parallel lines | ✓

18

SHE TURNS HER head slightly and through her strands she sees his face grasping her eyes. Their gazes lock. A feeling simultaneously heats up in their chests. The beholding continues. Her mouth goes parched, opening to regain breath. Her tongue licks its way around the corners of her lips, feeding her craving. He doesn't look away. The thought of those lips, pressed against his own lips, teases his will power. He snaps his glance away, realizing his breathing was heavy. Feeling unruly, he looks back, to see she is catching hers too. A devious smile scrapes over his face, knowing she feels the same.

I continued observing Daelan and Harriett's unspoken tension, my mind bursting with doubts. Why was Harriett leading him on? Was it because of what I did? Did she intend to throw him off track so Ramona would fault me? Or did she realize her mistake of breaking the girl code, and decided to do us a favor by revealing Daelan's true colors? Years of knowing Harriett, yet I still can't comprehend her.

"Your first audition?" Daelan asked Harriett once their staring contest drew to an end. We were in line to audition for a skit, set to be displayed for the annual graduation ceremony.

Ramona was fortunate enough to shield herself from this unholy sight, having the advantage of being an assistant to the staffs in charge; she wasn't required to audition and she gets to run simple errands in the campus, just another reason why I want to switch lives with her.

"Yeah, never had experience in acting. Well, unless you consider acting kind to your frenemies; I'm an expert at that." Harriett smiled. Her teeth gleamed at him like gemstones, and he appeared captivated by the beauty of her smile. "So do you mind giving me some tips?"

"Anything for you, my love." Daelan returned her smile. But it wasn't a genuine; he grinned from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat, exposing his alternative motives. "First, you relax." He dropped his words, while his hands found themselves on Harriett's shoulders, descending to the tip of her fingers.

"Daelan, I see you've become the playboy type." She spoke, swatting his touch away. But I didn't buy the act. Her hands may have rejected his embrace but her eyes expressed a different story; Daelan has indeed become her next target and she'd risk anything just for him to be hers, much like how she obtained Neptune.

My choices were now more complex than ever. I had two paths; one in which I report to Ramona about her boyfriend's insincere encounter. By my persuasion, she'd likely break up with him but it may also result in her realizing Marven was a better fit and cause a possible reunion for them. Two: I could convince Harriett to stay away from Daelan. Ramona would be contented with the life she has, and Marven would remain untouched. The chances of things working out for Marven and me would be high, but then again, so are the chances of Marven being Harriett's next conquest.

High school sucks.

I continued playing out the scenarios of my decisions until Daelan's sudden utterance snapped me back to reality. "And Harriett, I see you as my next girlfriend."

That's when he grabbed her by the wrist into the corner of our class. With the mop of contestants blocking the teacher's view, the two of them had the liberty to engage in any activity. I deliberately allowed my script to fondle the marble floor, bending and peeping at the forbidden lovers.

Daelan lowered his face and his lips came in contact with Harriett's. He paused, waiting for a reply. She ran her fingers through his hair, sluggishly kissing him to let him know the feelings were mutual. His kiss was the forbidden fruit; she wasn't supposed to reach in, but she did. And it made her discovered a taste so refreshing, so addicting.

While they were in the midst of their prohibited kiss, a figure twisted the door knob of our class. She hurriedly strode in our classroom, marching towards the corner for a pile of extra scripts waiting to be distributed.

"Mrs. Rayna," She yelled on top of the students' chatters, wanting to be heard. "Headmistress wanted me to inform you that the other class' auditions..." The figure, better known as Ramona paused, eyes fixed on her boyfriend sticking his tongue in the throat of another. "...are over."