CH. 2 | Ice-cream Pay Back
1709 Words
Averine’s POV
“Excuse me, Miss, this is your bitter tea,” the sweet voice of a young waitress stopped my shocked gaze.
“a-ah yes, thank you,” I stuttered, trying to hide my embarrassment. Having the waitress leaving my table, I looked at my tea, blinking uncontrollably, trying hard enough to process the scene. With a blank mind, I stir my tea out of formality, like seriously, I don’t think there is anything I should mix. After a stir, or two, I sip my tea and realized that it’s hot. It’s very hot. I carelessly put my glass down as I try to soothe the pain on my burned tongue. I crouched a bit to hide my face from no other than Kai. Why does he have to be the one sitting across me? And what the hell happened to his fangirls? After having 10 minutes “fixing” my tongue back, I finally got a hold of my study notes. I then take my favorite yellow highlighter and start to mark almost everything. I was so into my notes, that it takes two shoulder taps from the waitress to gain my attention.
“huh?” I look up, giving the waitress an odd look.
“Here’s your strawberry ice-cream, miss”
“But, I didn’t or- “
“Of course, this was ordered by that man over there,” she said with little giggles while nodding her head towards Kai.
“No, no, you must be joking, I don’t even know him,” I lied. I know him better than anyone here.
“Oh, but I’m sure he knows you, Miss,” The waitress gave me a wink and then left my table.
I looked at the glazed strawberry ice-cream, it’s my favorite flavor, I’m either happy or terrified that he knows it. When I turned to Kai, he seemed busy with his medical books. I would rather not disturb him and trap myself into a conversation with him. I took a spoonful of ice-cream and how glad am I that it helped ease my pain. It’s not a big cup of ice-cream, so I finished it in 5 minutes, I know, I love ice-creams. I heard a small chuckle as I try to scrape the remaining melted ice-cream. Kai was looking at me, his face leaning against his fist while his other hand remains with a pen. I tried to look away to avoid his handsome face.
“You know there’s no use in looking away from me,” he said with a smirk on his face.
I ignored him and put the ice-cream glass aside, giving me more space for my notes.
“I’m talking to you,” he tried again.
Why does it feel like my notes are so much more interesting now? I fixed my eyes on my notes. Tricking myself into thinking that I am deaf. Please let me be deaf right now.
“Averine,” he called me.
“What,” I answered without looking at him
“Averine,”
I didn’t answer.
“Ave,” and that’s when I lost it.
“What do you want, Kai?” I raise my head a bit and looked to his eyes.
“You,” he said shortly. “not ignoring me,” he continued. I swear it feels like my heart skipped a beat. Or maybe ten. I don’t know, I can’t tell.
“Yeah right, stop bothering me, would you?” I said briefly, leaving his stare and pouring back my attention to what’s important. To my surprise, he did stop the conversation and my little heart blamed me for it. Not long after, I hear footsteps coming my way. I thought it’s Lulu, so I checked the time, nope, it’s not even three yet. I gave my head a small turn but it was useless. The person I meant was already sitting in front of me, no, I meant in front of Kai. She looks pretty from behind, her golden hair with princess-like curls, her lacey dress painted with bright colors. Of course, how could I even think that Kai would be sitting alone without any Barbie-ish companion?
“Kai! Have you waited long?” She squealed with her high-pitched voice.
“Uh, no. Here, order something,” and there she is, already holding a menu.
“Miss, here is your banana waffles with caramel sauce,” I can smell it already, the sweet caramel and freshly made waffles, oh heavenly!
“Thank you,” I said with a sweet smile.
“Excuse me,” sound the Barbie doll, snapping fingers, calling for the waitress. I gave the waitress a nod as she shoots out a worried smile.
“I’d like to have what she’s having, please,”
“Certainly, any drinks?”
“No, thanks. Oh and, please be quick?” she shut the menu and give it to the waitress without even looking at her. I rolled my eyes. Have manners, please.
“So, Kai, about our project, I was thinking maybe we could-” her words got cut off.
“No, we are not paying anyone or any hospital or even clinic to have our project proposal accepted,” that’s the longest sentence I heard him say all day.
“You do realize how hard this project is and how hard it is to pass the bar,”
“Yeah, so?”
“Yeah, so, why not just take the easy way out?”
There’s no respond from Kai and I’m ripping my ears apart to know what he’s going to say. I took a little peek and found out that he’s busy calling someone. Seconds later, I heard his voice again.
“Yo, Dan, yeah dude, I was thinking if you already have a partner for Prof. Li’s class?”
“What?!” blondie shouted at him and took away his phone.
“You’re ditching me?” she asked again, I wish I could see her face.
“Yeah, I hate lazy partners. I don’t want to be a part of your dirty little tricks just to pass a class, Brie,” Ah so that’s her name. Brie. Like a cheese? I giggle with the thought of her face on a brie.
“Ugh, this is irritating. I should have gone with Brady,”
“I’d like that, you may leave,” he sounded demanding. I bat my eyelash and gave a little sigh.
I suspect she gave Kai an “are-you-kidding-me look” because then she was carelessly putting back her little make-up mirror and a bunch of girly stuff back into her glittery diamond-coated purse. Oh, the life of the riches.
“Brie,” Kai called her name with a calm voice without looking at her.
“What?” I can sense hope in her intonations.
“Take you damn waffle on your way, I don’t like caramel,” he continued, eyes fixed on his book. I heard no answer from blondie, just a small grunt and her steps storming away.
I checked my phone, battery showing 50%, this should be enough for me to leave Waffles. I closed all my notes and unplugged my charging cable. I glanced at my untouched banana waffles, thinking how much this would be a waste if I just leave it here. I called the young waitress and asked her to wrap this up, hoping that I would still have the appetite I have lost here. I took my white backpack with colorful pins and steadily put in all my stuff, making sure no notes or music sheets got left behind. I was all ready to go when I heard my name being called.
“Ave,”
I turned my head to have his eyes fixed on mine, captivating me in such away. Dark and serious, but still gentle in away.
“Yeah?” I sounded fragile. I promise I wasn’t intending to sound that way.
“Aren’t you going to do something about the ice-cream?” oh, that’s what it’s about.
“Oh y-yeah,” I stammered. Reaching into my bag for my little grandma-styled wallet.
“How much was it?” I asked while counting the money I have inside. I’m not rich, the allowance I hold onto every day are from my part-time jobs.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I look up to him.
“Do you want me to buy you another ice-cream? To cover up mine?” he gave a simple laugh, heavens may be such in a good mood to give me such a view.
“Silly, I don’t have a sweet tooth, but I do have something I want from you,”
“I don’t have money that much okay if money is what you’re aiming for. I also don’t ha-”
“Stop, calm down, dear,” I stopped talking. “Don’t call me that”
“But you are dear to me,” he shot me a grin.
“Can you please continue on your sentence, please? What do you want me to do?” I know I sounded irritated and maybe he was offended, but whatever, I cursed myself for eating that ice-cream. I sighed, hoping he would notice my desperation.
“How busy are you from a rating of 1 to 10?” that’s a silly question.
“Um, I’d say 7?” I sounded unsure.
“Right, that will do. Can you meet me tomorrow at around 7?”
“No,” I answered fast.
“I don’t accept a ‘no’” he sounded upset and impatient. His eyes all dark and eyebrows strict as ever.
- Writer
