Love and All that Jazz

The Rose Project

I bumped into Abe during lunch hour. I guess he's on a closing schedule like me today. He still had his mask on. It got me wondering if he still wore that thing while eating. Which is a very stupid thing to wonder, like, DUH, how could he possibly eat with that thing on? huh Ice? Get your thoughts right.

I guess it adds to all this mystery about him. Good way to get my attention dude. Even though you're not really trying to. Ouch.

This is Ma'am O's fault. If she didn't tease me I wouldn't be looking at Abe with my goo-goo eyes. I honestly hope I'm not. I hope he hasn't caught on that I've been looking at him a lot lately. Okay, I don't really use my goo-goo eyes on him (In public I guess). I just look at him..

Er.. when he's not looking.

Like, right about now. Yes. Yeah, Talk. Let me hear your voice. Better yet, just laugh instead.

He laughed. Woah--

It's like music to my ears. The guy really has such a nice laugh. I wonder why he's still single? He's got the most charming laughter ever!

As for me, I'm only single because of the past.

It keeps haunting me.

Rio.

Rio.

That name has been said over and over inside my head. I wonder how I haven't gone fed up with it yet. The heart is such a strange thing. How could it force you to remember that which you want to forget.

How many years have I been asking. How many times have I pondered over what went wrong. I've felt regret.. over and over again.

Why did it have to be him. I could have loved someone else. There were so many others. Why did you have to be the one Rio? Why you of all people. You were selfish. You were unkind. You broke me. Why did you look at me and tell me things that you didn't even mean. They were all lies. And I was blind.

I looked at Abe. I smiled underneath my face mask.

You have such a nice laugh.. but I don't want to be blind again.

Moments later, the hourly mall jingle bagan to ring. It's an indication for all the mall employees that another hour has passed by. It's like a code for us.

Abe walked past me and he went outside the selling area. Well, I guess it's time for work. I followed behind him and I noticed his broad shoulders. He was skinny but he looked quite fit. He was a head taller than me.

I like tall guys.

I remember Rio being the same height as me. Now I'm beginning to wonder why I even liked him. Which is happening quite a lot lately.

"Why do you even like him." Jome pouted his lips while looking at me. His eyebrows were raised. Clearly, he wasn't on Team Rio either. That makes both him and Haze now.

We were at Kevin's house. It was 8 in the morning and yes, I skipped class today. Along with Haze, Jome and Kevin. I figured I needed time away from school. I don't want to see Rio.

"I don't know how to answer that, Jome. Honestly." I answered softly as I fiddled with my long brown braids. Jome braided my hair a while ago. I admit it's really nice having a gay friend.

"Sigh" A sheer look of frustration etched on his face. He turned to look at Haze afterwards, who was just across the room.

Jome didn't say a word.. but I knew axactly what he meant. Out of the two. Haze would be the best choice.. and Rio?

Clearly he was bad news.

I knew that. I just don't believe it. I know that if I give it a bit more time, Rio will change. He will change for me.