That lonely place again

So there I was, zoned out, just going through the motions, when I felt something familiar brush up against my left elbow. It was something soft, smooth, and cold. Then came the explosion of hair that smelled like Cream Silk, and a sweeter cologne that totally beat mine. Thanks, Lacson, for blessing us earlier.

"Hey, Chris!"

"Heeeeey!!! Chris."

"Huh?" I replied, all delayed, and there she was, Jennifer. That's when I noticed how loud our class was. I felt like I was tripping.

"What's up with you?" she asked, looking at me like nothing happened.

"N-nothing... I'm just full and sleepy."

"Why, what did you do? And where were you earlier?"

"I was late, the gate was closed on me."

"You're never late though?"

I didn't answer.

"Let's get out of here!" Jennifer stood up all hasty.

"Half day only, and the teachers have a conference," she added. I was still on autopilot, but I stood up and tagged along, still kinda dazed. Not just from the booze, but I felt like I wanted to sleep and dream; then wake up and realize everything that happened in the last two years was just a dream. Maybe it was a painful experience my memory was trying to erase. I couldn't understand why Jennifer seemed unaffected by our recent events. We walked side by side but she felt not there. I saw the swarm of students rushing to the gate, but I heard nothing. My ears were ringing. I felt hurt, but my mind and heart were trying to erase the fact that I ever met someone like Jennifer.

"Get in! Sit inside!" said Jennifer. We were in the tricycle, and I was deep inside. Unlike our first ride where I was hanging out and sitting at the entrance, now I was leaning back like her. She tucked her knee-length skirt into her thighs to keep it from getting blown by the wind. Then she pulled out a comb from her bag and started brushing her hair. I wanted to look at her, but I was too shy to look her straight in the face.

"Why are you ignoring me?"

I was like a shy girl, not wanting to speak. I don't know, maybe I was mad at Jennifer and didn't even know why. Was it because of what happened to us? Or because I found out we were related? But why did she seem unaffected?

We finally got to her house. This time, she got off the tricycle first, followed by me, and she pushed the gate open. It wasn't dark around. No tricycles were following us. We got inside the house, and it felt weird because she didn't move to clean up and tidy the place like the first time we were together in her house.

I was about to sit on the sofa, but I quickly averted my gaze from it. How about the dining table? Jennifer went into her room, so I, without her saying anything, opened the back door and went out, sitting outside. I chose to sit where she usually did. She came out wearing floral shorts and a powder blue thin t-shirt. I couldn't look at her, almost registering just her shorts and t-shirt in my eyes, trying to avoid her gaze.