Fall and Spring

Chapter 4

HARUMI's POV

When I opened social media, Bailey's post were the first to show up.

Me: How are you going to live your life?

Ortega Girl: breathe?

You made my day, girl! Your mind is crazy!

I laughed at what I read. It even had a picture of a woman sitting with her hands on the table but her face is not in the picture. From her outfit, I knew it was Autumn because she was wearing the same thing earlier in the library. The background also shows that they were in the canteen.

Bailey is well-known in our university, so he has a lot of followers. It only took half an hour and the post already reached a thousand reactions. I read some of the comments.

'which of the Ortega?'

'Even without seeing her face, she seems pretty'

'is she the pretty one in your department?'

'introduce me to her'

'hope you show her face next time'

'beautiful hands, those fingers, girl! I wonder how far she can reach, haha just kidding'

I raised my eyebrows at the last comment.

Oh dear, it's so deep.

I blushed at what I thought before leaving a comment:

'mine'

I don’t know why I commented that.

I immediately went to the canteen, and Bailey was just coming out.

"Don’t play hard to get, sis, that's jackpot," he whispered before leaving.

What was he saying?

I approached Autumn with a smile.

"Shall we?"

"Huh? Where?" I saw her hiding a small piece of paper. I wonder what it is.

"You still have work, right? Let's go together," I saw her check her watch.

"Sorry, I forgot," as she grabbed her things, we left together.

"What did you and Bailey talk about?" I asked, making her look back at me.

"Uhmm... just this and that," I wanted to hit her. What kind of answer was that?

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing, we just talked about our subject earlier," I stopped walking, so she stopped too.

"From what I remember, Bailey had a class earlier, and as far as I know, you’re classmates."

"Geez, how do you know my schedule? Are you a stalker?" She hugged herself and looked at me, so I pinched her side.

"Ouch! I'm just joking, our professor kicked us out," she held her side and rubbed it.

"Huh? Why?"

"Ask your chatty friend," she said with a frown. I laughed because she looked cute.

"So, are you two friends now? Do you have a second friend already?" She suddenly froze. she literally didn't move for a few seconds.

"Checklist number 1 and 2..." I heard her whisper. "Nope. Never. We will never be friends," she said seriously.

What’s going on? Did Bailey do something to her? What are these checklist 1 and 2?

"Did he do something to you?" Maybe because of his post? Maybe he wasn’t asked if it was okay to post it even if her face wasn’t visible.

"Nothing, your friend is just a bad influence," I didn’t like what I heard, so I kicked her foot.

"Ouch! April 1942 Bataan Death March."

"Huh? What are talking about?"

"W-well, something just flashed back in my mind," I sighed and pulled her until we reached the store. We found Gusion and Guinevere.

"Here comes the beauties!" Guin greeted us.

"Hello," my companion greeted.

"Uhmm... I have a favor to ask," all of them looked at me.

"What is it?"

"Is it okay if you extend your shift until 8:00 pm? I’ll talk to Mom. I’ll make up for it tomorrow, I promise. My classes will end early in the afternoon anyway."

"That’s fine, but why?"

"Just need to go somewhere."

"Date?"Gusion asked and I laughed.

"No."

"Okay, be careful," they returned to the cashier and Autumn was about to enter the staff room when I grabbed her hand.

"Why?" she asked, puzzled.

"Come with me."

"Huh? It’s my second day here. If you want to go somewhere, then go. I need money."

"Just for today."

"Just go with her." I looked at Gusion. "She won’t stop until you go."

She reluctantly left the store, and I followed her.

"Where to?"

"Just to the nearby park," we walked to the park as it started to get dark.

"So, what are we doing here?" she asked and sat on a bench.

"Just talking," I replied and sat next to her.

"About what? Horror?" She really isn’t easy to talk to.

"Aren't wefriends now? I just want to get to know you better, not just your name."

She paused before speaking. I also noticed a change in her expression.

