In His Eyes

Chapter 3

Here are several things I learned from texting Max daily. He plays the guitar, which may be another reason why he can sing. He's good with his studies but didn't pursue to be a Scholar of any sorts. Oh, he's also good at sports. I think he has a basketball game after the Departmental Examinations.

It's been a week since I last saw Max in person. We text daily, besides that, nothing's new. Until I saw my phone flash with a new notification. It was a twitter follow request. A follow request from a twitter handle @car1max.

Could this be Max's account? I accepted the follow since I don't tweet that much and followed him back. My follow request was immediately accepted. I took my time scrolling through his account. His media were filled with selfies and group pictures with his friends. His recent tweet was what got me curious.

@car1max: missing u like ugh

I rolled my eyes, who could you be missing at this time of the academic year. Oh yeah, this time of the month is for Departmental Examinations, meaning everyone from different Departments is busy studying for the upcoming examinations.

I put my things in front of me as I prepare myself for a hard study session. After all, I'm a University Scholar so I have to study harder than anyone I could think of. I plug my earphones and shuffled my study playlist. Even the songs I listen to are organized into a playlist, that's a proof on how organized I am.

~*~

Today's Friday, meaning it's also the last day of Departmental Examinations. I gather my things from my table as I went out of my classroom to wait for Philip. Philip and I have plans to eat out with James and Steven after the exams.

"Didn't make you wait, did I?" Philip asked, stopping in front of me. He brought out his phone and texted someone.

"Nope, I just got out of class," I said, clearly seeing he's not paying any attention. "Are you even listening?" I asked.

"Yeah, just texting James and Steven," he said, looking up from his phone. "They're already at the café, let's go."

He dragged me to the café as I felt my phone vibrate. I'll just check later. I sat down at the booth and checked their menu.

"So, Philip is early because he's with Axel, figures," James said, pointing out the obvious that I love being punctual. I hate being late.

"Pointing out the obvious that much, J?" Steven said, drinking his coffee. "Go order your drinks and we'll order the food. I'm already starving and drained from the exams."

As usual, Steven is hungry. These are my two friends aside from Philip. Philip is my closest friend but these two are seconds. James is the serious one, taking Business Administration to help improve his Dad's business in the future. Out of all of us, James is serious about improving his studies for the future.

Steven is studying Biology, majoring in Botany. At first, we thought he was going to pick Microbiology as his major but it turns out we were wrong. He loves studying microorganisms but I guess people do change, hence his major.

Philip here is studying Engineering like me; he's majoring in Civil Engineering while I major in Mechanical Engineering. I picked Mechanical Engineering to major in because my parents told me it was the hardest to major in, and being the impulsive daredevil that I am, I took it as a challenge. Boy, were they right.

"Hey!" Philip started, "I can be early too, sometimes," he whispered the last part. He went up to take our orders as I fished out my phone from my pocket.

I took it as a free time to check the notification that buzzed my phone. It was a text from Max.

Max: want to get dinner later?

I smiled at the thought. As I said, it's been weeks since I last saw him. I typed my reply.

I can't, decided to sleep early for tonight, having my early dinner with friends.

It's true, after an examination, I would rather sleep than meet with friends so that I recharge the energy I spent studying hard.

Max: where are you? Can I join?

I'm confused as to why he's inviting himself. Can't he have dinner with his other friends?

"Hey J, Steve," I started as they look up from their phones, "can I invite a friend to eat with us?" I asked, nervous at what their answer would be.

They raised their brows at my question but agreed anyway. I typed the address and sent it to him.

Max: Thanks, will be there in a jiffy.

I was about to reply when Philip came back from ordering. "What's up?" he asked.

"Max is coming to eat with us," I started, "Is that okay with you?" I asked as he raised his brow in a teasing manner.

"Is this the Max you met at the bar?" He asked, clearly wanting to tease me more.

