Chapter 17

I had recently broken up with my first love and boyfriend who I caught cheating. So here's the thing, on the day we broke up, a guy friend of mine helped me get out of the situation, and then with me forcing some answers out of him on why he was there, he ended up confessing his feelings. And now, it has been two weeks and I finally realized that I was somehow attracted to him and I think I'm starting to fall for him too. Does this count as cheating too? Because I just recently went from a break up and now I'm starting to fall for someone.

"What you are is being an idiot"

"No, she's being a good writer"

Serenity fumed as she angrily took her phone back from Galene and Quincey who were now laughing at her anonymous post in an online community. 

"Reni if you want someone to hear you out or ask for pieces of advice, we're available"

Serenity crossed her arms in front of her chest as she sat back on her chair, Galene and Quincey who were standing in front of her were still chuckling. She pointed at Galene and then Quincey.

"You're someone who refuses to fall in love and you're someone who's emotionally unavailable, how can I heed your advice when I'm none of the above"

"We still know more than you so yeah"

Serenity let out a deep sigh before burying her head on her desk. Ever since they went back, Malkiel had been trying very hard to talk to her but she would always just stutter or avoid him. It overwhelmed her, to say the least, the fact that she found him cute, attractive, and kind. 

The fact that he was everything she ever wanted in a guy and she met him at the worst timing possible made her curse destiny.

Now, with fear that her feelings would be out in the open, she tried very hard not to stick too close to Malkiel. Not because she didn't want to but because a tiny voice in her head was telling her that she still hadn't gotten over Jace yet.

And that very tiny thought kept her from talking to Malkiel even though she wanted to talk to him every second of every day. 

"You guys sure are early"

Serenity, Galene, and Quincey's attention flew towards the door where the four guys were coming in. Serenity quickly caught sight of Malkiel only for him to avoid her gaze which was questionable since the last time she had checked, she was avoiding him and not the other way around. 

"Well you guys are just late"

Galene and Quincey chuckled when Malkiel sat next to Serenity without another word. He buried his head on the desk and looked the other way. Serenity sent a questioning look to her friends, which the two only shrugged at. 

"Malkiel wanna come with me"

Malkiel wanted to glare at Galene but he bit down what he wanted to say and instead stood up from his seat without even glancing at Serenity. 

"Where you going?"

"Cafeteria wanna come?"

"I'll go"

Koa walked out with Galene and Malkiel right after placing his bag on his seat. Once they were out of earshot, Malkiel glared at Galene to which she just laughed at. 

"I'm beginning to hate you"

"Well, you didn't need to do it if you didn't want to"

"What's happening right now?"

Koa questioningly looked at Malkiel and then to Galene who was chuckling silently, she then pointed at Malkiel.

"He asked for advice and we told him to act like he doesn't care anymore for just about a day or two."

"Oh I see, it's to see how Serenity would react right?"

Galene looked at Malkiel proudly, her grin never leaving her face.

"See, Koa gets it, just hold out for a little while"

Malkiel hated the idea, he hated it and yet here he was doing exactly what Galene and Quincey wanted him to do. He let out a sigh and sulkingly walked alongside Galene and Koa. He didn't know why he was following Galene's plans but he just found himself doing it. Still, the feeling of acting like he didn't care about Serenity was making him crazy.

It was then that he realized he would never really lose care for Serenity. No matter how much his heart is in pain from her constant rejection and the helplessness of their situation, he would never really truly lose care for her.

🎙🎶🎙

It's weird.

Serenity thought as she stared at Malkiel who was behind the drums, the band was rehearsing for one of the songs that they were planning on singing during the competition. And as she did so, she saw another glance from Malkiel but it was just for an instant. This had been going on for two days now, Serenity had thought. 

It really is weird, why is he avoiding me?

Serenity's eyebrows creased as it became even more evident that Malkiel was indeed avoiding her and she didn't like it even one bit. 

"He's avoiding me right?"

"Who?"

Serenity looked at Galene through the mirror by the girl's restroom as she finished washing her hands. 

"Malkiel, he's avoiding me"

"You noticed?"

Serenity glared at Quincey before letting out a sigh. If even her friends saw that Malkiel was avoiding her then she thought it wasn't just her overthinking.

"Why? He didn't need to do that, we already talked about it"

"Did you? Were you both really able to convey your feelings properly?"

They didn't, in fact, things just became more complicated because she finally knew what her feelings really were. Because she realized she was falling for Malkiel. But, it was also because she didn't really properly listen to him. 

Was what he really wanted for them to act like he didn't confess? To just forget about it until she finally moves on from her heartbreak with Jace? But how can she tell him that she wasn't as heartbroken as she should have? That the reason why she could forget about Jace momentarily was because of him

"Can you blame him Reni?"

"What do you mean?"

Serenity looked at Galene who was smiling at her. She looked quizzically at her friends. She thought she knew everything she needed to know but what Quincey told her changed everything. 

"You are his first love, so can you really blame him for acting like that?"