Chapter 8 "Blushing"

I looked up and saw Aldo Barzini.. He was in the same class as me.. He just transferred into my school three months ago.. We never talked much.. he was usually very good with other students but always picked a fight with me…

So, I was not very enthusiastic to have any interaction with him.. but now that he had blocked my path, I had to speak with him.. And naturally I was about to tell him to make way for me, when I heard him say "Hey.. would you like to go out with me today after school?"

I raised my eyebrows in surprise and said feeling a little confused "What happened to you today? How are you talking to me like a normal human? Are you trying to play a prank on me or something?"

It was the very first time that he talked to me in a straight and normal way.. I always felt like he had some grudge against or something.. but as far as I knew I never did anything to offend him.. I asked him a few times if there was anything that I did unknowingly, but he never answered me directly.. always saying "you have to think about it, what you did wrong"

So, I stopped asking and never took his actions seriously, because he always just irritated or annoyed me with small tricks but never did anything to harm me..

I was still thinking about how there must be some sort of trick when I heard him say "I just wanted to makes things civil between us.. am I not allowed to do that? My friend said that it was high time I stopped teasing you and made things clear with you.. that's why I was thinking of treating to some coffee as an apology.."

I looked at him feeling uncertain in my heart whether to accept his invitation or not? I looked at him to find any trace of mischief, only to find him blushing.. even his ears turned red.. it looked like he was genuinely hoping to get things normal between us..

I had no grudges against him for playing all those tricks on me, because I returned them back at him.. so we were basically even..

"Alright.. I'll go with you, but you have to make a promise first.." I said with a serious expression, and looked at him to see that he was surprised at me accepting his invitation.. "Pfft" I snorted at his expressions.. he was too easy to read..

He looked at me blinking a few times and asked with a smile "What promise do you what me to make? I can promise you anything other than something that's too much for me or something that hurts my dignity.."

I rolled my eyes at him when he said 'dignity'.. And said in a straightforward way as I was in no mood to tease him.. "It's nothing much and it won't hurt your dignity.. I know you can manage it.."

He smiled instantly at what I said and replied quickly "Alright then, I'll promise whatever you want me to.."

"You have to promise that you'll stop making things difficult for me.. and also you'll talk to me like you talk to everyone as a normal human being.. if you can promise this, only then will I go with you after school?"

"I promise that I won't make things difficult for you and will treat you normally like I treat everyone else.." After saying that He looked at me and scratched his head.. his ears were still red..

I smiled and extended my hand to him and said "Deal…" He looked at my hand for a few seconds before extending his own hand to shake mine..

"Deal.." After a few seconds, he was still holding my hand.. so, I brought my hand to his eye level and asked "Can you release my hand now?"

He looked at his hands still holding mine, only then did he realize than he hadn't let go of it.. and instantly let go of my hand as if it was electrocuted..

"hehehaha.." I laughed at his reaction as I found it funny and couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud..

He looked a little embarrassed at what just happened and covered his face shyly.. He removed his hands only after I stopped laughing and said "I'm sorry about that.. I wasn't paying attention and forgot to let go of your hand.. I didn't do it intentionally.."

I looked at his face that had turned red after what happened.. I wanted to tease him a little more but felt bad for him and decided against it.. "It's fine.. you don't need to apologize for such a small matter.. I wasn't offended.. so just relax.."

He nodded his head at what I said, looked me in the eyes and gave me a smile "So, today at four after school I'll wait for you at the main school gate.. don't forget.."

I was about to reply to him when the school bell rang.. It was time for the first class to start.. so we just hurriedly entered the class and sat on out designated seats..

Thee class was divided into five rows and three columns.. My seat was in the middle of second row.. On my right side sat Choi Yuna, and on the seat just behind me sat Aldo Barzini..

In the left side of the first row sat Marco Evans the class assistant representative.. In the middle and in front of me sat Rosina Greco, that ranked first in our class and was also the class representative.. and on the right sat Rico Castelli who ranked fourth in our class..

Rico never talked to me in a straight way.. he always scoffed at me and made racist remarks at me for not being an original resident of country S, because I came from country A.. he always scoffed at me saying "you should return to your own country.. you don't belong here.. you have no right to take someone else's place in this school.."

He didn't like me at all.. and wanted me to go back to my own country.. he just despised me for occupying someone else's seat in the school.. he felt like it was not fair with the students from his own country.. Because he felt like they had to give up their own rightful place to someone like me who didn't deserve it at all..

I felt bad at his remarks and fought with him a few times.. and often went home with bruises on my face, hands and legs.. he was no better than me.. I also gave him bruises every times we fought..

Every time Dad saw me covered in bruised he always sad to me one thing..