CHAPTER 4

Jerome POV

8:13 p.m.

We are traveling here now because we are back home.

* Ting! *

I picked up my cellphone and looked at the message because it rang.

Arianne: Are you home yet?

Me: not yet, but we will come soon.

Arianne: Will you be careful ha? I mean you and your family.

I just smiled at her text.

Me: Yes, am I still? I am strong.

Arianne: You left something here, you forgot to bring it.

Me: What is that?

Arianne: Secret! I'll just give it to you tomorrow when we're at school.

Me: Okay. Sorry for earlier ha?

arianne: It's okay, I also agree that we go out tomorrow.

It feels like my heart is jumping now because of the fun.

Me: Yehey! I love you!

Damn! Why did I send that? My idiot oh! Maybe tomorrow he will ask why I asked that and then I can not answer.

Arianne: I love you?

Me: I mean, I love you as a friend. Haha!

Arianne: Okay! I love you!

My smile widens even more now because I am happier now.

Me: I love you more!

"You're so happy now ah?"

but I didn't hear that because I was too focused on messaging with Arianne.

Arianne: The amount I love you. But go ahead, I will let you.

Me: All right. I love you! I love you! I love you!

Arianne: That's right, I love you, maybe later I want to hear that from time to time. hahaha!

Me: You said you would just let me?

Arianne: Yes! By the way, what time will you pick me up here?

Me: About 6:20 we will fetch there.

Arianne: It's too early, but it's okay for us to get to school early.

Me: Okay. go to sleep, you might be drowsy, and we will enter early tomorrow.

Arianne: I'm not sleepy yet, I'm still wide awake now.

Me: Do you want to text us first?

Oh my! I feel better, I feel like I'm addicted to texting her.

Arianne: All right, just for fun. but, how are you? Are you sleepy? It's okay with me if we don't text anymore, it might make you sleepy tomorrow.

Me: It's okay, I'm not sleepy yet.

Arianne: Are you still not at home?

"Jerome, we're already here, you were on the cellphone earlier, you don't have to worry anymore", I just noticed that the car stopped in front of the house because Mom had already spoken.

~~~~~~

8:35 p.m.

we are here at home and I went up to the bedroom and changed my house clothes and I took the cellphone to replay Arianne.

Me: I'm already at home.

Arianne: That's why it takes you so long to reply.

Me: That was just a moment, right? don't you say you got bored right away then?

Arianne: Like that.

Me: Maybe you're contributing to that?

Arianne: No.

Me: Okay. Love you!

Arianne: Love you too!

She doesn't know that what I say I love you is true, he thought, I just love her as a friend.

me: I feel like I'm used to saying I love you.

Arianne: Why did you train that yourself?

Me: I don't know.

Arianne: I'm going to sleep ah?

Me: All right, Good night!

Arianne: Good night!

Me: I love you!

Arianne: I said good night.

Me: But I said I love you.

Arianne: Tsk! go ahead, I love you too!

~~~~~~

10:00 p.m.

It's night but I still can't sleep. I can't forget the messages Arianne and I had. I shudder when I think of that. Tsk! I feel gay with the word thrill.

Hmm? Where can I take him tomorrow? I was nervous. It looks like I'm going to do something wild. Oh my, Jerome! Don't even assume! Remember, this is just a friendly date okay? Maybe later I will fall in love with him even more? I can't fall in love with him right away, remember? You just got to know each other! That's what you imprint on your brain.

In a few minutes, my eyes gradually closed and I fell asleep.

~~~~~~

5:00 a.m.

Tomorrow, Morning

I am now in the kitchen and cooking to eat. I really meant to wake up earlier so that I would not be late for picking up my loved one – this is my friend.

"The morning you woke up ah?", Dad praised.

"I have something important to go to", I replied and I was unaware that my smile was too much.

"And where are you going?", Mom asked.

"Secret!", I replied.

"Sus! You don't want to—", Mom didn't continue because my cellphone rang and that meant someone was texting.

it's just Arianne.

Arianne: Good morning!

Me: Good morning too!

Arianne: How fast do you reply ah? You just woke up in the morning.

Me: Of course, I must not be late to pick you up.

Arianne: Are you really preparing ah?

Me: Of course! Besides, I don't want to wait for you.

arianne: Yieeeee! The sweet one.

Me: Not really.

Arianne: You know, luck will be your girlfriend.

Me: Really?

Arianne: Sure.

Me: What if you became my girlfriend?

Arianne: Tse! Stop it!

Me: I love you!

Arianne: I love you too!

"Do you still know I love you ah?", I suddenly hid my cellphone when Dad criticized me.

"P-po?", I asked nervously.

"No! I told you to eat", he replied.

~~~~~~

ARIANNE POV

6:15 a.m.

I am here in the living room now because I am waiting for Jerome to arrive.

"Sweetheart, you will take care of this ah? Before you leave, lock the door first?", Mommy told me.

"Yes, Mommy!", I replied.

Mommy and I left, until I was the only one left because even our helpers here were not there because Mommy let them rest first.

Five minutes ago someone rang the doorbell outside. Maybe it's Jerome. so I took my bag and went out and closed the door.

When I opened the gate, it was Jerome.

"Oh! Hi, Jerome!", I promised with a smile.

"The fun of your day today ah?", He asked while also smiling.

"Why, is it bad to be happy?", I asked.

"No, you're just refreshing", he replied.

"Come on?", I asked and I went out of the gate then I locked it.

Maybe we waited about eight minutes to wait for a taxi before boarding.

"Are you still sleepy?", He asked when I yawned.

"Yes, I did not sleep well last night", I replied.

