Chapter 4

“Ahmm.”, Lello raised his head from the book he is reading when he heard someone cleared throat behind him.

“Ms. Santillan”, Lello said with furrowed eyebrows.

“Lello, can I talked to you?”, Shayra asked him. Shayra Santillan is one of the most beautiful women in their university. She is also a member of student council and everyone who knows them, knew that she is head over heels in love with Lello. Yes, everyone knows it, aside from Lello. He’s intelligent, but it seems that he is not sensitive enough to notice the feelings of the people around him.

“Speak.”, his voice is indifferent as usual.

“A-ahm, about the upcoming sports festival.”, Shayra said nervously.

“What about it?”, Lello, closed the book that he is reading and seriously asked Shayra.

“Ahm, it’s just a week from now, don’t you think it is best for us to have a meeting and discuss the event? We can help you with the preparation.” She showed her most beautiful smile that she can give.

“No need.”, Lello answered and went back to reading.

“But, we don’t know the details of the event yet, it would be much easier for you if we help. I think it won’t hurt if you stayed for even just 30 minutes after class hours.”, Shayra is trying to convince him.

“There is no need for that.” Lello, stood up and got an envelope inside his bag. “This is a detailed plan and information for the upcoming event. I think you can do this by just following my plans. If you want to have a meeting about this you can just do it by yourselves.”, Lello said and prepared to leave.

“No, wait!” Shayra hold on to his hands and prevent him from going away. That action made Lello furrowed his eyebrows.

“Is there anything else you need?”, Lello asked.

“Why can’t you just stay behind for even thirty minutes? This is your responsibility.”, Shayra looked at him straight in the eyes wanting to persuade him.

“I am sorry, but I can’t do that. If you want me to devote all of my time to the student council you can just take my position. I am resigning.”, he removed his hand from her and walked away.

“Wait, Lello, that is not my intention. Please don’t leave.”, Shayra blocked his way and pleaded.

“As I have said on the first day of my presidency, I have a lot of things to do and I can’t devote all of my time at the student council but I can do all the task that is needed on time. If you’re not happy with my performance you can just take this position away, I don’t need it anyway.” He continues walking out of the student council office.

“But, it’s not what I meant!”, Shayra shouted desperately, but Lello did not even bother to stop. “I just wanted to be with you for a little more time! I am sorry! And I-, I-, I like you!”, Shayra shouted, that makes Lello stop on his way out.

“I am sorry, I am not interested with anything that you wanted to say without connection to school activities. If you don’t have anything else to say, I am leaving.”, Lello answered without facing her. He just talked with his back facing her, he did not even bother to looked at her. Shayra’s tears began falling from her eyes as she looked at his back disappearing from her sight.

“Hey girl, stop crying.”, Maddie her bestfriend went beside her after their conversation.

“He’s so cold. I’ve been in love with him for four years now, but he never looked at me. He is so distant.”, Shayra cried helplessly to Maggie’s shoulder.

“So what? He’s liked that to everybody and not just to you.”, Maddie added with a small smile on her face. “You are even more lucky than the other girls.”, she added.

“How can you say that?”, she asked.

“Shay, you’re lucky because at least you can talk to him, you can come near him, and he knows your name.” Maddie laught a bit.

“Huh?”, it seems that Shayra can’t comprehend was she just said.

“Look, a lot of girls are in love with him but none of them had a chance to talked to him, they might have not been notice by Lello. You’re different because he talks to you and he at least know that you exist. And now, you got a chance to tell him how you feel. Others did not even had a chance to tell that to him. Yes, you got dumped but now he knows how you truly feel, just be patient.” Maddie’s smile comforted her.

“I think you are right.”, Shayra forced a smile on her face.

“Think on the bright side.”

“I got dumped, but I get to talked to him about my feelings. And the moment earlier was probably the longest time that I spent with him. I won’t stop. Now that he already knows my feelings, I have to go all out and make him fall in love with me.”, Maddie shook her head. She can’t believe it, a while ago, this girl was so sad and crying, but now, she’s all fired up and happy again. But she’s happy that her friend is quick to recover from getting dumped a while ago.

Lello was taken aback with Shayra’s confession a while ago. He just look at her as an acquaintance and as a fellow member of student council. He did not know that she has feelings for him. When he first met her 2 years ago, he really found her beautiful. She smiles brightly at anybody, and she brightens the mood of the places that she’s been to. She has a long brown hair hanging until her waist, her brown eyes reflects her happy smile. She possesses a warm and gentle aura that gives a nice feeling to the people around her. She is really beautiful, but he doesn’t have time to get into a romantic relationship with anybody so he tried to suppress his interest to Shayra. And after 2 years, she suddenly confessed to him, who would’ve thought that it would happen. If only this happens some year later, I might have been happier. But this is not the right time for this. Lello choose to push it at the back of his mind and forget it.

Ziah started to arrange the things that she need, by the time that she’s finished doing it, it was already late at night. I think I’m going to have dinner outside again, I wasn’t able to buy any groceries, all I bought are appliances and other things that I need for daily living. She walked out of her apartment and went to the coffee shop she also went early morning. The old lady in that coffee shop was kind and gentle and she likes the atmosphere in the coffee shop, quiet and homey, she went inside the coffee shop. Thankfully, the store is still open. Ziah went directly to the counter and greeted the old lady.

“Good evening, can I still make an order?”, Ziah asked politely.

“We are about to close but I think, I can extend for a little bit. You looked tired.”, Granny Perry smiled at her.

“Thank God. Yes, I got tired today.”,

“What would you like to have?”, the old lady asked her.

“Anything that is available. Thank you.”, she answered and found a seat near the window. After ten minutes her dinner arrived. She saw a piece of steak in the plate with rice and veggies on the sides. She looked at the old lady questioningly.

“You have this kind of food in your coffee shop?”, she asked curiously.

“Actually, no, I cooked it for Nally and me. You know we used to have dinner together here.”, she said smiling. Ziah raised an eyebrow to her.

“Don’t worry, that’s not a leftover. I thought her brother would come home late since it’s Friday today, but he came home early and they went home without eating dinner. It would be a waste if no one will eat it anyway. Take it as a welcoming meal from your land lady, it’s free.”

“How lucky I am. Thank you! Have you eaten yet?”, she asked the old lady as a courtesy.

“No, not yet, would you mind if I share the table with you?”, Granny Perry asked her.

“Of course not, I would be a bad person if I turn you down. Well, you know, after you gave me this meal.”, Ziah smiled. Then the old lady started to bring her plate on Ziah’s table and they ate together. Ziah offered to help her in closing the store before she went back to her apartment. Ziah took a shower and got a negligee from the built-in closet inside her room and lay down on the bed after drying her hair.