BURNING RED

Chapter 14

DARK

It had been three weeks since the last time me and Bryce kissed. I mean talked. Though he kept texting and calling me, I never answered.

I was still in shock with our kiss. And I still couldn't decide on what to do.

Should I just ignore that and pretend nothing happened or confront him?

I didn't want to be awkward. He was the only friend I have here and yet that bloody kiss made it so awkward and stressful for me.

Good thing, everyone was busy with the preparations of our upcoming acquaintance party especially Bryce and his member organising programs and such so it bought me time to think things through.

I've heard from some students here that the party was the most awaited time of their school year, especially for the boys coz they get the chance to dance with anyone they wanted without being afraid of getting turned down. Well for me, it kinda excites me too because it would be another milestone for me.

To mingle and get more friends.

My days were spent with my new found friends. It kinda sucked to have one. Or it was just being with them?

Few weeks ago, they were okay. We hanged out. They were all cool.

But then, one day they confessed that they like Bryce and they wanted me to help them get his attention. I didnt know what to do because that time, I was also avoiding Bryce so I couldn't help them.

When I refused, they started to ignore me which was fine with me. But then, they said sorry and came up with some excuses later. Like they were hurt with how mean I was as their friend.

Now, it was my fault?

My days were spent with hanging around with them even though we didn't have anything in common.

And I noticed that all our topic were about Bryce. They started with asking me about him, then the topic ended up on how popular he was in our town and nearby cities. They even told me about girls fanning over him and his friends. And how his lockers would be full of letters and homemade food for him to take home.

Apparently, he never spared anyone his attention. Like getting himself a girlfriend. He was a straight A student and his spare time would go to Basketball, his sport. No playing around. And it intrigued them when one day, I came to their school with Bryce hand in hand.

The more I hang out with them, the more demanding and nagging they get. It was horrible. There were few things I hated about them, like when they took my phone and stole Bryce's number without my permission or ordering me to get him to reply to them and such.

And then, a week ago, they've been nagging me to invite him to Cassandra's eighteenth birthday as her escort.

All I could say was they were obsessed about him.

"Girl, kung hindi mo siya mainvite, kuha ka nalang ng pictures nya nang half naked." Cassandra said dreamily.

"How?" I asked not really keen while tapping my pen on the table. I was reviewing for our third quarter tests.

"Kapit bahay mo siya diba? Tapos kilala ka ng mga parents niya kaya madali ka lang makakakuha ng pictures niya."

"What? I'm going to steal? No way." I looked up from my notes with furrowed eyebrows.

Cassandra and Emerald looked at me sharply.

"Hindi mo kasi kami maintindihan kaya puro ka tanggi. Kaibigan mo ba kami or hindi? Mas magandang magkaliwanagan tayo. Ang simple simple ng hiling ko. Kahit birthday gift mo na sa amin yon!" Emerald yelled in anger.