Chapter Seven

I wanted to go inside the gym and confront Seth. But my feet suddenly felt heavy. My legs became paralyzed.

They aren't doing anything wrong. Besides, whatever I might do or say out of this rush of emotions might cause a rift between me and Seth.

I leaned on the door. I couldn't do anything but listen to their conversation. My chest constricted at the sound of CJ's laughter.

Seth is my best friend, and CJ seemed happy to talk to him.

I clenched my fists. I have to go. I can't listen to this anymore.

I gathered all my remaining strength and started walking away.

CJ'S POV:

I had a good time chatting with Seth. He has a good sense of humor. Plus, he's nice to me. I know that he's probably the same toward other girls. I just want to give myself the chance to enjoy the time I spend with him.

Seth and I left the gym around 6 o'clock. He went home, while I decided to go back to the clinic to check on Angelo. However, the clinic was locked when I arrived. Angelo was gone.

I immediately started to look for him. I tried calling him, but he wouldn't answer.

"Angelo, where are you?" I muttered, pacing back and forth in the lobby.

It was getting dark. Ate Jenny already sent me a message.

I have to go home, but I want to be sure that he's alright.

"Angelo!" I yelled, hoping to get a response.

I ran as I called his name. The remaining students on the campus shot me curious looks. I merely hung my head.

I passed by the cafeteria. He wasn't there. Finally, I reached the community garden and saw him. He was using crutches.

"Angelo--"

I paused.

Angelo wasn't alone. He was with a girl I didn't know. She smiled at him as he leaned closer, whispering something. She chuckled.

Then Angelo kissed her cheek.

I gulped, instantly averting my gaze. It was a private moment. I wanted to leave quietly, but Angelo noticed me.

"CJ?" Angelo said.

I raised my head. They were both looking at me.

"H-H-Hi..." I uttered. "S-Sorry."

"Why are you here?" Angelo asked casually.

"Who is she?" The girl asked.

I couldn't answer. I waited for Angelo to say something.

He only gave a dismissive wave of his hand.

"She's just a classmate."

Classmate?

I was pissed.

"No," I replied. "Actually, I'm his best friend."

I sauntered toward them and grabbed his arm. "I just need to talk to him for a sec."

"CJ! Wait!" he protested, struggling to use his crutches as I pulled him away. The girl placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. I ignored her.

"What do you think you're doing inside the campus? That's against the rules!" I scolded him once we reached the front gate. I let go of his arm.

Angelo gritted his teeth. "Why do you care, CJ? I don't even care if I get caught. Nothing's going to happen, alright?"

"You don't know that!"

"I do, okay? Just let me be," he hissed.

Heat flushed through my body.

"What's wrong with you, Angelo?" I snapped, nostrils flaring. "Is this really what you've become? And you denied me again."

"But it's the truth!"

My shoulders sagged. "What?"

Angelo dropped his gaze.

"You're the only one thinking that we're still best friends. I've told you several times that I'm not the 'Angelo' you used to be friends with," he stated firmly.

A lump formed on my throat. It felt like a slap on the face.

"You're just someone from my past, CJ."

My lips trembled.

Why?

Why is he pushing me away?

Angelo shot me a cold look. "Why do you want to be close to me, CJ? Is it because I'm friends with Seth?"

I blinked twice, folding my arms.

"What? What are you saying? Why is Seth a part of this conversation?"

He inched forward, shortening the distance between us.

"A-Angelo... " I stammered, suddenly nervous.

"Am I wrong?"

He arched his back and leaned closer to me.

"Or are you just jealous? Do you also want me to kiss you?" he whispered to my left ear. My cheeks turned hot.

I pushed him away. He stumbled for a bit.

"What are you doing, Angelo? Don't treat me like the other girls in your life! I was only worried about you!"

"Who told you to worry about me?" he uttered sharply. "I don't need you to worry about me. I don't want you thinking about me as your best friend!"

My lips parted. Angelo turned his back and began to leave.

"Angelo... Wait..." I murmured, my eyes beginning to well up. "Is it really that easy for you to forget about everything?"

