Handkerchief
As the two of us shook hands, the tension in the air between the two of us thickened. Jose's glare felt like it was filled with hatred, yet, it was the first time we had met. He squeezed my hand with the sole purpose of crushing it whole. However, because I had a high level of pain tolerance, I let him do his own thing. Yet, he still didn't want to let go of me without seeing any signs of pain in my face.
So I decided to retaliate...
The moment I countered him, he immediately tried to hide his expression. I could see in his eyes that he wanted to return the pain. Yet, with every struggle, I pressed his hands a level higher. Serene detected the hostility between us and asked if something was wrong because it was almost a minute since we shook hands.
Suddenly, his friends came to his rescue and might have wanted to start a fight. "You might want to tell your friends to back off," I mumbled enough for him to hear. "Make me," I already found myself in trouble on the first day of school.
My pride wouldn't let me lose, so I pressed his hands harder, but this time, it was enough strength for him to let go of me. However, he almost clenched his hands and threw a punch at me. Although I was ready whenever a fight arose, I had to prevent it from happening. Serene would probably take a wrong turn in her impression of me.
Thankfully, Augustine and the two began to arrive, who already felt the tension between us.
"Leo, is everything alright?" Chance asked. "Yeah, everything is alright. Serene just wanted to introduce me to this friend of hers," After Jose saw Augustine and the two, he left with a smirk on his face. "Serene, should I wait for you at the stop?" Before he left, she asked Serene. "No need, I figured that Zachairy and Callison are also from Sunbridge in Binangonan," Take that, you jerk.
I couldn't help but try my best and hide my giggle as she refused to accept his offer. "I'll just head to the washroom," I told everyone as they sat at the table. I noticed that Augustine and the two followed me. "Who was that guy?" Augustine asked. "Yeah, is he the one you saw with Serene earlier?" Chance chipped in.
"Yeah, it turned out that he was a friend of Serene. But they're friends since junior high school, so you can expect that there might be something going around the two of them," I responded, which made them curious. "For sure, that guy has feelings for Serene. He was ready to throw hands against you, but I feel pity for the guy if he tried tho," Calliber jokingly remarked as the three of them returned to the table.
Well, he must be ready for everything that might happen to him. I ain't fooling around when worst comes to worst. After I went to the restroom to wash my hands, as I opened the door, I saw Serene waiting outside. "Oh, you're here. Do you also need to use the restroom?" I asked.
"No, but I wanted to apologize for how Jose acted earlier," Imagine, a lady asking for forgiveness on your behalf. What a guy... "He was just protective of me for various reasons, but I kid you not he is such a sweet guy. I honestly think the two of you would be great friends," Although what Serene said could be a plausible reason for his actions.
That doesn't change the fact that his attitude towards me stems from his hidden feelings for her. A guy such as myself understood every bit of his action. I was left alone with her and seeing someone he likes smiling at another guy probably annoyed him. Understanding his feelings ain't an obstacle because I had already been in the same situation as him.
However, what I didn't like is the way he acted as if I was insignificant and that he was willing to take me on without any regard for Serene's thoughts and feelings. Not only that, but his action definitely wanted to belittle me because of the few-inch difference in our height.
To be honest, if Serene wasn't watching, I would have pummeled that guy to the ground already. But what can I say? I am a fool when I'm in love.
"Yeah, don't mention it," Pretending... Something I was not really fond of. Suddenly, she grabbed my hands, as she saw them with signs of redness. "Are your hands alright?"
What in the hell is this scene?
Why is she holding my hands??
What is she doing???
How could I ask myself to give my feelings time to think if this is what she is doing? Why is she doing this to me? Is she concerned out of pure curiosity? Or is there another side of the coin behind what she is showing me? Why does everything she does make me question myself and my feelings?
"What are you doing???" She held out a handkerchief and placed it in my hands. "Thank you for the meal, and also for not letting the situation earlier escalate, Leon. I appreciate it," She remarked as she held my hands and covered them with her hankie. "Thank you for earlier too... I really appreciate everything you have done for me. Even though it was only our first time meeting with each other."
Now, I realize this is the answer that I've been looking for. Because of what happened to her in the past, she is thankful for someone showing their deepest concerns for her. From something simple as letting them borrow a chair, to noticing the changes in their expression, and even becoming understanding of the scenario.
I acted maturely, and that made her impression of me as someone reliable.
This is the answer...
My feelings are still not genuine...
It was a sudden rush of emotions for her to show affection towards me. The affection I wanted to feel for a long time...
If after three months, this feeling still remains untouched. It only meant one thing, I am romantically attached to Serene Colvyr, the lady who I met on the 16th of July in the year 2019.
"There is nothing to be thankful about that, Serene. It was only the right thing to do and the proper decision I had made," She smiled at me, but this time, her smile felt like it was a genuine one.
A smile that she didn't have the need to fake to fit in...
A smile where not a hint of a problem was shown...
A smile that was enough to make you feel contented for having the chance to make her feel this way...
"HEY! YOU TWO! THE FOOD WILL GET COLD!" Calliber shouted. "Yeah, yeah, we're coming," She returned first while I looked at the mirror, smiling at my reflection. "I'm proud of you, Hades Leon," I patted myself on the shoulder, then returned to our table.
-THREE HOURS LATER-
After three hours of endless talking and getting to know each other, it felt like the eight of us knew a lot about each other already. Serene wasn't able to tell stories about herself. Mostly because of what I think was the problem she encountered in the past. So every time she was asked to do so, I tried to change the topic.
And my efforts were not left unnoticed, as she always smiled whenever she looked at me.
It was an enjoyable first day of school, and I really look forward to tomorrow. Having the chance to know such amazing new people, and meeting quite a wonderful young lady. This is absolutely something I would never forget.
"Oh, it's already four in the afternoon, shall we leave already?" Augustine asked. "Well, yeah, we had a lot of fun, thanks to you guys," Callison responded and agreed. As everyone prepared to leave and went downstairs, I asked Serene to wait for me.
"Leon? Why?" She asked. "Oh, your towel, I would like to return it to you," Shy, I said to her. "Just return it to me tomorrow, don't remove it just yet," Her face was beet red, but she smiled at me like there was something behind her smile.
"Hmm, okay, then take care of your travel," She looked disappointed, but she still tried to smile. "I will. Take care also," Then she followed the others downstairs.
What was that all about? Is she implying that I stop her and ask everyone to join us and bond more? Why cant she just say everything as soon as possible? She is really giving me a hard time with these gestures. Oh, how hard it is to understand the thoughts of a woman.
I run towards them and told Augustine and the three if we should invite them and head to the mall. And they immediately agreed, so they invited everyone and surprisingly, everyone agreed.
And the disappointed look on her face, changed to smiles again.