Stumbling Over Love | ✓

Chapter 12

_Chapter 12~ Friendship_

There was only two things I could do under these circumstances.

A) Wait to get chewed out (and possibly die) by the stranger who knew my name.

Or b) Flee the fastest my feet could take me and hope that she wouldn't run after me.

The latter was leaning more in my favour, but the thought that I actually had to run made me a little reluctant. I already exercised enough today. Besides, where would I even run? I didn't want to get myself lost...

The girl in front of me tapped her foot impatiently, glowering in such a hostile way, as if waiting for me to say something. I couldn't form the words and my focus shifted onto a puzzled Ryu from beside me. He was watching this all happen, eyes going back and forth.

"As if I wouldn't recognize you," the girl spoke before long, folding her arms across her chest and staring me down even harder. "You're a mess, too." Her face scrunched up sourly. "And is it me or does it stink?"

My face flushed in sudden embarrassment. I sniffed quickly to affirm her words but a scent didn't fill my nose. The only explanation was that I had grown used to it. My blood ran cold. That meant that I stunk like garbage, right? Well, I was picking up trash for hours so it made sense, but... I was so close to Ryu while talking to him. Did he smell me? Was he secretly disgusted?

My stomach churned. So I looked like an absolute mess and smelled like garbage too? Ugh. I was so ashamed right now.

"You do know that you owe me, right?" the girl asked aloud while I was basking in my own humiliation. Her eyes were wide, expectant for an answer.

I shook my head feebly, not being able to find it in me to raise my voice. I owed her? For what? Who the heck even was this girl?

The distant sound of an engine reached my ears. My eyes lit up instantly, whipping my head back. As if to prove I was right, the bus did come down the road. My hands instantly clicked the home button of my phone. Thirty minutes had passed! Yes! I swivelled my body around, getting my pass ready.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!"

The bus came to a stop right in front of me. I spared the girl a quick glance. She was charging at me. Paling, I fled into the bus, holding up my pass and quickly darting to a seat.

"Where's your money or pass, girl?"

"I-I don't have, but—"

"Please leave, then. I have to get going."

"I know, but—"

"I will call security!"

My eyes briefly made contact with the girl by the doorway looking absolutely exasperated. Her look immediately shifted to anger.

"Just give me a the cops!"

My heart stopped as she attempted pushing past the bus driver who was blocking her. My head dropped as I tried to hide myself behind the person sitting in front of me. What did that girl want from me? Thank God I didn't stay out there. Who knew what she would've done. The bus was safer.

It wasn't long before the bus driver managed to get the girl to leave the bus. I exhaled in relief, leaning back in my seat. The chatter in the bus rose to my ears and I felt uncomfortable due to all of the boring stares in my direction. I quickly brushed them aside. The plus side about buses was that there typically wasn't anyone you knew on them so you didn't have to worry about anything after you were embarrassed.

The sudden rap against the glass jolted me. My heart skipped a beat and wide-eyed, I shifted my gaze to the window. The girl's face was pressed against it, giving me a heart attack. I lurched away as she mouthed something to me, holding up her finger and sliding it across her throat as if to say I was dead to her. Blanching, I avoided her eyes. The bus took off right away, most likely because he was irked at just how persistent this crazed girl was.