Show Me. Or Not?

Aster's parents agreed to have her attend to a proper school in a condition that she wouldn't use their last name—she was a disgrace to them. They didn't care whether she died on the hospital or school. They were horrible....

However, Aster never found it unsettling. She never cared about them as well. She also didn't know how to put her emotions to a right place.

Her room, which was in the hospital. She couldn't go anywhere other than the school and the hospital. She couldn't join any clubs or activities as well since she had a weak body and heart.

And, it had been over 3 Months since she started attending school. She chose the school near the hospital which was a public one.

So far, so good. But she was bored. The lessons were too easy for her. And as expected, no one would want to talk to her. From their point of view, she was gloomy, boring, cold and a serious person. She was always alone during.... class... Actually, she was alone all the time.

'Happiness...huh? I think I finally know what boredom is. It is going to school.' Aster said in her mind.

She wasn't listening to the class—her mind clouded with thoughts. She was still weak but she gained weight for the past 3 months so she had no bony hands anymore.

Aster had her cheek rested on her hand as she looked at the window—filled with thoughts.

The first time she actually left the hospital, and experienced the outside world, she wasn't mesmerized. It was what she imagined. It didn't move her at all. She didn't acquire new emotions. Even this 3 months she had yet experienced what love is.

She would then turn her head the other way as she looked at her classmate's back.

'Is this what they call...jealousy..?' She wondered.

Jealous because she wasn't able to experience what they could do. She was out of their league. She couldn't enjoy what they enjoy. Most of all, she couldn't do what they could do.

She did read for the past days about romantic novels—as long as love was involved. She had learned the definition of love but she had yet experienced it by herself. Meaning, it was useless even if she learned it from the books.

Her thoughts were instantly interrupted when the bell rang.

"Okay. Class dismissed. Head straight home, alright?" The Homeroom Teacher said to his students, that included Aster. The students rose excitedly from their seats as they couldn't wait to leave the classroom. As for Aster, it was the usual. Nothing to be excited about. The classroom had been filled with noises.

"Hey, Rue. Wanna come to the mixer?" Aster's classmate whom she never cared, asked Rue with a small grin on his face.

Rue. From Aster's memory, he was very popular and almost all the girls in this school craved for him... She wondered why he was being chased and why he was being too friendly to the opposite sex. She realized, his actions were definitely the same as a playboy. Mhm, it fitted him.

Girls liked him for his charming look and gentle voice. It was as if like, it was everyone's ideal guy. It was in him. His moves were graceful, probably that was the most thing girls loved the most in him.

"Nope. I gotta do something." Rue declined. He packed up his stuffs and placed them in his bag after finishing, he closed it then he would carry his bag on his back.

"Che. What are you going to do?" Rue's friend asked, a little disappointed.

Rue gave his friend a faked smile. "A secret."

"Well, alright bro. Tomorrow then." His friend finally gave up. Rue just kept his smile—a smile that the girls fell for. His friend resigned and left the classroom.

Until.... Only the two of them were left. The classroom had been filled with awful silence.

Aster just kept seated on her chair. Patiently waiting for Rue to come at her. She didn't know what to do. She was also testing him if he would do it, or not. If not—

"Hey." Rue's voice suddenly changed from the charming and addictive voice to a rough and vulgar voice. Yes. This was his true nature.

Aster sneered, "I wonder where's the 'grace' that those girls found in you." She emphasized the word 'grace'. She turned her head towards Rue who had already faced her—wearing a very annoyed face. He didn't like Aster. Why? She knew his weakness.

His face, she admitted, he was handsome, perfect nose, perfect eyes—everything was perfect about his appearance. It was if like his face was carved by a professional carver.

Though... He lacked... Brain... He was bad in academic... Really... Bad...

Rue clenched his fists. He had no choice but to follow Aster because she had the advantage here. He actually became her follower. It was something shameful for Rue and if the whole students found this about, he would die from embarassment.

"So? Are you going to show me.. or not?" Aster asked. She eventually turned her whole body, still sitting, to Rue. Placed her leg on top of her other leg and crossed her arms—looking at him with a sly smile.

Rue gulped. He couldn't get away from her grasp because if he did... His whole life would be over...

He sighed. "I don't exactly know what you're trying to make me do, but let me tell you this. I can't promise I can give you the thing you wanted me to do."

"Why?" Aster asked.

"..Why? Really?...." He trailed off. Seeing Aster intentionally waving her hands along with her phone as if there was something mattered to him inside her phone. It scared him and his heart raced a bit faster from panicking.

"..I don't love you. You can't possibly expect the love that you're looking for in me." He continued.

Aster's hand stopped. Her head tilted. "Don't worry, I don't love you too." She pointed out.

"That's the point!" Rue exclaimed. He took a sigh.

'This is getting nowhere. She is impossible.' Rue said in his mind.

"I don't get it... Well, anyway, you only have to show me the various of ways of expressing love. That's it. How hard is that?" Aster shrugged. It annoyed Rue. A vein popped out in his neck as he forced a smile.

"Ah, really?" He muttered.

'If it's not that hard, then why the heck are you asking me this?' Rue said in his mind.

"Why is it me anyway...." He trailed off and a silent gasp escaped his lip. "Don't tell me you actually have feelings for me.." He gave her a wry smile.

Aster looked at him unfazed. "Well, it was a coincidence that you were there when I was desperate. Blame it on yourself." She muffled her hair on the back.

"Ah. Is that so." Rue commented, unexpectedly disappointed and was actually blaming himself.

Aster stood up from her seat while also taking her bag and carried it. She started walking pass him but she stopped as she gave a one last glance at Rue. "I'll give you time. But you see, I am very impatient.." She trailed off. Rue followed her by an eye in a slight furrowed eyebrows. "I expect a lot from you, Rue, the charm boy." Mockingly making fun of his title. She didn't chuckle, she didn't giggle, she didn't laugh. But somehow, her heart felt lighter.

She exited the classroom with a small smile, leaving Rue's frozen body.