"Is this the same Max that you danced with a few weeks ago at the same bar?" James asked, joining Philip in teasing me. I couldn't help but blush at their questions. Why do I have friends that love to tease me?

"Hey, stop teasing Axel," Steven said. Good thing I still have a friend who's like him. "Our virgin friend could only take a few hit, remember?" I spoke too soon.

"Stop teasing me," I half-shouted, not wanting to make an embarrassment of myself inside the café. "Can't I invite a friend to our group?" I added, pouting at their teases.

I swear to God, if the teasing doesn't stop I'll have to look for a new set of friends.

As I was about to take my food, I felt a body loom behind me. I knew it was Max before I could even turn my back. He was wearing the perfume I smelled from when we ate at Mcdonald's.

"Hi," he greeted my friends but his eyes were focused on me. I swore there was something inside those eyes. "I'm Max." He introduced himself to my friends.

"Hi Max," they greeted in a chorus manner. I swear my friends are enjoying teasing me right now.

"I'll go order first," he said, putting on his charming smile. He then looked at me as if inviting me. "Will you come with?"

"Why? Philip already ordered for me," I said, as he chuckled at my words. "What's funny?" I asked, not getting if there's a joke hidden inside my words.

"Just come with me," he exclaimed, grabbing my hands. I heard my friends laughing at the scene. Guess who made a fool of himself? This guy.

"Why do you even want me to come and order with you, huh?" I asked as soon as we arrived at the queue. I felt that he was still holding my arm so I released myself from his grasp.

"Nothing," he said, looking at the menu. "I'm just not good with crowds and all of that."

"Uhm, we met at a crowded bar," I reminded him. I guessed he's laughing at himself.

"I wasn't sober, that's why," he explained himself. I just agreed because we both weren't sober that night, so who am I to judge?

"Hey, you're next," I told him, but he was still looking at the menu. "Just order a pasta, it's their best seller," I informed him.

He nodded and ordered pasta. We went back to our booth as I saw my friends waiting patiently.

"Missed us?" I said, sitting down looking at my food.

"Nope," Philip said, looking at the both of us, smirking like the devil. I swear, I hate my friends today.

"Whatever," I said, getting ready to eat my food. I heard chuckles before I down my food.

"You're so different when you're with your friends," Max commented. I didn't get what he said so I waited for him to continue on what he said. "You're so playful when you're with them," he continued.

"You only hang out with me once," I said, which is true, and he smiled.

"Then I'll take you home again later, so we would hang out twice," he suggested, and I couldn't argue because what's the point? We're just friends wanting to get to know each other.

~*~

I waved goodbye to my friends as I walked with Max on the way to my dorm. I felt him use his phone and plugged his earphones as he gave one to me.

"I downloaded some Alternative song from an artist named Lorde," he said, picking a song from his playlist.

"She's my favorite!" I started, taking his earphones willingly. This guy keeps surprising me every time.

No matter how many times I listen to Lorde, I still get chills hearing her voice. What's weird this time is hearing Max along with Lorde.

"It drives you crazy, getting old."

He sang as I looked down. His voice still sends shivers down my spine just as it did the first time.

"You're the only friend I need, sharing beds like little kids."

"I fell in love with this song the moment I heard it," he commented. I smiled at him because I too was in love with this song.

"We're here," I announced. "Bye?" I half-asked.

"I'll talk to you later," he said, walking away. What does he mean by that?

I went inside my room when I heard my phone ring. Max is calling.

"Hello?"

"Hey," the voice from the other line said. It was clear that he was still walking.

"What's up?" I asked. Why did he call when we just spent the day together?

"I have a game tomorrow morning, will you watch?"

"I'll try," I said not knowing if I'll wake up early tomorrow.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning then." 

We spent the night on the phone together until it was late. I was supposed to sleep early tonight, sigh.

I scrolled through twitter before going to sleep when I saw Max's recent tweet

@car1max: I'll do my best tomorrow :D

~*~