3 Desire - Part 3 (1/2)
After a long day, it's finally time for our lunch break.
I lean back in my chair and heave a hefty sigh. I was ignoring it for a while now, but it looks like I'm really going to be spending my lunch break in the cafeteria with those three.
How am I going to explain this to Nick and Sig? Maybe I should just lie and tell them she's my cousin or something?
But the reality is that such a convenient lie probably won't work.
Not with guys like them.
They're already on my tail, I can't just toss something that half-assed their way…
And yet, I can't find it in myself to just throw in the towel yet. As little as we have in common, I still don't feel like I want to lose them. Which means I'll have to try to lie, even if it won't work. It's better than just accepting defeat!
As I come to this conclusion in my head, the usual two had already approached me without me even noticing.
Nick places his palm on my shoulder and smiles.
”Hey Chase, ready to go grab a bite? Chris is waiting at the usual spot.”
”A-ah, um, about that…”
”Do you wanna watch us duel while you eat? It's really fun.”
”Duel?”
”Yeah, we brought our Yu-Gi-Oh! cards to school today. I don't know why Nick said it'd be fun though, all he does is run try-hard meta decks that suck all the fun out of it.”
”What's wrong with you, man? If you're playing something then play to win. Don't intentionally buy bad cards then cry about try-harding.”
”Yeah, don't buy bad cards, haha. I'm totally not complaining because I literally lose before I even get to draw from my deck! Haha FUCK you dude. You'll see what I'm talking about Chase, it's really stupid. Let's head over to the Cafeteria.”
I shift my eyes nervously, looking away from both of my friends.
”Uhh…”
”Hm? What's wrong Chase? You look worried.”
”W-well, I am a little…”
”Do you want to talk about it? You can tell us anything.”
Anything? We both know that's not true, Nick.
The only thing I can do here is lie.
”Well the thing is…”
As I was about to offer up my fake story, the door to the classroom slams open as if on queue. The three of us, as well as the other students in the class, turn our heads toward the sound in surprise.
In the doorway stands Scarlet Sterling, who looks rather indifferent to the commotion she's caused.
”That girl? What's she doing here?'
Nick asks this while looking directly down at me with a suspicious gaze.
”Ehehehe, I wonder?”
Feigning ignorance doesn't seem to do much though. Scarlet's eyes immediately fixate on me and she begins heading towards us. I barely even had the opportunity to formulate a plan before she could stop before my face.
”You.”
She grabs me by me by the wrist.
”Uh, yes?”
She stares into my eyes for a moment.
It's eerie how little emotion I can see in her face while she looks down at me.
Am I really that much of a lesser being to her? That kind of judgemental attitude is kind of rude, isn't it? All this because you're a little popular?
But eventually, she loosens up and smiles.
”Let's have lunch together.”
Oh god, my heart's bpm may or may not have just skyrocketed.
Why does she have to be so cute? Furthermore s-she's touching me… I've never been touched like this by a girl this cute before. I might have been upset with her earlier, but now? Who cares? I'm just happy to be alive in this moment!
”S-sure…”
”HOLD ON A MINUTE!”
Nick looks on at Scarlet with distrusting, almost resentful eyes.
”What may I ask, is your relationship to my friend Chase?”
Scarlet turns to face Nick for a split second with a look of extreme disgust, one you'd probably only cast while looking down at a cockroach.
But after that second passes, her usual smile returns.
”Ah, that? He's…”
And then, she utters the forbidden word.
”My boyfriend, of course.”
”…”
This heart of mine that was pumping warm blood through my body just moments ago suddenly goes cold.
You're… You're joking, right…?
Nick's face goes blank.
He clearly hadn't expected that kind of answer from her.
”D-don't misunderstand Nick. This is…”
This is what, exactly?
Explaining isn't something that can fix this situation, is it? In his mind, those words from Scarlet were everything he needed to brand me as a traitor. There's nothing more that can be said at this point.
I look towards Sig, who also can't seem to find the words to say.
”Anyywayyy, the two of us will be on our way now!”
She tugs at my wrist and begins leading me to the cafeteria.
”Tch.”
As we exit the class, that cheerful demeanor of hers, or I suppose it should be called a façade at this point, crumbles before my eyes.
”Why're you hanging out with geeks like those? I felt gross just being within arm's length of them.”
I stop walking.
Is she actually insulting my friends to my face right now?
”… Really? What gives you the right to act like that?”
I can't quite believe this girl. Even people like her should have limits to how oblivious they are.
”No, what gives them the right to treat you like that? Let's be real for a second. What exactly is wrong with having a girlfriend? That geek with the glasses looked at you like you were some kind of criminal for talking to me.”
Oh, is that why you acted like that then? For my own good?
You could've had this conversation with me without belittling my friends as if they're lost causes.
”It might seem strange from the outside, but that doesn't give you the right to insult them that way, does it? I mean I could ask you the same question: What's wrong with not having a boyfriend? Why go through all of this just to keep up appearances with Jennifer?”
”T-that's different!”