Chapter 39: What deal?

After I finished naming all the food, we start eating. There were a lot of exceptions, but thankfully there were a couple ones available for her. So far, so good. Although, I couldn't really focus on my meal as I keep stealing glances from her because of how magnificent she looks. Imagine if I fuck this up.

Thinking about fucking up, I ask again, "So, you didn't see what happened during lunch?"

"I only heard about it. Sorry your friends acted like total jerks. I told you they were real weirdos! How you holding up?"

"It's fine. I don't want to talk about it right now because I'm currently on a date with the hottest girl in the world."

She scoffs again, "You really need to search some pick-up lines." She says jokingly while checking her phone.

"You waiting for something?"

"It's nothing." It's obviously not. She kept checking what time it is ever since she came here. But I hope it doesn't happen by exactly 8:21 pm because that's when it became official. I bet she'll be impressed that I know the exact time.

We continue talking about the random things. But it's mostly her talking about girl-related things I never understood, which makes her keep stopping from eating. I want to also talk so she could resume eating peacefully, but I couldn't pop in a conversation topic. Well, see, this is also the first time I've ever done something like this, especially with a girl.

Of course, we went on dates before, but to be this professional and fancy with someone isn't exactly my forte. But I seem to enjoy it so far. I'm just hoping she does too. I haven't seen her eat a lot in the cafeteria. It must have to do with the fact that 95% of our menu there is meat (or something else partially edible that only looks like it is). That's why I would sometimes buy her something from a vegetarian store back in town on some lunches. But, of course, I didn't have all the time to be with her because of her strict girl-friends. Weirdly enough, that also kind of looks like what's happening right now. She keeps checking her phone every now and then. I thought, maybe she's talking with her friends, but there weren't notifications or pop-ups or anything. Could it be she's also aware of it? Because of that assumption, I also grow wary of the time so that I can beat her to it.

We eventually finished the first course of the meal which barely was a meal, so the waiter fetches for the second. And perfectly on time, there's only a minute left before the official time begins.

Jessica peeps once more, and now the battle to say it first begins. Is what I thought. Instead, her eyes widen, and she looks at me, "Rhys, I have to go somewhere real quick." She stands up suddenly.

That made me uneasy. I convince her to stay, "This is sort of important, can you stay for like one more minute."

"One more minute and I'll be late." She awkwardly laughs.

"You could've told me earlier. Surely, one minute can wait."

Jessica looks around then whispers to me, "I promise I'll come bac—"

Before she could finish her sentence, her friends came inside the restaurant and caught both of our eyes. By friends, I meant Hannah and Piera Shay.

I didn't know what to say, but they Hannah already started, "Jessica, our deal?" Hold on, that's also what they said that one time at lunch. What?

Jessica breathes heavily , "Right, it's done. Let's go."

Piera says, "This is gonna look so good in the papers."

Jess takes one look at me before she was about to go.

"Wait, Jessica, where are you going? What deal?"

Hannah stops first, "So you didn't break up with him yet."

For a moment, I thought my heart physically cracked.

"Come on, girl, I thought you already did it. But, now at least I'll get me some evidence!"

"What are you talking about?!" I raise my voice, not caring if people around would listen.

The two girls besides Jessica look at her as she hesitates. Piera pulls out her phone to record what's happening.

My girlfriend finally goes toward me and says softly, "I'm breaking up with you." then backs away again. I mean, I could already figure that out from the earlier dialogue!

"Jessica, wait! Can you explain, please?!"

Piera talks while still filming, "Tell him! Come on, just say it!"

Jessica doesn't look back at me. Hannah laughs, "Fine, let me fill you in the details instead. You weren't actually dating." She snickers.

I stutter, unable to say anything. I was about to speak until all the miscellaneous memories with them flashes back to me.

"It was a dare, dumbass! That night she confronted you, it was a dare because we were playing in the basement. Actually, we only wanted this to go on for a week because that would be so embarrassing for you."

Piera continued, "But once we realized we could release this on the papers tomorrow, it would be even more embarrassing. Imagine! Jessica Shay, dating the most obnoxious dimwit of our school!"

My eyes widened, "Jessica… Shay?"

