Original Love

Episode Three

“Sammie will go. I already invited her. She never lets those kinds of things pass up for her. Right, Sammie?” Now, it was Austin’s tone of voice that made me even more confused. Why does he sound a bit annoyed this time? What’s going on here?

“Right…” I reply nervously, smiling at the two of them. “I think we better head out now, it’s already time for first class, don’t you think?” I tell to both of them, trying to dodge my way out of dealing with these two any longer. They’re both making my head hurt. What the hell?

Both of them made a move to check the time on their own wrist watches and I instantly felt very uneasy as they both stare back at me with the same expectant looks on their faces. What am I supposed to say now?

“Let’s… go?”

Shortly after that, we all end up standing in front of the coffee shop still drowned in an annoying awkward atmosphere, as I try to come up with the best thing to say. What is wrong with this picture?

From here, Austin will take the opposite direction towards his college building while I and Bradley will walk the other path towards the Medicine department. But something else tells me, that it wouldn’t go as easy as like that.

“Should I walk you to your department?” Austin asks me as he looks from Bradley then back to my face with hesitance.

“No need,” It was Bradley who answered for me which earned a little frown from Austin. “We’re already going to the same building. Don’t worry about it, I’ll walk her to her class for you. You should go now before you get late with yours.”

That authoritative tone of Bradley made me feel nervous as I watch Austin size him up before he eventually lets it go. Of course, it wasn’t the right time to pick up a fight now. Classes still go first.

“Fine,” Austin tells us as he starts to head to the direction of his department, “You two be safe then. I’ll see you later, Sammie.”

I wave him goodbye as he rushes his way off from us. And that was how I ended up walking side by side with Bradley Evans to my first class today.

What a life, right? I must be very lucky.

****

 “Your friend doesn’t like me.”

We were halfway to the department now and hearing Bradley talk about Austin with me feel strange. What even made him think that Austin doesn’t like him? Was it because Austin didn’t entertain him that much? Well, obviously, Austin doesn’t really like him because he’s a competition with Emma.

“He’s just overprotective of me. I seemed to be not trusted around with guys.” I tell him. This is all a lie because I’ve never really dated a guy at all. Not even in high school, since it was all Austin who had been swimming inside my head the entire time. I was so pathetic, I even let my high school years pass by without even trying to flirt with anyone.

“I think he really should be,” That stopped me from walking as I stare at Bradley with a deep frown. Bradley pauses to turn and gives me a straight look, a small smile forming on his lips.

“Maybe I should start doing the same thing for you too,” he tells me and I felt the heat creeping up on my face after hearing him. What the hell is he saying all of a sudden?!

“Are you nuts? Why would you even do that?” I tell him with a look of total disbelief on my face. Is this his way of getting even with what I told him last Friday? Damn it, if I knew back then, I would have never gone to that bar with them.

“I don’t know…” He smiles wider and moves towards me, which I deliberately tried to escape from by stepping backward. “I just feel like I want to.”

“We’re not that even close. What are you saying?”

I felt a hard wall behind me, making me feel imprisoned and lost with words. Bradley moves to lean closer to my face and it made me feel awfully nervous, knowing that we look intimate in this position. Anybody could just pass us by and see us like this and that’s one thing I wouldn’t want to deal with. Luckily, the entire sidewalk was deserted since the first class was already beginning. Whew…

Oh, s**t. Right, we’re running late now!

“You already know me, right?” Bradley’s face distracted me from my thoughts as I stare up at him. “You already know who I really am.”

“No, I don’t. What are you talking about?” I tell him defiantly, ignoring how my heart pounds so hard against my ribs with having him so close. Bradley just smiles down at me as if what I just said doesn’t even count as true.

“I want to know you, Sam,” his voice became a whisper as he tries to lean his face more than he should be in his right mind. I instantly went rigid the moment I felt the slight touch of his nose against my cheek. “I want to be genuine with you.”

W-what? His words made me shiver from where I stood.

“Let’s have a productive semester this time,” Bradley moves back as he gives me a perfect smile that made it almost dream-like to watch him. “I want to be close to someone I like. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

He turns and walks away after that, not bothering to even look back to check on me. I was too stunned to even think of a good comeback to what he just said. He continues to walk away, leaving me, as if he already knew I would follow him right after.

Turns out though, it took me a few more minutes before I finally gathered myself up and remembered that I was already getting late for first class.

But just when I thought Bradley already went ahead and left without me, I was surprised to see him waiting for me by the entrance of the building, leaning against a lamp post. The image made me feel a bit strange and I tried so hard to ignore the fast beating of my heart seeing him there—still with that small smile on that flawless face.

He looks so sure of himself. He looks so sincere now but something felt weird.

What the hell did just happen back there? What’s the deal with this guy, anyway?! What is he doing to me!?!

I could never really understand him.

Guys. They’re all freaking hard mysteries to solve.