Chapter 3

Freya's Point Of View. 

I couldn't fall asleep. Even though it's past midnight, I'm still staring blankly at the ceiling with my eyes wide open. I am not even sleepy.

I'm not sure why I'm still thinking about everything that happened earlier. How come my friends like someone with whom they have no chance? I feel like I'm the link that allows their lovelife to progress. 

But in their case, it's not possible. Yizell likes Paul, who I believe has hidden affection for someone else. Austin, on the other hand, has feelings for Yizell, who has feelings for others.

What we will report tomorrow is appropriate for their situation. Unrequited love… It's an important matter to the three of them.

***

The next day, I arrived at West University's parking lot earlier than usual. I was just waiting for Yizell to arrive because we were supposed to go to class together. 

"I'm sorry, bestie! Did I keep you waiting too long?" As soon as Yizell arrived, she apologized.

"Of course not. I just came here as well," I said and offered a hand. "Let's go?"

As we walked towards our room, she brought up a subject that made me walk slowly.

"Do you think Paul will like me, too, bestie?" she asked with a down tone.

My eyebrows met. "Why are you even asking? I mean, of course, he will like you! You have everything a man could ever want in a woman of his type!"

"What about my behavior? I'm a bitch, you know."

I heaved a sigh. I'm trying to cheer her up because I don't want her to feel hopeless with Paul, but she keeps bringing herself down. I'm at a loss for what to advise her.

"Because Paul's type is probably the kind and sweet ones like you," Yizell continued.

For a split second, I was stunned when she emphasized the word 'like you,' or maybe it was just me. I shook my head and cleared my throat.

"Do you hear the words you're saying? Bestie, don't think nonsense! He doesn't like me," I said flatly.

"But he always asks you to be his partner, he wants to know what you do, he laughs when he talks to you, and I could see the disappointment on his face yesterday when Austin was the one you chose as your partner. He looks at me, but not in the same way he looks at you…"

What she' telling me right now has rendered me speechless, but I've chosen to ignore it. No, Paul will never like me because if he does, there will be trouble.

"Don't be paranoid. There's no way he will like me, so hurry up and let's go inside," I changed the subject.

We sat in our chairs as soon as we entered the room. When Yizell and Austin started chatting, I started talking to Paul as well.

"Hey, why are you so quiet?" I asked him.

"I've always been like this, Freya." He frowned and that made me laugh.

"I know, but you're never this silent when the two of us are talking."

"Oh, right. I'm sorry. I'm just not in the mood to talk right now."

I was about to ask why, but our professor came in and reminded us about the report due today.

"Are you prepared, class?"

"Yes, professor," we all responded.

"Great, so here are the partners. Jamie and Lillian, Emily and Jeremy, Austin and Yizell. Then came the final group, Freya and Paul."

To my surprise, Yizell looked fine with Austin as her partner, while Austin was ecstatic. I returned my gaze to Paul, who was looking at me.

"Are you all right?"

"H-Huh? Uh, of course!"

His lips curved into a smirk. "You look disappointed. Don't make it obvious."

I didn't say anything else. What concerns me is that Yizell may become even more paranoid, believing that I am what Paul prefers. But how can it be possible? I can't imagine a cold man liking me. Furthermore, the professor was the one who selected the pairs. It's not like I have much of a choice. If I ask for a new partner, Paul might be offended.

"What are we going to report again, Freya?"

"It is all about unrequited love."

"The splendor of the topic," he said, and I laughed.

"Why did you say so?"

"Because everything we report is always about love," he explained.

"Perhaps our professor is in love or broken-hearted. The answer is any of the two."

We both burst out laughing at the same time. I had an epiphany while working on our report and chatting with him. I won't deny that I enjoy his company and I like it when he shows his other side only to me. That means he's comfortable around me. It puts me at ease.

***

Yizell's Point Of View. 

"Hey, Yizell," Austin called me, but I ignored him as if I hadn't heard anything.

It's fine with me if Paul and I aren't partners because that's the professor's decision. But it looks like Freya and him are having fun.

"They seemed to have a good time there," Austin continued.

"Yeah, their laughs look genuine," I bitterly said. 

I don't know why I sounded bitter. But Paul didn't even talk or laugh like that yesterday when we were partners. He didn't even give me a smile. He will only talk to me about our report or if I have something to suggest.

"Yizell…" Austin called out again.

"What?!" I asked, annoyed.

Even though I shouldn't have been, I couldn't help but be irritated. Freya is correct. I'm being paranoid. Gosh! 

Get a grip, Yizell!

"Do you like Paul?" When Austin asked that question out of nowhere, my eyes grew bigger.

Did Freya tell him?

"H-How did you–"

"How did I find out?" He laughed, but there was something strange about it. It sounds… fake. "I just feel it. The way you look at him in the eyes. The way you always talk to him and ask questions just to get his attention. The way your eyes sparkle differently."

I calmed myself down because it wasn't Freya, but something occurred to me. Knowing how talkative Ton is, he might tell Paul! I can't allow it to happen!

"Don't worry, I won't tell him," he assured as if he could read my thoughts. I heaved a deep breath in relief. "So, we're exactly the same…"

I raised an eyebrow in surprise at what he said. Don't tell me he likes Paul as well? That's unbelievable!

"What do you mean?"

"We are exactly the same. Because the person we like, will never reciprocate our feelings…"

***

Freya's Point Of View.

Jamie and Lillian reported first, Emily and Jeremy followed. Next is Austin and Yizell's presentation.

"An unrequited love occurs when you fall in love with someone who is either in love with someone else or not in love with you. Basically, only one of the two people has romantic feelings for the other," Austin discussed.

That's something about you, Ton. The person you like is interested in someone other than you.

"Unrequited love is indeed painful. It's being in love with someone who can't love you back and hoping their feelings for us change," Yizell affirmed while looking at Paul.

I looked over at Paul to see if he noticed. But, as usual, he maintained a poker face while listening. After Yizell and Austin finished, we applauded.

"Last but not the least, Freya and Paul."

We stood up and introduced ourselves to the class. Then, I signal Paul to begin presenting our report. 

"This type of love does not appear to be mutual, and most people in a loving couple tend to discriminate against it, saying it's not a type of love at all," he stated.

"Unrequited love is hoping for something that may never come true. One person is in love, while the other is not even moved. It's one person always hoping for more, while the other avoids the subject entirely. It's one person willing to go to any length to make it work, while the other isn't even thinking about it."

Austin and Yizell appear to have been affected by what I said.

"You did great, class! You built good team work. Keep it up," the professor complimented us. "By the way, before I forget, we're going to watch a movie tomorrow."

"Is it about love again, sir?" one of our classmates asked.

"Of course. We must place more importance on love. Prepare to write an essay about your romantic experiences."

Okay? How will I do it? I haven't yet fallen in love!