My Firsts With You

Chapter 3

RACHEL'S POV

Right after we spent a minute taking silly pictures at the photo booth, we came back to our booth to get our handcuffs removed. "Did you lovebirds have fun?" Jeremy razzed. Lovebirds? Yeah, right. Let me just punch this guy. "We had fun, but we're not lovebirds. That's insulting," Kenneth answered while massaging his wrist. My wrist is kind of red too since we were handcuffed for AN HOUR. I still think it was worth it in the end because we had genuine fun. "Yeah. I saw how happy you were together," Jessica said with a thoughtful look on her face. So, after putting me through that, she was following us the whole time? I love my best friend SO MUCH.

"I'm gonna slap that look off your face," I said with a sweet smile at the end, just like how she did when she handcuffed us, but this girl blew me a kiss as her reaction. "Anyways, now that you're both here, I am taking Rachel with me and Claire to do some girly things," Jessica said. "How about the booth?" I asked. "Don't worry. Martin said that they'll take care of it while we hang out," Jessica explained and I looked at Martin who grinned at me. That's sweet. I told you, he's the NORMAL one. "And besides, more and more students will come to our booth if these three stay. You know that their fangirls call them the Holy Trinity, right?" Jessica added, whispering the last part. She has a point. The three boys can be our "technique" to become the best booth here, but I don't agree with the "Holy Trinity" part.

"Sure, let's go. Where's Claire, though?" I asked, looking around to see any sign of Claire. "She's waiting for us at a booth. I promise that you won't regret going to that booth," as Jessica said this, she pulled me away from our booth going to where Claire is. As we were walking, I saw a group of boys from our grade and I recognized them as Kenneth, Martin, and Jeremy's "rivals". Yes, their rivals. Typical high school, right? Anyways, I don't think all of them are that bad. I mean, sure, most of them are cringy playboys, but like my three guy friends, one of them is nice. I think he was looking at me when we passed by. Strange, but okay. At least someone's looking at me. After a few more walking, we saw Claire waving at us. She is sitting at one of the tables and when I looked at the booth, I gasped. "NO WAY," I said almost louder than the blaring music. "Yes way," Jessica said with a proud smile. How come I've never seen this food booth?! I was walking for an hour with Kenneth but never witnessed this heavenly booth. They are selling one of my favorite drinks - bubble tea.

As Jessica and I sat down, Claire waved to a server (student) and asked for their menu. I ordered my favorite, LARGE-sized Okinawa milk tea with EXTRA pearls. Yes, I love pearls and yes, I'm expecting to look bloated next thing in the morning. Jessica ordered her usual Matcha milk tea and Claire ordered a Thai milk tea. We're Americans, but ever since our girls' trip to South Korea (we're in love with the country), me and Jessica became addicted to milk tea or bubble tea. Claire is not a huge fan of the drink, but she likes it too.

"So, what can you say about the first day of our Entertainment Week?" Claire initiated as soon as we got our orders. This is crazy good. What's more crazy is that one of the students in their class is a Korean-American. "So far, it's going well, but some guys kept bugging me and it's ruining my day," Jessica replied as she took a sip of her drink. Jessica is very pretty. According to our school poll of the most pretty girls in the entire school, she is the second, and according to the poll, I'm the first. Wow. I think Jessica is the most popular among the three of us since she's the most sociable. I am popular too, but unlike the case with Jessica, boys don't dare to "disturb" me because first, I'm the "feisty" one, and second, they're scared of Kenneth. I don't understand the second part. What's scary about that guy? Does he look like our bodyguards or something?

"Aren't you used to it already?" I asked and took a long sip of my milk tea. "Well, I was, but they just keep getting more and more bothersome each day. Their lines are getting cheesier," Jessica answered with a disgusted look on her face and Claire giggled at her. We conversed a bit more about Jessica's admirers and switched to other topics once we got bored with the previous one. This is my favorite kind of hanging out with my girls - just sitting around, taking a sip of our drinks, and talking about various things. In this manner, we can easily check up on things that we are experiencing. I also love how we can hang out like normal girls despite our family backgrounds.

