Warming a Frozen Heart

Confusion

CHAPTER 26

Confusion

-JC-

"No. I'm not going to a pool with you, Erin and that dog. I heard everything. You two made up already. No."

Luke was bugging me about going to a pool resort to celebrate the end of the 'Seven Days of Hell', popularly known as exam week. "Come on, JC! I bet he's too scared to even talk to you!"

"Whatever. I'm still not going. My skin would become buttered toast under the sun and once I end up in the water, you neanderthals that can swim like fishes would feast upon yummy JC nuggets dipped in chlorine."

"I don't care if you can't swim. You just need to be there. You can bring your tablet and your headset along if you don't want to go into the pool." He gave me a playful smirk. "And there's wifi in there."

"Okay, okay, I'm tagging along! Such underhand methods..." I muttered under my breath.

***

"And Hell Week is over!" Luke called. He and Erin restarted their friendship, but he refused my proposal of returning back into their relationship because he knew that it's Kyousuke she's interested in. The other two cheered with him, but I sat back under an umbrella wearing a huge white jacket, donned on my headphones and listened to music. "JC!"

I whipped my headphones off furiously. "What the hell, Luke?!"

He walked over to me and pulled me up from my position. "Now, now, who spent one whole hour with me picking out what to wear? Don't hide it, baby." He slid the zipper of my jacket down in one swift motion, exposing me in the swimwear he forced me into. It was composed of a blue halter that covered my chest scantily, and my lower body was covered by a short, pleated skirt of the same color. "Damn it, Luke! Give that back!" I screamed at him, trying to get my jacket back. He held it up so I won't be able to reach it. "Luke!"

He was laughing at me now, and he wrapped my jacket around his waist to prevent me from touching it any further. "Disturbing," I hissed. I stomped back to my shady sanctuary when I felt that I was being eyed. I turned around and found Kyousuke red at the face, trying his best to look away. "Ugh..." I groaned. "Luke, don't be an ass. Give that back to me."

"At least let the guy over there have a good look at you."

If I wasn't in such skimpy clothes that would expose areas I wouldn't like the world to see, I could've wrestled Luke down on the floor and take the wretched jacket away. I wore the headphones back on and leaned against the wall behind me. I turned the volume up a little, because Luke's shouts of victory was drowning the music out.

When the two guys went to get food, Erin walked up to me. I was walking along the edge of the pool at the moment, pondering on whether to take a dip or not. "JC."

I turned my head to her in response. "Why do you always get Luke's attention?"

"I don't know," I answered nonchalantly. "He's the one who gives it to me. I don't beg for it."

"Seriously, JC. I can't understand why you're not satisfied with Kyousuke alone. Why do you have to include my boyfriend?"

"I'm not--" I was cut off when she gave me a small nudge, which sent me falling face-first into the water. If I can recall properly, this pool is eight feet deep. I felt the wind go out of me slowly and agonizingly, until I was sure I couldn't see anything anymore.

***

-Kyousuke-

I heard Erin shouting for us through the door. "Erin's calling for us."