"All right, go to sleep first", he said and he leaned my head on his shoulder and I didn't yell anymore.

~~~~~~

7:20 a.m.

"Arianne wake up, we are here", I woke up when someone spoke in front of me and someone tapped me on the cheek.

When I opened my eyes, Jerome's face, which was very close to my face, was first exposed to my eyes.

I distanced myself from him a little and secretly shuddered. because, he is handsome!

"Let's go to the library first, we got here early", he said when we got out of the taxi and looked at his watch.

I immediately nodded to him as I agreed.

When we entered the school there were many students. most of them, purely female.

We were only a few steps away, obviously the other students were looking at us. Jerome probably didn't notice that because he was a little bent over.

I turned to Jerome before speaking.

"Are you thinking deeply ah?", I asked and his face seemed to light up when he turned to me.

"I'm not thinking about anything,let's go?", he said with me at the same time.

What is that, I am thrilled! I can't seem to breathe on twitter because I'm thrilled now. her scent is over, it's really addictive to smell! What, Arianne! Don't even think like that ?!

After a while I put my arm around his waist. He even looked away as if he was surprised by what I did.

"Is that Arianne?"

"I don't know"

"That's her, and he's with the captain ball?"

"How are they?"

"Maybe friends"

"They are not friends at all"

"Yes, look at each other"

"That woman is really flirt",

I clasped my hands in annoyance. I let go of Jerome and I and I was about to start but he suddenly grabbed me by the arm causing me to turn away from him.

"Where are you going?"he asked while frowning but I ignored that and I withdrew my arm and I started walking towards the one who spoke badly to me.

"Oh! The flirtation is here!", The woman shouted and they laughed at those next to her.

to my annoyance I could not stop and I shouted at him even though we were just close to each other.

"Hey! I never flirt ?!", I said as I pointed to him.

"Ahh! Doesn't seem flirty ?! Eh why did you tail Jerome just like a snake ?!", he shouted.

I can't speak because of what he said.

"Why can't you speak ?! Why? Because you are really flirty ?!" he said.

"That woman is flirtatious"

"Yeah"

"She doesn't look like she is, but she is flirty"

Those are the things I heard from those who saw us.

I seem to be crying over what they are saying but I try to stop Yun.

"That's right!"

It was Jerome who begged.

"You're already here" said the woman.

"Do you really like Jerome that he is flirting with you?" The woman asked.

when Jerome was next to me I immediately hugged and I couldn't stop crying.

"Sssshh, don't cry, I'm just here", he whispered to me and wiped my tears with his thumb. Jerome and I faced each other while I still hugged him before he spoke.

"See ?she is flirty! Hahaha! ", Said the woman.

I felt Jerome caressing my back, as if he was saying that I had settled down.

"Don't be like that!", Jerome shouted.

"Why? It's true", said the woman.

"First of all he doesn't flirt with me", Jerome said.

I looked at him. Now I admire him because he is so kind.

"So, are you still defending that woman ?!", the woman shouted.

"Of course, I have to do that!" Jerome shouted.

"Why do you have to do it?" The woman asked.

"Because I'm her only boyfriend", Jerome replied.

I noticed that everyone around us was shocked by what Jerome said. I was even surprised by what he said.

There were a few minutes of silence and they seemed to be trying to squeeze in their minds what Jerome had said.

and now no one is moving with them so Jerome and I decided to leave and go to the library.

~~~~~

7:35 a.m.

We are now in Jerome and we are reviewing.

"Jerome?" I began.

"Why?", He asked while looking at me.

I hugged him first before I spoke.

"Thank you for defending me earlier ah?" I said.

"There is nothing like that, and I promise I will defend you against those who want to oppress you", he said. It was as if my heart was being caressed. My former sad emotion turned happy because of what he said.

"R-really?" I said and my tears seemed to be warning again.

"Of course, what I said is true, and don't cry because I'm always by your side, okay?", He replied.

"Yes I will not cry anymore", I replied and I felt him caress my hair.

"That's enough of our cruelty", he said and let go of the hug then we laughed but only weakly because we were in the library.

"Yes, we may not be able to answer our teacher", I said and we started reading the book.

"The difficulty of it", he said causing me to turn around and I saw him scratching his head.

"What is that?", I asked while looking at the book and finding out what he was referring to as difficult.

"This", he said while pointing to the problem solver.

"It's hard," he said.

"It's just like that", I said and I pointed out how that was.

"It's easy", he promised gladly so I just smiled at his attitude.

"It's really easy if you understand", I said.

"What are you good at, what is the top of your room?" He asked.

"Top 1 from 1st to now 3rd grading", I replied.

"And you?", I asked.

"I'm also Top 1", he replied.

"Are we going to fight over who will be the valedictorian between the two of us?", I asked with a laugh.

"I just don't know," he said.

"Hayy !let's not think about that ", I said and I reviewed again.

As I read I felt Jerome staring at me. I looked at him, I did not make a mistake of suspicion because he was really looking at me.

Our faces are so close to each other now and he gets even closer to his face and so do I. I feel like I'm being taken too far by him.

He slowly closed his eyes and I did the same. Until I just felt his soft lips touch my lips. So, that means! he is my first kiss ?!

I slowly raised my hand to his neck and wrapped my arm around it.

I felt him wrap his arms around my waist and pull me closer to him.

Dugdug! Dugdug! Dugdug!

Fortunately in this area we are the only people, so we can have a moment.

As we both gasped we parted our lips and pressed our foreheads together.

"I love you, Arianne", he whispered.

"I love you too, Jerome", I said with a smile.