The Wrong Guy

Chapter 31 Dad's Back!

                By December 13th, we had finished raising money for Sharon’s treatment. Unfortunately, we weren’t planning on getting involved ourselves. We just wanted to lend money to the penny savers. Sharon’s aunt arranged it all.

                It was relieving that Alex and I finished all our tasks. We felt like saints already. It was also sad in my part. All the nights that I spent with Alex were over, but it was worth it. Every night was a fairytale. I always came home on a cloud, stunned by his bright smiles. I wish I could have brought back the old days, but it reality always gets in the way.

                So, December 13th was a Monday. We started fresh. As usual, I came to school with Laura and Nick. I was cheerful again. Nick was, of course, alarmed with the sudden changes in me. I wasn’t really the cheerful type. But I didn’t care. No matter how much I didn’t want to change, I’d change if it’s for Alex. He was way too important to me to let go.

                Anyway, as we were on the way to our lockers… as usual, we noticed some blue and catchy posters were all around campus. They were like in every wall. Laura’s eyes were caught by them.

                “Hey.” She said. “The Snowball dance!” I didn’t think they’d have one this year!”

                “What, you regret that you didn’t vote for our president now?” I said as we walked.

                “Laura sees an opening for sex with Harvey.” Nick teased.

                “I do not!” she screamed in a cute way. I didn’t know. It sounded like a joke. “You’re the one who sees this as an opening for Liyah!”

                “I’m not sure I want to go.” I said. After all, I wasn’t too sure if I had the guts to dance with Alex. We had such a great friendship. What if I ended it just because it became awkward between us? “I’m not good at dancing.”

                “Yeah. You don’t really wanna dance with anyone.” Nick sulked.

                “Actually, I do. I guess with one guy.” I said regardless of what Nick would have felt.

                “Oooooh.” Laura tried to make it erotic. “Who is this guy that you want to call out... in bed? Oh, my God, is it Sander!”

                “No!” I panicked. They noticed I reacted a little too quick and guilty to that. I couldn’t finish my next sentences out of the humiliation. “I… I don’t! He’s too…uhm… I don’t!”

                “Oh my God, you must be in love with him.” Laura stopped walking. Nick and I stopped, too.

                “I am not!” I insisted with embarrassment. “He’s just…” I couldn’t talk anymore. I just walked, minding all the Snowball Dance posters on every wall. I kept thinking if it would have been a good idea to ask Sander to the dance.

                “You just like him a lot?” Laura continued following. I didn’t know where Nick went, but he was suddenly gone.

                “Nick’s not following?” I turned around. “Where is he?”

                “I don’t know.” Laura pulled me, and we both continued walking.

                “The truth is…” I wanted to tell Laura about my feelings with Alex, but it was way awkward if Nick was around. “I really, really, really like Alex. It’s actually the reason why I’d go to his house everyday and help him out with the brownies.”

                Laura laughed hard, but she stopped eventually and started talking again, “I knew it. Your eyes glitter every time you talk to him. Nick and I see that in you. It’s unusual.”

                “Really?” we got to our lockers and meddled with our stuff again. “Is it that obvious?”

                “Oh, please, Liyah.” Laura dumped a few things in her locker. “Everyone can notice that. Even I act like that around guys I like. But if it’s you, Liyah, the girl who hates all guys, then it must be really serious.”

                “I don’t know.” I grabbed the necklace dad gave me. It was hanging on my locker. It was the time I thought I should wear it, and I did.

                “Hey, nice necklace.” Laura looked at my necklace.

                “Thanks. Dad gave it to me.”

                “Your dad?”

                “Yeah.” I looked back at her, but she didn’t say anything.

                “Everything’s okay with your dad?” she finally asked.

                “Yeah.” I smiled and nodded.

                “That’s good.”

                The day was really normal. I got to talk to Alex and Winnie for a bit. They were still going around together. I just didn’t know if they’re already together. It would have been really depressing if they were.

                I attended our next classes and did quite fine. For the first time, I actually got my heads up to class. There wasn’t much. I found myself staring at the Snowball Dance posters. I didn’t know what came up to me, but I stripped one out of the wall. I felt like reading it at home though there wasn’t very much on the poster. I just folded and held it on my hand.

                After class ended, I was planning on leaving, going to the car, when I saw a man on the driver’s seat. From behind, he looked familiar. I ran to his side and found my dad. It was my dad!... sitting in the car.

                “Dad!” I reacted to him.

                “Hey!” he greeted. “It’s been a while.”

                “Yeah! What are you doing here?” I was suddenly cheerful again.

                “Can’t I take my daughter out once in a while?” he said charmingly. “Or are you busy?”

                “I’m not busy.” I laughed as I handed him the keys. “Let’s go.”

                “Okay.” Dad started the car as I went to the other side. “I don’t really have a clue where to go.”

                “Really? That’s horrible.” I kidded as dad laughed to it. Later, he saw the necklace I was wearing. It was actually a great coincidence that dad showed up when I wore it.

                “You’re wearing it.” Dad smiled.

                “Yeah.”

                “Thanks.” He sniffed. “That’s really touching.”

                “Stop it, old man.” I laughed.

                Dad got the car going, but we just didn’t know where to go. It was okay. It was fun anywhere I went with my dad. It was a peaceful day, and it was a nice time to spend with my dad. I found it a bit perfect and convenient. I just let the next chapters pass by, telling me what will happen with me and Alex. It was a story that I wanted to have a good ending.