How Do Jerks Say Goodnight? (Completed)

Epilogue

Author's note:

This is gonna be a bonus chapter that tells us the closest description of how Siri is doing now. So, let's keep movin'.

Happy reading.

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"I so love the sound when Mrs. Penny knows how to shut up." I told Alex while we were walking down the hall to the library.

"New teacher?" Alex looked at me like she could get an answer by looking at my face.

"Mrs. Penny? HOME Club Adviser?"

Finally, her face showed recognition. "Oh, Mrs. Two-Face. So what did Mrs. Pham do that my sweet Siri suddenly trash talked about her?"

"Hey, everyone calls her Mrs. Penny." I felt guilty by calling her names but it couldn't be helped when she asked me do errands which, by the way, included buying her snacks at the cafeteria! What a lazy bum! Oh my, she really got on my nerve.

"Hahaha... sucks! Of all teachers, you really picked the name of Mrs. Pham? That must be fate." She said the last word in a sing-song and kept laughing at my "bad luck" when I told her about my crazy moments with Mrs. Penny. HOME Club held a volunteer activity and encouraged us to play the role of teacher's aide for two days during study break. The committee decided to assign each member by draw lots. And the rest was history. Ugh.

"Mrs. Pham is Mrs. Pham after all, always pms-ing. Come to think of it. At least, you got an excuse to see him on your study break while assisting Mrs. Pham on their class. Isn't that kinda romantic?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Actually, Alex, don't freak out ok? Last week he... he said he likes me." She stopped on her track and thanks to my quick reflex, I covered her mouth in time before she turned hysterical.

"Oh my freakin' gosh. Siri is a big girl now." She was flabbergasted, sure. "And then?"

"I implied that I like him, too." I knew I was blushing as I squeaked those words.

"Implied? Girl, you should have been more straight forward."

"I think he got it. But..."

"But? Why is there a but?"

"But we haven't progressed. Yet."

"Ugh I don't know from what era the two of you live."

"Alex, please hear me out. Let's get real. I'm not as confident and strong as you." I stared at the far end of the hallway, my mind getting hazy, until I saw his tall figure, his dark unruly hair, and his warm smile.

My first take on supposedly love? Remember? My stupidity and rushed actions brought only sad memories. This time, I wanted to be 100% sure about my feelings for him.

"I want to get to know the Billy who is a boy, not a baseball player and a student of Keyence High."

"Which means... you want to start this unlabeled relationship of yours as... friends?"

I nodded in silence as I never tore my eyes from the boy approaching us. "So that if we finally decided to progress our relationship but failed, we would get back to where we started." Alex looked at me incredulously. I just... smiled.

"Hi, Alex."

I continued the thoughts in my head.

Friends, not Strangers.

"Siri..." And he flashed me the most sincere and warmest smile I'd ever seen on the planet. No. There were no crazy butterflies in my stomach. No Disney-like fireworks show in the background. Neither any weird oxygen-depleting reaction in my system.

I simply saw a boy in his school uniform with all his flaws and imperfections magnified at my field of vision yet I found them lovable.

You don't have to tell me. I am... crazyyyy.

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Love is more than a happy feeling, a mutual one. It is chaotic and will always tread the path towards chaos. You're both doomed to lose control and  perspective thereby end up hurting each other. Real love doesn't end in happily ever after. Real love is a never ending story of commitment, constantly trying and struggling to prove to yourself that it's worth fighting for.

Good night, everyone.