Lies I Never Told You

CHAPTER NINE: BLAIR

I can't believe this guy is such a pushover. He can't even say no to his fan girls like the other members of the varsity does. It's such a turn off.

We stopped in front of our favorite food place near the university. "Have you eaten here before? This is our favorite food place," Shannon said.

"I've been walking past this place but I haven't tried eating here yet," Hunter answered.

We took our usual seat - a couple of tables away from the counter, near the self-service water dispenser. "I'll have shrimp sinigang," I said as soon as I saw it listed on the menu board. "One and a half cup of rice," I added as I was getting my wallet from my bag.

"It's on me," Hunter said. I just looked at him. "Please?" he asked. I put my wallet back to my bag. "Drinks, anyone?"

"I'll have orange soda," I said. "Shan, Ty, what are you having?"

"I'll have chicken adobo and iced tea," Ty answered.

Shannon stood up from beside me. "I still can't decide what I'm having. I'll think while waiting in line with Hunter," she said. "Let's go?" She walked to the counter and fell in line. Hunter followed her.

"You're so quiet. Are you that pissed?" Ty asked me when Hunter was out of earshot.

I sighed. "I'm just disappointed. He doesn't seem to be the jock everybody thought he is. He's so nice and accommodating of every girl who wanted his attention," I said.

"Wait. Look at me." He was sitting across from me. "Are you jealous?"

I scoffed. "What are you talking about?" I might have said it a little louder because everyone in the room looked at us. "Sorry," I said to them. "Jealous my a*s," I whispered to Tyrone.

"Then why are you so disappointed?"

I thought about it. But I can't find any reason. "I just don't understand why it had to be me if he can ask all those girls instead." That was the only thing that came out of my mind. Well, it was partly true. There are a lot of girls who are more than willing to go out with him - to be romantically associated with him - but, why did he ask me to do it?

"Maybe because he didn't see you as someone who would like him?" I know it was a guess, but I want to believe it's true. I don't want him to see me like he sees the other girls.

I shrugged. "They're coming back." I stood up to help Shannon with her tray.

"I'll get the other one," Tyrone said as he walked towards the counter where the other two of our trays are. Hunter followed him to get the other one.

"Still mad?" Shannon asked.

I shook my head. "Just disappointed. But I'll be fine once I have my sinigang." I smiled.

She smiled back. "I know right," she answered.

"You'll be more than fine after you have your dessert." Tyrone was putting four plates of leche flan on our table. He collected the four trays and brought it back to the counter.

Hunter handed me my spoon and fork. "I hope this can make it up to you. I'm really sorry," he said.

"I told him it's our favorite dessert, so he bought four," Shan whispered.

I shrugged and started eating. "Be thankful that they serve sinigang here today," I said. "And please stop apologizing. And stop being a softie. I don't like guys who are a pushover," I said between having spoonfuls of my favorite soup.

We decided to head back to school after we ate. Tyrone and Shannon were walking ahead of us toward our building. Our class will start in ten minutes. Good thing we finished earlier, so we didn't need to rush back to class.

"Uhmmm..." Hunter started.

I looked at him. "Wanna say something?"

He hesitated for a while. "I was thinking about what you said a while back," he said.

"I won't take it back. It's what I see," I said.

He shook his head. "No. You're right. I wasn't able to see it myself but when you said it, I realized it was true. I realized maybe that's what Kiera didn't like about me," he said.

"Yeah, I think so too. Who would want to be with someone who doesn't have a firm resolve, someone who gets easily pushed and pulled around as another desires? You would say you're just being nice. There's nothing wrong about that, but being too nice is just borderline stupid."

His shoulder slumped. "So, what should I do? Be a snob?"

"Why not? You are not obligated to give attention to anyone who's seeking it. Like in the cafeteria, if someone calls your name, acknowledge it but continue walking. No need to stop for small talk. And when Elsie pulled you to her table, you should not have let her pull you. You should have pulled your arm free from her."

"So, I should be a snob."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Are your teammates a snob?"

"No. They're nice and friendly," he answered.

"Do you see them interacting so much with someone who's not they're friend or acquaintance? Do you see them having small talk with fan girls? Do you see them being pulled around by some random girl?"

He thought for a second before answering. "I get where you're getting at."

"Good. Explaining that to you is more tiring than walking back to our building and taking the stairs to the third floor." We reached our class room. "I'm not telling you to change your ways. I'm just saying I don't like it. It's still up to you. But if you really want to push through with your plan, you better think about it."

"Sure, I will," he said. "I'll see you after class?"

Tyrone was the one who answered. "Sure. Let's have our favorite snacks later," he said. "Thanks for the meal," he added.

"Thanks, Hunter. See you later," Shan said.

He looked at me, confused. "Thanks for the treat. See you later," I smiled at him. "I'll text you when our class is finished."