My Words Are Law

Neighbors (3)

"You certainly made it obvious, now..." Samantha muttered under her breath, but everyone heard her, including the sarcasm seeping through the dead air after Chryses' declaration.

"For real, bro?" Tobias straightened his back as he leaned closer to the table.

Chryses nodded as he took another bite of the cake.

"Since when?" Mia excitedly asked.

"Last year," Chryses answered.

"Woww... That's a long time." Mia glanced at Amaryllis to gauge her reaction. She didn't look happy or sad. She does look shocked, however, a look of incredulity flashed in her eyes as she stared at Chryses.

"Yes. I realized very late, and I regret not taking action."

At Chryses' additional words, Amaryllis looked more and more incredulous. She soon laughed mechanically before abruptly standing.

"A moment, guys. I'll talk with Chryses for a bit." Amaryllis didn't wait for anyone to answer before dragging along the seemingly love-struck fool, who gave a silly smile after looking at Amaryllis' hand that grabbed his jacket.

"Is this the thing between them that you're asking Amaryllis a while back?" Mia quickly asked as soon as the two people were out of earshot.

Samantha sighed, then shook her head. "I don't know. I'm only guessing, as well."

"Hey, it's obvious. From the moment I laid eyes on Chryses, I could immediately tell he likes Amaryllis." Tobias shook his head at the two girls, seemingly pitying their lack of observation skills.

"What makes you say that?" Samantha asked.

He readily raised his pinky finger. "First of all, his line of sight is always consistent."

"What does that mean?" Mia asked.

"He's always looking at Amaryllis." Raising his ring finger, he continued, "He chose to sit on the table with us at school during lunch. That says a lot for a guy who has a lot of options."

By this time, both Mia and Sam are listening attentively. Especially when he began to narrate number three, "Lastly, he always looks relieved at the rare times when Amaryllis relaxes in his presence."

Samantha and Mia glanced at the pair at a distance before returning their eyes to Tobias, who was grinning. "You can't deny that, can you?"

"Huh." Samantha looked at Mia. "Looks like you got your answer."

"Although... Amaryllis doesn't really like him..." Mia bit her lips anxiously as she sneaked another glance at her friend. They were talking outside, but the two of them could be seen through the full-length glass window of the cafe.

"She seems okay with him now, though?" Tobias muttered. "Look at her face. Rather than a constipated expression, she just looks dumbfounded. I bet she didn't expect that sudden confession."

Samantha laughed, catching the childhood friends off guard. "What?" Both looked at her oddly.

"No- Well... That constipated expression-" Samantha laughed again. "Sorry-" She waved her hand and laughed again, this time more loudly. "I just- It was just so on point-" And she continued to laugh.

"I'm sorry...-Ahahahahaha!"

"I can't believe you'd laugh at something as dry as that..." Mia looked aghast as she sent a disgusted look towards her gloating childhood friend, Tobias.

"Can't you see? You're the one with the dry humor here." He shrugged as he leaned back while opening his palm towards Samantha, who was still in hysterics. "I think your friend very much agrees with me."

A disapproving look was cast to Samantha's direction. Still, the girl was too busy wiping tears of joy to notice Mia's pained defeat.