Freshman

Chapter 47: The Cold

"Is it getting cold in the class, or is it just Ms. Cassanero?"

It's been a couple of weeks now, yet Ms. Cassanero hadn't even made a move on making amends, but neither did we. Well, at least I know I didn't. I think RA and a couple others tried apologizing to her, but she ignored them. I think if I tried, I'd only be facing a slammed door. That was how savage Ms. Cassanero was.

"It's not you, nor Ms. Cassanero," Hasha replied. "It's the aircon you fool!"

She was right, damn this air conditioning. Both of their thermostats were turned down to seventeen degrees celsius a couple of minutes ago, and now it feels like I was blasted back to the ice age.

"God, this is cold." I shuddered. "Do you have a jacket?"

"I'm using it," she replied. I saw her jacket, clearly, wrapped around her tightly. It didn't help that the air conditioning faced us either. It was freezing cold, I could've passed as a frozen Anna if I wasn't so cold.

"L-let it go," I sang softly. "Let it go! Can't hold it back anymore...."

"M-miss Ruie," RA said through chattering theeth. "C-could we turn down the thermostat?"

"You requested it to be set lower, now you want it higher?" Ms. Ruie, our MAPE teaching facilitator, turned from the board. "I'd have to say no. We've bothered the janitor too much."

God,why did the janitor had to have the remote control for the air conditioning systems in the first place?

[Ms. Ruie, my MAPE teaching facilitator. She was a loose yet matured teaching facilitator. She said that she used to teach in college, but why couldn't she handle high school students?]

She continued writing on the board and flipped through slide to slide with every passing minute. We'd usually be hella noisy in her class, but today we're too freakin' cold to even breathe. God, we nearly froze to death. Unluckily enough, Robie wasn't making the situation any better.

[Robie, from class 7B. A real tall and awkward dude. He's just so.... Cringy!]

"H-hey, baby," he cooed. "You cold?"

He tried holding my hand, but I quickly snatched it.

"I'm fine," I replied hastily. "Go bug some other girl."

He shrugged and did bug someone else. Unfortunately, Hasha became his new target. As much as I pitied my friend, I was scared for dear life. Dude, that guy was a creep! He'd usually touch or squish my arm for no reason and I'd just.... God, that was disturbing.

"Alright," Ms. Ruie browsed through her laptop. "7B, I hope you brought your materials for today's activity."

Oh my Lord! Legit, there was a freakin' activity and I forgot to bring materials, as I usually fo when there's an assignment.

"Pst," I called. "Yo Michael."

He groaned. "What?"

"Can I have some newspapers?" I asked. "You look like you have mounds."

He frowned. "I have enough for myself, thank you very much."

"Please," I pleaded. "Just one piece?"

"No."

"Please...."

"No."

"C'mon coal skin."

He groaned. "Fine."

He discreetly hands me a piece and I gladly accepted it. I mouthed a thank you but he only turned with his trademark 'whatever' gesture.

"Watch this video that I prepared for you," Ms. Ruie announced. "It's about basket making. After you do so, you may start making your baskets out of the newspaper and miscellaneous items I asked you to bring."

CJ asked. "Could we work on the floor? We need a lot of space for the basket making."

"Hm," Ms. Ruie hummed. "I don't see why not."

Ms. Ruie started the three minute video, and after it ended, we shuffled to different places in the classroom with our materials and pals with us. Friend groups had their own designated area, while the loners sat alone on their seats. I, on the other hand, came with Jelly and started making my basket. With the information the video and Ms. Ruie gave me, nothing could possibly go wrong, right?

"How the hell did this happen?!" I exclaimed in horror. "That is not a basket!"

"It's not even finished, Ari," Jelly shook her head. "Calm down."

"Dude, we've got ten minutes left on the clock," I told. "How can I possibly calm down?!"

"Hey," Steve propped in. "Mind if I joined you guys?"

Holy.... Call me crazy, but I still go ballistic when I see Steve. I still, sorta, maybe– liked him? I honestly don't know. I'm confused. All I understand is that my stomach flutters when he's around, and the thought of him coming so close to me and talking to me makes me go nuts!

"Why not?" Jelly shrugged. "Set your stuff down there."

He placed all of his materials beside ours and started to go to work. God, he looks so angelic up close. His hair looks soft and smooth, while complemented by his long lashes. His silky soft hair brushed forward, and his reddish lips suits him perfectly. If he was the sun, I could've melted already into a puddle of fluster and shame.

"Hey, you're Aria, right?" He smiled. "You like anime don't you?"

Oh my God! He knew my name! What? Of course he knew my name. I was his classmate after all, and all time teaching facilitator's pet if I may add.

"Y-yeah," I stuttered. "Steve, right?"

He chuckled. "Yeah."

Damn it, why does his voice have to be that.... High? I really expected that he'd have a deeper and manlier voice. Oh well, this just has to do. His voice was shrill, but I couldn't help finding it cute. Hehe, he was cute.

"So...." Steve coughed. "You like anime?"

"Yeah!" I perked up. "I love anime. I'm a geek, I'm sorry...."

"Don't be," he shook his head. "I'm just as crazy about anime as you."

"Haha," I laughed sheepishly. "You sure about that?"

"Do you know Sword Art Online?" He smiled. "It's my favorite anime."

"I don't watch it," I shook my head. "But I do know it."

"Cool," he replied. "You should try watching it though."

"What's the damn anime about anyway?" I asked. "Please tell me there ain't too much ¹hentai."

He chuckled. "Maybe a little."

"God...."

"All anime has little pervy scenes," he stated. "You can handle it."

"I know," I nodded. "I'm just disappointed there's only a small amount of it in SAO."

"W-what?!" He exclaimed .

I laughed. "I was kidding! I was kidding!"

"Oh," he calmed then erupted into laughter.

"You're fun," I smiled. "And sorta innocent and all."

"Me? Innocent?" He asked in disbelief. "You might wanna rethink your life choices."

"Seems like it though," I shrugged. "You nearly had a heart attack when I admitted I like a lot of hentai."

"That was only an expression!"

"Sure it was."

You know, Ms. Cassanero and the aircon hadn't been the only things cold lately, it seemed like Jen was too. It didn't hurt that I was warming up to Steve all over again. I mean, gosh, he likes anime.... And he's so handsome. Damn it feelings, get your decisions straight.