Knight and I stood side by side under the shed under the rain that’s pouring harder and harder by the second. There still aren’t any buses around and I’m starting to get impatient.
I really wanted to talk to him but I don’t know how to open up the topic to start a conversation. I am probably not like this but maybe it’s because my mind is still preoccupied by the fact that I had faced my eleventh breakup just minutes ago. My eyes are probably swollen, right now.
I heard him cough. He probably knows how awkward it is for us right now.
“Uhm…” he paused. “I don’t think the rain is going to stop anytime soon.” He beamed.
I sighed. “And I don’t think there would be buses anytime soon, as well.” I responded then it was his turn to sigh.
I looked at the part of the road where the bus would come from and there was no sign of any vehicle coming on. There were even no cars or anything.
I was looking to my right and I caught Knight in my periphery. He really is tall and he looks like he just came out of the magazine. He’s a freaking model. Swear!
He really looks cold and strong and stoic on the outside. In fact, if he didn’t generously offer me an umbrella just right now, I would think of his as a snob. Well, he really suits that image. That cold city guy image.
I felt him step back to sit on the railings on the shed. “Let’s sit for a while, Ashejan.” He told me.
I looked at him, shocked at what he called me. He called me Ashejan. He called me on my first name!
He must have known what I was thinking because he suddenly grew conscious. “Uhm, I mean, I can call you Ashejan, right?” He asked me in a polite manner. He even seemed embarrassed.
I smiled and nodded. “Sure, you can.” I told him. “Sorry, I was just taken aback because it was my first time hearing my name from you.” I explained.
He smiled shyly and rubbed the back of his neck. For the first time, I have never thought that someone would actually look really good with a simple V-neck shirt and a pair of loose and faded jeans. It seemed normal but, I already told you, Knight is a freaking model.
A freaking shy model.
I sat awkwardly beside him as we wait for our bus to arrive. We have been waiting for about fifteen minutes now.
I really want to have a decent conversation with him right now. But I really don’t know where to start. Should I ask for his family background? His likes? His dislikes? I don’t know. What if he thinks that I am interrogating him? Well, it might be true at some point but if I don’t, we’ll just be sitting here awkwardly and secretly wishing for a bus to come as fast as it could.
I faked a cough to break the silence. “So, do you know someone from our neighborhood already?” I asked him.
He shook his head. “We’ve been here for about four days now but I still hadn’t walked around the neighborhood.” He started. “I have been busy unpacking my loads. It’s really tiring.” He finished.
I nodded. “Must be hard.” I commented and he chuckled. “You have no idea.” He told me then it was my time to laugh.
“You’re the only I know from the neighborhood.” He then spoke. “Though I don’t really know if your house is near ours.” He pointed out.
I chuckled. “Who knows? Maybe you’re the neighbor my mother has been talking about a few weeks ago.” I beamed.
He smiled. “I really hope so.” He replied. “It’s really hard to not know someone in the neighborhood.” He continued as he fixed his hair that became a bit messy because of the wind. “And I also believe in the second greatest commandment. Love thy neighbor.” I think he tried to crack a joke so I laughed even though I didn’t find it that funny.
“You’re funny!” Okay. I’m a great liar. That’s one of the lamest joke I have ever heard in my whole life.
He chuckled and shook his head.
Damn. He really believed it was a good joke. Meh.
The bus came when we were busy laughing – he was busy laughing, I was busy faking a laugh. We both stopped and stood up as we waited for the bus to pull over the stop.
“You first.” He told me as we walked to the bus door. He looked at my hand holding the books. “Let me help you.” He told me as he took the books from me.
I smiled and did not protest. I walked inside the bus and he followed.
It was a jam-packed vehicle and all seats were taken so we really have to stand up. I inserted myself in between all these people and stopped on the third row where there was an unexpected space.
I looked behind and saw Knight following after me, stopping just in front of me.
“This thing is crazy.” He told me as he held onto the deck, a bit shaking because he is not used to standing on a bus ride.
I laughed at his grimace. “This is your first time.” I pointed out.
He looked at me weirdly. “I’m so not prepared for this.” He told me as he tried to balance himself.
I laughed at him once again. “You’re going to get used to this.” I told him.
He sighed hard. “I hope so.”
--
Knight and I stepped out of the bus after fifteen minutes of ride.
“That was tiring.” He commented as he fixed his shirt that got crumpled because of the bus’ overpopulation.
I smiled at his expression. He looked like a guy who ran a mile with the way his face looks so tired right now. “You look funny.” I can’t help myself but comment at how he looks.
He gave me a look. “Hey!” He whined like a kid.
