Words Behind His Acronym "MHIOY"

CHAPTER 8

Yuriel's POV

A few months have passed, and I've gotten to know Khem much better. She’s become the kind of friend I always hoped for sweet, supportive, and genuine. At first, I thought she was strict and standoffish, but now I realize I couldn’t have been more wrong. Khem’s kindness is something I never expected, and she’s always holding a book, reading, or talking about her latest one. I can’t help but feel envious of her ability to dive into books so easily. Meanwhile, I try, but I always end up zoning out on the first page! Is there a secret bookworm recipe I’m missing?

And then there's Fhaye. She’s relentless. The bullying hasn't stopped, and honestly, it feels like she's been going out of her way to make my life harder. I don’t know how she’s still so determined to make me miserable, but trust me, it hasn’t been easy. The worst part? She pushed me down the stairs once. I fell, expecting to get hurt, but instead, someone caught me mid-air. I looked up, and it was Jaxel my hero. He didn’t even flinch, and I thought, this is definitely something out of a cheesy romance novel. But no, he was just being his usual cold self. Typical.

And then, there’s the whole bag-in-a-tree incident. Fhaye thought it would be funny to put my bag up a tree, and there I was, hanging on like a cat trying to figure out how to climb down. Of course, no one was around, so after what felt like forever, I decided to take the plunge. I slipped, and once again, who was there to catch me? Jaxel. I can’t even make this up. He didn’t say a word, just carried me to the ground like it was no big deal. He’s definitely a good guy, but does he even know it?

The more time I spend with him, the more I start noticing his little gestures like the way he watches out for me without saying a word. Maybe it’s just because of Auntie, but... who knows? Maybe I’m reading too much into it.

So today, Khem and I are headed to the library. Khem, the bookworm, is ready to pick up her next read, while I’m just here to enjoy the moment and pretend I also enjoy books, even if they make me sleepy.

She catches me staring at the shelf again. “You know, just hold a book for a day, and I bet you’ll get hooked,” she teases.

“I don’t know, Khem. Last time I tried reading, the book practically put me to sleep,” I laugh.

“Ah, you’re just too lazy to try! You’re missing out on so much fun!”

“Oh, really? Tell me this how's your love life doing, huh? Still just you and your books?" I tease right back. We both laugh, and for a moment, it feels good to just let go of all the stress Fhaye’s been causing.

But then she asks the million-dollar question, the one that stops me dead in my tracks.

"So, you like Jaxel, huh? Is that true?"

My heart skips. "Where did you hear that?"

"Oh, you know, a little bird told me. Well, actually, it was your classmates, but same difference!" she says with a mischievous grin. “It’s true, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I admit, too tired to deny it anymore. What’s the point?

Khem gasps dramatically. “Oh my gosh, you do! You like Lhengrui! You like Jaxel! This is huge!”

I laugh, but inside, I can’t help the flutter in my stomach. I do like him, but it’s pointless. He doesn’t see me like that. Why would he?

“Yeah, I like him,” I say, but my voice falls a little. “But nothing will change. He’s just doing all this stuff because of Auntie. That’s it. I’m just the girl in need of help nothing more.”

Khem squeezes my hand and gives me a soft look. “You never know, Yuriel. Maybe you’re the one who will melt that cold heart of his. Sometimes, the fairy tale stories come true in real life. Don’t give up on hope. I’m here for you, always.”

Her words strike me. Can Jaxel really be falling for me? I don't know. But maybe just maybe Khem is right. Maybe it’s worth holding onto that small spark of hope.

We continue walking to the library, where Khem grabs her next book. "I’m reading Space Between Us now," she says, flipping through the pages. "It’s about a long-distance relationship between a guy from Mars and a girl from Earth. Can you imagine being in love with someone from another planet?"

I chuckle. “Yeah, sounds a bit like a fairy tale.”

"Well, maybe your fairy tale isn’t so far-fetched,” she teases.

I roll my eyes, but secretly, I’m starting to wonder if maybe... just maybe... my own story could have a happy ending.

Before I know it, we’re at the counter, and I notice Jaxel, just standing there by the bookshelf. I freeze. What’s he doing here? His gaze meets mine for a moment long enough for me to catch my breath and then he looks away, as if nothing happened.

I want to scream. Why do I feel like he’s always around when I’m thinking about him?

Later, when we head to the canteen, Fhaye blocks our path. Here we go again.

“You still here?” Fhaye sneers. “We always bump into each other. Is the universe trying to tell me something?”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, really? Maybe the universe is just telling you you’re a nuisance.”

But Khem, in all her glory, jumps in. “No, what the universe is telling you is that you’re a crazy person who needs to back off. You’re not even worth the time.”

I stand there, stunned. I’ve never seen this side of Khem before. She’s fierce, and I feel something shift inside me. Maybe I don’t need to fight this battle alone after all.

“You know what? Go on. Run along now, Fhaye, before you make yourself look worse,” Khem continues, dragging me away.

Later, as we share a pizza and soft drinks, I feel lighter. Khem’s words have done wonders for my heart, and for once, I’m starting to believe that maybe there is someone out there who will see me the way Khem does. Someone who will value me, despite everything.

We walk back to class, laughing, when I accidentally bump into someone. I look up, and there’s Jaxel again, looking at me with those emotionless eyes. For a moment, I feel like I’m falling into them.

But then he turns and walks away, just like always. Why do I keep doing this to myself? He’s never going to see me as anything more than the girl Auntie takes care of.

Then, I get a message from Auntie. She won’t be home tonight. She’s out with Auntie Feh, leaving me and Jaxel alone.

I breathe deeply. It’s fine, I tell myself. Nothing will happen. It’ll be okay.

But for some reason, the idea of being alone with him fills me with an odd excitement. Maybe it’s just me, overthinking again. But tonight... maybe things will be different. Maybe this time, I won’t be the only one dreaming.