Miss Make-Believe

Chapter 3

“Are you sure you want to give up your dress and shoes?” I asked Suzanne doubtfully. Both of our eyes were goggled on Noel and May, who were giggling and having a great time together in the cafeteria. Begrudgingly, I shifted my eyeballs from them to Suz who was smiling at me knowingly. Seeing her grin at my pained expression, I snatched a grilled cheese sandwich from her tray and squeezed it brutally in such a way that very soon, cheese and veggies were coating my fingers and palm like a moisturiser. Suz’s nose scrunched in disgust and she shook her head at me.

“Hey! Can I sit here?” It was Mauel who had asked me that question. I managed to suppress my volcanic anger and nodded at him, smiling. He sat down beside me instantly, thanking me in return.

He looked at my dirty hand and interrogated dubiously. “Shouldn’t you be eating that?” I also gazed down at my hand and shivered in repulsion. “Umm…Yeah! But, I don’t like grilled sandwich, you know.” He raised his eyebrows at me, telepathically notifying me that my lame answer wasn’t helping him at all. I looked at Suz for help but she shrugged her shoulders and backed off, saying that she was craving something sweet. Standing up, she excused herself and walked away toward the extensive a la carte line.

I sighed, defeated and eyed Manuel who wasn’t looking at me now. But, I found him smiling though and I was sure he was mentally mocking me. Not bothering to snap at him, I simply asserted. “Cheese is a really good moisturiser, you know.” This time, he laughed while I winced at the musical sound. Extending my hand out for him to touch, I elucidated. “I mean, touch it once. It’s so soft now.” His hazel eyes scrutinized my filthy hand and I wiggled my fingers at him for the effect, trying to make it look appealing.

Manuel cleared his throat and denied thoughtfully. “No thanks! I can see how soft they are anyway.”

I beamed at him cheerfully. He could’ve got rude, insulted me and sauntered away right at that second. But he chose to be polite about everything and handled the situation well. “Thanks for not being rude about it.”

“Why would I be rude about it?” He questioned vaguely while eating French fries.

“I don’t know! Usually most people run away in disgust. You handled it pretty well.” He laughed again, not looking at me but at his French fries.

“Well, I’m not most people then.”

I nodded my head in accession. “You’re not!” I kept staring at him for a minute or two, dumbfounded. Probably afflicted by my glance, he shifted in his seat and looked up at me quizzically. I shook my head, pulling myself out of my reverie and breathed deeply before asking, “So are we friends now?”

His eyes raked all over my face with an intensified gaze and I had to hide the want to squirm under his scrutiny. “I guess!” His eyes shone in agreement.

Despite the powerful stare contest, my own eyes gleamed in mirth and my lips twitched in a smirk. I stuck my cheese and veggie clad hand out for him to shake. Amazement crawled within me as he took it gently and shook it, chuckling simultaneously. “You’re a piece of work, you know that?” I remarked.

He shook his head in denial. “No, you’re a piece of work.” He countered easily, his voice containing traces of faint laughter.

We pulled our hands away and then, decided to exit the cafeteria to head toward the respective washrooms so as to wash our hands. While we were exiting the place, the cursed cat made us halt in our steps. May’s cunning eyes were trailing up and down Manuel’s body, making him stiffen next to me. Her hands crosses across her chest and a devilish smirk was pasted on her glossy lips, telling me that nothing good was going to happen in the next few minutes. In fact, all I wanted to do was flee.