Chapter 7

That's if I was busy strolling around the mall's bookstore, searching for a book for one of our major subjects. We sometimes borrow books in the department library but there's always someone who would get it first because the books there are limited. I don't want to settle on photocopies because there are important visuals and pictures there which would be included in our quizzes so I've come to decide to just buy a book. In that way. it's less hassle.

"Ames, is that you?"

I turned to the direction of the familiar voice and found my classmate back in Senior High. She gasped upon seeing that it really is me.

I smiled at her. "Hi, George."

"It's been so long since we saw each other, right?!"

"Right. We were so busy on our own. How are you?"

"I'm good," she said, laughing. "Are you alone?"

My forehead creased but when I realized what she meant by that, I gasped and nodded.

"Revi is still in class and... I could manage to be alone just fine," I said.

This is what most people notice. Whenever I am alone, they can't help but ask why.

'Why are you alone? Where's Revi? You're not together?'

It seems like it was unusual for them to see that I am not with Revi. And again, I don't want to think about it thoroughly so I just let it go even when it honestly bothers me.

She nodded. "I would like to invite you to dinner but I still have to go somewhere."

"No, it's fine. Maybe next time, then."

"Bye!" She said in a rush before disappearing from my sight.

I sighed while looking on the shelves full of medical books. I forgot my reason as to why I was here for a moment which caused those thoughts that have been bothering me since I encountered George earlier dominated my mind. I just said that I won't think about it but here I am, disturbed by those.

I snapped in my trance when my phone rang for a call.

"Hey," Revi said in a hoarse voice on the other end.

I let out a little smile as if he could see it. "Don't tell me you sneaked out just to call me?"

He chuckled. "That's likely to happen but no, because my class has finished."

I checked the time on my wristwatch. It's still 7 pm, ah? I thought his class would end at 8?

"Where are you? Let's have dinner together."

"At the nearest mall. Just text me if you're here already."

"I'll call," he said before the call ended.

When I finally found the book I was searching for, I immediately went to the counter to pay for it. It's already evening so the line was smooth.

Revi will take at least 30 minutes to get here. That's if he won't go home first to get changed and just drove straight here.

I waited on one of the wooden benches inside the mall. There's free wifi available inside so I freely connected my phone to it. I am not usually active on social media and between Revi and me, he's much more active than me there. I just don't have ample time to scroll through my social media feeds. I just don't know with that boyfriend of mine and how he could manage to spare some time to check his social media every day.

I watched the people come and go. There are people whom I know and who happened to study in the same university as me so we exchanged greetings and there are those people I saw who's got familiar faces so a simple nod and a small smile happened in between.

"If you could just post me in your IG then you'll have no problem at all!"

"If I think it through, you just want to flaunt it to everybody."

"W-what? Of course... not! I was even giving you the solution to your problem here!"

"Okay, I appreciate that but it's too unusual of me."

"So you're saying that you'll never put a stop to your crazy admirers?!"

"I want to but you can't force me to post you on Instagram! You know what we are."

My attention got stolen by the couple walking towards the exit of the mall but before they could reach there, they would pass through me.

I don't intend to gossip or something because I honestly don't care and it was something I was not concerned with. But with their loud chatterings and hissing, I couldn't help myself but lend an ear. And it seems like it wasn't just me who's attention got stolen because there are people near them who are curiously looking at them too. They weren't even bothered by the intriguing stares around them and just continued arguing.

"You know what? Let's talk when you're sane."

My mouth gaped because of what I've heard. This guy! If I didn't know him, I might've cursed him silently.

The girl looked at the guy she's with, flashing an offended face. "Of course, I am sane!"

"Okay, you are. But let's talk about this some other time."

"No! There is no another time for that because--"

"I changed my mind. Let's split," the guy coolly said. Like everything was so easy for him!

The girl's jaw dropped, looking at the guy unbelievably. "T-that's what I was thinking. Let's break up!" The girl said who's now fuming mad before walking away, leaving the guy she was with alone.

The guy massaged his forehead in frustration while his right hand was placed on his waist.

"That was quite a show... Gael," I said which made him turn to me.

His brows furrowed upon seeing me but he eventually let out a deep sigh. I stood up from my seat which was on cue, he walked towards my direction.

I glanced at the revolving door of the mall where the girl he was with went out earlier.

"You just dumped a girl..." I said before looking back at him. "...In public!"

