Popular Love

Chapter 8

I went to the playground and sat on the swing, sadly.

“Hi, Sam!” a junior boy waved at me, but I didn’t respond him. “What’s her problem?” I heard him murmur.

I looked at my feet and felt my tears on my skin. How long have I been crying? Why Leslie? Why not me? I’m suitable and I’m more beautiful. Why her? Why? I cried and cried until someone tapped my back.

“Hey, Sam! What’s your problem? Are you okay?” It was Justin. He’s trying to comfort me.

“Stop it.” I said.

“What?”

“Stop acting like you care!” I shouted at his face.

“Okay, okay, hold on.” He backed a bit. “What is really happening?”

“You like her, right?”

“Who?”

“Leslie”

“Are you jealous?” he asked.

“No. Never.” I wipe my tears and start to walk.

“Then what’s your problem?”

“Nothing!”

Dear Diary,

Well, it’s official. Justin’s going to court her and leave me behind. What’s happening now? What will my life be? I don’t know the future but I hope I can still get over him. I don’t know what I’m feeling. Is this really because I’m losing a friend or losing a loved one?

Sam

The next day, I walked in the corridors feeling empty. Then I saw Leslie smiling at herself in her locker. She’s holding a piece of paper. I walked over to her and notice and it’s a letter. I saw the name of the sender. Justin.

“Leslie!”

She gave a little jump and looked at me. “Samantha.”

“What’s that? A love letter?” I asked.

“Well. Yeah,” she replied.

I tried to get the letter from her but she’s holding it tight. “Give me that!”

“No. No,” she said still holding it tight. “Please, don’t get it. It’s mine.”

I looked at her with disgust in my face. “Wh-what? You think I want to get it from you? I’m just teasing!” I pointed at her letter, “And what would I do with that? I have a lot of letters! I’m not an idiot!” and I walked out.

Gosh! What a morning! Did she really think I would like to read it? I’m not an ignorant person who never received a letter. How could she think of me as a fool! I hate you Leslie!

BUMP!

“Ouch!” I screeched, “Could you watch where you walk?” I looked at the person who just bumped me.

“Samantha!” Travis touched my forehead where he knocked me. “I’m so sorry!”

“Don’t touch me!” I pulled his hands away and went past him.

“Samantha! Wait!”

I looked back at him, “What now?”

“When are you going to answer me?”

“Answer you? Did you ask a question?” I said to him irritatingly.

“Oh. It’s nothing. Never mind,” he said flatly and started walking.

“Wait!” I cried out.

He immediately turned back at me. “Yes?”

“Are you still courting me?” I asked. “Because if you still, please stop,” I added apologetically. “I’ll just hurt you.”

“Why are you saying this?”

I looked at him one more time, “Because I know how it felt.” I left him there, stunned.

I went back to class and sat quietly. It’s the first time that I’m thinking of nothing. Usually, I have a lot of things to think. Especially what I’m doing later or tomorrow, what I’m going to eat, what I would wear next weekend and so on.

I looked at Justin from the back. Even his back is beautiful. I could still see his face. I miss looking at his side. I hope he’s still beside me, someone to talk to, someone to tease and someone to admire.

The teacher came in and we stand to greet him. Everyone’s having a good day and I’m not. They said that if you have a good morning, you’d have a good day. But I doubted mine. I started with a bad morning, so I’ll end up having a bad day. Ugh! I hate that saying. I would curse the person who thought about that.

After class, I didn’t wait for Justin to walk me home. I’m not in the mood to be with somebody. I opened the house and looked around, as usual, nobody’s home. That’s why I don’t want to go home early. I’d be alone and I hate being alone. I went up the stairs and unlocked my room.

My room is beautiful with a theme of purple, the royalty’s color. I always think of myself as a princess, but earlier, I realized I’m not. No princess is alone. No princess is unhappy. And no princess would be rejected because her people love her. I went to the stand of magazine and got one. I scanned it and stopped at a page. That’s me, the model, not the person. Every model could smile because they’re in front of the camera. But what about the person, could I still smile in front of the camera? I closed it and opened my laptop.

I opened my Facebook and confirmed friend requests. There’s so many! I couldn’t finish it that’s why I ignored it. ‘tick’

justintyree: hey sam! wats up?

Well, Justin’s online.

sambrooke: just the usual, confirming friend requests. I cant enjoy fb bcoz of dat.

justintyree: dats rily ur lyf, u cant ignore dat. anyway, make sure to prepare ur        gift, time surely runs fast!

sambrooke: gift?

justintyree: yea! dont tell me u forgot my bday?

sambrooke: oh, ur bday. no, no, I totally remember it. actually, I already have ur        gift…

justintyree: tnx J

     gtg!

justintyree is offline

God! How could I forget his birthday? Oh. In the first place, I don’t really know when is his birthday. When is it? Really?

After turning off my laptop, I went to my List of Friends notebook and look for the name of Justin, hoping that he wrote his birthday. Actually, I didn’t have time opening that notebook, that’s why I don’t know how many so-called friends I have. I scan the pages and spot the name of Justin. His birthday is on… What? Next week? How could I look for his gift? I usually look for gifts two weeks before the celebration because I want my gift to be extra special. Not just special.