Opposites Attract

Chapter-4

"You slept in the library yesterday?" Khumtsa asked.

"uh... No. Who told you that?"

"The librarian"

"Since when did you become best friends?" I asked.

"Yesterday."

I rolled my eyes. He shrugged.

You can say that Khumtsa and I don't really fit in a box. He's an open book and will say what's in his mind. I'm a closed book and like my space. I don't know what we represent. Labeling us as friends wasn't enough. Best friends seemed inappropriate and not knowing where we stand is what scares me most.

"Hey Rach!" he waves as Rachel and Tiren makes their way towards us.

"Isn't it you who hangs out with Tiren?" he turned to me before they come close enough to hear.

"Not anymore."

"huh?"

"Hey Khum, hi Grace." said Rachel not looking at me.

"Hey... um...where's Vito?" I asked.
They shrugged.

"I'll go look for her" I said and walked away as fast as I could.

When will the running stop?

I checked the library. She wasn't there. I checked the classroom and the canteen but she wasn't there either. That's unusual. I tried her phone and amazingly she picked up on the first ring.

"Grace?" as If she was hoping for me to call

"No hello again?" I joked

"oh, hello." she sounded weak.

"where are you? I've been searching everywhere"

"I'm at home feeling a little sick" she replied.

"Do you want me to come over?" I asked realizing that I haven't really spent much time with her.

"Can you? But maybe after class. You missed it yesterday."

"Sure. I'll come later then. Bye now and take care"

She was just fine the previous day. I wonder if I should go now...

"Grace! Coming?" Khumtsa called from across the street.

I turned to see not just him but Rachel and Tiren as well. Should I go?

Of course. I can't keep missing classes for those two.

But it would be awkward and Vito's not here so that means I have to sit and talk with Rachel. I go anyway because classes are important.

Should I start speaking first?  What will I say? "so it was you?" no that's rude.  "nice weather, don't you think?" what are we, strangers?
Before I could say anything, the professor entered the classroom.  Classes went by one after the other and I haven't uttered a single word in the last three hours.

"Grace, can we talk?" Rachel suddenly asked out of nowhere.

"huh?... Yeah, sure."I replied, which came out more like a whisper, thanks to the three hours of silence.

"During lunch break?"

"Yeah sure"

*********************

"Are you mad?" she was asking on our way to the canteen.

"Mad? Why would she be mad?" Khumtsa asked.

She ignored his question and had her gaze on me. I smiled and looked at her.

"Why Rach? Why would I be mad?" I asked .

"Hey guys, so you want burgers or noodles? I'm starving" came Tiren's effort to change the subject. I looked at him and he smiled.

"You guys go ahead. I have to visit Atono" I said, turning to leave. But before leaving, I turned to face Rachel and tried to remember our friendship over the years. I looked at her ,Tiren, Khumtsa and back at her.

"Don't worry Rach, I'm not mad at you. Be happy and forget what happened because I'll do the same.  For the sake of this friendship" I smiled and left.

Hold it in, you're in a public place, wait till you're alone.