My Triplet Lovers

Friends?

His stare kept on bothering me the whole morning. Does he know that I wrote it? Does he think it's cheesy?

but wait-

He was already staring at me like that even before our teacher told us about the poem.

Is there something else I'm not seeing?

*school bell rings*

It's lunchtime,

Oh wait- I still need to go talk to my teacher.

I don't know why I need to and if it's about the poem, I really don't know what she's gonna tell me.

I mean I didn't write anything bad there, what does she want to tell me?

I guess I'll find out once I get to her office.

I soon arrived at my teacher's office. I knock on the door to check if anyone's inside.

"Come in!" My teacher said.

I gently turned the knob and open the door while I hear a small creaking sound coming from the door as I opened it.

"You wanted to see me ma'am?" I asked.

"Ah yes, it's about your poem. I assume it's yours because like I said earlier, for the owner of the poem to meet me here in my office and no one else went here except for you" My teacher answered.

W-wait

A-about my poem?

As my nervousness and embarrassment started to arise, I started fidgeting with my hair and avoid making any eye contact with my teacher and stared directly at the floor trying not to look at anything else.

Not long after, my teacher noticed.

"Hey relax, no need to worry. I was just really happy about the poem you wrote. It made my day, I mean I know it's not meant for me but it'll make anyone's day." My teacher cheerfully told me.

"I'm glad you think so ma'am but I don't think he'd feel that way when he reads it. I doubt he'd be feeling that way about this, He might even laugh at it thinking it's cheesy... " I answered her sounding cheerless.

My teacher just smiled and offered me a seat beside her then put her hand over my shoulder.

"How would you know if you never tried?" My teacher asked with a calm and soothing voice to better calm my nerves.

"I'm scared... " I answered and with still a little feeling of uneasiness heard in my voice.

"It's ok to be scared sometimes, the best way to chase away your fears is by facing it" My teacher said while trying to encourage me with her words and eventually those words of encouragement worked.

"I can see that you love this boy very much, if you still think he's worth fighting for then go for it! but a true man who'll love you will see your worth. I'm not saying that you're too young for this and it's ok to feel this way for someone because you'll have experience and you'll know what to do next time but if you don't then it's ok. It's part of growing up." She added.

She gave me the poem back and escorted me on my way out.

When we were at the school's gate outside, she gave me one final piece of advice.

"One last thing, There's a right time for everything. If you feel now isn't a good time then try next time once you think you're ready and when you think the time's right. No one's forcing you so no need to rush."

She said.

"And if you're really meant to be, then nothing's gonna stop you. The universe will give you a sign if the time is right and if he really is for you, but no matter what happens, don't ever forget to love yourself. That's all, Goodbye for now! eat your lunch and I hope you use my advice in a good way!" My teacher added as we waved goodbye to each other while both of us have smiles on our faces and walked our separate ways.

Her thoughts and words left a mark on my mind the whole day even when I got home. I thought about it a lot and it does make sense.

- The next day -

Troy was kinda busy with something but it wasn't what my mind was focused on. I tried to understand what my teacher told me until lunch time.

I continued to stroll along the side of the road heading to go somewhere to eat lunch. As I continued strolling while I thought about what my teacher told me...

Sign? what sign could she mean?

Do I have to ask for one? What sign should I ask for specifically... Hmmm... what about...

If he finds something that I lost before then that's the sign. I mean it's kind of a weird sign to ask for but I mean let's not make it too easy. If it happens then it's probably the right time. So far, I'm sure I haven't lost any pens or school stuff so if it happens, then that's when I tell him.

As I continued walking, I passed by Troy who's just a few steps ahead of me.

Do I do it now?

But I haven't seen my sign yet so maybe this isn't the right tim-

Wait-

Who's that beside him?

I see a familiar face...

it can't be-

As I was shocked to see who I saw, both of them paused as they noticed that I was behind them

"May? Is that you? long time no see!" The guy beside Troy cheerfully said.

"You know her?" Troy asked.

"Yeah! she's my old childhood best friend ever since we were 4 or 5 but I haven't seen or heard from her for the last 6 or 7 years not until now, How are you? Did you move or something?" He asked.

Hmm... is this the sign? He is my long-lost best friend after all... but it would probably be too soon and maybe awkward now that Luke's here. I should probably go-

"Hey! Where are you going? Come with us, let's eat lunch together so we could catch up!" Luke gladly invited me to come along with them.

Well... since I really don't know where to eat this time, I decided to come along.

"Sure" I answered.

"If it's ok with Troy?" I added because I don't want him to feel uncomfortable or uneasy with my presence.

"It's fine with me" Troy answered with a smile along his lips.

"Great! so you two know each other already? Let's go! I'm starving!" Luke said.

The three of us made it to the fast-food place we knew which was just a few blocks away from school.

We chose a seat then Luke asked both of us what our orders were then we gave our money to him then he went straight to the line waiting.

It was quiet as usual to the both of us but unexpectedly, Troy opened his mouth and talked to me!

"Uhm... Hey... Long time no see... I-I mean long time no talk?" Troy tried getting the words out of his mouth but ended up scrambled with his words.

"Y-yeah... long time no talk" I answered.

A few more moments of silence 'til I decided that I should finally give him the poem and break the ice by doing so.

"H-here! You can read it later if you want..."

I fumbled with my words but at least I finally got to say what I wanted to!

He started reading it... blood started rushing through me quickly again making my heart pound! He shouldn't have read it so soon! I GAVE IT TOO HIM TOO SOON!

Oh God... this is gonna be the death of me and at my funeral, they'll say...

"Here lies Maya who died from extreme embarrassment"

I watched him carefully as he read it. His eyes were going left to right and the further down he goes on my poem, the more his smile began to get wider and if I'm not mistaken... He's turning red...

HE'S BLUSHING!

I assume he was done reading it because afterwards, he started to stare at me again while I avoid eye contact.

WHY IS LUKE TAKING SO LONG?? This is soooo embarrassing for me...

Then out of nowhere, Troy put his hand over mine that's on the table and then grabbed it close to his chest but not actually on it.

"I'm so sorry for what I've done... I'm so sorry for ignoring you out of nowhere without letting you know the reason why I did it..." Troy apologized sincerely.

"You mean ghosting?" I asked while giving a sarcastic look on my face.

"That's what it's called? If it is then yeah... I'm sorry... I'm sorry for being such a coward and not just telling you straight away" Troy added as he sounded very sorry with his apology regretting every single thing he did.

I soon accepted it because that's all I wanted to hear but a question in my head still bothers me and I thought, since I'm getting answers, I should ask him why he did it so I can finally have peace.

"Oh and Troy, I have a question... it kept on bothering me ever since... Why did you ignore me all of the sudde-"

I got interrupted by Luke. "Food's here!" Luke announced.

"Come on! Let's eat! I'm famished!" Luke added.

I thought that since I couldn't finish asking that question, maybe it was the universe's way to say that it wasn't the right time yet.

I mean there are a lot more opportunities where I could ask him that and it might be a little too soon. But no worries! I could wait!

Before Troy ate his lunch, he told me something.

"What was it that you were going to ask earlier?" Troy asked.

"Nah, it's nothing important. I could tell you another time. For now... LET'S JUST EAT!" I answered and said the last words loudly emphasizing that all that matters now is FOOD! 'cause I'm really starving!

We finished eating. We stood up after, then Troy raised one of his hands and asked...

"Friends?" he asked.

"Friends." I answered although I would've preferred girlfriend, a friend's a good start.

I raised my arm then shook his hand as we both agreed to be friends again.

"Maybe we're just supposed to be friends,

But with the hands of time it all depends"