Chapter Twenty Two
1812 Words
Against All the Current II
“Who have you done it the first time?” I asked out of curiosity. I immediately shook my head and my hands in the air to make sure he wouldn’t take this the wrong way, saying, “Of course, you don’t have to answer it. I was just—”
“The first time was for myself and the other was for my mom. I’m asking her to have it on the menu soon. And now you’re the third to exclusively try it.”
I smiled at him. “This would be a hit and I'm not just saying it because I know you. I suggest you add it as soon as possible. I’ll advertise your shop for free. And even promote the German Tea flavor.” I winked.
He chuckled, shaking his head down. “Thank you.”
I leaned back to my chair and stared at Yang Yichen as he looked down on his fingers that were nervously fidgeting each other. I’m guessing he hasn’t really talked much to a girl that’s why he’s acting this way but considering his inexperience, he’s quite good. I’m quite having comfortable with the silence and the small laughs he gives me.
“When we met in the pub,” I paused, making him glance at me as I spoke to catch his attention. “Did you know me then? You said it would be more surprising if you didn’t know me.” I asked out of curiosity because if he did, it makes sense that he wouldn’t ask for my name which I shamelessly expected from him.
He looked down embarrassed of the memory of bumping into him at the pub. “Ah…”
So he didn’t then. He must have looked up for me and figured out who I was. That explains why I sense a little bit of caution from his actions with me. Which was quite smart so he can protect his heart at all cost. I know I wouldn't hurt his so that saves me the time to save his.
“Not really.” He admitted. Seeing him shy like this makes me even more interested even if I’ve decided I wouldn’t date him and break his heart. “I just found out when I started asking about you and I realized how uncultured I am of not knowing who you were. You really are big... in a lot of... well, things you're known for...”
I crossed my arms, smiling unconsciously. “You asked about me?” I wasn’t really that
“I wouldn’t go back at the pub if I didn’t want to know who you were.” He looked hesitant before he said that but I’m glad he did. It gives me an opening to start my way to him. “Turns out you’re really popular in school.”
I stared at him more. “If you heard about me, you must know people know me for something bad.”
He looked away, his eyes squinted a little. “I wouldn’t say it’s bad.” He emphasized, prolonging the bad one as if didn’t sound bad enough. “Bad is when you kill someone and you blame someone else for it.”
I cracked a chuckle.
“That’s bad.”
I laughed. How interesting. Most guys I target don’t really know me and my reputation, which makes it a lot easier in my part, I guess since I don’t have anything to worry about. It’s refreshing that someone knows and I don’t have to hide it and worry about it. Some guys do and they like me still. Taking for chances, him. “Normal guys would back off, you know. I’m quite tenacious, they say.”
He nodded laughing. “I can see that.”
So?
“It’s understandable that they would do that.” He’s a lot more open minded than I imagined. It’s admirable that he was talking about it so casually like it didn’t bother him – not one bit. “But sometimes it can’t be helped to blame the guys. What you do… is very confusing to us.”
Very open minded.
“We don’t really know if you’re just being friendly or you’re trying to flirt. That’s when the misunderstandings happen but I’m guessing you do both so you get a loophole, no?”
He’s pretty smart too, figuring out these things with deduction and observation, and with an unbiased insight. “You’re right, I guess. I don’t really have much to say to defend myself except, it’s true.”
He smiled.
“What do you think I’m doing right now then?” I asked, grinning.
“Both.”
I laughed, resting my cheek over the back of my palms. He isn’t technically wrong but now that he’s talking to me about being a player, I therefore conclude, he’s going to my T-list. “Which do you prefer?”
He looked surprised by my question, clearing his throat, and fixing himself in the chair. “I think…” He paused. “We could be great friends, yes.”
“Friends.” I nodded, looking away, shaking my head. “Right, gotcha.”
Another week, another hell. That’s just how every Monday feels like after Sundays and it’s awful. I feel so tired even if it’s just the first school day – the first class even.
I was heading to library when someone suddenly walked out of the music room. The same music room where I saw that good-back looking guy playing the piano like a Choplin God or something. I looked up to his face and I wasn’t surprised when I saw a good face that matched with his God-like talent.
He didn’t look at me. He just passed by me without meeting my eyes but I took a good look at his face. He made me frozen in my spot, and that’s a good sign. I smirked and turned back to watch him walk away. He must not know me – which is always a good target. He looked a little restricted, and serious but he was good-looking.
I smirked before continuing to walk to the library. Aiden was already there as always. He’s always so eager to meet me anyway so no surprise there that he’s always on time when we set a time to meet together.
“Hey, Andy.”
“You’re here?”
I frowned. “What’s that tone supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” He replied coldly. When he says nothing, of course there was something. “It means nothing. Nothing I do ever meant something to you anyway.”
Okay? I sat next to him, staring at his emotionless face and acting all serious with his paper work or something. What is he dramatic about now? I wasn’t even that late today so I don’t really understand where his anger was coming from. Did he see me with a guy? “You’re here so I guess we’re still cool?” I leaned closer to him, smiling widely.
He hissed and shifted his weight away from me making me frown. “Just finish it so I can check and we can both go home.” He sounded a lot more colder than the last time I got him pissed at something.
“Seriously, Andy? You know I can’t focus when you’re talking to me like this. Let’s fix this right here, right now.” I said, dropping my pad and pen, but he was just looking away, trying to busy himself with the book he was reading and jotting stuff down. I poked him several times to catch his attention but he’s not even bothered by it this time. He was doing great keeping his cool and ignoring me like I was a ghost or something. “If you’re going to act like this, you shouldn’t have just bothered coming.”
He frantically turned to me with his brows creased. For a moment, I almost screamed in shock. I thought he would pull out a gun or a knife and begin murdering me. “Fine then. Let’s talk right here, and right now.” He barked back at me and I gasped.
So sassy. Kinda turns me on.
“How about this. How about you go ask your boyfriends to do this for you and not me. Since they’re all so important to you that you can’t even attend to a meeting with me on time, who, by the way, is the person making all your essays and written works.”
“Hey,” I pulled his arms and hugged them, grinning. “I was kidding. Come on. You’re my best friend. I love you more than those stupid toys.”
He squinted his eyes at me. “You only love me when you want something from me.”
“Ouch?” I scowled, loosening my grip on his arms.
“It’s true.”
I rolled my eyes in guilt. It’s not all true but maybe a little true so I can’t really throw it back at him. “Okay. Maybe. But I don’t only love you when I only want something from you.” I frowned at him. “I take back what I said, I don’t love you at all! Not even when I need something from you!”
“Shush!”
Aiden and I glared at each other for a hot minute before he broke the staring game and slipped a paper over to my side like the good best friend he was of mine. “Read that. It will make you understand the topic better so you’re not clueless of what we’re writing and reporting about.”
I raised a brow at him, smirking. “You really can’t stay mad at me huh?”
He sighed ignoring my remark.
I leaned closer to him, holding the paper he gave me to my direction. “I love you.” I sang, prolonging the ‘you’ in a playful manner as if it would make him feel better. He ignored me still but I see him gulp. “I love you, my super best friend.”
He turned to me, unhappy with what I was doing. “You don’t know love. You don’t even feel that.”
I froze. He’s right. I don’t really know what stupid love is. “Whatever it is, I just know it’s the one you’re giving me and I’m grateful for it.” I replied staring at the paper he gave me a while ago and probably regretting it now. “I’ll finish this soon so you can go home and rest, okay?”
He just looked at me and this time, I wondered what was going through his head when he looks at me with those sincere eyes that I hurt.
- Writer
