First Love (David & Liza)

Chapter 40

February, 2016

"Sweetie, come down! Dinner is ready!" My mom yells from downstairs, saving me from the hideous Math homework I started an hour ago. Lately I came to the conclusion that in the near future it would be better for all humanity to forbid studying Math in school. I hate it! I put the pen aside and slowly lean back on the chair, stretching my legs under the desk. After my parents finally came home last week, I can say that I've been feeling a little better. Not enough to forget or move on, but enough to make a simple thing like breathing much easier. I've been slowly getting out of the dark hole I was drowning in before they came back, but the lonely, painful feeling that I've lost the only two relationships I've had in my life is still haunting me daily. I know that they are worried about my "condition" (that's what they call it when they think I can't hear them), but they never actually pushed me to explain what is causing it. Although, I'm sure they had already figured out that he has the main role in my untold story. They're intelligent people and it's not that hard to connect the dots.

The best thing is that now I have people that don't avoid me like I'm the Black Plague and with who I can have a normal conversation, without worrying what they're thinking of me, if they're gudging me or talking about me behind my back. Yep, I've been going to school again, if you haven't get the hint yet. I thought that after a month and a half every little bit of the drama will be gone and I won't be the centre of attention anymore, but I guess I underestimated my calssmates. There are all kinds of colourful, very detailed and even slightly unrealistic rumors about that night and the pictures, but none of them (and I repeat, none of them) are putting me in any different position other than "the cheater". I'm aware that I don't owe any of these people even a single word of explanation and I don't plan to defend myself in any way in front of them, but hearing the awful things they're saying about me is not exactly the best way to start your day. Every day I'm walking through the school halls with my head bend down, staring at my shoes in attempt to avoid any eye contact, but I still can hear the whispers, the deadly glares and the names they call me. I've found a solution after the first day, but on the second one I also found out that wearing earplugs all day is forbidden in my school.

"Coming, mom!" I yell back, getting up. As I make my way towards the kitchen to help my mother serving the dinner the door bell rings, making me change my direction and answer the front door. The fact that it's after 8 o'clock on a Sunday evening makes me wonder if my parents forgot to tell me that we'll have someone over for dinner tonight or they actually did, but I was so spaced out in my thoughts that I didn't even heard them. Imagine my frustration and utter stupor when as I swing the door open a big bouquet of blood red roses wrapped in dark red wrapping paper with little hearts on it, all secured with a red bow greets me with cheerfull "Good evening".

"Ummm..." The ridiculous picture catches me totally unprepared and instantly makes me wonder am I asleep or the huge Math homework had messed up my brain.

"Good evening! I assume you're Ms. Liza Koshy?" The delivery boy repeats, popping his head from behind the flowers and looking at a sheet of paper in his hand then at me. But I just stand there not really getting what's going on and it takes me a few seconds to react.

"I am?" I instantly give myself a mental facepalm, because my answer sounds like I'm the one who is asking. I clear my throat and quickly add. "I mean, yes. Yes, I'm Liza."

"Ok, these are for you. Have a happy Valentine's day!" Oh, Valentine's day! That explains everything! He hands me the bouquet and leaves quickly, perhaps scared of the size and shape of my eyes. Let's face it, when something weird like this happens your eyes automatically start growing larger until they're with the size and shape of the pancakes your mother makes for breakfast - round and huge. Or maybe that's just me?!