Love Is a Losing Game // Joel Pimentel

23 | Careful

Chapter Twenty-Three

Blu's POV

"Hey, wanna study after school?" Yoandri asks as I draw some doodles in my notebook. We were in the hallway and since it was my free period I decided to sit down and draw in the hallway.

I shrug and nod, "Sure. Why not?" He hesitates for a second and that's enough to make me want to question him. I bring my pen down against the paper before turning my body to face his, "Yes?"

"But like at my house," he says slowly.

My heart accelerates just slightly at the request and I tilt my head. "I suppose that'll be fine. Just studying though," I emphasize with a stern tone.

"Okay," he grins as he kisses my forehead.

I groan and shake my head, "What's up with you guys and PDA." At my comment his smile falters and his eyes glance over at Joel who was walking down the hall.

Yoandri's eyes slide back to mine and he says, "I'm not sure. Kinda wish I could be the one displaying all that affection though. But anyways wanna meet at your locker after school ends?"

I nod and pick my pen up, going back to doodling the page before me, "Sounds good."

***

"Use protection," Joaquín sighs as he shakes his head at me for agreeing to go to Yoandri's house after school. I nudge him for his vulgar comment and he looks over at me.

"I'm serious, please be careful. Something about that guy doesn't sit well with me," he comments.

"Okay, dad," I exhale with a smile. He leans his head on my shoulder and it's then that I realize he wasn't his usual self. "What's up with you? You good?"

He replies softly, "Life has just been so weird lately. It feels like things are shifting all around me and yet I'm stuck in the same place. It's odd."

I lean my head on top of his and breathe out, "I refuse to leave you behind. I'm sorry if I have ever made you feel left out."

He shrugs, "It's not anything that's your fault it's just weird. My friend's becoming part of the popular crowd and I don't think I'm ready to let you go just yet."

I look at him before replying, "They aren't you and never will be. They don't have enough personality. Besides, being popular is overrated."

Joaquín chuckles and hugs me, "Love you, bella."

"Love you too, man."

***

"All set?"

I nod and slide into Yoandri's car just as Joel arrives to his vehicle. I give him a smile but he just glances past me and up to Yoandri who gives him a smile as a response.

"Is something wrong?" I mouth to Joel through the window. He looks down at me and shakes his head, sending me a small smile. "Nah, just tell me if you need me to pick you up," he mouths back.

I give him a thumbs up and he throws up a peace sign before slipping into his car, clicking his seatbelt in place and backing out of his parking space; He does say goodbye before leaving however.

"He's the most agitating person," Yoandri groans as he jumps into his vehicle and turns it on, looking over to check if I had my seatbelt on.

"But anywho, I was thinking we could do some math, physics, then catch up on that extremely ugly assigned book," Yoandri smiles.

I furrow my eyebrows, "You don't like the assigned book?" He immediately shakes his head no, "I absolutely think it's horrible." In my thoughts all I can think is that Oryx and Crake is one of the few modern books that I thoroughly enjoy reading.

"Interesting," I murmur before getting comfy and taking charge of the AUX cord.

***

"Welcome to my humble abode," Yoandri introduces as we walk into his house. I look around and smile at the architecture. It was all glass and steel, yet it felt homey.

"Very nice," I compliment.

He grins at me before leading me to his room despite my protests that that's rude since I don't technically know his family like that. We finally agree that we'll keep the door open and begin to take out our supplies.

Our pencils are the only sound heard for a while before I finish my calculus homework and pull out my Physics textbook. "You've finished?" Yoandri says incredulously. I nod and tilt my head, "You haven't?"

We both laugh after a second of silence passes through us and he teases, "Show off." I smile softly and flip through the pages of my textbook to do a couple of the problems.

When I look up, Yoandri is already staring at me with a gentle look in his eyes. I feel the tips of my ear turn red and hide them under my hair, "Is something wrong?" He shakes his head no and slips his textbook off his lap before sliding over to where I am on his floor.

He plops his head down on my lap and looks up at my face from his place. "Can I ask you something," he asks with a curious smile. I close my textbook, using my notebook as a bookmark and nod, "Go for it."

Yoandri leans up so he's in front of my face and smirks, "How bad would it be if I kissed you right now?"

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a/n

i'm miSSING MKRE THAN HUST YOUR BODYYYT