It’s funny how it’s not raining anymore as soon as we arrived on our village. I don’t really get the weather. When I am praying for it to stop, it keeps pouring. And it happens the other way around too.
I folded the umbrella and handed it to Knight. “Here. Thanks.” I told him.
He smiled and shook his head. “No, just take it home.” He beamed.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “This is not a handkerchief that I could keep.” I told him. “Take it back.” I held the umbrella out.
I saw him hesitate for a while but in the end, he took it back. And I also took my books back. “Thanks for helping me out. With the umbrella. With the books.” I smiled.
He smiled back and shook his head. “It’s nothing. I mean, I can’t stand to see a lady carrying loads of things.” He replied.
I smiled shyly. I don’t really know why I am acting like an innocent girl right now. I mean, why do I have to keep a certain façade in front of Knight? He’s going to attend our school and sooner or later, he would find out that I am the woman who dated a lot of men. I am the lady who kissed a lot of men. I am the girl who got fooled by a lot of men.
Sooner or later, he would regret that he ever lent me his umbrella on a rainy afternoon and that he offered me to carry my books as we rode the bus.
Why am I acting like I want him to see that I am a wonderful girl?
I am not and I know that for myself.
“Come on.” He broke my thoughts as he cocked his head into the side.
I looked at him and nodded awkwardly. “Where are you heading at?” I asked him.
He pointed at the road to our house. “Here. You?” He asked.
I smiled. “The same.” I replied and we headed out way.
He chuckled as we walked home. “I really think our houses are near each other.” He told me.
I smiled. “I’m starting to think that you’re the neighbor my mother was talking about.” I beamed back.
“It would be great!” He exclaimed.
I looked at him as he showed me his gleeful face. I can’t believe a tall person like him is so innocent on a lot of things. I wonder if he’s a genius as well.
“It would be fun!” I beamed back to not burst his bubble.
To be honest, I, too, am not that close with the neighborhood. Gavin Merculio, my first boyfriend, is just a guy around the neighborhood and since her broke up with me, I have lost interest in our neighborhood. I actually told myself to not date anyone in the neighborhood.
It’s really hard how your other neighbors would ask you why you broke up and whose fault is it. They would ask you embarrassing questions and would tease you if you accidentally bumped into your ex-lover.
I don’t like those.
As much as possible, if ever I am to date again, I don’t want it to be my neighbor, or my schoolmate or someone near me. I don’t want to have the same persons around us. With that, we could maintain privacy and avoid bias.
“I really think you’re a nice girl, Ashejan.” He told me out of the blue.
We were nearing my house when I suddenly stopped and looked at him. Why do I feel uncomfortable whenever I hear him call my name?
It’s not the first time that I have heard this line. All of my exes told me I am a nice girl. They have all given me the best compliments that would boost my confidence up but then, in the end, they were the ones who gave me the worst comments.
“Thanks,” I replied as I continued walking. “I think you’re a cool guy as well.” I commented back.
He chuckled. “You don’t know.” He told me. “You have yet to know me.”
I smiled at his reply. “You, too. You have a lot of things to know about me.” I beamed as I stopped. “Here’s our house.” I told him.
He looked at me in shock but in a good way. “Really?” He asked. I nodded. “That’s my house.” He pointed at the house two blocks away from ours. “Nice meeting you, neighbor.” He told me as he shook my hand and smiled widely. “I’m really happy you’re the first person I met.”
