Books and Tissues

Scot left after giving me the book. I have already read the first pages. I found that it was a book he wrote, and published a year ago. It was his "Last Letter" saying that I would always be his first love and could no longer stay by my side. I could remember what he said about why he read romance. He said that romance was something he dreamed of having. He indeed has a share of romance in his life. However, it was a miserable one. 

For it was truly miserable to be in love with someone else and betrothed to someone you don't know.

I stayed here at the treehouse for a while, reading the rest of the pages. Fortunately, Paris was not around to annoy me via his presence. I can't stop my tears from falling as I flip every page. Suddenly, a roll of tissues fell from the ceiling. I looked up and saw Paris lying down on the hanging bed.

"Take it. Just pretend that I am not here." He sluggishly said as he covered his face with his arm.

"Thanks," I replied, reaching for tissues.

Thank goodness! He's not bugging me today. I want to ask him if the library incident was true. But I didn't bother because I was too worn out to deal with him. Pulling a sheet of tissue I gazed upon a few words written on the white tissue using a marker. It says that hearing my snot grosses him out so I need to blow them first. Every bit of this guy's existence spells annoyance, but I'm too tired to respond to his irritating behavior. I simply ignored what was written and pulled another clean sheet. When I ran out of tissues I decided to go home. I woke up in Paris to say that I had to go.

"Paris, wake up. I'll be leaving first." I said as I shook his broad shoulders.

He yawned, and then he jumped down from the hanging bed. He opened his arms in front of me.

"What are you doing?" I raised my brows in confusion.

"Because you ran out of tissues. In case, you want to cry some more. Come on, this is Paris in comforting mode. It's a limited edition." He said in a soothing voice.

When did he become this gentle on girls? I presume he was playing around, but when I look into his eyes he seems to be sincere. Besides, I needed comfort from another person. I would never get it from my parents. They would just probably beat me again. Scot will not be around for weeks, because he will be busy with their family business. I can't even talk to Venice about my problem, because it involves Scot, the man she likes. Also, she's not a pleasant person when it is just the two of us talking.

"I don't comfort girls before. Let's say it's a trial period in becoming a lover boy." He said, while his arms were still wide open.

It took a moment for me before I could talk. I couldn't grasp his intentions in doing this.

"Am I a beta-tester of a game that you created?" I sniffed.

"Trial period will expire in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3-"

He didn't finish his countdown. I took the chance to be encircled by the playboy's arms. In all my existence, I was never comforted by anyone like this. Although I have friends, I never dared to tell them my situation at home. I fear that they would also be harmed. With these thoughts, I burst again into uncontrollable sobs in his embrace.

"Paris?' I whispered when I calmed down.

"Hmmm?" He replied as I felt the vibrations of his voice.

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"What is it?" He inquired as he gently stroked my head.

I think he was going too far with the stroking, but I just ignored it. Besides, it makes me feel at ease.

"Can I ask you not to bother me for the next three days? I promise to help you make Venice yours after that. I just need time to process this alone." I said as I pulled away from his hug.

"Okay, I won't disturb you for three days. But if you miss me you can call me anytime."

I want to say "you wish" or "I would never call you". But all I could do is laugh. I'm exhausted.

"Wow! What a good laugh you got there, London." He exclaimed as he covered his mouth like he couldn't believe that I could laugh like that.

"Shut up. Your bluffing again and again." I said as I punched his broad shoulders in annoyance.

Paris shook his head, then glanced at my face.

"No, I'm serious. Please do that for the next three days. It would make me feel less worried. Anyway, what I want to say is if things are too much, you can talk to me anytime." He uttered as he tucked loose strands of hair behind my ears.

I shook my head in disbelief. Stop it, Paris. You play with girls' hearts. How could I talk to you about my problems? Perhaps that is your way to get to me. I would never let that happen.

"Fine. I'll let you know if I want someone to talk to." I lied.

Because I would never do that. I had never done that.

"For your information, London. You are the first girl that I embraced willingly. Some girls are kinda clingy and embracing me like-"

I coughed intentionally to cut him. I crossed my arms, then raised my brows. "Paris, you know I am different from those girls. I am not clingy. FYI. So, stop bragging about how precious your hug is. 'Cause I know I am not the only girl who felt your arms. Thinking about it makes me feel disgusted."

He grinned attractively. "But I'm the only man who embraced you like that, am I right? Knowing that you have little experience in romance. I bet I'm the first one."

I snorted at his ideas. So delusional! "What makes you certain that my inexperience in romance makes you the first man to hug me?"

