The HOE Code

Chapter Nine

The wallowing tube light was counting its last breath as I buried my nose inside a copy of the weekly magazine in a Public Library in Weston. Why? Because the boy, whose name I still don't know agreed to talk only when we spend some time together. I can still smell the grass in my hair, even after the hundredth affirmation from him that I looked 'fine'. Either he is a shitty liar, or a selectively blind oaf, because one, two...ah, twenty people! Twenty damn people in the library have turned around to see how epic of a clown walked in, dressed in an oversized black dress with wisps of grass in her hair.

"Mommy! There's Maleficent in the library!" I heard a young boy, no more older than Gina, walk in with a middle aged lady, his mother, pointing his finger at me!

"Shush. Don't scream, Jonnah!" His mom took him by arm before carrying him all the way up, no where near my vicinity.

"What the fuck! You told me I looked fine!" I whined, as Mr. Black eyes shifted his gaze from the hardback of 'The Catcher in the Rye' to me.

"You do look fine!" He scowled, putting the book aside as he rose from his chair. I followed.

"See, I told ya I wanted to talk. And this...is not working!" I said, standing right in front of him before he turned into the next aisle.

"Aren't we talking?" He said, and I narrowed my gaze at him.

"Are you kidding me? I have questions. You are not entitled to answer, but, I followed you all the way here! Give me some credit!" I wailed, leaning against the bookshelf as he cocked his head.

"Well, you followed me because your boyfriend left you helpless on the grounds. And two. You just wanted to follow me. Didn't you?" He said, biting his lip ring and my eyes nearly popped out. Boyfriend?

"Whoa whoa. Wait a sec." I said, waving my arms dramatically.

"He is not my boyfriend. And I just wanted to talk with you." I cleared my throat, watching him walk closer. The spicy scent of his deodorant barged in my nostrils, and I was taken aback by the intrusion.

"Well, what do you want to ask?" He leaned in, as his voice felt a little husky. Is he alright?

"Are you like... stalking me? Did someone pay you?" I asked. As if he is going to answer it right! Just where have I left my brain? Never mind, it still might be worth a shot. What if?

"I am not stalking you. No one paid me!" He said, looking annoyed.

"Why were you watching me then? And the other day, at the dorm?" I raised my brow, and he scratched the back of his head.

"Coincidence. It was a coincidence. I was visiting my...friend. I just overheard your conversation." He said, shifting in his sneakers.

"You could have just said so a long time ago!" I scrunched my nose, cursing myself silently. What a great job I have done in making a fool of myself!

"Where would be the fun in that!" He chuckled, placing one his hand beside my ear as I stood with my back against the bookshelf.

"What do you mean?" I asked, and he looked straight into my eyes.

"Go figure." He whispered, and I felt my heart pulsating. The radiating warmth of his presence was making me dizzy.

"Umm. Would you like to-like- tell your name, at least?" I find it hard to get the words out when he took another close stance.

"Gus." He said, as his Adam's apple quaked.

"Gus as in 'disgusting' or something?" I uttered. Fuck.

"So, you can be mean too?" He shot me a smile, his eyes a little darker. Am I hallucinating? Are the antidepressants fucking me up?