“So you broke up with Jervic?” My sister, Asher, asked me as she visited me in my room that night.I sighed and looked at her. “It’s the other way around. He broke up with me.” I replied with emphasis on the pronouns in the right sequence.She looked at me and rolled her eyes. “Why are they always the ones breaking up with you?” She asked in frustration.“I wish I know why.”I’m curious as well. None of my breakups was initiated by me and I don’t know what kind of pride I have for myself at this point of living. I always think we could work it out but they’re thinking the other way. It’s like there’s no other solution other than ending it.Maybe it’s better like that. Maybe it’s better to end it sooner than hurt the whole while. But I can’t really keep myself from thinking of the what ifs.What if we worked it out?W
“At least people liked her. What about you? Why do you keep bullying her? Do you like her?”Knight’s question hang in the air as all of my classmates looked at him. I did too.Everyone was shocked that this new guy is already talking back to the number one bully in the campus.I have never expected a cute and adorable Knight who eats a burger like a kid is looking really serious and scary right now.Julian, who was silenced for about ten seconds, found himself and scoffed at Knight. He was to him and cocked his head to the side. “And just who are you?” He asked him. “Do you know who you talked back at?” He asked again but now, with a warning in his voice.I looked at Knight and he’s looking back at Julian with equal flames in his eyes. He’s not even taken aback at all!“You. Who else?” Knight replied with an equal threat.Everyone gasped at his remark. He just defied Ju
“Oh my gosh! Are they back together?”“But I thought Jericho doesn’t get back with his exes?”“Why are they kissing like that?”I closed my eyes as Jericho’s lips move over mine. Don’t get me wrong. I am not responding but he’s moving his head making everyone think that I am kissing back.I am not.He broke off from the kiss and looked at me. “I missed your lips, Ashejan.” He told me garnering mixed reactions from the crowd.Some are disgusted that Jericho just kissed me. His fan girls are heartbroken because they think that we got together. And some are mad. They’re all probably thinking of the reason why Jericho kissed me.He kissed me after breaking up with his latest fling.“I heard you and that Jervic broke up.” He told me but his hand is still on my cheek and the other on my hand. “Is that true?” He asked me.I gav
Days went by and the speculations on me and Jericho getting back together are just getting fired up each second. Well, how couldn’t it be when Jericho is always waiting for me outside our classroom every day? I, myself, am not believing any of this.“What are you doing here again?” I asked Jericho as he grinned at me at lunch.He blinked at me. “What? I just want to eat with you.” He replied acting all so innocent and it’s making me irritated at most.Why is he thinking trying to start a new beginning with me? He’s probably just playing with me. I mean, it’s Jericho Marquez. He’s known to be one of the leaders of the Playboy Club and I am not falling for him ever again.I rolled my eyes at him. “Well, I don’t want to eat with you.” I was trying to be downright honest with him. I don’t want him to think that this is fine with me.Damn. I have this Dating Queen ali
“What the fuck, Jericho?!” I pushed him away as he tried to kiss me in front of the public again. Jesus! When will this playboy learn? I’m not interested anymore! My goodness!He still managed to smirk even after seeing my disgusted look on my face. “Okay then, Baby. We’ll take it slow.” He beamed and I almost puked at his remark.“What slow, you ass? I don’t want to get back with you! What in the world in that freaking simple sentence can you not understand?” I asked, fuming in anger. I swear one more word from him and I am punching his face right here, right now. I don’t care if his fan girls attack me and kill me spot on.He raised his brow at me and cocked his head to the side. “What’s the problem, Ashejan? Why are you so mad?” He exasperated. “You don’t shout at people like this even though they irritate you so much.” He pointed out and I sighed heavily.I
The next days were worse because I couldn’t stop my heart from getting suffocated when I see Serena and Knight together. And they were always together. Before classes begin, at break times, at lunch, in dismissal.I have proved to myself that I am indeed attracted to Knighton Javier. But he doesn’t even talk to me anymore. I wonder what the real problem is. Why doesn’t he talk to me? I want him to talk to me. He should at least tell me why is not talking to me.I’m getting really paranoid. Have I done something wrong? Did I look like a big slut to him because he saw me jump from one guy to another?Hell, I’m going insane. Especially now that I can see him laughing with Serena in the lockers. God! Even in the lockers, he’s still with Serena! Damn this!An uneasy feeling grew inside me. I just need him to talk to me. Or maybe I should talk to him. I just don’t know when the right time is. Or is there even a right ti
ASHANTI“I can’t take it anymore,” I told Kristoff as we were in the labor room. This morning, I had several Braxton-Hicks that made Kristoff panic. The contractions had been intensified from then up to now.“Baby, just hold on a little longer.” I don’t know who Kristoff is telling that—me or the baby.He gripped onto my hand as before planting a kiss on my sweaty forehead.I’ve known how painful it is to give birth but the ones I have read never really made me feel this way. This is—by far—the worst pain in my life. I have never even imagined feeling this excruciating pain.Dr. Johnson, my OB, with a nurse came towards us. The nurse explained that the doctor will be checking my cervical dilatation.“You’re fully dilated now, Mrs. Marx. You can push now.” Dr. Johnson told me and encouraged me to bear down.Kristoff was holdi
I can’t even imagine how weird I am looking at Knight right now. He likes me. He just told me he likes me and my heart is beating crazy. He’s too close for Christ’s sake!I chuckled awkwardly. “You’re kidding.” I told him and he narrowed his eyes on me. I cleared my throat. “I mean, yeah, sure. You like me as a friend.” I re-organized my sentence because I think he felt a bit burdened.“Of course,” he said as he looked away.Oh, Knight. I like you, too. But more than how you like me. I like you to be mine. I like you to date me. More than just a friend. It will be a shock if I told you about it, right now, so I’d rather not.I shut my eyes to regain my cool. Damn it, Ashejan! Get your shit together or else!“Serena…” My voice trailed because he stiffened. “…does she like you back?” I asked him.Damn it. He’s too innocent and naï