That Shy Girl

Chapter 4

I woke up not because of my alarm, but by Lixie scratching my door.

It's still 3:30 in the morning. I yawned, ugh i'm so tired from yesterday. I still have 30 more minutes before the sound of my alarm.

Lixie kept on scratching the door and crying "Oh, I get it. Wait, i'll just put on my slippers"

I put some jacket on and we went outside. Lixie was sniffing every place. Guess I was right, she had to let out some dump haha. Gross though.

I did what a responsible owner would do. I pick up their dirt with plastics. Asdfghjk, it gives me chills. I ran to the nearest bin and threw it there, Lixie just followed me everywhere.

We got back to the house and I took a shower. And weirdly, Lixie still followed me. I just let her since we're both girls, and she's just a dog.

"Will you be fine if I leave you here alone?" I asked Lixie and she just tilted her head. I laughed at how freaking cute that was "I gotta go to school, that's why i'm asking you" she barked once

I dunno if that's a yes or no

"I'll try leaving you once here, then later we'll go shop for your things" she wiggled her tails, I think she really understands what i'm saying.

The last thing I did was eat pancakes before leaving the house.

When I got on the bus, I didn't get to sit next to the window because there was already a lady sitting. I sat next to her. She then sneezed for 3 consecutive times. She covered her nose with her hankie "Hi miss, but do you happen to have a furry pet?" She asked me politely

Wait, how did she know? "Yes"

"Sorry, but I'm allergic to animal fur, is it ok if you…?" She said while covering her nose

"Oh yeah, sure. Sorry for making your allergy triggered" then she gestured 'no no, it's fine'

The bus was already full since it's rush hour this friday. I just stood with the handle bar, although it really makes me conscious and uneasy. I have no choice but to bear with it.

I'm still 6 minutes away

I was hoping a gentleman would offer a seat, but no luck. I sighed softly.

After I arrived at school, I already felt like I had no energy at all. Phew that was exhausting.

"Morning kuya Dan" I greeted our guard

"Good Morning! Looks like somethings off with you today" he commented

"Just tired" I said and he gave me this chocolate bar and thanked him before letting me in the gate.

I walked slowly up the hallway to my locker, I held the chocolate bar with my mouth and got what I needed. I think I wanna sleep all day. You see, the thing with me is that I get tired easily with even simple tasks.

What will I do with myself?

I closed my locker and Felix's face showed up which caused me to drop all my things "Dang, you shared (scared) me!"

I bent down to get all of it, he helped me of course.

"Sorry hehe"

I took the bar in my mouth "Do you need something?" I asked tiredly

He looked at me weirdly "Are you ok?"

I just patted his back and walked past him like a walking dead soul. It's embarrassing but I really just don't have the energy. I continued chomping up the chocolate bar.

I looked back and did I just see him close my locker? Wait.. Did I close it? Goodness' sake, I forgot

"Hey! You got time later after classes?" I shouted because we were too far from each other

"Yeah!" He shouts back.

"Ok see you! We look dumb shouting!" I shouted and

"I know right?!" I laughed at that and went back to zombie slow walking to my room

Thankfully, the room was all mine. I slept head down. I mean I literally slept.

I just woke up when I heard Mr. Oliver in the middle of our class. I straightened up and fixed my glasses, my head was spinning.

"Oh Jade you're awake" sir Oliver acknowledged me

"Are you feeling unwell today?"

Everyone's attention is on me and it makes me more sick "Sorry sir" I apologized

"Can you carry on throughout our classes?" He asked with sincere concern. Lucky to have him as my adviser. I nodded yes even though I really feel hot.

"Well then, all attention on me now. As I was saying~"

Sir continued

Denyce was absent

I tried my best to pay attention to the lectures but nothing really was going to my brain. When lunch break came, I made my way to the clinic to ask for some paracetamol to ease my headache.

The school nurse, Katy, asked me questions first

"What happened?"

"Well.. I think i'm just exhausted from the ride, and I just don't feel like I have energy today. I slept half of my first class, I feel dizzy when I woke up" that's far as I can explain, even that tires me a bit

"What are you feeling now?"

"Still the same" I honestly answered

She took the thermometer that she put earlier "37.6, you have a fever. Do you want to go home and take a rest?"

She made me drink the medicine "yeah but it's hard commuting or walking like this"

"I'll call your parents then"

"Oh no, you can't. I live in a dorm, and my family lives far from me"

"I see, then I guess you have to wait till your fever settles. You can lay there at the bed, call me if you need something, ok sweetheart?"

I nodded with a smile and thanked her. She got out of the room because she needs something to do. I stood and went over to the bed, next to the window. Drawing was the only thing I could do right now to ease my boredom.

But I can't just draw all day, there's still a lot more time to kill.

