Tatemae

Chapter 6 - To Do List

Sorry for the long wait guys, but anyways here's the new chapter.

I hope you like it. :)

*****

   I breathed heavily, as I was in my car at the parking lot of the school. I was not having a good day so far since I was up until 3 a.m. in the morning. And guess what made me up so late? Yep! I was just kept on thinking of the word "cute". Seriously? Cute? It was even just an inch above ugly. But damn! I was freaking blushing the whole night!

   And that my friend was definitely not a good sign.

   I laid my head on the steering wheel, debating if it was good to go in my classes today. Should I just drive my way back home? I turned to look at myself in the rearview mirror of my car. I could clearly see dark circles under my eyes.

   "Ugh..." I heaved a frustrated sigh as I opened my car door with my bag slung on my shoulder and slummed the door shut making sure it's locked before making my way into the school building.

   I was walking down the hallway towards my locker when I saw Mia already waiting for me. "Oh my god! What happened to you?" she asked wide eyed as I opened my locker.

   I rolled my eyes at her. "It's just an eye bag, it's not like I have a black eye so stop being a drama queen."

   She just chuckled at me. "Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

   "I just lack some sleep Mi, I was up so late last night and you know how I don't like it." I sighed while putting my book for first period inside my bag.

   "Yeah, I can clearly see that." She cringed. "But wait- that's a scoop. Who made Julianne the great up so late?" She inquired, amused.

   I shut my locker door and turned to face her and gave her a flat look. "Really? The great? Do I look like a legend to you?"

   "Well, you do as of the moment." She muttered under her breath.

   "I heard that." I said and frowned.

   She just laughs at me. "So what did your boyfriend do this time?" She asked.

   The frown in my face was immediately replaced with shock. "How did you know it's him?" I asked her in awe. "And he is not my boyfriend, ok? We are just pretending, pre-tend-ing."

   "Ooh, so you hate it that you're only pretending, I see." She stated, holding up her chin with her finger and nodding.

   "What? No!" I exclaimed, gaining a little bit of attention from the students in the hallway.

   "Oh, so you hate him?" she asked and quirked and eyebrow.

   "Yes." I answered.

   "No, why would you? No way!" she said, appalled.

   "Yes way." I said giving her my best smug look.

   "No."

   "Uhm...yes?"

   "No."

   "Yes." I don't know how long this yes or no argument but I won't definitely lose to her.

   You just don't want to admit that you don't hate him. I shook my head; it was not the right time for me think about this right now.

   "But you like him?"

   "Yes." I answered right away before I realized what she asks.

   "Gotcha!" She said, smirking at me.

   "No, that's not what I meant." I cleared.

   "Yeah, yeah, whatever makes you sleep at night." She said and grinned.

   "You tricked me!" I cried out.

   "No she didn't." A familiar voice said from behind me.

   I whipped my head too fast that I even heard a cracking sound. And sure enough, I saw Caleb leaning sideways on a locker beside mine.

   "How long have you been here?" I asked him wide eyed.

   "Long enough to hear you said you like me." He replied, smirking at me and gave me a wink.

   "No, I don't like you." I said in a blank look and turned to look at Mia. "And you-"I started pointing a finger at her. "-didn't even tell me that he was right behind me?" I asked incredulously.

   "I tried to, but you're so engrossed on arguing with me." She said, as she nervously smiled at me. "I-I need to go now, bye." She waved at me and before I could say anything she ran away.

   I glared at her retreating back. How dare she make fun of me? I am her bestfriend for Christ's sake!

   Yeah, like you didn't made fun of her about Matt too.

   Shut up you traitor mind!

   "Aww, don't blame her pumpkin, I just told her not to." Caleb said and I almost cringe when I heard the word pumpkin. Seriously though, I know I was the one who called him that, but couldn't he just forget about it? I was already starting to not like the word even the fruit itself.

   I turned to look at him. "What are you even doing here?" I huffed, putting my hands on my hip.

   "What? I just want to see my girlfriend." He said playing a serious look on his face but I could sense the teasing tone.

   I rolled my eyes at him. "In case you forgot-"I paused, looking around to see if there were other students in a hearing distance and when I saw that the hallway was already empty besides us, I looked at him -again. let me remind you that we are just pretending."

   "Ouch! And here I thought it was real." He said as he placed his hand in his chest as if he was hurt.

   A frustrated sigh escaped from my mouth. He really has a way to make my day the worst. "What do you want Caleb?"

   He just chuckled then smirked. "Well, I just want to give this paper to you." I saw him reached into his pocket and took a folded paper.

   I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at the paper he was holding as I didn't quite get why he was giving me a piece of paper. A love letter perhaps? Yeah, why would he give you a love letter? I mentally rolled my eyes. Thanks Captain Obvious.

   I reluctantly reached out my hand to get the paper. "You should be honored that I took my time just to write that." I heard him said sensing the playful tone in it. When I looked up, I saw him twitched his mouth into a smirk.

   I rolled my eyes at him as he said his goodbye and walk away. I immediately unfolded the paper to see what was inside. And as soon as I saw what was written, my jaw literally dropped from the ground. I scoffed, honored my ass!

   Caleb's slave to do lists:

1) Make his breakfast and dinner.

2) Clean his house whenever he ask to.

3) Grocery shopping.

4) Do his every homework.

5) Go to every party with him and be his designated driver.

6) Don't say the word NO to pumpkin.