He stopped walking.

"You just don't get it, do you?"

He turned around, his eyes wistful. "I said I never forgot you. And this... This isn't easy. But we can't go back, CJ, so stop chasing after me."

ANGELO'S POV:

I was stupid to have flirted with that other girl because I was wishing that it was CJ all along. I thought I could forget her even for a moment. That maybe, I could get her and Seth out of my mind. But it was useless.

And I was also out of my mind when I talked to CJ that way.

Why must it be Seth? Why must it be my best friend? That's not even the worst part. Seth is just like me. He won't take CJ seriously.

She'll only get hurt.

I stopped walking as soon as I got to the school gate. My ankle was still too painful.

I fished my phone out of my pocket and called our driver.

It's only been a few days since CJ came back to my life.

"Everything's a mess," I said to myself.

CJ'S POV:

The next morning, Myka was back in school. It was as if nothing happened. She was clinging unto Angelo. I caught her glaring at me a few times. I only dropped my gaze.

The bell rang.

"Hey, what's with the face?" Sofia asked me.

"Hm?"

"Your face is crumpled. Something happened?"

"It's nothing," I lied, then I stared down my history textbook, pretending to read.

"Do you want to go to the cafeteria?"

I faked a smile and shook my head.

I tried to find the opportunity to talk to Angelo the entire day; however, he was always surrounded by people.

I don't want our conversation to end that way. It left a bitter taste in my mouth. I couldn't sleep properly.

I was already desperate by dismissal time, so I decided to wait for him outside of the men's room. As soon as he came out, I grabbed his arm and pushed him into an empty classroom. I shut the door.

He dropped his crutches and found support on the wall.

"What the--CJ?!"

I covered his mouth with my hand.

"Ssh! Someone might hear you!"

He narrowed his eyes at me. I let him go and picked up his crutches.

"What?" he hissed, taking them from me.

"Look, Angelo. We have to talk about this, okay? You know that I'm not that smart, so you have to explain to me why you're angry at me," I said. "You have to explain why... I have to be your girlfriend so I could be with you. I'm so confused. I thought we... I thought we were okay."

I rested my hands on my hips.

"And I can't understand why you left the clinic to be with some girl..."

Angelo suddenly smirked. "Why are you bringing that up? Were you really jealous?"

I blushed.

"I wasn't!"

Angelo loomed closer again.

"Here you go," he said, then he quickly landed a kiss on my cheek.

I froze. My heart started banging against my chest.

"W-What did you just do?!"

He grinned at me. "Now you can stop being jealous."

"I said I wasn't jealous! Why did you kiss me?!"

My knees were wobbly. I couldn't look him in the eye.

"It's just a kiss on the cheek, CJ," he uttered nonchalantly. "And that was just a friendly kiss. Unless... You gave it another meaning."

I bit my lower lip.

"What? Did you think it meant something else?"

"O-Of course not! I knew it was just a friendly kiss! I was just surprised!"

"You were surprised?" he reiterated, raising his eyebrow. "Why would you be surprised? That wasn't the first time. You used to kiss me all the time."

I blushed again. He's right.

But we were kids.

"We were only kids then," I replied. "It's different now."

"And so what? You're you, and you're insisting that I'm still the old Angelo."

I was rendered speechless.

"See?" he said, shaking his head. "Listen to me, CJ. This is the last time I'm telling you this."

He sighed and met my gaze. I was still blushing, but I tried to focus on what he had to say.

"I'm not the Angelo you used to know. I won't be your best friend anymore. We can still talk, sure. But it won't be like when we were kids."

"But why?"

"Because I--" he paused.

"You what?"

He shook his head and turned his back on me. "Forget it. It's pointless anyway. But that's it. That's all I can offer you."

Angelo opened the door and got out of the classroom. I wanted to follow him, but I was exhausted.

I can't do this anymore. I guess it is time to let go of him.

I lifted my hand and touched my cheek, recalling what he just did. It was only a peck, though I could still feel his lips on my skin.

My heart started picking up speed again.

I couldn't see it as a mere friendly kiss.