I remembered that Felix and I were supposed ask him to to buy dog stuff for Lixie later but then, this happened to me. Maybe I just need him to do me a favor, just this once. I started to write the text

Heyy, so I got lucky and caught a fever

No no no, erase

Felix, can I ask a favor?

Too direct, erase. How do you even ask for a favor without getting embarrassed or shy?? I grunted and rested a bit in the bed

Ok again,

Hey Felix, sorry but can I ask you a favor? I'm not feeling really well right now, I'm at the clinic and I can't go with you later. I was hoping you could buy Lixie some dog food and other things she needs after classes?

Send.

I put my phone on my chest hoping for a reply since it's still recess. Am I asking for too much? Omg, I think I am so I messaged him again

It's ok if you can't or if you don't want to, really?

I sent it.

Still no reply but he saw the messages already. Looks like Lixie and I are gonna share my meal later. I huffed, why am I even relying on Felix too much? I even treated him harshly yesterday and earlier. Stupid Amora.

Sorry for being rude earlier, turns out i'm not really feeling well. So…

Sent.

He also read it. Could he possibly be angry for being rude? To be honest, it's not in my nature to be snappy or grumpy. I just closed my eyes hoping for the time to speed up.

**************

Again, I slept. I checked the time, it's 9:30 am. Aaah!

It's still too early before class ends. I still feel a bit dizzy, but I smell food.

I was finding where that smell came from. There's no one in the room, but there was food on the table next to the bed i'm lying on. And ooh, there's a note with my name in it and a smiley face.

Katy must have left it for me to eat.

It was rice and squid rings, there was also some sort of soup. What really caught my eye was the brownie, I thought the canteen wasn't selling brownies!

I ate the best for the last. I hid the note at the back of my phone case, just a teeny memory.

I was startled by the opening of the door, There were 3 boys including felix and Chan got in supporting an injured Crizel. She was put to the other bed. The three were dressed in their jerseys, guessing they practiced for a game. Chan mentioned that when we were talking recently.

I just sat indian style there watching the whole scene, and Crizel kept flinching. It's an injured leg as I'm seeing.

Katy came in and checked how severe the injury was.

"What happened?" She asked. It's her first line always.

"Oh Crizel was intentionally being clumsy hehe" Chan said

"Shut up Chan," Crizel snapped, "I was blah blah blah." I couldn't decipher what Crizel was saying anymore because my gaze was stuck on the soaked sweat Felix. In a black hairband.

My heart skipped a beat

Then he looks at my direction, yeah we were staring eye to eye.

Breathe, Amora Jade. Breathe.

Then he sat next to me and guess what he did?

He touched his hand on my forehead AAAAA HELP! "Your temperature lowered?"

"I-I Think so?" Why am I stuttering and what the heck am I so nervous about?

"Good, i'll drop you off to your house later"

"Did you read what I sent?" And he nodded, he said that his phone shut down that's why he didn't reply. Finally, I am relieved.

I continued munching on the brownie. I tried offering a bite "You want?"

"Nah i'm full" he politely rejected

Ok, suit yourself. This brownie's delish! *chef's kiss*

Chan approached us and he sat next to Felix "Hey Lix, you know she's just acting to get your attention, right"

"Shut up Chan, besides–"

"I CAN FREAKING HEAR YOU CHANGAROO"

I chuckled at what Crizel said

"Told you" he said quietly to him

"Whatever," he decided to sit next to me on the other side "Are you feeling better?" He asked

CAN. NOT

I am now beside two handsome people, sweating in their jerseys, I can't think anymore.

All I could say right now was "Yep"

I am feeling so tense beside them, I hope they don't notice. And I REFUSE to look at their exposed arms. Freaking hell, what the heck am I thinking right now?!?! I don't recognize myself from having these weird thoughts

WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULDN'T PANIC INTERNALLY IN MY POSITION HUH?!?! TELL ME, WHO?!

*quietly munching my brownie as if i'm not bothered*

"Good thing Crizel fell, at least we got a short break"

Omg, I can't believe Chan just said that

"I'm going to kill you later"

"Ha! Try me" he teased harder

"Sky will help me of course" Crizel said from the other side of the curtain "Right, Sky?"

"Whatever, i'll head back now" he looked at his two mates then at me, then at Felix "how about you bro?"

"3 more minutes, coach was going hard on me" he fanned his neck.

"Me too" said Chan

I am ded

He just shrugged and went back to the court as he said.

"Who said the coach was giving you a hard time?" Felix questioned as if it's a lie "He was even baby-ing you"

"Am I? Or are you?" I think theyre just arguing as a joke but I cleared my throat anyway. And they both quieted.

