Tia Jefferson: Absent.
Absent.
Absent.
I read that word over and over again. Then again, again and again.
That bastard made a fool of me. I kept staring at that one paper of the attendance sheet.
"Hey", the girl beside me gets me out of my head.
"Yes?" I turn my head to her.
"You need to pass the attendance sheet." She points to my hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
I quickly sign and pass it to her.
It's my fault. I shouldn't have done something like that.
Maybe he didn't get my note?
Uh, what the fuck am I even doing?
I should just forget about it already.
.
.
.
I left the class after the lecture ended. Priya was waiting for me outside. We're friends but we don't sit together in lectures. So the one who gets out first waits for the others.
"Where's Nana?" I ask her after not seeing her anywhere.
"She got a call from someone and went somewhere she told us to wait at the entrance."
"Sure, let's go.", I say with a soft smile.
We were walking in silence. We both don't talk much when it's only us. But it's not awkward. She minds her business and I mind mine.
Then she says something. But I don't listen. I'm in my own head. Having unnecessary thoughts.
"Hey, are you listening?", she asks when she notices I'm not paying attention.
"Yes, I am listening. You were talking about a guy."
Woah. How did I know that again?
This happens sometimes. I can hear but I won't listen. But since I can hear it, it somehow goes in my mind.
She nods and starts again.
"So I was saying, this guy changed his stream from arts to science. CS at that too."
"Now? When half of the semester is over and we're already in 12th?", I question in surprise.
"Yes! And there's more! It was last month during our exams and he gave them too!", she says excitedly.
"My my! Must be a genius."
Opps. That elegance came by mistake. Blame all those historical webtoons I read at night.
She looks at me weirdly and starts again.
"I wonder who that is. How will he manage to give the boards?"
"Who knows. He must've already prepared for them..."
We've almost reached the entrance when Priya spots Nana.
"There she is.", she says smiling.
Hmm. I'm the unwanted one here, huh? Who cares. It's not like I asked them to walk with me. It was Nana. And I can't refuse since I get my notes from them.
Nana was talking to someone. A boy. He was facing Nana so all I could see was his back.
Nana noticed us approaching and smiled at us.
We've almost reached them when the boy turns around.
I see his shoes first. Cause I'm always looking at the ground.
He's wearing black shoes.
He's wearing stylish clothes. All from famous brands. That denim blue baggy jeans. A white shirt and a knitted black sweater. I never thought this combination would look good on someone. Oh, and that red cap which he's----
I saw his eyes. Unknown yet familiar.
That mix shade of grey and blue.
I stop in my tracks.
His eyes are also on mine. And they're sparkling. Probably from the sun.
He looks bored. Uninterested. His expression is telling me his wasting his time just ny looking at the sight of me.
I don't move. I don't move at all. I'm surprised by how motionless I can be.
I flinch a little when Priya nudges my hand.
There was a heavy silence between all of us. The Nana breaks it.
"Hey, meet our new friend here.", she says, smiling.
"He's our new member of EVS group. He just transferred from a different stream so let's help him as much as we can."
"Hi. I'm Cade.", he says as he offers me his hand.
Even though Priya is standing right next to him and I'm standing next to her.
I shake his hand but I don't smile. "Tia. Tia Jefferson."
I don't like people who don't say their surname with their name while introducing themselves. But that does not seem to be the case with this guy.
Then he says, "My friend is waiting for me. I'm sorry but let's talk later."
He says very camly, I'm almost mad.
"You have my number so please add me in the group.", he gives Nana a soft smile and walks away.
It may look like he asked Nana to do that for him but he really just ordered her.
He didn't even offer his hand to Priya.
That's messed up.
Nana won't even know she was disrespected just now. And here she is, smiling like a baby.
"He just ordered you, Nana. Stop smiling.", I tell her in a stern voice.
"He did?" She asks innocently.
We both nod.
This actually why she puts my mood off. She's innocent yet she doesn't like me. It doesn't feel great.
Then we walk away.
