Chapter 24: Night

Cole who was beside me looked at me. Even if my eyes were focused on my sketchpad, I felt it. I can't help but smile whenever Lucas' smiling face flashes on my mind.

Good thing that my friends are having their usual exchange of puns so they would mistake my smile and not think of it as another reason.

Allanis and Calvin are trash talking each other loudly, on the other hand. Then I remembered that Allanis has feelings for that guy.

I wonder if it's true, though. Because from the way I'm seeing it right now, it looks like Allanis is already killing Calvin on her mind!

"Girls with a big mouth like you shouldn't be even on my list of girlfriends," Calvin said while laughing.

Woah there, Mister. You thought that I even like you? I even included you on Matt's death note!" Allanis said mockingly.

And because of that, I almost died laughing. How itonic is that, Allanis?! You don't like him? Really?

Now I can't tell if she really likes Calvin. Or is she really good at hiding it, huh? Besides, Calvin's right. She has a big mouth. Loud and squeaky.

They all looked at me when I had that reaction.

"What?" I said.

Cole chuckled and wrapped his arms around my shoulder. "We thought you're not paying attention to is since you're too busy sketching," he said.

They laughed and then Chance stole my sketchpad from my hand.

"Hey!" I stood up and tried to get it back from him but he stretched his arms for me to not reach it. I didn't reached it more when they all started feasting on my poor sketchpad.

My cheeks heated, I was drawing the scene last night. I was a little taken aback and nervous that they might recognize Lucas' face. The features and details are all complete, after all.

That was the time when he was looking at me while he was sitting casually while sipping on his can. I was thinking of sketching him while looking at the starry sky. I want to at least remember how his eyes twinkled because of the moon while we talk about things and all. Because surely, it was one of my memorable nights.

"Tsk. You really are a great artist, Jiana. Might wanna try a portrait of me?" Chance commented as he posed for me to draw. I laughed at him.

"That boy looks familiar," Matt then said. My heart beat fast and I unconsciously stopped breathing and because he said that, everyone will pay attention to the portrait.

I just rolled my eyes at them to hide my feelings. "Tss. You're just imagining things, Matt. Give me that!" I snatched my sketchpad and just decided to hide it inside my bag.

Days passed by after that night. Our conversations weren't followed by a new one anymore. Whenever we pass by each other and he corridors, he just looks at me and smile.

Still, that night, I couldn't sleep. I didn't want to sleep because I am afraid that if I wake up the next day, I'll realize that all that happened was just a dream for it feels and looks so damn good to be true. But I know it wasn't just a dream.

Whenever I remember how his eyes looked so sad before he decided to go home, my system remembers how I exactly felt. It hurts me to see that e's hurt and I don't know the reason why.

It still questions me, though. The question still remained unanswered. Why was he sad? What did his parents do? What did he do? What did his mom and dad do when they knew about Lucas' true passion?

I didn't had the courage to ask him about it. I just realized that he doesn't want to talk about it yet. If he does, I'm sure he'll open that topic to me without asking or forcing him to.

Saturday that week, I woke up late. I don't have anything to do this day so I've decided to go to a place I've seen recently just down town the street near our estate. That place opened months ago and it's just recently when I had interest to it.

I ate brunch with Joaquin. Jerich left early because of class and basketball practice.

"Are you going somewhere?" Joaquin asked.

"Hmmm. I was planning to spend my afternoon on the new café nearby," I answered.

"Okay, I'll drop you there before I head to school," I didn't asked anymore why he's going to school even though he doesn't have classes today. I just assumed that he will attend practice since he's on the same team with Jerich.

That's what happened. After eating, I went back to my room to prepare. I wore a simple floral skirt, ending just near my knees, a white cropped and fitted shirt, and a pair of white wedge. My lady-like style doesn't match my backpack, though.

I didn't want to bring my sling bag since it's too small to fit all my things.

I let my face bare, as usual, only added with a peach lip tint and Glossier. I tied my hair up in a high ponytail, reason for the natural curls at the end highlighted.

"Text me what time I can fetch you, alright?" my brother said as he kissed my forehead.

"Okay," I opened the car door and got out.

The wind chimes from the glass door of the cozy Pierre's café ringed as I entered. It is a local coffee shop in our place. It's not like any Starbuck, Coffee Bean or anything international. This is more like a book café and it was what brought me here.

The aroma of coffee attacked my nose. I examined the whole place. Bookshelves from the right side is seen and it's as tall until on the high ceiling up to the second floor. There are ladders since it's impossible to reach books form the higher shelves. Far adjacent to it is the counter and behind is a full glass wall. Sofas in different sizes are everywhere too.

Carrying my laptop, I climbed up the wooden stairs near a small stage. Compare to the atmosphere downstairs, it's more peaceful here. There are bookshelves here too. Half of the floor was a barricade and you can see the first floor from there.

I sat on a single couch near the glass wall. I placed my macbook on the table while I removed my designer backpack. Inside it is my journal, sketchpad, ballpens, and notebooks from I use for school.

I just ordered a latte and a slice of cake when a waitress, who goes by the name Juliet when she approached me. I decided to finish all my homeworks first before going downstairs to pick some books to read.

While walking my way towards the giant shelves, I heard some whistles and laughs from guys somewhere the place near me. I accidentally turned my gaze to where it was. A bunch of boys my age were sitting on a high chair with books, laptops, and food on their table. When they saw me look, they winked and smiled at me.

"Hi, beautiful," I even heard one of them said. I smiled at the awkwardly. When I noticed that a tall cute-looking guy was about to approach me, the wind chimes rang, a sign that some people came in.

He got distracted by it so I used that time to escape and continue my way to the shelves.

While busy searching for some poetry books, the former less noisy place became noisier when a bunch of people went in. Luckily, the boy didn't approached me anymore and I wonder why.