Alex, meanwhile, remained silent in the audience. He kept quiet while watching the happy faces of Drake, Natty and Helena and those around him. Everyone looked happy, and he was the only one who couldn’t feel anything. Everyone looked so glowing, and Alex felt like he was the only one who saw his world like there was no color. Alex tries to smile as Drake waves to him. Alex thought he was going to be okay, but in reality he was getting sicker when he smiled.
Why am I the only one like this? Why am I the only one who can’t be happy? Am I meant to be unhappy? Those questions kept coming to mind. In each of his musings Alex kept thinking and wondering, but he couldn’t get any answers. He can only sigh and live life like nothing happened. Maybe that pretense is the best way to treat wounds that can’t be shown.
Alex went out and get some fresh air. Helena, who realizes Alex has left, follows Alex. While keeping her distance Helena kept an eye on Alex. She hid and saw a stand-alone Alex pointing his head at the blue sky. Then tears flowed down Alex’s cheeks. Helena is eager to stand by Alex’s side and comfort him because however much she yet loves Alex and seeing Alex cry also makes her feel sad.
However, even though she loves Alex so much, she can’t keep throwing away her self-confidence and chasing someone who loves another girl. Even if her love is as big as the universe, it’s still a dream of love that doesn’t make her feel so small. And if one day Alex will be hers, Helena hopes it’s because Alex loves her instead of making her Ruby’s replacement.
Helena looks moody, her gaze somber and the smile disappears from her face. Helena can only keep all her feelings and try to cover it all up, even though it’s all visible from the look on her face. A deep breath becomes a sedative that makes Helena less than relieve her heartache.
“What are you doing here?”
A whisper right in her ear shocked Helena and turned . In front of her was a strange man she met a few days ago. The guy was wearing a basketball shirt and holding a basketball. The guy smiles broadly as if he’s pleased to meet Helena. Helena fell silent and her eyes kept glancing left and right, she looked quite nervous while thinking of finding the right way to avoid the man while continuing to pretend she didn’t know the man.
“Oh, are you looking for a way to the basketball court? It... If you keep going straight in this direction, there will be a door to the basketball court.” Helena said with a stammer as she made her way to the basketball court.
The guy kept smiling and it seemed he was very happy to see Helena looking nervous and misbehaving. He knows right now Helena is pretending not to know him and is thinking of running away. The guy kept smiling and as Helena was about to flee, he blocked Helena by urging Helena to lean against a tree, and then he put his hands on the tree and trapped Helena between his hands.
“You can’t escape, I know you remember me...” Replied the man with his heavy voice intimidating Helena.
“ What do you want from me? Let me go...” Helena said while looking down and avoiding eye contact with the guy standing in front of her.
The guy smiled wider indeed this time his eyes shone as if he liked and admired Helena more. Helena who tries to keep talking and even though she feels intimidated looks cute to him. Yes, Helena’s beauty is undeniable, her beauty is many times that of others, and she always attracts the attention of others wherever she goes. Despite her spoiled and selfish and brat nature, all Helena has is perfection. No wonder the guy fell in love with her, too.
“Jasper, that’s my name... So, what’s your name?” replied the guy introducing his name, but Helena seemed confused and made Jasper take a deep breath.
“Our bet is, don’t you remember?” replied Jasper, trying to make Helena recall.
For a while, Helena tried to remember, but she didn’t have a show. Then he tried to recall their fortuitous encounter., Helena didn’t pay much attention to what happened because she never thought they’d see each other again. For Helena, it was just an ordinary chance meeting, just like someone who crossed paths and say hello for a moment and leave. She never thought that fate would make them meet again.
“So, what’s your name?” asked Jasper once more
“Helena, that’s my name...” Helena replied.
Jasper smiles again as if he is pleased to know the name of a gorgeous girl standing in front of him. Even since their first meeting, Jasper has felt there’s something different between them. He's never liked anyone before, and there’s never been a girl who can make his heartbeat.
Jasper looks like a naughty punk who likes to play with other people’s feelings and hurt many hearts. But he’s a lot different from what he seems, he loves romance novels and teen dramas. He was always curious about what it was like to fall in love, indeed for him to fall in love just as the stories he read were as beautiful as dreams. Jasper also believed in love at first sight and that’s what happened to him, so he was always sure he’d see Helena again indeed if he didn’t try. Then his beliefs happened.
“Then I’ll see you after school,” Jasper said with a big smile and left before Helena could say anything.
That day Helena kept cursing at herself all day, she complained about her meeting with Jasper. She doesn’t hate Jasper, it’s just that whatever Jasper does always bother her. She felt a little upset, but at the same time, she felt alert as if something had happened if she kept being around Jasper. Helena just doesn’t want to get in trouble for being involved with people she doesn’t know.
As soon as the bell rang, Helena kept walking while hiding among the crowd. From a distance, she could see Jasper waiting for her at the gate. Helena was so eager to avoid Jasper that she borrowed a hoodie from someone passing by in exchange for $10.