The truth is he was the first man to hug me. But that doesn't count as a romantic hug. I just need comfort from someone.

"Your red face tells me so." He said with a grin.

His statement made my face even hotter.

"Whatever. I'm going." I turned around and left.

I could hear his blustering laugh as I was briskly striding away from the treehouse.

"Admit it, London." He yelled enough to hear what he said.

I covered my ears with my bare hands. 

"Shut up!" I screamed, quickening my steps towards home.

What a player! He knows his game around women. I wonder what makes it hard for him to win over the girl he likes.

The last three days were peaceful. After class, I spent my days staying at the library. Alone. Reading and rereading the book Scot gave me. If the library was too noisy I would go to the rooftop.

Scot was nowhere to be found. Whoever his fiancé is, she's a hell of a lucky girl. Paris doesn't call our house number either. If he would I'll probably fend off that playboy. I think he understands that I want to be alone. Recently, he formed a new habit like leaving a roll of tissues on my locker. Venice was probably attending another photoshoot, modeling workshop, or something. I wonder if she still wants to graduate or not.

I was sitting again in the library. I wish it would be another peaceful day. Sad to say it wasn't.

I sighed as I slumped my face on the table.

"Three days are over. Stop grieving like your dog died." Paris said as his face wrinkled. "You've wasted three days and still, you don't have new plans to win over Venice!"

Yes, I don't have a new plan! So stop dreaming about a girl you can't win over by yourself! But I can't say that to his face. I ignored him though some of his words were offending. I don't have the energy to fight back.

"Since you seemed to be," he paused, "-distant I will give you a head start. You can start with these." He said, throwing a brown envelope on the table.

He leaned back on the chair and propped his feet on the long table.

I rolled my eyes as I picked up the envelope. I tore its side to see the contents. Guess what was inside. It was his first examination results this semester. He failed all of them! Woah.

I was astonished just by looking at his examination papers.

"English Literature and you got zero!" I yelled.

The library staff gave a warning which I ignored.

"Oh, that." He pointed to the paper in my hand. "I have no idea what happened to the protagonist in that story. Besides, it tired my eyes reading those paragraphs and my hands were too heavy to write some essays." He said, acting like he doesn't give a damn on those digits.

If these were my papers I might be at the hospital for weeks now. Numb from bruises. I'm having goosebumps as I flip every sheet of test paper.

I shook my head. "What do you want me to do with these hopeless scores? These were encoded already in the school records. We can't fabricate the results. If that's what you were thinking to do with this trash." I said with repulsion, tossing the sheets on the table.

Paris nodded. "You're right. We can't make alterations to the results. But the semester was just beginning. The scores that weigh the most are the results in finals, am I right? So, all we could do is-" He paused, thinking, and placed his hand under his chin.

'Stop acting like you are formulating some ideas. Don't use that head of yours. You're just hurting it for making it do something that was never done during its existence."

"And what was that?" He asked innocently.

I leaned confidentially. "Thinking."

His legs scrambled as he put them down. He puffs out some air, fighting to control his temper.

He displayed his fake smile. "That insult was at a different level. From one to ten, I would rate that as the top seven most insulting."

"I'll take that as a compliment. I'll keep doing my best." I managed to smile back.

"In case you didn't know for the past three days, while you were pathetically crying over a guy, I gathered some information about Venice's ideal type for a guy."

"Well, good for you." I snapped. "You are not crying over a girl that you can't even win over by yourself! But all you could do was stalk her social media accounts! So, what useless information did you find from your unreliable source?"

Ding! Ding! Ding! The bell rang like it was the end of the round in a boxing match.

After a second, the library staff was talking to the speaker, warning us both to observe silence. Thank goodness there were no other students inside. I don't want to be the talk of the whole student body.

We were awkwardly silent in our seats. He sighed. He looked down and pursed his lip. I could see regrets on his face. I was looking away pouting.

"I'm sorry," he said finally, "I wasn't thinking."

I bit my lower lip forcing myself not to laugh. He just admitted it. I can't believe that my insults were also facts.

I burst into laughter. "See, I told you. Your head had never done it."

He crossed his arms, then looked at me with his deadly glare.

"Happy now? You don't look as hurt as you were earlier. Fine." He nodded. 

"Laugh as much as you want because, in the next few months, you will be my tutor, Ms. Genius." He grinned.

I was stunned by what he said. I forgot he controls my life because he knew my secret. I never thought my reputation and my parent's approval would be subjected to whatever he wanted me to do.

"What did you say?" I yelled, slamming the table as I stood.