Unchanging

Chapter 3

Seth stumbled on his feet as he felt a sudden weight hover on his back. "Hey," Wendy sang as she tilted her head to the side to get a better view of Seth's face. "Woah, I didn't know that you were this handsome."

He laughed, "and you just noticed that no?" Seth hunched his back to lift her from the ground, hands holding onto her arms. "Get off, you're heavy," he teased.

"No," Wendy shook her head. "I still feel sleepy, carry me," she pleaded.

He breathed out heavily as he handed his bag for her to carry and got on one knee. "I wait for you to get ready for school and this is what I get?"

She laughed, "because you love me."

"You have no idea," he mumbled.

Wendy's face turned a shade of pink as Seth's statement caught her off guard, "what?"

She wasn't supposed to hear that, he thought with wide eyes. He licked his fleshy lips and had the most awkward smile, "what I meant was, you have no idea how heavy you are."

"I'm not heavy," she pouted. "Hurry up or we'll be late!"

"If you get off of me, then I'll be able to walk faster," they laughed. And Seth wanted these kinds of moments to last until the years they've lived were already visible on their faces; he wanted to be there for her every passing minute, to be the one she needs. But he knew how close to impossible it was to happen. He knew because he saw how far away she looks at the horizons when he was just standing there beside her.

"Hey, let's go to a café after school. I heard there's one nearby that makes great pastries!" Wendy tugged on Seth's arm when she got down before they entered the school gates. "You've been so busy lately, it's getting kind of lonely."

Seth placed an arm over her shoulder, "I can't today. I have plans."

"Oh,"

"Is my Wendy sulking?" He then leaned her head to his chest, "I'll make it up to you next time, I promise."

"I'll expect that, okay," and she had that grin of a little child who was excited to a parent's promise.

I wouldn't be able to handle it myself if I ended up disappointing you, he smiled at the thought. "Okay," Seth answered. "I'll see you for lunch?"

Wendy bit her lower lip, eyes looking anywhere but at Seth. "I, uhm," she stuttered. "I have plans for lunch?"

Seth opened his mouth then shut them tight, his jaw strained as he gritted his teeth. "I see," he said blankly.

"Wendy," Xander called out a few meters away from them, his hands waving back and forth in the air.

"You could say I have girlfriend duties," she giggled. "I'll see you whenever, then," Wendy waved goodbye as she pranced her way towards the slim figure she saw.

Xander had his hand stretched out and took Wendy's, their fingers laced and intertwined with each other. Seth could smile while looking at how blissful she was, but the thought that Xander was the one who caused all of that felt like he was swallowing his own heart. He glanced down and took a breath in as he closed his eyes, you didn't see anything, he said to himself.

---

Wendy held on Seth's speed-dial number and had her phone over her ear. She couldn't contain her smile, "where are you," she asked even before Seth could answer.

"I'm," he hesitated, "on my way to meet an acquaintance." He cleared his throat, "why?"

"Liar," she laughed.