Echoes of a Silent Beat

Chapter 7: Reality Check

After yesterday's event, we found ourselves in Sir Jim's office, getting the certificates signed. While we were at it, he started teasing me about Lexie. "Why would you accompany her? Is she a freshman? Doesn't she know the campus?" he said with a smirk.

Then, his tone shifted to something more serious and curious. "Are you guys girlfriends?"

I shook my head. "No, it's just a one-sided crush."

Sir Jim's eyes lit up with support. "Court her! Go for it. She's not in a relationship right now."

His encouragement left me deep in thought. Later, while having lunch with Angel, Gab, and Mina, they all asked me about the gift—how I gave it to Lexie and everything that happened.

I recounted the story, saying, "After getting out of the venue, we went to the canteen, and there I handed her the gift. She thanked me and gave me a hug."

Mina and Gab both turned a shade of pink, their reactions showing a mix of surprise and excitement. Angel, on the other hand, looked genuinely shocked. Her reaction was intense, but I didn't dwell on it much, focusing instead on the supportive comments from my friends.

Later that afternoon, while talking to Sir Sanchez, Lexie came up again in our conversation. I found myself bragging about how I have our polaroid picture in my wallet and all the little things that had been giving me butterflies. Sir Sanchez, interested, asked, "What's your plan for her birthday? What are you going to give her?"

To my surprise, Angel suddenly reacted with a hint of agitation. "No need! She already gave Lexie something. It's going to be too much. You should slow down a bit," she said, her tone more forceful than I'd expected.

I was taken aback by Angel's reaction, feeling a mix of confusion and embarrassment. It wasn't my intention to overstep or make things awkward. Sir Sanchez raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the exchange. "Why? What happened?"

Angel, still looking concerned, jumped in. "She already gave Lexie a gift, both last Valentine's and for her birthday. That's enough. Don't do too much—you might end up getting hurt. She even hugged her, but why would she do that if she knows you have feelings for her? Unless Lexie likes you too, right? I just don't want you to be left hanging or hurt in the end."

Sir Sanchez nodded in agreement, adding, "Angel's right. You don't want to set yourself up for disappointment."

Their comments left me feeling more confused than ever. I hadn't expected such a strong reaction, and their concern made me question whether I was misreading the situation.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts before responding. "Look, I get where you're all coming from, but I'm not expecting anything from Lexie. I'm not setting my hopes high or anything like that. I'm just enjoying the moment and expressing myself wholeheartedly, without any expectations."

Angel's brow furrowed. "But you're putting yourself out there. It's easy to get hurt if you're not careful."

"I understand your concern, but it's not like that," I said, trying to stay calm. "I'm just being honest with my feelings and doing what I think is right. I'm not hoping for anything in return. I just want to be genuine."

Mina, who had been listening quietly, chimed in with a skeptical look. "Are you sure? It sounds like you're really invested."

"I am invested, but not in the way you think," I insisted. "It's about the experience and the joy of sharing something meaningful with someone I care about. I'm not trying to set myself up for disappointment."

Sir Sanchez looked at me thoughtfully. "Sometimes, our feelings can get complicated, even when we try not to let them. Just be careful with your heart."