KENNETH'S POV

So, here we are, occupied because of the insanely long queue in our booth. These people were not here before. The three of us even have to take turns staying in the booth because some girls enjoy being handcuffed to us, so we have no choice but to roam around with them for a few minutes. We had to limit OUR time to 10 minutes per girl who wants to go with us. This is crazy and tiring, but I love the popularity I'm getting. "Sorry, girls. We're on a 20-minute break now. We're so worn out, so you can just come back later or any day," Jeremy declared with a flirty wink at the end. Look, I need to clear my name here. Jeremy is the MOST flirty guy among us three, so it's not me. I have my standards and this guy just goes with whatever his guts tell him, or maybe it has to do something with his hormones.

"Oh, right, Kenneth. I have a question for you," Jeremy said as he sat down between me and Martin. "Go on," I replied tiredly. I have been walking a lot today, okay? "What do you think about Rachel?" he asked with a hand under his chin, anticipating my answer. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at him for a few seconds. "What about Rachel?" I asked back. This dude must be very exhausted from all the walking. He's even thinking about Rachel now. *Shivers*

"Nothing. It's just that I have a feeling that we'd make a hot pair," Jeremy explained a bit seriously. Am I hearing this right? Can I record this moment? I'm trying hard not to laugh. "Nah, dude. You don't stand a chance with her," I frankly replied while shaking my head. "Why?" he asked and this is the first that I've seen Jeremy looking so curious. Does he seriously like Rachel? Like, the Rachel I have known since childhood? The Rachel who doesn't care even if I get hit by a bus? "Look, she won't go for a guy like you. I know it because I've known her the longest. She has high standards, and you're... way below it," I explained and he only nodded. He did not even get insulted by my last statement.

"Do you like her?" Martin asked after being silent for an eternity. I just felt the need to exaggerate his silence, okay? "What if I do?" Jeremy replied, raising his eyebrows. Martin furrowed his eyebrows at him as if he's getting scared now with the way Jeremy's acting. "You're being weird. Come on, you can rest on my shoulder," I told Jeremy while patting my shoulder for him to lay his head on. He needs to sleep now. "I mean," Martin suddenly spoke. We both looked at him and he looks serious now. Are my friends okay?

"She's the prettiest here, so, who wouldn't like her?" Martin said and looked at us with a serious face. He's scary now. I saw Jeremy smirking and shortly after, he chuckled. "Why are you being serious now? Okay, I was just kidding. I don't like Rachel. She is someone I can't handle given her temper," Jeremy clarified. I knew it. He was just joking. I unconsciously breathed out a sigh of relief. What? Why am I relieved?

"It's true, though. If you don't focus on her temper, you can't deny that she already looks like a model," Martin explained. "You like her, don't you?" I asked, astonished by how serious Martin is while saying that Rachel is the prettiest. I think I'm the only one who's tired of seeing her face. "I don't. I'm just saying it as a friend," Martin defended himself. I don't know why, but I'm not convinced. Something tells me that Martin meant that differently. "Well, just, don't tell her directly, okay? She might get full of herself and we don't want that," I joked and the two chuckled.

== AFTER 15 MINUTES ==

After waiting for decades, the girls are finally back from wherever they came from and they look refreshed. That's unfair. They were relaxing when we were suffering here. I guess being popular is indeed very tiring.

"How was the booth?" Claire asked as she looked around the booth. "I don't know. We spent an hour and a half walking around the school while being handcuffed to different girls," Jeremy groaned while making strange hand gestures. "I think I've memorized every corner of the school now," I said in a dull tone.

"Ooh, you could bring one of your girls with you and make out," Jeremy said and made kissing faces. I laughed at his silliness. "Gross," Rachel remarked without hesitation. That's expected. It's just Rachel being Rachel.

"Well, now that we're here, you guys can rest for as long as you want and we will take over," Claire said while arranging the mess of papers we made from trying to write the names of those girls before. "Exactly! Now don't disturb me in my sleep," Jeremy said and went to the back of the classroom. We have our booth right outside our room if you're wondering. "Hey, Rachel," Martin stood up and walked to Rachel who looks curious about what Martin had to say. I observed them and saw Rachel shaking her head 'no' and saying 'sure' while smiling, and the two left. They're suspicious. Or maybe it's just Martin who's suspicious. Or maybe I'm just tired and thinking too much. Nevertheless, I don't care. They can hang out for as long as they want or date if they want.

...

I'm going to sleep next to Jeremy.

END OF CHAPTER 3