UNREQUITED LOVE

Chapter-10

Markus, me and a few other students from our class went for auditions to Mr. Henry, our English Teacher. There were many students from other classes too. He gave us a sheet of paper and told us to write something about the fest. I wrote a 4 paragraph essay on it. Fortunately both me and Markus were selected as the hosts for the fest.

Everyday we went together for practice and spent a lot of time together revising the script.

Today our rehearsals extended as the fest was coming nearer. So we needed to stay in the school till 8 pm. It was chilly at night as winter was approaching and our school already made us wear our winter uniforms.

After the second rehearsal was over we took a break and sat on the chairs arranged by the backstage team for the participants. The wind blowing was so chilly that I was literally shivering. Not only me but everyone of us was kinda feeling cold.

Austin saw Naomi shivering so he offered his blazer to her and said that he was not at all feeling cold but I could tell from his looks that he was feeling colder than Naomi. She insisted that he take back the blazer but he kept on telling her to keep it so she gave up and covered herself in his blazer. Watching both of them, Alex also gave Ashley his blazer. They were now more at peace with each other. The Ferris Wheel ride made some changes between them. I was really very happy to see them at peace instead of fighting and bickering with each other.

I turned around to take a look at other people and saw Markus and Natasha talking about something with each other. I really wanted to listen to their conversation but I controlled myself and told myself that I need to get over him. I was still looking at them. Suddenly Markus removed his blazer and put it on Natasha.

I was devastated after looking at them. I looked somewhere else as I didn't want to see them getting so close with each other.

I was still feeling cold so I pulled myself deeper into my blazer so that I could feel a bit of warmth in my body. Suddenly someone came and put a jacket on me. I was confused. I looked up and saw a guy standing behind me.

"Take it. I saw that you were feeling cold."

"Th-th-thanks."

And he went. I've never seen this guy in school. I didn't know who he was. I was confused. He didn't even tell me his name. How should I return it? I kept wondering.

Markus and Natasha came back together.

"Who's jacket are you wearing?" Markus asked.

"I don't really know. Some guy came and told me he saw that I was feeling cold so he gave me his jacket and went away. He didn't even tell me his name."

"Probably a secret admirer?" Natasha said.

"I've never seen this guy in our school. What secret admirer?!"

I went back home and washed the jacket. I kept wondering who that guy was. It's like he has become a mystery to me.

The next day I carried the jacket with me to the school in case I bumped into him.

The class was excited as always. I went to my seat.

"Hey Austin, do you know that Nicholas is back." Naomi said

"Yeah, I know. I met him yesterday. He came to watch our rehearsals."

Nicholas? Is he the same guy who gave me his jacket? Even if he is the same guy, why would he do so? He doesn't even know me. And I don't know him so it doesn't make any sense.

"Hey Nicholas!" Alex screamed at the top of his lungs.

I turned around and saw him coming my way. He was the same guy who gave me his jacket!

He came nearer.

"Excuse me please." He said.

"Ye-Yeah" I moved away from his way.

"Hey Nicholas! Long time no see!" Naomi said.

"Yeah. How are you doing?"

"Great! I'm glad that you are back. You took a pretty long vacation huh!"

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"It's alright."

"Hey Naomi, who is he?" I asked her out of curiosity.

"Oh he is Nicholas Bonne. Our classmate."

"Oh but I've never seen him before."

"Yeah, that's because he took a leave from school right before you came."

"Oh..."

I looked at him. He was talking with Alex and Austin. I took out the jacket from my bag and went to him.

"Hey...Thanks for your jacket."

"It's alright. I just did what I had to."

"Thanks a lot. By the way, I'm Erica James. I transferred after you took your leave."

"Oh...I've actually heard about you from Austin."

"Oh.. that's great then."

"Yeah..."

There was an awkward pause between us.

"I'll get going then."

"Yeah sure."

And I came back to my seat.

I turned around to take a look at him but I found Markus staring at me. His gaze was confusing. I paid no attention and looked into my notebook.