The two of them gasped. Hannah yelled, "You don't even know her last name—that they're sisters?" At this point, everyone in the restaurant must be looking at us.

"Anyway," Piera holds her laugh, "that's not it. We even bet in if she could handle you for a month and now, we're going to pay her."

I look at Jessica and notice she's not laughing. She's trying to back away from all of us but is just standing dumbfounded. Does this mean she's ashamed of this deal? I ask again, "Jessica, is that true?"

"Y-yeah. I could never date you…"

Is she pressured to say anything else in front of them?

Hannah interrupts, "Here! We'll prove it to you, I got the cash, sis." She pulls out a cash envelope and points it to Jessica. But she's just standing there, not doing anything and not even looking at any of us.

I go near her, "Why are you just standing there? Why couldn't you just tell me yourself?"

Jessica replies, "It's a deal! Drop it!"

"Jessica, tell me, why do you look embarrassed?!"

"Because I didn't want you to make a scene in this restaurant! You're the one embarrassing me. You…! You are embarrassing…"

Right after that confession, she sheepishly but swiftly takes the money from Hannah's hand.

I stammer, "So… it was really all fake?"

"I told you, it is!"

"Even the sex was fake?"

The two girls gasp again. Piera whispered, "You had sex with him?"

"No! Ugh, w-whatever! Let's just get to the club now!"

Hannah was still ugly laughing as they start to leave, "Even if she did, I bet she faked her orgasm! OMG, that should be the headline! Rhys graduates as a virgin outcast."

Piera ends with a relief, "Not disappointed and not surprised, heh. See you in the papers tomorrow, Hairy-son of a bitch!" She takes one last pic of me as they all go out. At this point, they finally exited the institution, and everyone was still silenced. And I was frozen too, slowly processing everything that just happened.

The waiter comes near me and softly speaks, "Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to—"

I pushed a couple of bucks—I didn't really know how much—to his chest. I grabbed my bag and immediately left as well. The three girls were standing nearby on the sidewalk, probably waiting for their ride. They haven't noticed me yet, so I wanted to hide from them and leave. But I decided against that.

"Piera Shay!" She looks at me, "I saw your sex tape on Pornhub the other day! I think your parents loved fucking with that on."

One gasp.

I made that up on the spot, but guessing on her immediate reaction, looks like I hit jackpot.

"Hannah, you should really start doing gym class again instead of Mr. Perry! Maybe you'll finally be competition for her wife."

Same reaction.

"And Jessica. I don't know what you ate but your vagina tasted like shit!"

Well.

That's what I wanted to happen.

When the entire scenario played out perfectly in my head, they were already inside a car and off they go. I sigh. With that, I hopped on the dirt bike I stole from my 'friends' and started driving to nowhere. I hate the traffic noises, so I just press a random song, not bothering to check what it is or who the artist even is.

~

I made a promise to you

Then took it back again

I made a mess of your heart

I think we're falling apart

~

Out of all the hardcore music I listen to, a rare 90's-sounding, lively disco music from Blossoms just had to accompany me with my trip today. I mean, it's not bad, but it's very anti-climactic. But weirdly enough, I didn't care about the music.

And even weirder, it's like I don't care what happened, like 2 minutes ago.

~

I made you wait in the rain

You said you'd never change

You said that I was unfair

Your words they poison the air

It's unacceptable

~

Of course, I'm mad. I'm upset as fuck. But it's not the same feeling as earlier, or like any of the big events of my life. It's more of the super annoying type of way. As if I'm already used to this. Well, I wasn't even a fetus yet, moreover a sperm, and life already gave me this fate of bad luck, so I can't say I'm too surprised.

I groan at myself. That's right. I've been through this ever since I was born, so how did my barrier of insurance break so easily all because of one girl? Now that I'm thinking about it more, I'm even madder.

~

If you think this is real life

Look and you may find

~

Like what I do when everything else in my life going wrong, I try not to think about it. For the past minute, I was nonchalantly driving around town without a clear destination, but now I'm trying to go to drive by places which I thought could work for me to calm down again.

The playground. The coffee shop. Mr. Yuki's house. My own house.

I shake my head. None of those can work.

~

Run, son, it's your sunlight

Don't act so uptight

~

I guess there's no other option, isn't there?