Change of Heart

Chapter 12

Tristan

There was a long excruciating pause. I bit my lip and looked away. Damn! What the heck? Why am I feeling jitters? It was barely a kiss, if you ask me. No tongue action or anything, just lips barely touching. But I don't understand, why there is a suddenly weird fluttering sensation down my stomach.

The boy, whom I tried to scare awhile ago, probably witnessed what happened. He made a disgusted face and said in a really loud voice. "Mommy, did you see that? They kissed! Ew!"

"Shut up, kid!" I sneered at the kid and he squealed behind his mommy.

"Tristan!" Erica reprimanded me. She still seemed shaken. I guess I couldn't blame her. Knowing her type, she probably had never been kissed. Shit. Which meant that I was her first kiss? No way! Hahaha. First blood! The Dota background music reverberates in my head.

The kid's mother seemed to be amused. I think she had no plans on telling off her kid. The kid kept sneaking glances at me and sticking his tongue out when his mother is not looking. This kid was lucky because I don't hit children.

"Stop!" Erica called for a stop. She hinted for me to go down. I shot one last threatening look at the kid and I followed Erica off the jeep. Wow, at last I survived and we arrived in school unscathed.

"That was jeepney 101, brought to you by Ms. Erica Alcantara." I made a talk show host voice and Erica laughed, but she was avoiding my gaze and looking down mostly at the floor. Then, she rummaged her bag for my things. I wonder what's up with girls and their really large bags.

"Here you go." She handed me my cell phone and wallet. I stuffed them inside my pockets. Erica also produced from her purse my ring and necklace that I asked her to safe keep too.

I wore the necklace back again, but I couldn't seem to find any luck getting it to lock. I swivelled it around my neck but the lock would slip shot before it could even get hooked. Damn it! I cursed and threw the necklace on the ground.

"Tristan." Erica sighed while picking up the necklace and shaking her head reproachfully at me.

She tiptoed and I cowered. She tied the necklace on my neck. And there it goes again, that quivering sensation by the belly.

"Umm, Erica? About what happened in the jeepney..." I said, taking Erica's hands. I seemed to have surprised her and she withdrew her hand and looked away.

"Hahaha. We're going to be late." She forced a laugh as she walked away and I followed her. I couldn't help smiling at her sudden awkwardness towards me. I could tell she was affected because she was wobbling while she walked and her strides were too big, leaving me trailing behind. Her reaction was totally priceless compared to the girls I've once gone out with. Sometimes, I'd like to confirm whether or not she's a girl or a robot.

"Yo, Tristan, dude!" A loud and familiar voice called me from behind. Erica and I paused and turned towards the direction of the caller.

"Where's your dress, dude?" It was Dennis. He was crossing his arms and raising his eyebrows at me. His eyes suddenly fell on Erica. He stared at her for awhile without any hint of emotion and then he glanced back at me with his usual derisive smile.