Touch of Deception

SIXTEEN

She went to work thirty minutes earlier. She doesn't have a class that afternoon and she was called for work to fill in for an absent staff's position. She figured she could study better in the locker room than in her room. That time she was absent, she missed a quiz and she had to make up for it. Chemistry was her least favorite subject and self-studying the subject was torture enough. She heard Eli coming in and out occasionally and she never failed to chuckle at her set whenever she enters the room. Like her, Eli was called to fill in a position too. She groaned inwardly. She has already finished reading the first half. Now, she's having a hard time with the second part. She figured she'll just ask for Gail's help when she goes home. 

It's been a week since the incident happened. Nothing much happened. Her professors knew about the stalking incident and asked how was she. Unlike her math professor, everybody else was keen on knowing the full details. But her hesitation made them stop. 

The news about Neil Clarke's expulsion spread around the whole school. But unlike what she expected, not all students knew about it. Or they just don't care. She doesn't know. But it was good. Because that means they wouldn't be paying attention to her either. The last thing she would want is to have people staring at her everywhere she walks. 

It's been a week and true to her predictions, the news slowly died until it was something like a distant unfortunate event. It's been a week and Gail and her boyfriend aren't on speaking terms still. And it's been a week since she last saw Matt. He didn't go to class.  He didn't message her either. It was like he just disappeared. She hasn't thanked him properly and she is planning to do so but he's missing in action. She kept staring at their last conversation on her phone and she hasn't seen him online since. She couldn't help but wonder if he's alright or if something happened to her. 

She asked her Math professor once if Matt ever sent him notice about his absence and he did. Her professor said Matt had had something urgent to do and isn't certain when he'll be back. 

And it was new to her. She sees Matt every day at school and even when they're not at school, the universe seems to find a way for them to meet somehow. And now that he was absent, she couldn't help but realize how peaceful her life was when he wasn't around. She doesn't have to avoid his group of friends approaching as they walk the hallway. She doesn't have to speak a lot because she doesn't have someone to give her sarcastic remarks at. 

She thought, is this what it's like to miss someone? Does she miss Matt?  

No. Definitely not. 

She's just talking about how her life was without Matt pestering her. But what she wants to do was to pay Matt for saving her. A simple thank you wouldn't suffice. But she doesn't know what to give him. 

She groaned inwardly as she sat in her chemistry class, waiting for her teacher to arrive. She arrived fifteen minutes early and her Professor emailed her the classroom where she and the others could take the exam. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who missed it. Somehow, it made her relieved. At least she wouldn't be alone in the room, brooding over the test paper. She wouldn't be the only one muttering curses under their breath with how difficult the test was. 

But thankfully, she finished it on time. She received a text message from Gail saying they'll eat out for dinner. Gail only texted her the address of the restaurant. And when she arrived there, she realized what it was for. She figured Gail and Benedict were already on speaking terms with each other as she saw them already set on the table. Gail saw her first and waved in her direction. She smiled as she sauntered towards the table. Benedict gave her a small smile. He must have known what happened but Gail must have told him not to mention anything about it. She doesn't mind talking about it, though. And she thought Benedict knows it because he said, "I'm sorry for what happened." 

She only shook her head. "I'm fine. It's done and he's paying for it." 

She didn't see Neil after what happened. She figured she doesn't have to and she couldn't see him anyway. Neil hated her and she thought it might have been because of her being scared to talk to people. She didn't realize it could trigger something and that was Neil's desperation to have friends. And she kept thinking about what he said that she remembered how Neil approached her in class one time and she didn't respond. She told Gail about it and Gail kept telling her it wasn't her fault. Because nobody kills a person just because that person didn't respond to him. But she couldn't help but feel sorry for Neil. 

"Thankfully, Matt was there," Gail said and looked at her. "Where's Matt, by the way?" 

She only shrugged. "I haven't seen him for several days. I don't know where he is," she said and tried to sound nonchalant when in fact, she's worried about him. With the short time she knew Matt, he's someone who doesn't ... inform. He's someone very considerate and to disappear for a few days without telling anyone--she found it strange. 

"Matt? That guy on the rooftop?" Benedict said and Gail nodded. Benedict chuckled before he said, "I was so ready to kick his ass that time thinking he's the stalker guy." 

