Milena (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER III: Jelly Ellie

I'm happy when she's jealous. It's nice to know she's afraid to lose me.

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I opened my eyes and looked around. I wondered how I got home. The television is on and some cartoon show was playing. I stretched my arm to grab the remote control, so I could change the channel, but I felt that there’s someone poking at my side. I can’t see the person who’s poking me. I tried to push it away from me, but the poking didn’t stop. I realized that I am still sleeping and someone’s trying to wake me up. I muttered, “five more minutes please!”

I heard stifled laughter. Something inside me, told me to wake up. My body jolted up on instinct. The poking on my side stopped and I saw a person beside me. I didn’t recognize her. She’s a new student teacher, looks like she’s two or three years older than us. She smiled at me and said, “Hello there, cutie! Wakey! wakey! Good thing I am not Mr. P!”

Mr. P is our English teacher in this class. He’s strict so if he caught you sleeping at his class, he will send you directly to the principal’s office.

Miss Student Teacher pinched the tip of my nose before leaving me dumbfounded. She continued her lecture as if nothing happened. Why didn’t I hear her waking me up? My quick nap took longer than it should be. So embarrassing!

And what did she call me? A cutie? Gosh. I am flattered!

I fixed my wrinkled clothes and sat up straight. I grabbed my notebook and start writing the notes written on the blackboard. Her teaching is not boring unlike Mr. P. I hope she could permanently replace Mr. P! I’m starting to enjoy this class now! I chuckled at how much I am being harsh to Mr. P.

As I write my notes, I feel that someone is staring at me, so I checked from my left to right. Cyclops’ laser eyes are glaring at me again. And it’s super scary! The smile on my lips vanished as soon as my eyes met Azil’s.

I whispered to her nervously, “Hi Azil! Why are you looking at me like that? Do you need something from me?” She raised an eyebrow at me and then hmpff'ed me. She put on her earphones again and got busy writing on her notebook. I went back taking notes before our substitute teacher replace her writing on the blackboard.

When the lunch bell rang, I gathered all my things up as soon as our class ended. Azil ran outside the room without saying anything to me. What’s her problem? Is this her time of the month? She’s sweet to me this morning but her friendly aura turned hostile so quickly! I never knew she’s a moody type of person like me. But I promise that I will always be nice to her in spite of our temperamental differences. Some of our mutual friends thought of Azil as childish. Maybe this is her, acting like a child now or she’s having her tantrums. I don’t know how I would pamper her. I needed to learn more on how to engage with a child having tantrums.

I started looking for her. Where would that gorgeous girl go? I properly fixed the position of my eye glasses at my nose, so I can see clearly. I searched almost everywhere. My final search were the restrooms and there she was! I saw a glimpse of her orange backpack and went inside one of the cubicles. Luckily, there’s no one else inside, as I barged in dramatically. I knocked at her locked cubicle door, “Hey, Azil? Are you alright?” She did not respond so I knocked again.

She shouted, “Why are you here? Leave me alone!” Her voice sounded hoarse. Was she crying again? My girl is a certified cry baby.

“Hey, are you okay in there? It’s lunch time. Zec didn’t attend her classes today. So, let’s eat together.”

I jumped out of my skin when she opened the door harshly. The door made a loud thud at the wall. I looked at her puffy eyes, still red from crying. She held my hand as she stared back at me. I gently touched her cheeks. The stain of her tears was still there.

“Hey, why are you crying? Are you feeling sick? Do you need to go to the clinic?”

She shook her head no then asked, “Mi, are you asking me out to have lunch with you just because there is no one else to invite? and your ex-lover is absent?”

I went to the sink to wet my handkerchief a little and wiped it gently to her face, then said, “Nope! I really want to have lunch with you alone! This is our first day, right? And Zec is my best friend. I already told you that. We’ve never been a couple.”

Her sulking mood slightly turned bright, and replied, “Alright! What are we waiting for! We only have 40 minutes left! Let’s have our lunch date! I could not wait to eat you. Um. I couldn’t wait to eat with you and digest those delicious foods!”

At our school canteen. I pulled a chair out for her and I offered to buy her lunch.

“Azil what do you like to eat? Just wait for me here and I’ll buy you anything you want.”

“Anything I want? You. I mean, if you want to order that garlic chicken or that steamed fish, I will order that too. Also, only one-half rice and bottled water, please. Thank you.”

Her cheeks turned red. She’s blushing! She handed me some money, but I returned it to her, “No need, baby. This is my treat for our first lunch date.” I winked at her and her cheeks turned even redder than before. So cute!

