Being Next to You

Chapter 26: A new ally?

"It's getting dark."

"I'll walk you home."

"Okay."

I snorted, "My brother is going to be unhappy if he knew about this.."

Watching the light post turning on one by one, in the moment of silence. Julian didn't asked anything, but kept on accompanying a fool. It was getting dark, making it difficult to see and walking was impossibly hard with my skirt, it's far longer than my usual ones.

"Julian!" My voice trembled than usual, "What's on your mind right now?!"

"Do you want to know?" He walked, matching my rhythm.

"It's fine if you don't want to--"

"I don't want to." Julian refused. "Hey, can you tell me why are you always fretting and apologizing when you're with me? While you acted yourself when you're with others. Did I do something wrong?" Looking intensely at me, without thinking how's it gonna affect me. He looked harsher, thanks to our height differences, it made everything a bit more intense

Talking about unfair!...

"It's nothing seriou--"

"But I made you cry." He's fishing for an answer. But suddenly stopped, as Julian placed both of his hands on his nape.

"About your clothes... They're so like you, Rina." I barely hear his voice, neither smiling nor blank. "It's like the last time when we went out together."

I shook my head replying, and blushing like an apple with delight. "Thank you for the book at that time."
 
"Don't sweat it. And besides, you gave me a towel." He continued. "It's getting cold. Your brother might get angry if your not yet home."

"More like he'll panic.." I jested, with the atmosphere being as it is.

Then I just attacked.

"Do you want to hold hands?" Showing some eagerness, and getting a chance for an impression. But somehow, it didn't went through him.
A flat rejection of "Not Really" from him, he even asked me if I'm cold without any particular meaning.

That ended my day..

And the following day.

I let my thoughts leak in front of France's desk, wanting her to hear my sulks that happened between me and Julian yesterday. And it was difficult to say that I cried for no valid reason.

"I f-feel bad for you..really..!" Giggling after the whole story. That kinda pissed me off.

"Easy for you to say, you haven't romantically fell in love have you?" I criticized.

"I don't need romance." France came up a comeback, but watches me with kind eyes that empathized with me. "Instead of sulking, how about delivering these clothes for me?" Smiling and holding a paper bag in front of me.

"Sure, I was on my way giving my part anyway. But when did you ever took smiling lessons from Shaine." I questioned.

"That's rude. This is my natural smile. And, I only got some couple of words to deliver for the President."

I glared at her unreadable smile like Shaine's, having the faintest idea to what she's thinking.

Shaine returned to class, giving me an innocent smile with some odd feeling like always. I asked him about Iris's homeroom.