Stone of Love

Chapter 15 - Would you take it as a joke?

While walking on the corridors with Dylan, on the way to the car, he asked me about Steve. 

"So you're getting along with him already?" he said 

I just nodded my head while smiling at him.

"Well he's nice and even though we're not yet that close I think he can be trusted. And one more thing I'm just very happy that I have a friend now. Aren't you happy for me?"

Dylan just looked at me. I looked at him but when our two eyes meet he swiftly looked down. I waited for him to answer back but unfortunately he's not.

"Sorry" I said

When we arrived at the parking lot Dylan opened the car door as always. I smiled at him and entered the car. During our way home, he's not saying any single word. Only the song at the radio was being heard because of our silence.

I don't know if there's something wrong I did. I keep on looking at him but he's just staring outside the car's window with his earphones on his ears. 

Suddenly he speak out.

"Ria.. you know I'm happy that you have a new friend in school but..."

He paused for a while and continued

"I am not comfortable with Steve. What if he's just planning something against you. What if he's just using you to get something? What if....."

"Dylan.. look.... Steve is a nice guy and I'm just helping him out with his girlfriend"

"Helping him out? Why don't he help himself since it's his problem?"

"Dylan! Please... as long as Steve is not doing something wrong against me, please don't say anything bad against him."

"Please Ria get away from him..."

"But..why?"

"I just want you back..." he uttered.

"Want me back? Dylan I'm still your friend...."

"No.. I want you back... Like before.. we eat together and during school breaks we roam around the school together..."

"Look... if that's what you want, it's fine with me. I will eat with you again and be with you during school breaks but I don't need to wipe Steve away. The three of us can eat together. I know you'll going to like him too..."

"Can you please stop saying his name?"

"Dylan! What's wrong with you? I don't know why you want me to get away from Steve."

"Ria! Just get away from him.. if you want I'll elp you find new friends... female ones..."

"Alright! So you want me to get away from him just because he's a male and I'm a female? Dylan!... I have the right to have male friends...."

"Just get away from Steve!"

"No I won't ...give me first a good reason why you don't want me to be friend with him!"

"I just don't want to!"

"Just because of that!?"

"No!"

"Then tell me!"

"Because..."

"What?"

"Because I like you!"

"What?"

"Yes Ria! I like you ever since we met in New York. And every single day I want to be with you but because of that man you're being taken away from me! At first I don't know why everytime I can see both of you eating together during breaks, I feel jealous. And everytime I could see the two of you laughing.. being happy.. I feel like I'm nothing because I can't think of a day that I make you laugh like he did. But I accept the fact that you don't feel the same way.. I's alright if you will choose Steve over me"

"Dylan......"

Both of us was in silence again after that conversation...just until we arrived home. Dylan went out from the car first. I didn't go out from the car and just stared at him. 

"Aren't you going out from there?" our driver asked

"I'm not until Dylan talk to me..." I answered while staring at Dylan. He continued walking through the door of our house. I though he'll really going to leave me but he looked back at the car and walked back.

He walks right in front of me grabbing hold of my hand. I was pulled away out from the car, with Dylan's hands grasping mine tightly.

"Let's go!" he said

"Dylan your grasp hurts" I answered

After I tell him it hurts, he lets go and stops walking.

"Oh sorry" he said

He turns away and blushes. I look at him and smile, then gently grab his hand and begin to walk, tugging him along.

"I'm sorry Dylan. I promise you tomorrow.. your friend, Ria will be back!" I said while still tugging him along. Dylan let go and asked

"Really? but I thought Steve is your friend?" he asked once more

"Forget it.. if having him as my friend will make me lost you..."

"Thank you Ria"

Dylan answered back, came forward and embraced me.

"Dylan I have to tell you something."

He remove the clasped of his arms around me and asked me what is it.

"If I told you that I like you too, would you take it as a joke?"

Dylan smiled and I can say that it's the best smile I saw on him ever since we met. He hugged me once more and the two of us entered the house.