The Girl Who Didn't Know Valentine
1093 Words
Everyone looked extra energetic and lively today. I am no exception, of course. I don’t have anyone special to spend the special occasion with but I had someone I wanted to spend the day with. And I was sure I was going to pursue her even if she shove me away.
“Harv!” I exclaimed when I saw him about to enter the school premises by the gate. He turned around and stopped walking to wait for me. When I reached him, I waved. “Good morning,” I greeted with a smile. “Happy Valentine’s.”
He raised a brow. “What’s up with you? You have way too much energy to start the day.” He clucked his tongue to show his disappointment. “What are you so giddy about, you don’t even have anyone to spend Valentine’s with.”
I looked away with a crooked smile. “Who said I don’t have anyone to spend the day with?”
Harvey’s jaws dropped. “You’re going out with Connie?!”
My eyes widened, immediately covering his mouth to lessen the loudness of his voice in case the other students might hear it and would start circulating baseless rumors about it. A story, to another story, transforms to a completely new story, over, and over, and over again. “No!” I replied. “It’s not her. I’m going with Forest.”
He choked on his silence and coughed out loud. “You’re on name base terms now?”
I nodded even if I knew she didn’t even remember my name.
“Since when?”
“Since…” I hesitated. “Since I started talking to her?”
“Liar.”
I frowned and pouted because I knew myself I was lying. Who am I kidding? “She’ll get used to my existence and will eventually remember my name.”
Harvey snorted out loud. “She doesn’t even remember your name?” He questioned and laughed out loud. I’m not gonna lie, his laugh was quite offensive but they’re all for reasonable costs. “You’re such a fool, Mark. I can’t believe you’re being stooped that low for a puppy love.”
Whatever it was, I was willing to take.
Most of our classes today were cancelled. Valentine’s was a lot bigger of a deal in the university than I thought. People, from side to side, were couples walking together and smiling and laughing together.
I rushed to the fine arts department, patiently waiting for Forest outside their building. I was fidgeting on my fingers nervously as I waited. I was not used to asking people for dates but my impulsiveness sent me here – got me this far in just over two weeks. I just have to be myself and prove to her I’m worthy or her time. I thought to myself while trying to calm myself down.
When I saw her red hair from a distance, I flinched from my position and hurriedly went to her. “Hi!” I greeted cheerily as soon as I reached her. As usual, she ignored me and kept walking. I gulped, my heart pounding against my chest, as I grabbed her wrist and pulled her for a halt. “Do you have anything to do today?”
“Ignore you.”
I pouted at her response. I knew she was keen on ignoring me but I didn’t think she would be so unhesitant about it. “I wanna take you somewhere.”
She jerked my hands off her, furrowing her brows. “Make me.”
I was furious. She was challenging me as if she already knew I lost. At first, I was tempted to carry her. But the urge of feeling defeat before even doing it horrified me. So, I took her arms, slowly gliding my hands down to intertwine and lock my hands with hers. I gazed back at her and it seemed to soften her. I took that chance to drag her to walk with me. I continued pulling her while she was too stunned of my bold move.
As soon as we reached the rooftop, she pushed me away and sent me a glare. “What the f**k are you taking me here for?” She asked.
I smiled and walked across her so she can see me clearly. I was more than glad she was, at least, giving me the chance to speak and explain myself. If she was in a worse mood, she would have stormed away, and left a punch mark over my face for dragging her with me.
“What the f**k are you doing? Stop staring at me like that. It’s disgusting.”
I chuckled at how straight-forward she was. I reached inside my bag and took my name tag out, gripping it tight as I slowly handed it over her direction. She briefly glanced down to see what I was hiding behind my fist, but I had to speak first before I completely hand it over to her. “In Korea, we have this tradition.”
“You f*****g dragged me all the way to tell me about a stupid tradition?”
I quickly shook my head. “No, no. I…” I paused, and took a deep breath. “You see, there’s this thing…” I slowly opened my fist so she can see the nametag I was trying to give her. “To give your nametag to someone you’re confessing to.” I stammered as I looked down nervously. “And wait for them to return their nametag to see if they like you back.” I looked up and saw her brows creased even deeper. She did not look at impressed as I thought. I mean, I guess it was my fault for expecting her to be softer after this.
“What?” She replied, raising a brow.
When I realized she wasn’t going to take it anytime soon, God knows what was running in her mind right now for what I just said, I gulped and grabbed her hand, forcing her to take my nametag and ran away in shame.
I didn’t know what went in her head when I ran off and out of the rooftop when I left her with my nametag, but at least now I don’t get to see if she throws it away or not.
Very manly of you, Mark. Very manly. I said to myself before jumping off the steps in giddiness. I was sure my cheeks were already burning in shame.
- Writer
