For What It's Worth

Chapter 8

"Why'd you hit pause?" I asked Milo before he stood to grab his phone which he left charging on his bedside table.

I was at his house again on a Saturday  afternoon since he invited me over for video games. His dad was away golfing with office mates, while his mom was downstairs having a chat with my mom and some other college friends.

Milo lazily sat on the sofa, his phone on one hand while he grabbed on to the controller with the other.

"You and Ken, huh?" He started. I looked at him confused.

"Me and Ken?" I had an eyebrow raised, until I caught on to what he said. I facepalm upon remembering what happened at the library yesterday.

Milo caught the two of us before I could even give  a response to Ken's question. He wanted me to be his girlfriend. I still have no idea what to say to him.

"I couldn't sleep well last night thinking about it. Why was his hand on top of your hand? And the way he looked at you. It was sincere and sweet," he spat.

A smile tugged on the corner of my lips. I couldn't help but think of the fact that maybe he was jealous when he saw us like that.

Maybe his heart finally snapped and he finally realized he secretly had feelings for me.

"What about it?" I replied, acting casual, though my heart was becoming hopeful.

"Well, after pondering about it last night... I realized maybe it's a good thing."

My heart that was rising for joy, crashed down. "Huh?"

He placed his phone down, and reached for the soda that was on the small table in front of the couch.

"Ken seems like a nice guy. If you two end up together, I'd be okay with that," he said, raising the can in the air as if giving a cheers.

I gasped a bit, as I felt my heart metaphorically skipped a beat. My grip on the controller loosened, and my eyes went to a distant stare.

Once again, I had my hopes up. I never learn my lesson. When will I stick in this brain of mine the fact that Milo won't, and will never, see me the way I wanted him to see me.

"So, if we date, you'd support that?" I asked him, no hint of energy or joy in my voice.

He took a sip of his soda. "Yeah. If you're going to date a guy, I want it to be him. It's better than seeing you end up with some jerk in school."

My heart sulked. I whimpered. I wanted to cry but I forced myself not to, otherwise he'd just ask why.

He grabbed for his phone again when a notification lit his screen. After scanning his phone, he let out a sudden chuckle.

I, on the other hand, was still on the verge of getting completely shattered. I was still hurt. My mind was wandering off elsewhere. I just wanted Milo's maroon-colored floor to transform into lava, then I would jump on it and let it burn me alive.

Milo tapped me on the shoulder. "Yo, Alex take a look at this."

He showed me his phone's screen. My eyes rolled to his phone, but I wasn't focusing on the picture flashing on the screen. Everything I look at, appeared blurry and it's probably because of the tears slowly brimming my eyes.

"You know that new kid? Uh--" he was snapping his fingers trying to recall the name.

"Spencer," I said nonchalantly.

"Yeah that. Look at the photo."

I wiped the tears brimming on my eyes before I focused my sight on Milo's phone.

"The new kid finally did something," he uttered. He sounded more of astonished.

I held his phone and stared at the photo. It was Spencer with a can of spray paint. He was doing a graffiti on a wall, which judging from the premise, was obviously the back of the school.

It was a candid shot of him drawing a caricature of, what seemed to be, the face of Principal Gibson with a cartoon-ish curvy female body in a bikini.

Milo took another peek on his phone, which I was still holding, and chortled again.

"That Spencer guy is something. If Principal Gibson sees this, he'd be so mad," he said, wiping the tears of amusement off the corners of his eyes.

I tried to laugh as well, even though I didn't feel like doing it. I just couldn't feel anything right now. My entire senses was numb.

The reason would always be the same. I've grown tired trying to acknowledge it.

Maybe agreeing to date Ken would be the perfect solution to move on. Yes. That's what I should do. A distraction is what I need.

"D-do you still want to play?" I questioned, forcing not to crack my voice.

"Nah. I'm hungry. Wanna go out and grab a bite?"

I nodded, propping my legs up to stand.

"I'll just go get changed."

Without any warning, I caught Milo taking his shirt off. I wasn't prepared for the view. His body was indeed well-structured. It was no surprise since he gets enough exercises during his basketball practice.

Also, puberty hit him good.

He was rummaging for a shirt in his closet, while I was left gawking at his physique.

He won't be mine.

He won't be mine.

He won't be mine.

I kept repeating those phrases inside my head.

"Let's go. Oh and--" he paused to yank out a jacket from his closet then tossed it to me. I caught it with a puzzled look.

"--wear that around your waist. The shorts you're wearing is too short. Wouldn't want perverts staring at my best friend's ass," he snorted.

I rolled my eyes before tying the sleeves of the jacket around my waist. It was indeed big enough to cover what needs to be covered on my behind.

I turned around and walked towards the door. Before my hand could touch the doorknob, a hand slapped on my jacket-covered butt. I flinched and let out a surprised squeal.

"Milo!" I squeaked, punching him in the chest. He just laughed and apologized.

"Sorry. Couldn't help it," he sneered, forming a V-sign with his fingers. I rolled my eyes again, and punched him harder on the abs.

We walked down the stairs, where we caught up with our mothers in the living room. Their friends were also there.

"Where are you two going?" Milo's mom asked us with a teasing grin.

Milo grabbed me by the arms and pulls me close to him. "We're going out. You girls have some fun," he replied with a wink.

"Damn Mary. You're son is so charming," one of our mom's friend commented with a giggle. His mom agreed proudly.

"Who would have thought your kids would end up together," another one of their friends also chirped.

I blushed. Milo and I were still at the door, so I was able to hear what they were saying.

"How I wish they would," I recognized my mom's voice was the one who spoke.

Before I could hear any more of their conversation, Milo had already hauled me out of the house.

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