Just Another Clichè Love Story

5

🏈 Forth

Beam has been avoiding for more than a week now, ever since that day at the field. And it confuses me to no end. We have already missed two tutor sessions, all with the same reasons, he is busy after school or he has something important to do. Which I know is a blatant lie. I drag my hands to my face and tried to fight the lump in my throat. I bang my head in my desk as I look in his direction. There he was sitting on the opposite side of the classroom, in his cute little self, writing down notes and attentively listening to the teacher. Not even sparing me a glance. God I miss him. I’ve been pestering him to tell me what’s wrong, to tell me what I did wrong. But my questions were just returned with short replies like I was just busy, or Everything's fine, or Nothing’s wrong. And then I was totally ignored like I didn’t exist. But the worst part is, he stopped bringing me food in the morning. That really hit me hard. It sucks.

Maybe he knows. Maybe he knows that I liked him and found out I was about to confess. Maybe he doesn’t like me back or he was disgusted, that’s why he was avoiding me.

The bell rang but I just stayed on my chair, not having the energy to move.

“Hey, practice is in fifteen minutes,” Ming tapped my shoulder.

“I don’t know Ming, I don’t wanna play today,” I said as I looked at Beam’s now empty chair.

“Geez, you looked like your girlfriend broke up with you,” he joked.

“What should I do Ming, he’s been avoiding me for a week. He’s mad and disgusted with me,” I said feeling resigned. Ming is the only friend who knows about my feelings for Beam. The only one I can trust actually.

Ming's eyes narrowed. “Why are you saying that? Did he tell it to your face?”

“No, it’s just that-”

“Is that why you said you won’t confess anymore,” he said.

“Yes, I’m afraid of how he would react, he’s been avoiding me like a plague and I haven’t told him yet,”

“Well, if you think that way, why don’t you work harder?” he said.

I stared at him not understanding what he’s getting at.

“Make him fall for you, you idiot,” he smacked me on the shoulder.

“But how?”

“I don’t know, Forth, just make him change his mind, start with small things or something, I don’t know. How do you court someone?” he babbled.

I have no idea. I haven’t actually courted someone. Hell, I haven’t even dated someone. I know some of the girls are giving me some obvious hints or something like that, but I have never acted in any of them. I don’t want to be in a relationship with a person I’m not in love with. I have never fallen in love before, until Beam.

“Ughh, help me Ming,”

“I’m giving you advice, aren’t I? You figure it out. Just don’t do anything embarrassing,” he snickered and pulled me off my chair.

“Okay, okay,” I said.

I reluctantly stood up, and let Ming drag me to practice. But my mind wasn’t into practice. It was only occupied with Beam.

***

 👓 Beam

Sighing heavily, I slowly walked to my locker. I looked around me to see if he’s around, and felt relieved to see no one. Oh well, it is another day, Beam. It was also the second day that Forth stopped bugging me. Maybe my plan worked. He likes someone so he should be paying attention to that person, not to the boring nerd like me. I shouldn’t have let myself get carried away. I let myself think I have a chance with him just because he was being nice. Just because he was really cool and fun to be with when we were hanging out at my house. Well, I was being stupid and I got hurt. He was there because our teacher said so, because he has no choice. Not because he wanted to. And I was stupid to assume that he will like me. There’s no one to blame but me and my stupid fantasies. I should just go back to being his silent and discreet admirer. Back to being invisible. People actually started noticing me, Four-eyes, because Forth was hanging out with me, talking and getting friendly. Well, about time I lose people’s attention. Because not all attention I got were on the good side. The bullies actually started to notice me too, and they tried to do stuff while Forth wasn’t looking. Getting shoved, tripped, getting my lunch money stolen, or getting called names, didn’t really feel good. I was contented with being a loner, at least that time no one bothered me.