"Didn't you hear? She was about to dump me first. I just did it first before she could."

As much as I want to stare at him unbelievably, I know this guy. What happened earlier with him and his girl wasn't new to me already but I just couldn't feel like it is something new every time I witness it!

They broke up, huh? I thought this person doesn't do girlfriends? I shook the question away and let it get buried in oblivion. I'm curious alright, but I just cannot ask him so frivolously even if it's for a tease.

I shook my head with a chuckle. "Should I applaud you for that?"

"I don't really mind if you would," he said.

I scoffed. "Oh, right. Why were you here?"

He's in his casual clothes so I know that he didn't attend his classes again or he cut a certain period of class. Maybe he's out on a date because I just saw him with a girl earlier or maybe he's out partying in broad daylight.

"I bought a book," I said before raising the paper bag I'm holding with a logo of that certain bookstore. "And I'm waiting for--"

I was cut off when I felt someone's hands circling on my waist. The touch of that certain someone is so familiar that I felt comfortable in a flick.

"Here he is," I continued after glancing at the man beside me, Revi.

He kissed the top of my head before looking at Gael who's standing in front of us.

"To think that we would actually meet here," Revi said.

Gael placed both of his hands in his pocket. "Where are we supposed to meet?"

"School, bro."

Gael chuckled. "Ah... are you sure that we wouldn't meet at Melanie's party later?"

My forehead creased of a sudden because of what I've heard and immediately turned to Revi with a question in my eyes.

"It's our classmate and it was her birthday last week and the whole class was invited to her late party which will be held tonight," Revi explained which was more than enough

I smiled and nodded.

Gael whistled. "Now, that's what you called a proper explanation."

"So you're going?" I asked in a soft voice.

"Should I?"

"You should go, Rev! Hey, don't stop your boyfriend to go to parties, Amelia."

I rolled my eyes at Gael who's now smirking. "I won't, Gael." I said which made him shot his brows up. I craned my neck to Revi's way. "And of course, you should. It's not bad to have fun once in a while, right?"

I am not the girlfriend who stops her boyfriend to go to parties or have fun without me. I don't want that because if that's the case for me, I think I'll feel chained from my freedom. Stopping each other from those things will only result in an unhealthy relationship that I never dreamt of becoming in my relationship with Revi.

I think attending his classmate's party tonight is good for him. He deserves some time off from drowning himself with just studies.

"Let's just see each other at the party later. I'll head home first," Gael said.

"Just join us for dinner, Coln."

That's what most people call him. It's Lincoln or just Coln. Except for his parents, I think I'm the only one who calls him by his second name which I got reprimanded every time because he doesn't want me to. He eventually gave in though. I just don't listen to him and continued calling him so.

"Is that a treat?" Gael asked Revi in an exaggerated tone of excitement.

"It's not, actually but you look pitiful so I'd consider the idea."

Gael shrugged before looking at me, flashing a questioning look.

"Are you okay with that, Amelia?" He asked me, taunting.

"Of course, Gael. It's been so long since we ate together," I said with an in-depth meaning which he understood immediately.

Back when we were kids, Mama always invites him for a meal. Tita Amira, Gael's mom is always at work so a Nanny was the only person left with him. Gael was a brat and no one could last for at least two months so it always gets Tita Amira stressed because Gael was a handful. Gael jumped from one Nanny to another which was also hard for her mother to find someone to take care of her son. I think it's hard to find a Nanny who could tend to Gael's attitude so eventually, Gael was the only one who's left in their huge house.

I figured that it was sad to be alone in such a big house. I always visit him even if he always annoys me and I always dragged him out of their house just so he would stay at our house in the meantime until Tita Amira's home. That's more likely why we grew closer then.

Revi chuckled. "Stop teasing the Lincoln kiddo, love."

"Oh, right."

"Let's go?" Revi invited after getting my shoulder bag and carried it with him.

I nodded before clinging my arm on his. I saw how Gael's eyes drifted from our faces down to our clinging arms. He raised a brow after his smile got worn out for some reason.

"Gael?"

He swiftly removed his gaze on our clinging arms before looking at Revi and me.

"I'm a third wheel, I guess?" He asked, obviously kidding.

"Get yourself a girlfriend, then," Revi said, smiling.

Gael shook his head, rejecting my boyfriend's suggestion.

"I'd rather wait for the link of a chain to rust," he said which I didn't understand.