The Tree's Girl

Chapter Forty Two (Author's POV)

Joseph boredly stared out of the window as he watched the blue sky get enveloped by white clouds. It was rather calm and dull. Not having Maria there was very different for him... but that day made him feel relaxed. Though his eyes were obviously sad, he continued to wear that smile of his that was torn between being fake or being forced.

Ken and Anna would peek at him from time to time just because they were worried. It was rather new to the feel to see the two hated duo of the batch not together, and the one pair looked rather happy about it too. They thought it was just him being optimistic, so they rubbed it off and went back to listening.

Joseph would think about Cheryl as he stared down the tree. That was where he first met her.

A day without Maria by his side, he felt like he really needed to do it. Cheryl wasn't eye-catching, that was for sure. To Joseph, she looked like your ordinary nerd. He recalled the picture of her on the first time they saw each other; just a normal girl leaning on a tree texting while wearing such a happy smile. He would have never thought she was a crazy, psychopath, like Maria, too.

The two girls did something inhumane for the sake of love, for the sake of him. Joseph sighed at the thought that he was a magnet for girls like that. He would be content with only one.

But the question is... who?

Before he could even notice, it was already lunch time. Joseph told Ken and Anna that for lunch he would be joining them on the rooftop, but he had to go somehwere first. The two were happy to hear it from him, that was why they went their way to the top of the school energetically.

Joseph then went walking to the tree where a lot of people were eating once again. Cheryl was waiting on the same spot. He went towards her and then gently pushed her to the tree with a grin playing on his lips. The girl was caught by surprise, but soon enough she grinned back. "Don't tell me you're going to make a move on me in such a public place like this Joseph. That's so unlike you and also you haven't even confessed." she stated with an opposite tone of what it was supposed to sound like. Her statement showed resentment, her voice showed seduction.

Joseph turnednand started to walk away, "Just practicing for later, Cherry." he said without even getting that much distance between the two of them.

Cheryl was more affected about him calling her that stupid username than the fact that he said his scheme to pounce on her put loud. "I told you to not call me that name! Oh c'mon Joseph!" she shouted, hugging his arm. Her voice caught the attention of the crowd.

Joseph was known for being Maria's partner, not a random girl's. Surely an image of a girl hugging his arm with her breast all pressed on it was an image of cheating. He had to think of a way to get out of such a mess.

"Miss, I have a girlfriend, please let go of me." Joseph said coldly, but his eyes sent a secret message to Cheryl. He begged for her to take the fall, to be the one who looked like the bad guy.

"I am well aware, sir." she played along. "I was just asking a simple question but you just won't give me a minute. This was the only way I can think of to get your attention."

"Then let's just get this over with. What do you want to ask?"

"It was about Chemistry, I heardyou got a perfect scorr once and I just wanted to ask about-"

The crowd started to look disinterested. Slowly, each of them turned away. Cheryl finished her question and Joseph just leaned closer for a whisper once again.

"I'm not eating with you this time. See you later."

Cheryl pouted. She wanted to cuddle with Joseph some more, but she thought that he might need privacy because he was going to ask other boys hkw to confess.