"Obviously he isn't. Matt is the kind of guy who would approach someone directly rather than follow her around. Isn't that right, Cel?" Gail gave her a grin to which she just rolled her eyes. And then she remembered Gail is someone who likes to put an issue on whatever Matt does for her.  

"So, let's talk about you guys." She grinned at the two of them before she continued, "Who said sorry first?" 

It was Benedict who laughed at her statement while Gail just frowned. And she already figured what happened. 

"So it was Gail," she said and Ben chuckled. 

"I was planning a surprise dinner for her but she couldn't wait and just pulled me into one of the vacant rooms and --" 

"I dare you to continue your sentence, Ben," Gail warned and Ben clamped his lips. She just chuckled as she already has an idea of what happened. 

"The next time, baby, let's not let a day pass without solving our problem." Ben gave Gail a smile as he reached for her hand across the table. She cleared her throat to tell them she's still there and they all laughed. The dinner was fun. And as she looked at the couple, she could really see they love each other so much. They've been in a relationship since they were freshmen in high school. It was amazing how they kept their relationship going. She couldn't help but think about her ex-boyfriend. 

If what happened to her didn't happen at all, will they still be together? Will they still be happy until now? She doesn't have any news about him anymore and she figured he must have moved on already. She hoped he already has. Because she already did. And she knows it was unfair of her to break up like that. But she was so so deep in the dark that all she wants to do is just end everything. And she knows he must have been devastated. 

She sighed as she wiped the tables the next day. She received her Chemistry exam results and she was satisfied with her score. Very satisfied, in fact. Only three mistakes at her chemistry exam was something to be proud of, given she doesn't like the subject much. She told Gail about it and she can tell she's proud of her too. She was the one who tutored her after all. 

She looked at the clock. Only one hour left before her shift ends and she feels like she's been working forever. It might have been the several classes she had earlier that day that she felt drained. She had a lot of make-up classes since there will be a three-day holiday coming up. She doesn't feel excited about it since she couldn't go home anyway. She had a lot of things to finish at school and she also has her job. She just groaned inwardly. 

But on the other hand, she doesn't feel like going home anyway. She'll just hear another set of rumors from her neighbors. She wondered if they ever get exhausted at formulating stories. She's sick of it. 

So she continued to clean the tables, mop the floor and take orders from some customers who ordered take-out. 

"Hey, you can go home now. I know you had several classes today. You look drained." 

She whirled to see Eli standing behind her holding a tray. "Are you sure?" she asked. 

Eli just nodded and pointed at the clock. "Your shift's almost ending, anyway." 

And indeed, she only had fifteen minutes left before her shift ends. She gave Eli a small smile before she went into the locker room to change. She already planned what she's going to do the moment she gets home. Take a shower and go straight to bed. She sighed as she could already imagine the warm bath. 

She bid goodbye to Eli and to others before she went out. But she stopped in her tracks when she saw someone's familiar back. He was wearing a simple white shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows and faded blue jeans. She furrowed her brows as she stared longer. Trying to digest what he was doing there. And it was as if he realized someone's behind him that he turned to look at her. His face was blank at first and then his lips curved into a wide smile as he crossed the distance between them. He stuffed his hands inside his pockets as he looked down on her. She still couldn't form a single word as she kept staring at him. 

He cleared his throat before he said, "How are you?" 

She gave him a dubious look. She still couldn't believe he's here. After several days of being absent. "Why are you here?" 

He chuckled. "That's not the answer I was expecting but well, I finished doing my business somewhere so that's why I'm here now." 

"Business," she said. 

Matt nodded. "Business, yep." A wide grin was plastered across his face. He leaned and whispered, "Sorry to disappoint but you'll have to tolerate my presence once again." 

She couldn't help but chuckle at that. "But what are you doing here?" 

"I was waiting when you'll finish work," he said without even hesitating. 

"Oh." That was all she could say. "Are you still worried about the stalker?"

Matt shook his head. "Nope. I just want to walk you home."

She blinked at him and Matt just  smiled before he said, "Shall we?" He gestured his hand and they started walking down the street.   

And she realized, being friends with Matt, it might not be too bad after all. 

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