Unconditional Love

admittance

It was after classes and most of the class was out somewhere. As usual, Van was left alone in their homeroom. She was designing her dream wedding gown. It was a hobby she created for herself ever since she started dreaming to become a fashion designer, which was in 5th grade.

She was adding floral designs to the sleeves when someone entered the room.

"Hey Van! Watcha doin'?" It was Trish, the smart kid. She was a lanky and tall girl with shoulder lengthed hair.

Van immediately covered her sketch pad with both her hands. She did not want anyone to find out about her hobby for she knows that it is weird to plan a wedding in junior high. She shook her head from side to side.

"What's that?" Trish tried to take Van's hands away but they were glued to the sketch pad. Still, Trish attempted to take them.

Trish was one of Van's classmates who's not malignant. Trish was the kind of classmate who is helpful to everyone to the point that she texts everyone at night to remind them about homework. Yup, she was one of the top ten whose answers were almost on everyone's papers. Van actually finds her weird beacuse Trish claims that she hates love stories, music, and anything related to be normal. Despite her good looks, Trish carries herself in an isolated manner that's why no boy was linked to her, ever. Because of this, Van likes her. In addition to that, Van liked her because she felt that Trish can relate to her love-aside policy.

Slowly, Van took her hands away and showed Trish her work. In return, Trish stared blankly at the drawing and said, "You're designing a wedding gown? That's weird."

Van felt offended at her remark.

Who is weirder, a girl who designs wedding gowns or a girl who claims to hate everything? Van thought sourly.

"No it's not! I designed it so that I won't have any problems in the future." Van defended. She closed her sketch pad and put it inside her bag. So much for drawing in peace.

"Are you even sure that you're getting married?" Trish asked mockingly, with a raised eyebrow.

Van looked up and almost got teary eyed after hearing Trish's question. All her life, she envisioned Mark as her husband, but after hearing what Trish said, she realized the impossibilty of that event. Her heart ached at that thought.

"True love is real you know," she looked down and stared at the tiled floor.

"Whatever. It only happens in movies," she sat down next to Van.

Van just pursed her lips and continued her staring contest with the floor.

"Who is your crush anyway?" Trish asked with a surprisingly soft voice. It almost sounded as if she was sorry about the things she said and pitiful at the same time.

"It's a secret," Van stared at her, surprised at the sudden change of Trish's tone.

"Who? Mark?" Trish blurted out of the blue that Van almost fell from her chair.

Taken aback, Van stared at her in disbelief. She was a terrible liar especially when talking about her feelings and she knows that Trish will eventually find out if she doesn't tell the truth. So, she avoided denying it. Besides, Trish is a bland girl and Van need not to worry about Trish blabbering it to others. If anything is not insipid about Trish, it is the fact that she is trustworthy.

"How did you know?" Van asked curiously.

"Duh. It's obvious," Trish rolled her eyes.

Van was shocked by Trish's answer for she thought that she managed to keep her secret well. The certainty of Trish's answer alarmed her because Van felt that the rest of the class might have as well noticed what Trish noticed.

"Don't worry. I'm pretty much sure that I was the only one who noticed," Trish said, as if reading Van's mind.

"How sure are you?" Van asked, eyes full of suspicion.

"I'm very observant, unlike the rest," Trish said proudly.

Sure, next you'll be telling me that you're a mind reader, Van rolled her eyes inwardly.

"And do you know how else I found out about your little secret?" Trish leaned forward, as if about to pass a confidential message.

Van also leaned forward and anticipated curiously for Trish's answer.

"I'm a mind reader!" Trish blurted out suddenly, making Van rise in surprise.

This made Trish laugh out loud and Van sulk into her chair. She was expecting a serious answer from a serious person and the fact that she didn't get what was expected caught her off guard. Van just sighed and played with her bangs.

"But seriously, that long? I know that you guys have known each other since elementary, but seriously? Still him?" Trish's voice essentially increased in volume. And because of Trish's determination to emphasize her point, Van's face suffered from catching Trish's saliva.

Consciously, Van took her handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her face. Trish, however, appeared to be oblivious to the damage she made.

"I know, I know. It's weird. But that's how I feel and there's nothing I can do about it," Van put her handkerchief on her lap and smiled sadly at Trish.

"Ugh. Girls and feelings. Anyway, we have a practice for our dance tomorrow at 1 pm. Be there okay?" Trish stood up and left Van without another word.

After Trish was gone, Van realized how foolish it was of her to easily tell someone about her secret like that. There was just something about Trish that made her want to reveal it all. Well, good thing that she isn't a blabbermouth. Or is she?