Chapter - 9 The ML

They sat beside her.

"So.. Have you thought about my proposal yet? I mean, it is as clear as day that you are single now..." Harron asked.

"Umm... I was busy with my mid terms so I actually forgot about your proposal... I'm really sorry.." Autumn said in a guilty tone.

"Oh... That's fine... You can think about it now..." Harron said with a smile.

"Although I'm hurt to know that you forgot about me.." He said acting pitiful.

Autumn panicked. She knew it was her fault for forgetting all about the proposal, so she was feeling guilty.

"I apologise for that.." Autumn said with a guilty feeling.

"Oh..don't be so formal with me.. Here's a thing... You can go out with me?" Harron said.

"Go out with you?" Autumn said in a surprised manner.

"Yes, I mean a date or outing whatever you are fine with... That way you can know me better and your answer will turn into what I really want to hear..!" Harron said with a smile.

'What? Did Harron proposed to her? Oh man! I don't think it is right of me to poke my nose.. I should leave them alone... Should I make an excuse?' Enzo thought.

" Ummm.. You guys can carry on.. I just remembered that I need to be somewhere.." Enzo said with an awkward smile and left.

'Hmm.. I guess he really didn't remember me.. Well, I'm not someone beautiful, that he will remember me... I mean I'm different.... maybe he also think as the others and don't want to associate with me... He is handsome so he probably have a girlfriend already.... I think I should also act like I don't remember him.' Autumn thought.

"So??" Harron asked in an expectant voice.

"Oh... Sorry I just zoned out... I can't go on an outing but a date should be okay...." Autumn said.

"It's settled then.. Next Saturday, 6 in the evening?" Harron asked excitedly.

"Okay.." Autumn nodded.

"Where shall I come to pick you up?" Harron asked.

'I don't think telling my address is great..... So maybe some other place..' Autumn thought.

"Umm near the Lily Park?" Autumn said.

"Okay.. Sounds good to me!" Harron said.

Autumn nodded with a smile. She didn't know how to converse with girls let alone boys. The silence was becoming awkward for her.

"So... What do you like?" Harron asked trying to break the silence.

"Like? As in?" Autumn asked.

"As in... Your hobbies, food or color anything.... I want to know more about you.." Harron said with a bright smile.

"My hobbies..... Ummm.... I like reading novels.. I also like to draw.... There is no particular color that I like because every color is just so beautiful and radiant on it's own...." Autumn said with a relaxed smile.

"As for food.... I like sweet things." Autumn said.

"Now you seem comfortable and relaxed..." Harron said with a smile.

"Huh?" Autumn looked confused.

"Well.. You were all tensed up and it looked like you were uncomfortable, so I had to do something to make you feel happy and better..." Harron said.

Autumn was surprised to hear Harron.

'Not once in my life have someone been so considerate of me... No one ever tried to make me feel happy or care about my mood... How can he so easily melt my uneasiness..' Autumn thought.

She was touched by this little act of Harron. She didn't even knew that Harron managed to make a space for himself in her heart. She was now opening up to him.

"So.. You like to draw... Do you want be an artist perhaps?" Harron said.

"No.. I want to be a jewellery designer. I like to draw lifeless things.. I never once tried to draw something that hold life in itself." Autumn said.

"If you don't mind.. May I ask why?" Harron asked.

"Well... No one wanted to become my model when I was a younger and started to take intrest in drawing..... So I started drawing lifeless things because they don't mind me drawing them." Autumn told him.

They talked for a long time until it was time for Autumn to go back.

Christy and her friends saw Autumn with a boy.

Everyone was heading back to their room for a nice shower because it was now starting to get dark.

Everyone was shocked to see Harron with Autumn.

"Oh my god... Isn't that Harron Su of Amina high..."

"Yes, he is... What is he doing with Autumn over there.."

"Oh.. I saw Autumn with a boy earlier but I didn't expect him to be Harron."

"Oh.. I heard earlier that Harron asked Autumn out... I guess it was true after all."

"Oh my god.... how lucky is she.. He is so handsome... Earlier it was Roy and now it's Harron.. Man! Talk about luck.."

Everyone was busy whispering some or the other things.

Autumn noticed and asked Harron to leave because she didn't wanted to inconvenience him by the unnecessary gossips.

" I'll see you tomorrow then... Oh... Tell me your number.. I'll call you... "Harron said and winked.

" Okay. "Autumn took his phone and typed her number.

" I'll be on my way then. See you later. " Harron said and left.

Autumn's friends rushed over to her.

They were all curious to know who was the boy, was he actually Harron or not. It wasn't only them but everyone who was curious.

Autumn only answered as yes and went towards Miss.Gu.

She asked her something and left for the beach.

Everyone was shocked to hear Autumn as she confirmed him to be Harron Su.

" Teacher, why is she going towards the beach?" Hannah asked.

"Because she also wants to enjoy the water and she couldn't do so earlier because of the sun." Miss.Gu said.

She took the kids inside and came out to watch over Autumn. The other teacher was in charge of supervising the students inside the resort.

Miss.Gu went over to Autumn.

She was lost in her thoughts as her feet were soaking in the water. She was staring at the already set sun and the little brightness which was spread like a golden blanket over the water. The view itself was breathtaking and tranquil. Somehow it looked lonely to Autumn. It felt empty and sad for some reason.

