To Astrid, With Love

10

Astrid

2006, January

"Heyyy!—woah did a bus hit you??" Krisha put her bag down on to her table and put both of her arms on her waist.

I looked up at her, obviously wrecked.

"No." I puffed,

"Girl, what did the holidays do to you?? Ever heard of sleep?" she cackled,

"Do I really look bad?" I asked,

"I mean.." she stopped lifted her arms, then forming a square with her fingers in front of me like she was taking a picture. "Let's just say you look like you didn't get what you wanted for your Christmas gift this year." said her, snapping her fingers right after.

"Pfft, I got myself a pair of striped socks. Quite stoked actually." I reclaimed, trying to make it seem like my holidays went very well.

"..Yeah, but how were things with Matt?" she asked,

"Hmm.. who?" I turned to her,

She rolled her eyes and repeated, "Matt, Matthew."

I rolled my eyes at her in response and corrected her, "Matthias."

"Whatever, Matthew, Matthias.. I want to know what happened." She demanded,

"Nothing." I shrugged, giving her an innocent look.

"What do you mean nothing?" she pressed on further,

"I mean..nothing, nothing happened." I shrugged, well it was technically true, nothing happened after our last encounter at the convenience store, the day before we left for Nana's.

"I though I gave you his number. I did, right??" she asked, inhaling sharply.

"Yes, yes you did." I nodded, "I just.."

"Nothing happened, really. I don't think something had to happen, you know." I chuckled awkwardly.

Krisha looked at me for a while before our teacher entered the room, forcing our attention to her. I gave Krisha one last shrug before diverting my eyes to the board. I did not have anything to tell her, anyway. Nothing happened between me and Matt, at least that of he knows. Instead, things happened all by myself. A lot of unanswered questions, curiosity, a little bit of hurt—but nothing really happened between the both of us, and I think it's better to be that way.

-

"Hey, do you want to hang out after class? My treat." Krisha nudged me from beside. I yawned and shook my head, "I'm feeling pretty sleepy today since we just got home earlier today from Nana's. I think I'll skip." I faintly smiled at her,

She pursed her lips and nodded, "Okay, get your beauty sleep then but you are going to regret it after I tell you how delicious the ice cream will be."

I grinned at her pettiness, "Ooh, I'd love to hear some of your stories about ice cream tomorrow, eh?"

She giggled and playfully slapped my arm.

"Ms. Carson and Ms. Evans, what's so funny over there?" Mr. Ginnie called us out.

We both shook our heads and mumbled our apologies as he went on to discussing again.

I lowly told Krisha, "Put in a good word for me with you stepdad, eh?"

She shook her head and laughed silently, "Shut up."

Class ended in a few minutes after the bell rang and I hurriedly stood up to collect my stuffs. Gosh, was I really sleepy today. I can't wait to come home and jump on the bed.