugged off. "Let's grab some snacks."

For real? This is not the first time Asher asked me for grabbing some snacks but every time he asked me, I felt like it was my first time.

We went to the alley of street foods but not the food we eat last time, today was different. There was a small stall where we bought a homemade pizza and sat on the reserved table for their customers. This stall was enforced self-service.

"Wait, I'll just buy a drink," Asher said and went inside the stall. After a minute, he came back with a litter of soft drinks and two glasses and put them on the table.

Our gaze met and I'm the one who avoids his gaze and distract myself by opening our drinks and poured it into our glass. Sometimes, I'm still not used to him treating me like this, a way different when I was still invisible in his sight.

He get one slice of pizza and started eating so I did. I changed the taste a bit because it tasted different from the ones I tasted but it was delicious, just not like the expensive pizzas that Auntie Julie usually buys. I think Asher noticed my expression so he halted eating a bit and put the pizza on the ream of his glass.

"Is it not okay?" he paused. "Is it your first time eating a homemade pizza?"

I nodded shyly as I tried hard to hide my face using a slice of pizza I'm holding. "This store has been around for a long time. When Sam first brought me here to the street foods alley, I didn't immediately like the taste but in the end, it tasted weird compared to expensive food that made me go back when I want to."

"Sam was very carefree." I made a random remark. I wasn't sure whether or not my statement was related. He chuckled and grabbed my wrist, lowering my hands from the pizza that was blocking my view. I felt a stinging sensation of him holding my hand but I tried my best to conceal it.

"Yeah, even though mom scolded her for bringing me in kind of place, she didn't mind at all. Her influence made me influence you," he said and started eating again enough for me to calm my nerves and drink. I can see how he was close to Sam. The bond they have been very solid.

And there was nothing between us save the bustle of people passing by. He was quiet, as was I, yet the silence did not suffocate us. I, even felt like I was in the middle of the ocean and the waves of the water were gentle. But at the back of my mind, I'm thinking what if his crush saw us or what if the girl was get disappointed because Asher hanging out with someone like me.

Suddenly, our attention drifted to someone who called me by name. She was smiling wildly wearing her confident look. Gone are those confused and shocked expressions the last time I met her.

"May I join?" Mrs Chua said and we both nodded. She placed the bowl with the Rice balls with coconut milk and rice cake on the table and then handed the tray to the passing waiter. My shock was evident in my expression, as was Asher's because I couldn't believe Mrs Chua had the face of someone who ate at this type of establishment, especially since it was an alley of street foods and it is said that street foods are not good for the body.

"Oh, why are you looking at me like that? Is it your first time to see me in this kind of place?" Mrs Chua said in between eating food.

"Because you don't look like that," Asher straight said and Mrs Chua just chuckled.

"There is still some slice of pizza left. Maybe, you want?" I offered because I'm full and eating too much is bad.

"Okay," she paused. "By the way, your work immersion was fast approaching. Have you already decided where?"

I looked at Mrs Chua and I do not know what to answer.