Chapter Nine

I was stunned, my heart pounding as if it would leap out of my chest. I turned around. Angelo blinked rapidly, then he took a step back. His cheeks were red.

Did he mean it?

"T-That was... Just a joke," he uttered, chuckling. He returned to the sofa.

"So do you want me to go?"

"No," he answered immediately. I tilted my head to the side. Angelo shifted in his seat and cleared his throat.

"Well... I'm just... Bored. Just stay, alright?"

I took a deep breath.

"What do you want to do, Angelo?" I asked him.

"I don't know. Talk. Play video games."

I rolled my eyes. "I'd rather that we study."

He snorted. "The exam will be easy. What's the point?"

I raised my eyebrows and crossed my arms. "Have you forgotten that you failed the quiz earlier?"

"I failed because I missed the instructions, okay?"

"Exactly," I hissed. "I'll just go home. This is a waste of time."

He pouted. "Don't you want to hang out with me? I thought you would want to catch up. I guess you've decided to quit being my friend."

My stomach tied into a knot.

It's not true. I still want to be his friend.

"No," I replied. "You were the one who wanted me gone, Angelo."

He pressed his lips together, then he tapped the spot next to him. "I'm sorry, okay? Please. Stay."

In the end, I couldn't resist Angelo. I borrowed his books while he watched TV. He increased the volume on purpose, but I ignored him.

After a few more attempts of distracting me, he stopped.

"Are you not going to talk to me?" he spat, turning the TV off.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked. I flipped to the next page.

"Everything. I didn't ask you to come here so I could just watch you read."

"The exam is more important. I know what you're going to say anyway."

He frowned. "What?"

I cleared my throat and tried to copy his voice. "I'm not the Angelo you were friends with before. I've changed. Blah. Blah. Blah."

He scowled.

"Maybe you're just not interested to know about what's happening in my life. Do you want to talk about Seth instead?"

I gulped, my cheeks reddening.

"Do you like Seth?" he asked all of a sudden.

I placed my hands on the desk.

"I just think he's nice," I murmured.

He scoffed. "Then you're wrong. He's worse than me when it comes to dating girls."

"It doesn't matter," I said. "I know he's with Jessa."

"He's going to break up with Jessa, and I'm sure that he'll start looking for a new girl to date. That's the way he is."

"You're not any better."

He glared at me. I glared back. Why is he being mean?

"I know him, okay? So I'm warning you. You'll only get hurt," Angelo said, threading a hand through his hair. "He easily gets tired of seeing the same person."

My breathing quickened as I lowered my gaze, desperately trying to stop myself from crying.

ANGELO'S POV:

Okay. Fine. I lost my temper because she didn't deny that she likes Seth. I was pissed because Seth is my best friend. I know his system. I don't want CJ to get hurt.

CJ hung her head. I clenched my fists.

This is annoying. I don't want her to be sad.

"Why Seth?"

She shrugged her shoulders, then she met my gaze again.

"I don't know... Angelo. When I first met him, I just felt it." She smiled shyly. "So yes, I'll admit it. I like Seth."

Damn. That hurt.

"Angelo... As his best friend..." she muttered, hopeful. "Do you think there's any chance that he'll like me back?"

My chest constricted. I looked away, giving a bitter laugh. The girl I like has fallen in love with my best friend.

This sucks.

Why can't it be me? She's been following me around, saying that she wants to be close to me again. Is that really it? Am I really just a friend to her?

"H-Hey, Angelo... Please don't tell Seth about this."

I didn't know what to say.

"Hey, Angelo?"

I nodded timidly. Of course I won't tell him. I can't tell Seth.

Seth might ask her out. Then CJ will get hurt once he ends things with her. I will get mad at Seth when that happens.

Everything will fall apart.

CJ chewed her lips, smiling. "Thank you."

"What do you want to do then?"

"What do you mean? Do you think I should confess--"

"No. Absolutely not," I interrupted.

"W-Why not?"

"Well, he's still dating Jessa."

CJ's eyebrows squished together. "I thought he's going to break up with her?"

I panicked. I took my phone and pretended like there was a message from Seth.

"He sent me a message. He said he's still thinking about it," I lied, pointing to the screen of my phone.

"Can I see it?" she asked, drawing closer to me. But I inserted my phone back into my pocket.

"I deleted it already."

She leered at me. I stuck my tongue out.

CJ giggled. "Thanks..."

"Thanks for what?" I asked.

"Because it felt like you came back to me."

My cheeks turned hot. I guffawed.

"Whatever."

CJ'S POV:

I'm not sure why I thought that it was a good idea to confess to Angelo. It just felt right to tell him how I feel. Now, I'm more comfortable. Besides, he was the one who kept asking questions about Seth.

After eating some snacks with Angelo, I decided to go home. I still wanted to read for a bit.

We walked to the gate.

"Hey, let me take you home," he offered. "I told your driver that I'll take you."

"No, it's okay. Go study for tomorrow's exam. I'm used to taking transit," I replied.

"I'll take you home," he insisted.

"No way."

"Stop being so annoying," he snapped. "It's dangerous out there."

I rested my hands on my hips. "Fine. But we'll take transit."

"I can just call our driver," Angelo said.

"No, thanks," I answered, then I turned around and started walking away.

"CJ!" he called, but I did not bother to look back.

"Fine! Suit yourself!" he shouted.

The jeepney stop was a little far from Angelo's house. I should have asked him to go with me because it was getting dark.

Ah. Never mind. Too late.

All of a sudden, I sensed that someone was following me. I was too scared to check, so I chose to speed up.

