Cai and I walked silently together to the library. To be honest, I was hoping he would talk to me. Okay, to be really honest, I was hoping he would flirt with me. But he didn’t. What’s wrong with this guy? He comes back here, flirts with me, and then ignores me.
Come to think of it, I guess what I should be asking is what’s wrong with me.
As we entered the library, a brilliant question sprung to mind.
“Um, Cai,” I hesitated.
“Yes, Dune?” he was quick to reply.
“What are we supposed to research?”
“Something ‘bout Philippine history,” he said nonchalantly.
Well duh. It was for our History class.
“What specifically about Philippine history?” I asked with a hint of irritation in my voice.
He just shrugged his shoulders and headed to the history section.
Why did I even think he would know? He probably expected us to just study everything about Philippine history. I took out my phone and tried to recall who our other group mates were. But I didn’t have any of their numbers. Only Sunny’s number was on my contacts list. Argh. I had to send the text of shame.
Hi Sunny. Sorry, I wasn’t focused while you were talking. What are Cai and I supposed to research?
I sat on one of the teak wood chairs in front of a long wooden table while waiting for a reply. Then someone pulled up the chair next to me and sat. I guess it’s not much of a mystery who it was. He placed one of the two history books he picked out in front of me as he took his seat. He started reading—or to be more accurate, skimming through the book he was holding.
Beep. Finally, a reply from Sunny!
Dance, music, and literature.
That was a typical reply from Sunny. He’s straight to the point. I knew he wouldn’t tell me off about not listening to him. But I still felt ashamed.
“Sunny said we should focus on dance, music, and literature,” I passed the message on to Cai so he wouldn’t waste his time reading something irrelevant.
“Cool,” he said, still skimming.
We sat there silently for a few minutes. I was taking down notes while reading. He just kept skimming. It didn’t take long before I’d gotten all the info I needed from the book he chose, so I stood up and went to pick another one.
My eyes couldn’t help but see him through the spaces in the bookshelf. I looked at the book he picked out for me. It seemed like the same size as the one he picked for himself, so why was he taking so long? He wasn't a slow reader in kindergarten. Then again, people change. More than that, people forget.
I placed the book in my hand back on the shelf and looked for another one. I skimmed some of the books. Young men and women entered into love pacts, which they kept even after marriage to others. Interesting. I wondered if what Cai and I had could be considered a love pact...
Wait, what???
I shook my head as I realized that I had once again let my mind drift. I picked a book and went back to my chair. Cai looked like he was still on the same page he was reading when I left. I just rolled my eyes and started reading.
“Say, do you like dancing?” he asked after half an hour of silence.
“Well, uh… Yeah, I guess. Why? Do you?”
YOU ARE READING
My Ex-Boyfriend From Kindergarten
RomanceCairo Ocampo was Dune Tomas' first love, first boyfriend, and first kiss. Unfortunately, Cai doesn't remember any of this because it all happened seven years ago in kindergarten. He and his family has since moved abroad. But now he is coming back. D...
