Her Princess Charming

U-turns and Crossroads

Days passed when I saw her again in debate.

Louie wasnt in so I sat next to Juliana on the last row of chairs at the back.

'Heyyy, where have you been lately?' I asked her. Her eyes were unusually.. Sad. With dark circles under.

'Nothing. Umm. I have been very busy lately.' She smiled weakly.

'Oh. Been having good sleep?' I asked worriedly.

She has been in every dream I had for the past nights but in every dream, I couldnt go near her. It was like some invisible shield kept me away from her. And I kept running after her again and again but there was Allen pulling me back. I find it crazy.

'Not really. Ive been in the hospital for three days.' She looked at the band-aided puncture on her hand where the dextrose was placed. I felt hurt and worried for her.

'Ohmygod why?' I quickly held her hand in mine trying to get a better look of it but she winced at my touch so I put her hand down gently. 'Sorry. What happened to you?'

'Heart problems can really be a pain in the ass.' She laughed sarcastically. It stung.

I fell silent. She has a heart problem like me.

I wonder if we have the same condition but I didnt budge. It seems like she doesnt want me to press the subject anymore so I opened my bag to look for something to make her smile.

'Marshmallows.' I held the whole pack of marshmallows to her face intentionally. 'I bet you like em.' I winked and she laughed. Traces of sadness drained down her face.

'Oh gosh, how'd you know?' She asked with a wide grin.

'Saw you eating them the first time I met you. At debate. I think you ate 3 packs.' I laughed.

'Actually 4.' She smiled timidly.

'Oh hell no!' I laughed harder.

'Dont tell me you were observing me.' She blushed.

'Umm, a bit? Cause you were new and I wanna know how you do your thing. Debate, I mean.' I blabbered. I think that was a pretty good excuse. Man, I almost got caught. Wait, was I observing her? Why?

'Okay.. Valid answer.' She giggled. I rolled my eyes while giggling with her as I ripped open the marshmallow package.

'Im glad it is.' I said. I dont know if this could be called flirting because damn I have no idea why we feel awkward sometimes.

And sometimes I just cant stop thinking about Allen. How he's doing, if he's happy. I cant help it sometimes.

And I dont know if Im attracted to Juliana or if she's gay too. I dont know.

We debated and ate marshmallows and laughed and I wondered why I hadnt met her earlier.

Another week passed and we got closer. Every debate we were together with Louie who never stopped making us laugh with his silly jokes and remarks.

It felt almost as if they were my bestfriends though I got really closer to Juliana as a matter of fact.

Ive never been so happy since the weight of the world fell upon me.

Just this time again. But Im afraid this happiness will be short-lived. Like all other things in life.

-

At dismissal I was walking down the stairs to the ladies restroom when I saw Paulene walking up. I quickly averted my gaze from her, landing it on Carina who was holding hands with her.