"Does it hurt having a fever?" Chan asked, I giggled because he has never ending questions. Felix struck him with a pillow, and again, they forgot I was in the middle

"I'll be going with this changaroo now, he's such a bothersome" He pulled Chan and the boy was acting like a kid, all wailing

I laughed "Bye!" I waved

"Hey Lix, you acting wei–"

"Leeets get out"

I was smiling, finishing up my food. I caught Crizel glaring at me. I just waved hello and she's kind of irritated.

What? Did I do something?

Went to the Cafeteria to return the plate and tray that I used. There's no students here, looks like the break was done a moment ago. I went to the glass where you could see the field. There's a lot of athletes practicing for their division tournaments.

I'm not really into sports, but I could play badminton and Volleyball very well. It's just that… you guys know my problem. Shyness. And Introvertness. Those two are different.

I walked back to the clinic but since i'm going the same way to the inner court, I just tried to peek if Chan and Felix were there.

I was right. All of them were playing aggressively, there's this Sam who was the fastest I can notice. Felix was signaling his teammates, and passed the ball to him. I doubt that he could shoot from that distance.

He made his stance and he went for it.

Woah, that's an amazing skill

Everyone on his team gave him back pats. And they went for another game, which was my cue to leave. When I went back to the clinic, Crizel was gone leaving only Katy doing paperworks

"You're back"

"Uhmm, where did she?..."

"Oh Crizel just went home, you can go home too if you want. I can excuse you" oooh I'm really tempted to say yes but I kind of want Felix to drop me off

"I think i'll wait for the bell" I said sitting next to in front of her

"Ok, if you say so. I'll just do my thing here"

And I'll do mine.

I pulled out one vellum from my bag and I focused on Miss Katy. She has that pretty curls, wanting to escape her hair bun. And then she left two strands in the middle which made her bangs. She was pretty even without makeup.

Yeah, she's totally pretty. Enough reason for me to draw. It is my duty to draw whatever my eye catches.

To be less awkward, I barely moved my head just to look at her. It was pretty challenging but i've done this a lot of times already. Especially when I was travelling on trains.

I did the first layer of shading. I was also cautious that she may see that I'm drawing her. Her angle from my perspective was perfect, she has the natural lights coming from the window. A little bit dim, but it was good.

Since it was Friday, we were given only half days. 2:00, the exact time the bell rang and finished my portrait.

I stood up and my heart was racing. She's still busy working, I'm afraid to disturb her. She noticed that I was still here and waiting for me to say something.

"Do I have something on my hair?" She asked

"Oh no, uhmm" how do I say this "This is my way of saying thanks" I gave her my drawing.

When she saw it, her reaction was priceless. Her mouth kept open, amazed? Shocked? I dunno if she likes it, but i'm completely satisfied with it. She stood up and covered her mouth while looking at my token of appreciation.

"It's so…. Beautiful… I don't know what to say…" Is she shaking?

"Miss Katy, are you ok?" The sudden nervousness is making me worried

She quickly went over to hug me. Tight. I can smell her rosy perfume, and I feel a different kind of warm than the one when I was having fever. It was very embracing kind of warm.

"Thank you so so much" I hugged her back

"That's nothing compared to all the things you've done for everyone" I know her work wasn't easy so might as well make her feel that way

"Aww," she pulled off first "Let's take a pic"

Oh… A pic

"You won't post it right?" I asked, i'm really a private person so…

"Why not? It's the most heart melting thing that happened to me today! I wanna flex you" she said preparing the camera

"Is it ok if you just keep it between the two of us? I'm just really– Uhm it's hard to explain" I combed the ends of my hair with my hand

"Oh fine miss mysterious girl haha. Ok, let's get it" She put her arms around me and we smiled and she took the shot

"Ew I look ugly here, there's something off don't you think?"

We both looked at the picture "Too dark in here"

"I'll take it" Felix, back in his uniform offered as he closed the door. He opened the lights

"PERFECT TIMING YOUNG BOY!" She gladly gave her phone to Felix. Ugh, I never felt shy as before.

He cleaned the back lense with the ends of his uniform, He adjusted the curtain from the beds so that he has control over the light. Cool.

"Ok, ready?"

Miss Katy was holding my work proudly

"One… Two… Three.. Smile!"

"Smile!" Miss Katy said amidst her smile

"One more" Miss Katy did a peace sign pose, I just copy her

"No, you do the oppa sign"

"Oppa sign? Like a finger heart?" I asked

"Yass, that one. Don't copy me" I chuckled at that, ok miss unique

I obeyed and voila! We're done.

"One more, lemme get in" he positioned the phone and made it in selfie mode

We centered Miss Katy "Ok. One… Two… Three. Say Changaroo!"

"Changa– wait what?!" Confused, Miss Katy said and I bursted out laughing at her reaction.