Another Love Story (editing)

Chapter 14: "Tag"

"Hey Addie," Ralph greeted me.

"You seem cheerful," I said gloomily.

"I have my reasons," he smiled as he sat down on the swing next to mine, "so, what do you want to talk about?"

"You and me," I slumped.

"Us?" he asked, slightly leaning towards my direction.

"Just, just you and me... No us... No we... Just you and me," I sighed. His cheery expression was now replaced with confusion.

"Are you... breaking up with me?" his eyebrows met at the center of his forehead.

I nodded silently allowing a fake tear run down my cheek.

"Could you at least tell me why?" he got off from his swing and stood in front of me. I stared at him without a sound. My tears were the only channel of emotion. He took me and put his arms around my shivering body.

"I know you've been keeping something from me," I said in a very weak voice pushing him away, "I just can't stand it. How could you?"

"But..." he attempted to explain himself.

"There's no need to explain. I'm happy for you." I sobbed loudly, comparable to a baby who dropped his pacifier as I walked away. As soon as I got inside the school building, I easily wiped off my tears and pulled myself together.

I paused before I continued to the hall, I sounded too much like Lin back there. Danger. Oh, what a mess I got myself into. I sighed and tried to catch my breath as I walked my way to the class room.

There were a few of my classmates chitchatting by the window who greeted me pleasantly. The school was still a ghost town. I greeted my classmates with a smile and excused myself.

I sat down on my seat and suddenly felt woozy.

The next thing I knew I wasn't in my classroom anymore. It didn't look like anywhere I've been. "Addie! Addie!" a crowd of paparazzi called out. They buzzed questions and took pictures as they devilishly looked at me. It went pitch dark and suddenly there was a dim light high above me that seemed to only light up a meter's radius at most. I struggled to get out but I was stuck on my chair, my hands tied behind me. "Why, Addie? Why? Or should I say Lin?" Ed said as he came stepped into the light.

"Ed... Ed..." I tried to answer him back but the only sound that my mouth was able to produce was inaudible mumbles. I heard a laugh from behind him. "It's a good thing you broke up with me. I wouldn't want to have anything to do with you." Ralph said as he came into view. I screamed, or at least I tried. Suddenly I fell into a hole and found myself in the middle of a crowd. "Addie?! Addie?!" I heard Gen's voice booming over the crowd's busy buzz. I looked around to try to catch a glimpse of her. Right now, I really needed someone to talk to. "Addie?!" her voice continued to call, "Addie!" her voice started changing "Addie." until now it was all husky and masculine.

I opened my eyes and found that I was lying on a lumpy bed. "You passed out in your classroom this morning. Too much stress won't do you any good y'know?" Terence said as soon as he noticed that I was already conscious.

"Where am I?" I said trying to restore a steady vision.

"School clinic. I'm glad you're okay," he said gripping my hand.

"Where's Ed?" I asked feebly.

"I have no idea. But I'm sure he'll be here soon," he excused himself and went to get the nurse. She checked my reflexes and allowed me to go as soon as she finished. I stood up but my feet were too heavy to hold my weight. Terence quickly broke my fall by catching me with his bulky arms. "Careful there," he flashed a jerky smile.