Chapter 3

1 month later.

"Xavier, will you be going with me to the library later?" I ask.

"I'm sorry, no. I'll be going on a date with Catherine."

"Oh. What would you both be doing?"

"We'll be eating at Flour and Butter."

"Oh, okay. I guess I'll be hanging out at the library alone then."

"I'm sorry, Selina," he says and pats my right arm.

I frown.

I haven't hung out with Xavier in more than a month already. He's always preoccupied with Catherine, telling me that he's busy the whole time. What are we? Are we still best friends?

I go to the library after school and go through the book shelves to find something good to read. To be honest, St. John's library has enough variety of books that we can borrow. It has children's books, teen fictions, academic books, magazines and also adult books. I think it's good.

I pick The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann. I've read 3 chapters. So far, I like the world. It's a fantasy book, anyway. I don't have much to say about it, except I might borrow it. Also, it seems like it's a series. I hope I get to read the second book.

All of a sudden, I feel a tap on my left shoulder. I look up. It's Derrick.

"Hello, Selina," he speaks softly.

"Hello, Derrick," I whisper. "What are you doing here?"

"Trying to find a book that I saw the other day."

"Oh, I see."

He takes a seat beside me and places a book on the table. "What are you reading?"

"The Peculiar.."

"Hmm.. Stefan Bachmann," he says as he takes a look at the cover of the book and nods a few times.

We overhear somebody.

"I hate Catherine!"

We turn to look at the source of the voice.

It's Fanny Lim and Chen Wan Wan.

"She always talk about Xavier meanly. What does he like about her?"

"I don't know. She is a little different."

Suddenly, Wan Wan look around and we turn our heads away.

"Do you think it's true?" I ask Derrick.

"I'm not sure."

"I feel like I should tell Xavier about it."

"Yeah, maybe you should. I care about him. She's been talking smack about him in her class."

"Yeah, maybe I'll text him when I get home later."

Just for your information, we're not allowed to bring our devices to school. It'll get confisticated. Sometimes, some of us do bring them and we have to hide them. We get found out eventually though.

My mother comes to fetch me in another hour.

"I have to go now. My mom will be here soon," I tell Derrick.

"Okay. I'd like to ask you something before you go."

"What is it?"

Derrick smiles. "Would you like to go out with me?"

I'm flabbergasted. I don't know what to say. I can't answer at the moment. I feel shy and awkward.

"Do you mind if I ask you for your phone number?"

I can't think clearly. "Um, yes. Sure."

I give him my phone number and leave the library with the book.

My mother arrives and I get into the car.

"So, did you find something to read?"

"Yes, Mom."

"What's wrong? You look conflicted."

"Yes, I do feel a little conflicted. My classmate, Derrick, just asked me to go out with him." I look at her.

I don't feel good recently. Xavier and I haven't been close, and now, Derrick wants to ask me to be his girlfriend.

"Well, it's not that bad. What type of boy is he?"

"He's.. nice and quite smart too."

"He's nice at least."

"Yes."

I'll have to think about it.

***

"Xavier, I heard from Fanny and Wan Wan from Class 8G that Catherine has been talking bad about you behind your back. I just want you to know," I text Xavier.

"Don't worry. I know about it."

"You do? She's not a nice girl."

"Don't be mean to her."

I feel offended. Why am I the mean one?

I decide not to text him back after.

I just want him to know I don't like hearing people talking behind his back. He's my best friend.

I hear a ring from my phone.

"Hi, Selina. This is Derrick. I'd like to know if you have an answer."

Oh, no.

It's not like I don't like Derrick. He's a friend of mine, but I am surprised that he decided to ask me out. He does seem like a nice boy and no one has asked me out except him.

I decide to answer him.

"Yes, I'd like to go out with you."

I wonder if I should tell Xavier. I am still a little upset with him.

I decide to tell my parents and not tell Xavier yet.

***

The next day.

"Hey, Selina."

I feel shy. "Hi, Derrick."

"Do you want to go out at 4 pm later?"

I can feel Xavier staring at us.

"Yes, sure. I'd have to tell my mother first."

"Alright," Derrick smiles. "I asked her out," he says to Xavier and our other classmates. "And she said yes."

Xavier looks at me, seeming a little upset, but he smiles at Derrick. "That's great! She's never been in a relationship before."

"Hey!" I mutter. "You're so mean to me!"

"But it's true," he laughs after.

Derrick goes back to his seat to talk to his seatmate.

"Come out with me," Xavier demands.

"Okay," I say, hesitantly.

We get out of the classroom.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asks, sounding very upset.

"What? I didn't want to tell you. You said that I was mean to Catherine when I cared about you."

"This is a big thing. We're talking about you having a boyfriend for the first time here."

"I know but you know, you don't get to be upset about it. You've been MIA for a few weeks and now you're speaking to me like this -"

Xavier slaps my forehead.

"- Ouch! How can you do that to me?"

"Okay, you're right. I HAVE been MIA. I'm sorry."

My eyes get a little blurry from the tears.

Xavier hugs me for a few seconds.

"What are you two doing?" I hear Catherine's voice.

"Nothing. We just got into an argument," Xavier informs her and leaves to talk to her. "I'll talk to you in class later," he says to me.

"What happened?" Derrick asks after I take a seat.

"It's nothing.."

He shows me a slight look of concern.

"I just didn't tell Xavier about us, that's all."

"I see. I hope everything's alright?"

"Yeah."

***

3 months later.

Xavier and I haven't been hanging out together much but we've been communicating again.

"Why don't we go out to have dinner with Catherine and Derrick?" Xavier asks.

"Sure! I'll text Derrick."

Today, my mother is bringing Xavier home because his father is busy.

"What have you and Catherine been doing?" I question.

"Nothing much. Just hanging out."

"Have you done it with her?" I ask, feeling a little curious.

"Yes."

"Oh."

"I love her."

Xavier has always loved his girlfriends, there's nothing to be surprised, but it feels a little different this time. I feel sad for some reason.

***

We choose to eat at Margherita Pizzeria for our dinner today.

"Hey, Xavier," Derrick greets. "Hello, Catherine."

"Hey, Derrick."

"Hi, Derrick!"

"I heard from Selina that you wanted to ask me out on a date?"

I smack Derrick on his arm. "I didn't say that!"

Catherine laughs.

"Yeah, thought it was time." Xavier is laughing too. "What would you guys like to order?" asks Xavier.

"Hmm. I like cream cheese!" I tell Derrick.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeap! I can eat the whole box by myself."

"Are you serious?" Catherine asks, shocked.

Derrick says, "You can have it. I'll pay today."

"No, it's my treat," Xavier interrupts.

"You are on a date with me," Derrick emphasises the 'are'.

I guess Xavier's paying for it!

***

"Yeap, exactly. I liked him, and even asked him out!" Catherine says.

"You must have been sad," Derrick responds.

I frown at him. "But he was with Riley. I really liked her too."

"Yeah, I really loved her," Xavier confesses.

"Hey, what about me?" Catherine inquires.

"You know I love you too." Xavier gives her a peck on her left cheek.

It's been three months since I got into a relationship with Derrick and I really like him. We're getting closer and closer as the days go by.

I still love Xavier though. He'll always be my best friend.