- .... .

"Slowpokes! DCs and ACs aren't going to like me if you don't do something about it!" Amari calls us from the end of the row of shops, waving her hands, desperately trying to get our attention.

Standing in front of the massive library, the wide, beige marble steps, large bamboo plants planted on either side of the entrance-shading us from the mid-morning sun, large concrete slabs decorate the front and the entrance with glass doors and automatic glass gates.

We step into the library, the sudden wave of smell from old books filled the air, opening us up to a large dome-shaped lobby, with a large compass design detailed on the floor, also made from marble, the red North pointing ahead of us.

The sound of our footsteps echo throughout the lobby. With the high ceiling, light penetrated through letting in the warmth of the sun. Catherine walks over to the spot and tilts her head up. I walk over and do the same. Stretching our hands out slightly. The quietness of the library, just listening to the rhythm of our breathing and the shining rays. It just felt blissful.

I turned when I heard her laugh, echoing even louder. The guard at the entrance reading the newspapers wasn't so humored. I punched her on the arm, defending myself, "You did it first." She snorted, trying to hold back her laughter, after all, this was the library.

After cooling down, we sat down with Amari and Nathan who had prepared all the reference materials they could find regarding the topic for today: Direct Current and Alternating Current in generators.

The discussion went longer than expected, especially identifying whether the carbon brushes belonged to DC or AC and which hand rule to use to predict the movement of current. P.S Alternate current uses left hand rule, Direct Current uses right hand rule.

The frustration coming from Amari was overwhelming and I didn't want to push her any further. With an abrupt motion, she turned and headed out of the library, passed the lobby and straight for the entrance. Catherine was soon to pursue after her but I felt it was better for me to go. I've been on the topic with her the longest. I know what made her upset.

We all looked at each other, hoping I made the right decision to go after her. Catching up to her, she hid herself in between the tall bamboo stalks, listening to soft sobbing. Her sleeves were covered in soaked tears. She mutters to herself, "Why don't I get it?"

Her hands are covering her eyes, her nose red. Stepping close enough to her, she flings herself, hugging me tightly and continues to cry on my uniform. I didn't mind-well, slightly because I just ironed it. I hugged her back, patting her back slowly and trying not to fall over from the combined weight.

I don't say much, because she won't be processing anything external. We stayed like this for a while until she finally calmed herself down. "You've done enough today, Amari, don't force yourself any longer. You will understand it in due time. Just not now," I quietly whisper, my voice trails off with the wind.

She lets out one last large sigh, backing away slightly. I could see the glint in her eyes, trying to hold back more. I opened up my arms, ready to take on the next bucketful of tears, but she didn't come.

With her still puffy eyes, she looked at me, agreeing with me saying, "Yeah, you're right, I won't think about physics for the time being. Instead, I want to know about this morning. I saw you with Nathan."

Caught off guard, I felt stunned. Even standing in the bamboo grove, it felt warmer. Butterflies grew in my stomach, well more like a punch to the stomach about the memory of me with Nathan. She kept looking at me intently, very eager to hear my response.

There was no room for personal space. Face to face. Running away like an idiot would clearly show that I like him and that I'm too afraid to do anything about it. Hesitating for an answer would seriously put me in a position of doubt. Whatever I say, should at least be honest. Why deny feelings like this.

"Nothing happened between us, as in me and Nathan." My voice cracked saying his name. So much for being honest with my feelings. I wished I could swallow the words back in, I'm just making things more complicated. Amari raised an eyebrow, disappointed in my answer.

"Caleb, do you know how bad you are at lying?" Her tone was hard to distinguish if she was being sarcastic, regardless, I just made myself look more stupid. I look up briefly at the bamboo stalks, hoping a sign would give me the answer but it's so crowded, it wouldn't matter.

"O-ok, sorry, so, yes something happened between him and I," Amari's face lit up, about to throw a billion questions at me, when I continued, "He just gave me a hug. Th-that's all. That's all." Vague as it is, I didn't think I had the energy to tell her everything. I don't know where I'll start, so I stop. My face tightens, shutting myself down from any further input, a.k.a. Amari for the time being.

"C'mon, Caleb, we've known each other for some time now, you're obviously hiding something. Your face isn't doing a good job concealing it either," elbowing me to lose the act. She's right, I can't deny, or hide it. It just feels, maybe, there is a better time to explain this. I bit my lip, worried something else would escape my mouth.

I exhaled shakily, "Ok. You know how my family moved to your neighbourhood when I was twelve and was a new student at your school."

"Mmhmm."

"And you know when you first bumped into me-"

"Spilling the hot curry mee and hor fun on your white uniform shirt on the first day when I tried to talk to you-"

"Causing the biggest commotion in the canteen that I got labelled as the 'Curry guy'-"

"Mmhmm."

Amari's contagious laughter filled the grove, feeling a sense of pride for causing such a happy accident. I couldn't resist and choked on my own laughter too. We wiped away tears, clenching our stomachs because it hurts so much.

"But do you remember what happened after?"

"You tell me, 'Curry guy',"

"A few days later, Nathan, but at the time, I didn't know him but he seemed popular, got the same accident from someone else, getting the same label as me,"

"Your point is?"

"I felt that he was quite brave to carry it and be around me more since, you know, since we have the same label."

"Is that the only reason you like him?"

"N-no, Amari! I-I didn't say like. Coming back, the weird thing is, it's just that after a few days from the accident he had, he was hanging out with a different group of guys and I wasn't vibing with their kind of clique. We do talk and I had an opportune time to meet more people along the way through you and him, but it's just that we are only friends. Like he only sees us as friends."

"Are you frick-fracking, trip-tipping, tricking me Caleb?"

"What am I saying wrong?"

"I'll only ask you this once, and you better give me a proper answer. Don't answer me now. Why do you like Nathan?"

"N-Nathan, what makes you think I like him?"

Before I knew it, Amari gave the deadliest stare, even deadlier than Catherine. When she means something, she really, really means it. A chill runs down my spine.

"Yeah, yeah. I will."

Her eyes speak for her, exiting the grove, leaving me alone to think about my feelings and sort them out.