'Is it the view or just the silence which is making me remember my childhood... No one actually remains till eternity.. Everyone will leave you sooner or later... I think it's the thought that is making this beautiful scenery look so melancholy... Even this vast sea is looking lonely to me... ' Autumn was lost in her thoughts.

"Autumn?" Miss.Gu said.

Autumn snapped out of her thoughts.

"Ah! Yes...?" Autumn said.

"You okay?" Miss.Gu asked.

"Oh... Yes, I'm fine... It's just that this view is so beautiful that I'm at a loss of words." Autumn said.

"Yes.. It's beautiful..." Miss.Gu said as she looked towards Autumn.

"You sure.. You are alright? If something is bothering you, you can always come and talk to me... I'm always ready to listen to you." Miss.Gu said.

"Yes.. I know, Miss.Gu. I'll talk to you if I ever feel troubled." Autumn said.

'She seems sad for some reason... I don't think she wants to tell me right now..... I shouldn't force her..' Miss.Gu thought.

They stood there silently till the brightness of the sun was not visible and the brightness of the moon began to cover the sea.

"We should leave now, it will soon be the time for dinner." Miss.Gu said.

"Ah, yes! I was so lost in the view that I lost track of time." Autumn said with a faint smile.

They went inside.

As Autumn reached to her room ,her friends surrounded her and began to ask her how she came to know Harron..

She told them that Harron came to find her previously and that he asked her out.

She also told them that she didn't gave him a reply yet but other than that she didn't disclosed anything else.

During the dinner time, Christy and her friends approached Autumn for the same reason and Autumn repeated what she told her friends.

Everyone was shocked to hear everything and Christy became more jealous than she was before.

According to Christy, Autumn didn't deserve to be in the limelight. She always tries hard to outshine Autumn and to push her down.... but Autumn always gain attention and goodwill even if she is just being herself.... This was enough to make Christy jealous.

Christy's inferiority complex was getting huge day by day.

It was late at night, Autumn was still awake.

'Why do I always have these empty thoughts? No matter what I think or do no one will ever notice my reason. Even my parents feign ignorance when it comes to me... They support me in the way they want not in the way I need.... Will there ever be a person who will see me as just me and will support me in my every step?' Autumn thought as she felt tears rolling down her cheeks.

' Oh well.. Now I'm crying, when I don't even want to..' Autumn thought.

She had a bitter smile as she wiped her tears.

On the other hand Enzo was also awake and was with his best friend.

" Hey.. Wanna have a drink?" The friend said.

He was a tall and sweet looking boy with brown hair and brown eyes.

"Nah.. I'm good.... Did the bring alcohol here?" Enzo asked.

"Yeah.. I think... They all are holed up here and saying that they wanna play truth or dare.... They have a bottle of juice which actually looks suspicious.... I think it's Harron's work.." The friend said.

"Yeah... He is the only one here who love making trouble.." Enzo said.

"I'm gonna go back in otherwise Jayson will start nagging me about how I don't involve myself in anything fun unless it's related to girls..." The friend said.

"Yeah.. You should..." Enzo said.

The boy turned towards the door and was leaving.

"Travis..." Enzo said.

"Yeah.." The friend turned towards Enzo.

"You okay? You were a bit unwell earlier... " Enzo asked.

"Awww~ Were you worried about me?.... Our little Enzo is all grown up now... Now I don't even have to worry about our little Enzo ending up alone~..." Travis said as he laughed.

"Piss off... I shouldn't have asked.." Enzo said in an irritated voice.

".... Yeah.. I'm okay now... Don't worry man..." Travis said as he smiled and left.

"Haaa... When will he grow up? That little..." Enzo said as he sighed.

'So she likes to draw huh? I wonder how well she can draw.... By the looks of it she might be great.... Sister Sharon alway praise her for how good she is and she seems..... Nice. I wonder if she can draw me if I asked?' Enzo thought.

The next day everyone was preparing for the mountain trekking.

Autumn was also getting prepared. She applied lots and lots of sunscreen, took her sunglasses, her large brim hat and her umbrella. Although the weather was cloudy, Autumn didn't wanted to take any wrong step.

She always believed in 'prevention is better than cure'. Hence, she always carried her essentials, her drawing notebook, and water bottle with her.

* knock knock *

There was someone on the door.

Autumn walked towards the door and opened it.

To her surprise it was none other than Christy.

"Christy? What are you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be with your friends?" Autumn asked.

"What do you mean Friends? Aren't we friends? I mean, yeah.. They are my friends but not as important as you.. I came here because I thought we should go together after all we use to go to trekking together when we were younger." Christy said.

"Yeah.. We used to..." Autumn said with a warm smile.

'Christy is here, does that means she is not angry anymore... I mean I went a bit overboard too... I should have helped her in her studies at least... I know she don't like to study... This time it's my fault too.. Maybe we can go back to how we were before... Christy is nice so it will be resolved soon.' Autumn thought.

"Are you ready? Shall we go?" Christy asked.

"Yes.. I'm ready... Wait I'll just inform my friends.." Autumn said and left.

' Friends, she say... I bet they will run away if I were to do something to them... They will leave your side soon... Don't worry~ we will go back to how things were before.... You will just have me to rely on... That's how things should be..' Christy thought.