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He was sitting there alone reading a
book. He looks so peacefully as he turned the pages of the book, wondering what
he was reading. I just really love the way he combed his hair back and resumed
reading.
“Lisa---contacting from earth, please respond.” Heather
said to her as she waved her hand on my face
“Huh? What are you saying?” I asked her as I put down the
book
“You are staring at him again. I’ve been repeating the
whole question, by the time you reply back to me I already have the answer.”
Heather said shortly pointing his direction
“No, I’m not. I’m just looking for someone, that’s all.”
I pressed as I start reading
“The someone you’re looking is him—P-a-t-r-i-c-k.”
Heather spelled to me
“Would you quit it. We’re in a library!” I hissed to her
as I put my finger on my lips signaling her to be quiet
“I told you.” she mimicked to me and resumed reading
***
“You’re a denial!” Heather told he
as we were walking through our Social Science class.
“I’m not.” I pressed quickly avoiding her gaze
“Come on Lisa. You’re staring at him, for almost five
minutes.” she said again
“You don’t have to brag about it----.” My face getting
hotter
We went inside and seated at the back, as we waited for
our professor to come.
“I’m really sorry for teasing you back, last time in the
library.” she said to me
“You make fun of
me.” I said bitterly
“Let’s make a bet, Patrick would be in our class.” she
said quickly
“Patrick? How in a world be our classmate? He’s not even
in our course!” I replied back
“It’s only a bet. If I lose I’m going to make it up for
you by doing all your homework for Statistics.” she challenged me
“You’ve got a deal!” I said quickly as I shook her hand
“Deal. Here comes the professor. “ she said
The professor gave the seating arrangements. I was seated
at the front while Heather is in the back. As the professor going to mark the
seat plan. Somebody has just come in. It was Patrick.
“Sorry to be late.” He grinned as the professor direct
him to his seat, which is on Heather’s side.
I quietly looked back and seeing Heather making a face,
saying that she wins the bet. Now what is this time? I shouldn’t have let her
make bet with me. I observed them as Heather talk to Patrick, it seems that
they’re having a conversation. I just can’t figure it out, what they are
talking ---if I could only hear what they are talking---if I only could hear
what he’s saying----.
“Ms. Milton. Are you still with us?” The professor eyed at me as I looked back
slowly at her
“Yes, ma’am. I just dropped something and it went over
there. I tried to find it and I had trouble seeing things far.” I lied to her
as I shifted my eyeglasses as she observed me
“Very well—as I was saying--.” She continued the lecture
That was a close call. If weren’t for my eyeglasses. I’ll
be caught dead staring the two of them, as I open my notes and began to write.
***
Couple of days
passed I noticed that everytime in our class Heather is talking to him all the
time. I tried to ask her what they are talking about. She said only nothing.
But this time I cannot stand it any longer. Is there something that I should
know about them?
“Could you please tell me what are you two talking about
the past few days?” I ask her quickly as we were walking through the parking
lot
“It’s only nothing. It’s only some chit-chat.” Heather
said quickly
“What do you mean nothing and it’s only a chit-chat? You
barely talk to me and you’re spending your whole Social Science class time with
him.” I said irritatedly
She eyed at me with a curious look.
“Are you jealous?” she asked me as my face turned to red
“No, it’s only inappropriate.” I managed to say as I walk
faster avoiding her glance, and reach her car
“For the first time, my best friend Lisa is jealous at
me.” she said as she opens the door
“So, what’s the deal on both of you?” Are you seeing him? I should better know
this.” I said quietly
She started the engine, and played Jennifer Page’s
“Crush” in the CD player.
“We’re not what you are thinking---and the couple of days
we were talking about the project.” she said pointedly as she drove
“What project? I haven’t heard it. You didn’t tell me.” I
pressed
I called you on the phone last Monday and your sister got
my call. She told me that she’ll going to tell you.” she finished
“She didn’t told me and I was absent that day!” I sank
“You see we had a pair and the deadline is on next week.”
she finished
“What! I haven’t started it yet, and I don’t have a group
mate yet!” I said to her
“I don’t know. You’ll just have to find it out tomorrow
if there’s someone available.” she said
hopefully
“But the deadline is near!” I whined
“I’ll do everything okay? Tomorrow promise!” she assured
me
“Okay.” I said as we arrived at my place
“I guess this is it. See you tomorrow.” she said to me
“Just forget this thing happened.” I said cautiously
“Why, you don’t like me hanging out with your Patrick?”
she teased me
“He’s not mine ---for your information.” I corrected her
“What ever you say----.” she said to me as I went inside
of my house
***
The next day, I was going to my
Social Science class. It is unusual for today, because Heather and I go
together in this class and if she couldn’t make it she’ll call me the other
night. I glanced at my watch it is ten minutes before the time as I walked
faster. Then suddenly my cell phone rang. It was Heather
“Lisa, I’m so sorry. I cannot make it through the whole
week----.” she started
“What! You said that you’re going to help me find my
group mate---.” I whined
“You see I’m sick. I had flu, my doctor said that I
should have taken the whole week off to rest. Sorry.”