My heart started thumping. Visible sheens of sweat also appeared on my temples. When I heard the footsteps getting louder, I began to run. I was about to turn into the corner when someone grabbed my arm.

I screamed.

"Why are you yelling? It's me!" It was Angelo.

I sighed in relief.

"Angelo? Why were you following me?" I hissed. "You scared me!"

"I can't let you go home alone. It's getting dark," he answered, scowling. "You walk too fast for someone really short."

I winced.

"You don't need to worry about me."

"You're in Manila. The crime rate is substantially higher. I can't just leave you alone."

"Why?"

"CJ, I--"

Angelo paused, his ears turning red.

"What? What were you supposed to say?" I asked him. "Your ears are red. You okay?"

I extended my hand to touch his ears, but took a step back.

"It's nothing."

"Huh? What is it?"

"I said it's nothing!" he yelled at me again.

I blew out of my cheeks. "You're so weird."

Angelo called the taxi that was heading toward us. It stopped. He opened the car door for me.

"Get in!"

"I said we should take public transit--"

"This is public transit!" he said impatiently, pushing me into the taxi.

ANGELO'S POV:

I almost spilled it. I almost told her that I like her.

I know that it would be easier if I just confess to her what I truly feel, but I'm not ready. I've been harboring this for too long, yet I still don't know how to put it into words.

It's not helping that Seth's now in the picture.

She would reject me.

Damn it. It hurt again.

CJ got into the taxi. She scooted so I could sit next to her.

I was looking out the window the entire ride, our earlier conversation replaying in my head. I was pissed off. How could she just fall for him like that? She hardly knew him.

What does he have that I don't?

"Hey, Angelo. Why are you so quiet?"

I didn't say anything.

She poked my side.

"What do you want?"

"What are you thinking about?"

You. You and Seth.

I frowned. "Nothing."

"No, you are thinking of something. What is it?"

I folded my arms. "Stop bothering me."

"You're so moody." She pouted. I raised my eyebrows.

"I'm just exhausted. You started running so I also had to run after you."

"It's your fault. You should've called my name."

I clicked my tongue.

I froze when she suddenly held my hand and scooted closer to me. I shot her a surprised look, my pulse racing.

"Sorry, Angelo. I should've let you take me home."

CJ moved even closer, her big, round eyes behind her glasses staring right at me.

"Angelo... Sorry..."

My lips quivered. I swallowed and slowly shortened the distance between our faces. She blinked twice.

But the driver stepped on the brake. We arrived at our destination.

She let go of my hand. I snapped out of my daze.

"Oh, we're here," she uttered, unlocking the door. She smiled at me. "Thanks, Angelo. Good night."

Then she left without waiting for my reply. I was speechless and disoriented.

What did I almost do? That was stupid. I actually thought of kissing her.

"Almost," the driver murmured.

"What?" I scowled.

He chuckled.

I heaved a sigh. "Take me back to where you picked us up."

CJ'S POV:

I got good results after the exam. In fact, I was the highest in class. I didn't expect it, but I was really proud of myself.

I noticed Myka and Jessa shooting me daggers after our teachers praised me. I ignored them. I wouldn't let them take the moment away from me. Even my other classmates seemed pleasantly surprised.

Angelo got good results as well. He was the third highest after Seth.

Seth congratulated me. I blushed.

After the exam week, everyone started focusing on our dating booth. We divided tasks, and I was assigned to do the arch with Sofia and other two boys. They did all the woodwork. Sofia and I took care of painting and decorating it.

I was left in the room during recess. Sofia offered to buy us snacks while I continued painting the arch.

I was sitting on the floor at the back of the room when I heard footsteps coming toward me.

"As expected for a geek."

It was Myka.

Here we go again.

"Ignoring me, huh?"

She grabbed the paintbrush from my hand.

"I have to finish this, Myka."

I lifted my head. Myka and Jess were glaring at me.

"Fine. Here you go."

Myka dipped the paintbrush on the wrong paint color and threw it to the arch, ruining the color combination. Some of it also splashed on my arm.

I clenched my fists.

"Stay away from Angelo," she said, then she whirled around and left.

I'm so angry.

But I couldn't say anything.

It took so much effort to paint the arch, but she ruined it. What would I say to Sofia?

I don't want to have a fight with Myka. However, I don't know how long I can take this.

I stared at our work, and my chest hurt. I couldn't help but cry.

I curled my knees and hugged them tight. Ever since I arrived here, Myka has been bullying me nonstop.

"CJ?"

I wiped my tears as I looked up.

"Angelo..."

Angelo and I leaned on the wall near the window, tears still streaming down my face. I tried to remove the paint from my arm. I failed.

I have to wash it off.

"Was it Myka again?"

"She told me to stay away from you," I answered. "Can't you talk to her? I don't know why she's so mad at me."

"I don't need to explain anything to her," he replied, his tone low. "...Especially when it is about us."

Angelo reached out his hand, his fingers grazing my cheeks. Then he slowly took my eyeglasses off.

"This is how I remember you. Except you cheeks were chubbier," he told me. "You look better without it."

I giggled. He placed my glasses on my hand.

"I'll talk to her. I'm sorry that you have to go through all this. I should've stopped her from the very start. I'm sorry I was such a jerk. I'm still a jerk, I know. But this time I'll try to be better."

Angelo's lips broke into a gentle smile, then he walked away.

Though my vision was blurry, I watched Angelo leave the classroom. I suddenly stopped crying, and my heart picked up speed.

What's going on with me?