Mica's POV:
*Continuation of Flashback.....*
We've been together for over a month now. I'm so happy. I used to just watch him from afar, but now I can hold his hand and hug him.
"Baby..... Eat now. Stop staring at me."
He told me, moving my food closer.
I know he doesn't like being watching while eating, but I can't help it. He looks so good.
"Do you want me to feed you?"
He teased.
I shook my head and quickly took my food. The truth is, I did want him to, but I was too shy to admit it.
"Baby.... What happens now that you're getting busier? The Math contest is coming up, and there's also intramurals.
Oh, right. I'm the school's representative for the Math contest, and Section A is in charge of organizing the intramurals.
" Yeah.... I might not have time to prepare food for you."
"That's okay..... I just don't want you to run out of time for me."
He said, smiling.
That smile! That's the reason I couldn't sleep the first time we talked.
After eating, I rushed back to our classroom. No one knows that I go to Section E' building. Calix wants to keep our relationship a secret for now.
"Where did you have lunch?"
Mykel asked when I arrived.
"Just around...."
I mumbled.
I know he's been following me. I've caught him several times, but he always manages to hide before I can confront him. I have to go to random places just to shake him off.
I was about to enter our room when I saw Ella walking toward me. She looked serious---like she was about to start a fight.
"Ell----"
"Since when?!"
Her voice was loud enough to make people turn and look at us.
"W-what? Since when what?"
"You and Calix,"
She whispered, realizing she was drawing attention.
I bit my lower lip. She didn't know yet. She was going to be mad at me.
"B-because...."
"Because what?! Mica! You told me you just wanted to get to know him. That's all. So what is this?!"
She said angrily.
I couldn't blame her. We had an agreement that I wouldn't get into a relationship with him, but I broke it.
Sorry, Ella..... I really love Calix.
"How long have you been together?"
She whispered.
"Over a month now,"
I admitted.
"And you didn't even tell me?! You really kept it a secret?!"
I couldn't answer. I just nodded.
"Didn't that make you suspicious?"
She added, confusing me.
"What do you mean?"
"Your relationship is a secret because..."
She took a deep breath.
"... he already had a girlfriend.... A freshman."
Girlfriend?! But I'm his girlfriend, and I'm not a freshman. Something inside me hurt. Please, let this not be true.
"Ask Calix if you want. He might deny it, but I'm telling the truth."
She walked away after that, leaving me with a heavy heart.
I trust both Ella and Calix. They're both important to me. I never wanted it to come to this. Maybe this is why Calix didn't want me to tell Ella.
After School
Like always, I waited at the school gate. Even though it was already dark, I stayed. I needed to talk to Calix.
It's not that I don't believe Ella or that I don't trust her. I just needed to talk things through.
"Mica....."
I knew it was him. I didn't have to look.
"Whya are you still here? Didn't I tell you to go home when it gets dark? Why are you still waiting?"
He asked.
I forced a smile.
"I just really wanted to talk to you."
He held my hand and started walking.
"You should've just texted me."
"I wanted to talk in person."
His grip on my hand tightened. I suddenly felt nervous.
"Is this about Ella?"
He asked.
I just looked at him, waiting for his response.
"She caught us earlier. She talked to me, and I told her the truth. But she got mad,"
He explained.
So that's why Ella confronted me earlier.
"S-she also said something else."
I hesitated.
"Hm?"
"S-she said.....that you have a freshman girlfriend."
Calix looked away and took a deep breath.
"That's not true. People just think that because that girl is always around me."
I felt relieved. The weight in my chest disppeared. I knew it wasn't true. He chose me.
"S-sorry..."
"For what?"
He asked.
"Because it seems like I don't trust you."
He stopped walking and faced me, holding both my hands.
"It's normal for couples like us. As long as our trust stays strong, we won't break."
He kissed my forehead.
I smiled. I loved how he reasured me that nothing could break us.
"Let's eat....."
He said, pointing at a food court in the night market.
I smiled. It had become our habit to eat there whenever we were together.
Days Later
The Math contest started, and I got buisier. I didn't see Calix as often, but I always texted and called him.
Lately, though, he hasn't been replying. He also doesn't show up at our meeting place. I don't want to go to Section E because Keifer gets mad at me.
I still haven't talked to Ella.
I was in a restroom cubicle when I overheard some girls talking.
"Oh my God, he's such a good kisser. I almost lost control!"
"Girl! He has a girlfriend. You should stop."
"Girlfriend?! He doesn't have one. He's going to have one., and that's me."
Why did my heart start racing? Why do I feel like I know who they're talking about?
"People say he walks a girl home every day."
"Not true! That must be some delusional girl. Calix will be mine!"
"Whatever! Go for it if you want!"
The girls left, and tears started falling from my eyes even though I had no reason to cry. I just hoped they were talking about a different Calix.
I texted Calix to check on him. I felt relieved when he replied and asked to meet.
I quickly freshened up and went to his building. We were still keeping our relationship a secret------he didn't want anyone to harass me.
He was sitting by the window when I arrived.
"Calix...."
I called out.
"Hi, Baby!"
He greeted me with a smile. But it faded when I got closer.
"Why are your eyes red? Were you crying?"
I smiled and shook my head.
"They just got irritated."
"And you rubbed them? Haist!"
He took out his handkerchief and wiped my eyes.
That wasn't my Calix.....
No! It wasn't him. It was someone else.
Liek before, I watched him while he ate. But not because I enjoyed looking at him---because I noticed something on his collar.
Lipstick?
There was a red stain on his collar. I didn't want to think it was lipstick, but as a girl, I knew what it looked like.
"Is something wrong?"
He asked, looking at his shoulder, thinking that's what I was staring at.
"N-no, nothing... Just eat."
But he didn't continue eating. He checked his collar and found the red stain.
"It's nothing.... Just paint,"
He explained.
I smiled. He didn't need to explain. I wasn't thinking anything....
After we ate, he offered to clean up.
"Calix....."
I called, handing him a love letter.
He once told me he loved reading my letters, so I kept writing, even when I had nothing new to say.
He took the letter, placed it in his pocket, and smiled before leading me outside.
He didn't walk me past his building-----he didn't want anyone to see us together.
As I walked home, I overheard students talking about him again.
"I heard Calix was with another girl last night."
"I saw him at the park riding his bike. A girl was with him."
"That's nothing! I saw him kissing someone behind the gym."
My heart clenched.
I ran to the restroom, wanting to cry.
I just hoped it was a different Calix...
Because I don't think I can handle it if it's him.