Enchanted

Chapter 16

Sabrina

Falling in love is like letting curiosity lead you into wandering a void that contains nothing and everything at the same time. It triggers fear whenever you take a step forward but no part of you considered going backwards. You are self-conscious of your actions that might lead to another misery but your heart finds no reason to stop. You are willing to go against all odds and allow every fibre of your body to experience this new sensation, whether it is a free fall into a pitch-black abyss or floating like fluffy clouds in the sky.

Days pass like a gush of wind and it was already midweek.

"My air conditioner broke down yesterday and the sweaty night felt endless," Nicolette complained. I gave her a half-smile because I didn't know what to say. Maybe because I was barely paying attention and I didn't want to say the wrong thing.

"See you during recess, okay?" Nicolette patted my shoulder before leaving for chemistry class. She didn't need reassurance because she knew my answer. I closed my locker before scurrying down the hall to my next class which will begin in 5 minutes.

When you're in love, it is like living in the spring season. A season between winter and summer. A season when the golden sunshine and mist-like rain bless the rich brown soils and awaken the seeds after being dormant for months. Hosts of daisies bloom in the glade-green meadows and hordes of dandelions dance along with the wind.

Every time my phone rings with a new notification, I felt like a hatchling coming out of an egg and experiencing the breeze that touches my featherless skin and the bright light that tingles my unopened eyes for the first time. The name Cedric appears when the blue light on my phone screen glow.

Cedric: Feeling unstable like an atom because I got my ion you.

"Sabrina, no phone in class," Mr Cooper reminded me before continuing to write the math equation on the whiteboard. "Sorry," I quickly set my notification into silence mode and hid my grin behind my deadpan face.

Me: Didn't actually think you would reply to my text during your super-important chemistry class.

The message was 'seen' the moment I sent it out. I could feel my heart pounding to the rhythm of the word 'typing' that wriggled under his name and disappeared.

A blue bubble appeared on the left side of the screen.

Cedric: Oh no, did I fail your test? I'm sorry for using my phone in class, Ms Chen.

Me: Apology rejected because you passed the test lol. Now focus and I will share my electrons with you :)

I did not take up chemistry classes after moving to South Lake High School because it appeared to be a burden than an interest to me. I still have some chemistry knowledge but it will wear off someday and I will not remember learning it before.

"Coming over later?" Nicolette asked as she opens her lunchbox which was filled with potato salad. "Actually, no." I took a sip of my apple juice from the box and said, "I will be going out with Cedric."

"Where to?"

"I don't know, he doesn't want to tell me."

I may have expected Nicolette to say 'Enjoy your date' or 'Have fun' or 'Sounds exciting' but she nodded and kept quiet the entire time.

"I'm sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you, okay?"

"Sab, what are you sorry for? I'm not mad at you. Just be happy with whatever choice you made, okay?"

You are not mad, you are sad. I kept the words in my heart because I don't want this conversation to end up being an unnecessary argument.

His black Fort sat in the middle of the school parking lot, reflecting the afternoon sun into my eyes. Cedric caught me squinting my eyes from the side so he walked in front of me. His long shadow cast on the tar road immediately took all the heat away from my body as I kept my head down and quickened my footsteps to catch up with his pace to the car.