Gifted

5 ~ Dilemma

   IT was about time I realized I did something stupid on my first day, because I was at home from the very first day of school.

   "I did something... rude." I confess to my siblings, who were talking about the students and teachers and whatnot.

   "Rude? On the first day of school?"

   "Yes. Sorry." I'm not really that guilty. I mean, hello, I had fun.

   "And what is tis rude thing you did?"

   "I didn't let someone borrow my book..."

   It sounded so silly we all had to laugh.

   "A book? You feel guilty about a book?"

   "Oh, shut up." I suddenly feel stupid for telling them.

   "Okay, fine. We'll stop. But you should sleep now." said Raziel, although I can clearly see him supressing a laugh. Ugh.

    "Fine."

********

    "What's with you?" the voice I've managed to avoid all morning asks.

    "Uhm, excuse me?"

   "I mean... what's up?"

    "Nothing's up. Don't you have class?"

    "Nope." he takes his seat comfortably beside me, the feet-on-the-table kind of comfortable.

    "You do know that this is the study hall, right?"

    "Yes."

    "And you shouldn't be doing that..."

    "Yes..."

    "So why are you doing it?"

    And his next words were said so easily you'd think he says it everyday... "I've always had this habit of doing things I'm not supposed to do."

    "Are you making references to whatever we have right now? Cause if you are, stop it." I turn to leave. He's becoming increasingly annoying.

    "Hey, hey, wait a minute." I can tell he's following me. "Why are you so mad at me?"

    "I'm not mad  at you..." I tell him without looking at him.

    "Then what's your problem? Come to think of it, I should be mad at you!"

    I finally turn around to face him. "Excuse me!?"

    "You saw me lying half-naked on the beach!" A number of heads turn our way. "Don't tell me it wasn't you."

   It was becoming so embarassing I didn't have the guts to deny it. "Yeah, it was me. It was us. So what?" I figured it wasn't worth my time in waiting for his reply so I make my way to my next class which won't start for the next 20 minutes.

   "So you have to give me something in return."

   "What!?" I whip around, shampoo-commercial-style, to check if he was kidding. He wasn't.

   "You heard me. Let's make a deal."

    "Uhm, no."

   "Why?"

    "Because the argument you're imposing for a bet is invalid. You even talked to me that night."

    "Hmm, come to think of it..." he scratches his head in thought... "I did, huh? I must have been sober by then."

    "You were drunk?"

    He started to feign being insulted. "Was."

   "You're crazy." I shake my head. Why would you lie down, half-naked, on the shore at night? And why am I even affected?

    "I know right?" He caught up with me as i tried to leave again. "You see, it's not easy being like this, you know?"

   "Like what?"

   "Being on the chasing side of a non-existent relationship. We aren't even friends." His expression was so hurt I had to stop. What happened to the jerk I met yesterday at Lit class who tricked me into being his partner?

   "Here's the thing... you didn't look like the type of guy who builds relationships and keeps them when we first met, which was yesterday..."

   "But--"

   "Let me finish." I hold up my hand in front of him. "You looked like the type who makes them today, and breaks them tomorrow... You see, any relationship with you, and take note, friendships are technically relationships, could just end in a matter of hours. I don't want to have something halfway then lose it in the end. Do you get me?"

    "I pick up summaries better."

   I wasn't sure if that was intentional, but that made me laugh. "All I'm saying is... for us to have a shot of being friends, at least, I-- or we, feel each other, you know? At least have something to hold on to when we doubt whatever "relationship" we're going to have...?"

   "Relationship we're going to have... I like the sound of that." his interested look turns into a sheepish grin. "And what do you mean by feel each other?" He alternately raises both his eyebrows. GOSH!

   "I knew it! To think I even expected to get a good answer from you!" I'm leaving, and this time, I won't let him catch up.

   "Hey, wait a minute!" He can try following me... but I'm inside the ladies' comfort room.

   And just when I felt the security of a comfort room, he comes storming inside.

   "What the heck are you doing in here?"

   "I told you, I have this habit of doing things I'm not supposed to!"

   "Get out!"

   "Please, Lay..."

   "NO! GET OUT!"

   And I slam the door at his face, mortified at the fact that I expected something from someone I just met. At the fact that he won't stop at anything to get through me. At the fact that he's this type of guy now, then the other one the next. At the fact that I actually wanted something fom him...