"Who do you want? Luna or Lucas?"

"Huh?" I was puzzled by her question.

"If not them, then what? Money? I don’t have that, that’s why I’m working to survive," I couldn’t understand what she was saying. "Not that either?" She scratched her head. "I also can’t get you into the entertainment industry—" I immediately covered her mouth.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, frowning, and she seemed confused. We can't seem understanding each other.

"What do you want?" She removed my hand from her mouth.

"I said I want to get to know you, and now you’re saying all sort of things."

"Are you sure? I’m the one you want to know?"

"Why? Do you see me with someone else?" She shook her head.

I saw her smile. She also bit her lower lip and shook her head.

Why does she look so happy?

"You know?..." She looked at me with a smile. "I like you."

I was surprised by what she said. A sudden confession?

"W-wait, take it easy, you’re moving too fast," I said nervously.

She laughed before looking at the sky, and the stars were starting to appear. The moon was also very bright. I stared at her.

She’s really beautiful.

She looked at me again. "Actually, you’re the second person who asked me about myself."

"Second? Who’s the first?"

"Bailey," I was surprised by what she said. "We had a simple conversation earlier. He asked me what my goal in life was. Even though I didn’t answer him properly, I enjoyed the conversation we had." She looked up at the sky again, and I followed her gaze.

"I thought he was a bad influence?" She laughed at my question.

"Well, he makes me do things I can’t."

"Like what?"

"Hahaha, Don’t ask."

"I thought we were friends now, there shouldn’t be secrets."

"Even so. There are just things I really can’t say."

"Like what?"

"You’re really persistent, Haru-chan."

I smiled at her calling me by my name. When she first called me Harumi-chan, I was really annoyed, but now it’s just funny. We stayed silent for a few minutes until I remembered something.

"Can I ask a question?"

"What is it?"

"Why did you stop after the first semester of your third year?"

She glanced at me.

"You saw my grades, right? If I hadn’t stopped, all my subjects would be fail."

"What happened?"

"Well, let’s just say I messed up."

"What did you mess up?"

"I already said there are things I don’t want to talk about."

"You’re so selfish," she laughed, but I didn’t feel any joy in it.

I stood up and went in front of her.

"What do you want to do now?" She thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"Nothing, did you think of something?" I smiled at her and pulled her toward the street food vendor.

While we were eating, she kept glancing at me.

"Do you come here often?"

"Yes, Bailey and I come here most of the time."

"Even the rich eat food like this?" I laughed at what she said. And there she was again, smiling and watching me.

"Bailey was the one who brought me here."

I still remember how he used to feed me all sorts of things, so I quickly got used to Filipino food.

"Have you known each other for a long time?"

"Since elementary, we’ve always been together, so even now, we’re like twins." After finishing my food, she added more to my cup.

"He knows all your dirty secrets?"

"Hahaha... something like that."

"I have one more question."

"What is it?" I drank the juice she handed me.

"Haru-chan, do you have a boyfriend?" I spat out the drink at her question. She immediately handed me her handkerchief.

Wow. It smells nice. I wonder what perfume she’s using?

"None, why?"

"If you don’t have one, I’ll just court you." I immediately faced her at her statement.

Is she out of her mind? we're both girls.

"Are you joking?" I asked, annoyed.

"No," she took my hand and placed it on her chest. I felt the strong beating of her heart.

"Are you serious?!"

"Yes, why?"

"I mean, maybe you’re just tired."

"I know when I’m tired or not."

"Autumn, we can’t."

"Why not?"

"I’m straight."

"Really?" She showed me her phone, and I saw Bailey’s post and my comment 'mine'. There were many reactions to that comment, and Bailey even added to it.

'sold'

That was Bailey’s reply to my comment.

"Is that why you want to court me?"

She leaned her face closer to mine, causing me to pull back.

"No, but because I like you," she gave me a sweet smile.

"Sorry, but I don’t want to."

"Sorry too, but I like you. I’ll still court you."