“hi” Eliza said with a smile
I almost scoffed out loud but thank God I didn't.
“hi” he replied with another smile
“do you girls mind if I join you?” he asked
“sure you—”
“—there are other booths. You can go and eat in any one but ours” I said as a matter-of-factly.
“Mari?” Eliza said
“I was thinking maybe you could be a little friendly to a new student in your school but I thought wrong” he said and angrily walked away
We both watched him leave the eatery. Eliza heaved a long sigh “well there he goes” she said and I bit my lip. She looked at me as if she wanted me to say something
“you're not gonna say anything?!”she asked. I was right, she did want me to say something.
“okaaay. Maybe I went too far” I said and she rolled her eyes
“I thought you wouldn't attest to it” she said
“maybe I'll apologize to him at school” I said
“not maybe! You will apologize to him!”
“why yell? You just added another headache to my head. Gosh” I said and rubbed my temples
*
*
I held my books firmly to my chest and gulped down nothing as I stared at Fred Buenos who was sitting on a bench under the mild sun with his head looking down on something I cannot see.
“should I apologize?” I asked myself. It's true I was quite harsh on him.
“but he wanted to flirt with me” I protested against my conscience that was trying to force me to talk to him
“I won't apologize to him. It was his fault. He crossed his boundaries” I said and stamped my feet on the ground.
I huffed and turned away. I barely took three steps before someone pulled my hand and pushed me forward
“heeey!” I yelled at the person
“do it now” Eliza said and pushed me again. I groaned and sluggishly moved forward till I reached him
“good afternoon” I greeted with my books still hugging my chest, maybe even tighter this time.
He looked up at me and stared at me as if he was waiting for me to start talking. He didn't even reply my greeting
“I... I'm... I came to apologize... For how I treated... No, for what I said to you at the eatery. That was yesterday” I stammered and he raised a brow
“wait no! It wasn't yesterday. It was three sorry, two days ago” I corrected myself and he chuckled and stood up. Gosh this guy is so tall.
“I'm sorry” I added and looked down. He raised my head up with his index finger and my eyes widened.
Flirt! I almost screamed
“I'll forgive you only on one condition” he said in a voice that was so low, almost sounding like a whisper.
“you'll let me eat with you. At McDonald's” he said
“what? No” I said, removing my head from on top of his finger and stepping two steps back
“okay. Apology not accepted” he said with a shrug and sat down. I scoffed
“arrogant prick” I muttered very low so he wouldn't hear
“I heard you” he said
“ugh!” I groaned and turned back to go. I saw Eliza standing afar looking at me with eyes that could kill me. I stopped walking and turned back to him
“okay I'll eat with you” I said and he looked up
“what made you change your mind?” he asked with a smirk
“excuse me, that is not for you to know” I said and rolled my eyes then sighed. I so don't want to do this
He stood up again but I moved back to keep a clear distance between us before he lifts my head again.
“are you done with classes?” he asked
“yes” I answered
“then let's go eat. I'll take you”
“I have my car” I said and turned to go but he grabbed my wrist and turned me back. He also pulled me and covered the distance I made
“your friend would take that car home” he said and used his head to point to Eliza's direction. I looked at her and she was smiling sheepishly and waving my keys at me. I thought those keys were with me. And how did she know we were talking about the car.
I turned to the guy and frowned
“did you plan this out with my friend?” I asked
“she came to me” he said and pulled me
“hey hey. Careful, I'll fall” I said as he pulled me along
*
We finished eating a long, tiring and freakish lunch at the McDonald's. I didn't like eating with a guy who's not Wilbur. I was still going through heart break and I just wanted to crawl into my shell, well that's exactly what Eliza hates and is trying to make me avoid.
“I'll drop you off at home” Fred said
“I'll take a taxi” I said and opened the exit door and walked out
“uhm, here. Take these home” he said and brought two takeaway bags to my front
“what's it?” I asked
“it's for Eliza.” he said. I sighed and took it because I knew she personally asked him to get it for her and I not bringing it home would be war especially if she finds out he gave me but I refused to collect it.
“thanks” he said as I collected them
“taxi!” I heard him call out
“hey don't call a taxi for me. I can do it” I protested. A taxi parked in front of us
“will you take it or you'd call yours?” he asked with a smirk that looked more like a smile.
I frowned at him and opened the door to the taxi.
“bye. See you at school tomorrow” he said and I didn't reply. I don't even have classes tomorrow. I told the driver my address and he drove into the road
.