I went and patiently waited at the end of the students’ queue. There’re so many people waiting in the line! Therefore, some students preferred an early lunch or a late lunch. And some preferred packed lunch boxes so they could eat wherever they wanted to. I looked at the person before me and realized that she’s Miss Substitute Teacher. Gosh! I didn’t have time to get her name! She saw me and smiled, “Hello there, cutie! Having a late lunch too? Did you take another nap before going here?”

I felt my face turned red because of the embarrassment. I nervously scratched the side of my neck and laughed, “Hmm... about that. I think I need to say sorry to you, Miss?”

“Oh yes! You don’t know what my name was because you are sleeping! I introduced myself at the class earlier. I am Isabel Flores, but you can call me Isabel or Isa when we’re not in class. I don’t want to be called Miss every time because I feel like I am too old. I am a substitute teacher for Mr. P until he’s out from the hospital. And, you are Miss Suárez, right? Can I call you Milena or Lena?”

I wanted to say, you can call me ‘Mine’. Just kidding! I don’t want to do that! I want to punch myself for trying to flirt! I’m already unavailable for goodness sake!

“You can call me Milena or Lena. And, I am sorry if you caught me sleeping at class earlier, Miss Isabel. I wanted to take a five minutes nap, but it took longer. I didn’t notice that the class is already starting.”

“It’s okay. You only overslept for 15 minutes. At first, I didn’t want to disturb you but I want to see your face. And, please! drop the formality when we’re not in class. Isabel’s fine or any nickname you preferred. I’m just three years ahead of you! Nice meeting you, Lena.”

“Nice meeting you too, Izzy.”

“Oh, I love that nickname!”

She shook my hand and we chit-chatted for minutes until we both reached the counter. We ordered our foods and she said goodbye. Izzy’s fun to talk with. Her attitude is like my older cousin. A very optimistic person. I like her to permanently replace Monster, I mean, Mister P. I smiled at the thought of calling Mister P as Monster P. I’m so witty!

I didn’t know that I am smiling at my joke while I gave Azil her foods. And for that, I received another death glare from her, and she begrudgingly asked, “Why are you still smiling like that? You looked like a crazy dog! You just talked with that ugly witch and you are smiling like a lunatic!”

“Oh, baby! You’re so mean! Please, don’t be so grumpy!”

“If you have a girlfriend that still flirts with another girl, do you think you will not be mad?”, she asked angrily as she sliced her chicken. Poor chicken! Even the small bones were sliced into tidbits!

I squeezed her hand three times to stop her from tormenting the chicken, “Hey baby don’t be jealous. Look at me.” I forced her to look up at me.

And when she finally looked at me, I sweetly said, “Oh, gosh! My baby! Stop staring at me like that or I’ll fall in love! I know I didn’t have 20/20 vision, but we’re the only ones who have this kind of connection.” She tried to hide her smile at my attempt to use some cheesy pick-up lines at her.

She playfully pinched the tip of my nose and said, “That’s so sweet, Mimi!”

“Mimi? Why are you calling me, Mimi?”

“Mimi. A nickname that is so cute like you! Is there anyone else calling you that?”

I shook my head no, “No one else calls me that. They call me Milena, Len, Lena, Millie or Mi.”

“That’s good! This will be my new nickname for you. I’m the only one who’s allowed to call you Mimi, okay?”

“Alright boss! As you wish! And, for your information, I’m behaving like a responsible adult. I don’t know how to flirt because I’m already unavailable.”

“You really think I would believe that you don’t know how to flirt?”

“I’m just being friendly.”

“That’s why they all took advantage of you! Being nice and sweet will make anyone fall for you.”

“Because, unlike you, I don’t wait for people to be friendly, I show them how.”

She playfully slapped me at my shoulder, “And the Miss Congeniality Award goes to… Miss Milena Suárez! Whee! Teach me how to be you!” We laughed and continued eating our lunch.

We went back to our classroom. Azil patted a sticky note on my arm. Her written note said, “Be my date tomorrow? Exactly 7 PM. At the park near your house. Wear a dress! Oh, I forgot you hate wearing dresses! You can wear whatever you want! Anything looks good on you ;D ” She put an X over the question mark. Looks like she didn’t want to ask. She wanted me to date her at all costs! She’s so demanding! I wrote my reply at the back of her note, “Wow! So bossy! You’re too cute for that! Alright, I could be, I mean, I want to be your date tomorrow.” I handed her the note. She read and smiled then winked at me. She also threw me a secret flying kiss. I blushed hard. I love this day, but I cannot wait for tomorrow!