“Then, what would happen to you? I mean the deadline is
on Friday---your partner Patrick.” I blurted out
“Oh—him. I guess I had to make it on my own. I cannot let
Patrick do all the job while I’m absent.” she said thoughtfully
I was about to panic but she said
“You could take my place. Patrick would be your partner.”
she said finally
Hearing Patrick’s name seems like birds are flying in my
head. My eyes widened that Patrick my crush would be my partner.
“Not in a million years.” I denied eventhough I was dying
to work with him
“Then, who is that you want? Lester?” she asked me again
“Lester no way! That guy is so lazy. I’ll end up doing
the project alone!” I whined again to her
“Stop whining Lisa! You had to make a choice right now.
Patrick or Lester?” she said abruptly
Thinking that there is no way out I told her
“Okay, I’ll choose Patrick.” I said breathlessly
“Good, that settles it. Now you had to do is tell our
professor that you’ll be taking my place.”
she said pointedly
“But how about Patrick?” I asked her
“He’ll understand. Remember our bet?” she said amusingly
“Yeah.” My cheeks turning into red
“So this is the
consequence, that Patrick would be your partner and I hope that you’ll enjoy
working with him.” she added
I don’t know if I should thank her or kill her for doing
this.
“I should go now. I got to tell our professor about
this.” I said finally as I hang my cell phone and went inside the class
The professor
looked at me with her eyes. I approached her and told her about Heather’s
condition. She agreed and said I’ll be seating in Heather’s place beside
Patrick.
“Hi Lisa what makes you bring here?” Patrick asked me
“Heather cannot make it through the whole week. She’ll be
doing the project alone and told me that I’ll be taking over her place. She had
a flu you know.” I calmly said
“Would she be alright?” he asked me with his worried face
“Don’t worry about her. She’ll be fine, the doctor said
that she needs plenty of rest.” I assured him even I had a pang of guilt
“I really hope so that she’ll get well soon. Since you’ll
be taking her place now. I guess we’ll do fine.” he smiled at me
He smiled at me! He looks oh so cute. No wonder Heather
likes talking to him. And the words “we’ll do fine,” I feel that I’m in heaven.
“Sure, we’ll do fine in this project better say the
best.” I smiled back at him
***
“We are doing fine
the next few days. We already got the half of the project. I didn’t regret
picking up Patrick than Lester to be my partner.” I said to Heather as we were
talking in the phone
“You see-- isn’t that your dream to be with Patrick once
in a while.” she chimed in
“There we go again. I had no choice Heather it’s the two
of them.” I reasoned out
“Don’t be foolish. I know you like working with your
Patrick.” she teased me again
“Would you please refraining saying your crush Patrick. I
shouldn’t have told you in the first.” I said bitterly to her
“Aren’t you glad? The trouble is that you’re denial. You
can’t accept the fact that you have a crush on him.” she said again to me
“Okay, I’m denial. I really have a huge crush on
Patrick.” I admitted
“See, admitting it makes you feel better. Now tell me do
you really like working with him?” she challenged me
“Yes.” That’s all that I can say
“Good----the only trouble with you is that you hide your
feelings and you keep denying it. You better take a look of yourself Lisa.” she
said carefully to me
“Thanks for the advice. I’ll remember it.” I said shortly
as I hang the phone and someone is ringing the doorbell for a couple of times.
“Tessa, would you please look who’s ringing the
doorbell.” I called her out as I get my book
“You answer it Lisa. I’m doing my term paper. You’re much
nearer at the door.” she replied back to me
“Why it always to be me Tessa?” I said annoyingly to her
as she continued to type on the computer
I opened the
door and to my surprise it was Patrick!
“Hi Lisa.” he said earnestly
“Hi Patrick, come in. How do you know where I live?”” I
asked him as I led him to the living room
“I asked Heather.” he said shortly
So that’s it. That’s why Heather’s phone is busy, while
I’m calling her. She’s talking to him. My little brother came running in the
living room, playing with his remote control car.
“Ivan look out!” I raced to him as he bumped to Patrick’s
direction
“Are you alright?” Patrick said to my little brother as
he help him on his feet
“Yes, I am. Who are you?” he asked Patrick
“I’m Patrick. I’m Lisa’s classmate.” he said as he gave
the remote control to him
“Hello. My name is Ivan.” he said cheerfully
“I’m sorry with my little brother. He got into the way,
he just like to do that always.” I said quietly as I shooed Ivan off, eventually
Ivan don’t want to go, he likes to stay
“That’s alright Lisa----In case I’m just here to ---.”
His voice trails off as I look slowly in my back to my surprise it’s my mom and
dad!
