You Just Me (Just Between You and Me)

Chapter 4

To be completely honest, Malcolm's words about Mace have been in my head for quite some time now. I even got into a point where I actually observed Mace's every move whenever we were together. Unfortunately, I really didn't understand why Malcolm even said that. How Mace interacts with others is just the same as how he interacts with me, as far as I know.

On a lighter note, Joshua's birthday is in three days. Funny he never invited me. Rather, Jas was the one who personally asked me to his party. Smooth Josh, very smooth. But Jas had a request I found very off the wall. Mace will also be in the party but he does not know where the place is. So she asked me if I could go with Mace instead.

"Sige. We will be there together." I told her. Her eyes widened and she hopped and clapped with excitement. Cute.

"Kuya, isama mo na rin kaya si Malcolm? That's if Tita Mariella would allow him."

"Sorry. Mom's kind of protective of my brother. I'm sure he would love to be there. But knowing there will be drinks and dancing all night in the party, Mom would surely not allow that boy. I'd probably do the same if I was Mom. You see, he may look eighteen but Malcolm is a fourteen year old kid who still believes in easter bunnies and Santa Claus. Having him there would freak his innocence." I hoped she got what I meant.

"I see. Sayang naman kung ganoon. Well, it's okay. I should probably get going. Pupuntahan ko lang si Mace sa library to inform him na magkasama kayong dadalo sa bahay." She said. But I stopped her.

"Ako na magsasabi sa kanya. I'm free anyway." I volunteered. "That way we can both plan when and where we will see each other before we go to the party."

"Great idea. Sige Kuya, thank you!" Then she left. I went to the library and looked for Mace. Basically, I believe the library is for the nerds. Our professors always reminded us to visit the lib since we paid fees for it too. But I never did. There's the Internet anyway.

I searched every table and every reading cubicle there was but I never found Mace.

"Hindi mo makikita si Mace sa parteng ito ng library." Someone who was wearing the same uniform as Jas approached me.

"I'm sorry but do I know you?" I asked.

"You're Lance Andrew Davis diba? I'm Jamie by the way." She offered her hand for a shake. How did this person even know me?

"Sino ba ang hindi nakakakilala sa iyo? Usap-usapan ka kaya sa department namin." Did she answer the question in my head? She must have read my mind. These BS-Mathematics students are weird in their own way. I did not know I was that popular with the nerds. I just shook my head.

"Is Mace here? I really need to talk to him."

"Nandoon siya sa Reference Section, second aisle." She pointed. "Nagbabasa na naman siguro siya doon. Hindi niya hilig umupo sa mga tables at cubicles dito eh."

"Okay. Salamat, Jamie right?" I asked again. She just gestured a check sign to me. And so I went to the Reference Section. Most books in the shelves I walked pass through looked very thick and heavy. Maybe that's why Mace does not bother reading them far from their shelves.

I saw him sitting on the floor, reading from a big yellowish book on his lap. He was very focused that he did not notice me come closer. I looked into what he was reading. It was not about Math at all. Quite interesting.

"You should be kissed often, and by someone who knows how." I read a few words from the book he was reading. Mace was startled that he immediately closed the book and stood up. He was surprised to see me that he accidentally dropped the book right to my shoe. Man, that actually hurt. I was about to yell at him but I remembered I was in the library. I really jumped out of pain.