Someone to Care

Chapter Two

"Jennelle, do you want to—"

"Thanks," I interjected Maya, knowing that she just wanted to invite me to join her group for lunch in the canteen again. "Thanks, but really... no thanks."

I don't know why she persisted on talking me into going with her, even though I've been turning her down every day. All our classmates who attempted to befriend me when I transferred in Blue River High had all given up on me after a week, but Maya was different, and I've got to say, I admire her determination. I turned her down each time, not because I had no interest to be someone's friend, but because she was the type I didn't want to befriend the most. She reminded me too much of him. I looked across the room where Valentine pretended to be busy fooling around with his friends, but I could obviously see that his attention was on Maya and me.

"Maya!" Maya's friend irritably called out and walked to where we were.

"Linda, I was just..."

"Come on, let's go already."

"Oh... but..."

Linda never gave Maya a chance to explain. She already pulled Maya away. Valentine followed them with his eyes and turned his head to meet my gaze reproachfully.

Hmm... could it be that Mr. Goody-goody has feelings for her?

I frowned. Seriously, it's none of my business. It had been more than a week since I turned his meal salty as the sea and since then, he never said anything to me anymore, even if we almost collided at home. Which was what I wanted. So why was I sitting there noticing his every action?

I shook my head, grabbed my bag and like I always did, I went to the back of the school and ate lunch by myself. I tried to push my confusion about Valentine aside, but the evening arrived and I still couldn't seem to get him out of my mind.

"Damn it!" I muttered and put the ball pen point down on the study table of my spacious room at the upper floor. I pulled myself up and left my unfinished homework, walking up to my window facing the pool—beside the resort's restaurant—where Valentine and his group seemed to be having a lot of fun.

It was strange for me to feel like that because it was the first I felt this restless because of someone. What surprised me more was that it was someone like Valentine. A guy who was always surrounded by people, someone I strived not to be. Losing someone you love hurts the most and keeping everyone at arm's length is the best defense. With that reminder, I moved away from the window and went back to my homework.

* * *

Saturday morning. I just finished changing into a pair of tight blue jeans and a fitted shirt when I heard a soft knock on my door.

"Coming." I walked to the door and was greeted by Tita Emilee's smiling face. "Good morning, Tita." I slightly bowed my head before looking at her. She wore a tunic dress with flower-like sleeves, a sash tied around the waist and a pair of shoes with short heels. "Are you going somewhere?"

It was nothing unusual, Tita Emilee always hung out with her girl friends on Saturdays. What I wondered was what she was doing in front of my room.

Tita Emilee's smile widened and surprised me when she suddenly wrapped her hands on my arms. "Say, Jennelle, do you have plans for today?"

I fought back the urge to pull away from her grasp and calmly answered her. "Same as always, Tita, I'm thinking of going down at the back." It wasn't that they were obligating me, but I didn't want to feel that I was living with them for free, therefore, I tried to help out as much as I could at the resort every Saturday and Sunday. Serving the restaurant guests and anything I could assist the workers with.