“Good evening.” My mom said to Patrick
“Good Evening Mrs. Milton and Mr. Milton.” he said
stiffly to my parents
“What is that you come here for?” I asked him slowly
“Uh—these are the additional notes that is needed for the
research and since you’ll be the one to type it.” he said quickly as he handed
me the papers
“Thanks, you are able to bring it in my place. Would you
like to stay for awhile so we can talk about this?” I asked him again
“No, I don’t think so ---I’m just here to bring those
copies to you. We’ll just have to talk tomorrow. I’ll be going now. Goodbye
Lisa, Mr. Milton and Mrs. Milton goodbye.” he said earnestly as he went outside
and headed for his car
He waved goodbye and I waved back. As I close the door. I
turned to my parents who are still in the living room.
“Dad, look at him. You almost scared him to death! He’s
just here to give these papers.” I said back to him
“I’m not doing anything dear---you’re mom and I just
wanted to know Patrick better and you should have invited him for dinner.” he
said to me
“I hope this would not happen again.” I sighed
***
Friday, the
deadline for the submission. I was ten minutes early in the class. Patrick
greeted me as he sees me.
“Hi Lisa.”
“Hi Patrick. I hope you’re not scared at
my parents last night. They’re just like that.” I said assuring him
“Don’t worry. I’ve gotten over it the last night. It’s
just a natural reaction of your parents.” he said as we laughed
As we were talking, Heather just comes in the class. I
expected her that she’ll be reporting in class on Monday. She waved at me and
to Patrick.
“There’s Heather!” Patrick exclaimed
“Hi guys.” Heather said brightly to us
“Thank goodness. You’re fine now.” I said to her hugging
her
“I hope Patrick enjoys working with my best friend.”
Heather said as she turned to me
“Yes, I do Heather. She’s fun to be with.” Patrick said
enthusiastically to her
“See, you make a perfect team.” she chimed in
“Not exactly.” I pointed out
“Don’t be a denial Lisa. We make a perfect team.” Patrick
said smiling to me as he put his arms around my shoulders, which makes me
speechless as Heather is staring at me
“And also a perfect couple.” she added
I stared at her if I could only get my hands on her right
now. For saying that. But Patrick make nonsense about it, he only smiled at
Heather. I could die on the spot as I continue to plaster a smile to Heather.
Heather seems enjoying herself with the consequence that I have done for her.
***
The class finished early. This time I was wondering why
is Heather is not with me. She supposed to give me a ride back home. As I
continue to walk in the corridors. I noticed a figure near at the lockers is
Heather and the guy with her is Patrick! I stopped and decided what would
happen next as I hide myself in the doorway. I said to myself it is normal,
since they talk a lot of times. But hey, wait a minute, Patrick was holding her
hand and Heather seems talking---I can’t hear it. I knew it! They’re seeing
each other. My Patrick!
I was about to turn back, but Patrick and Heather saw me.
I wanted to burst into tears, seeing them together.
“Lisa wait!” Heather called out for me
But I was running now. I don’t want to see them, if I
only show my true feelings to him, this would never happen.
***
I never talked to Heather for the
past days. I just can’t believe that Heather would do this to me. I trusted
her. Maybe it is my own fault because I was so slow enough as I throw a rock on
the lake.
“Hey.” A voice called behind my back it was Patrick
“Hi—you shouldn’t be here. You should be with Heather.” I
said shortly sitting on the bench
He laughed softly, which makes me uncertain.
“Why in the world I be with Heather?” he asked me which I
didn’t met his gaze
“Don’t hide the fact, that you’re going out with her.” I
said quietly
“What makes you say that?” he asked me
“You don’t have to hide it Patrick. There’s nothing that
I can do but to accept the fact.” I said slowly
This is really breaking my heart as I fought back into
tears.
“Who’s saying that I’m seeing Heather?” he asked me again
“I saw both of you talking. You held her hand.” I blurted
out
He make a heartfelt laugh the he became silent. He
breathes hard as he gently put his arms around my shoulder.
“There’s nothing about it. She just told me that she’s
grateful having you to be my partner. That’s why I felt moved.” he said finally
I’ve got to admit that I feel better now.
“I guess I’m sorry.” I murmured
“You don’t have to. Actually it brings me closer to you
when we started working together.” he said finally
“Really?” I asked him
“Yes, I really have a good time with you. It took me
quite a time to come to my senses that I had feelings for you.” he said softly
behind my ear
I held his hand awhile not knowing what to say next.
“Perhaps this is the second time around Patrick.” I said
back to him
“It’s getting late Lisa. I think I should drive you home
now.” he said as we stand up
“Alright---but you have one thing to get passed.” I said
to him
He made a curious look and asked
“What is it?”
“My parents—they’ll be inviting you for dinner.” I smiled
back to him
“I think I can manage.” Patrick smiled at me as we held hands and went to his car.