Chapter 64: Chapter 64
“Why are you acting weird like that?” asked Helena.
“ Huh, I’m too tired to you...” Alex said with his sultry stare.
Alex just walked away and left Helena who was still sitting there staring at Alex who kept walking without looking back. Helena sighed and was relieved. Although Alex said nothing, Helena feels that Alex is better now. At least Alex’s mood is more stable.
***
After 2 hours of training and doing match practice between the men’s team and the women’s team, they got a 15-minute break. Sweat soaks their bodies after a sedulous workout.
They were all so exhausted even some people got to lie on the field as soon as the coach gave them time off. Some other guys even ran out of steam until they just sat in the field. Drake and Natty were also so exhausted even it soaked their clothes in sweat. Drake took two bottles of mineral water, and then he gave one of them to Natty, who was sitting on the sideline.
Drake sits next to Natty and sips his drink. Drake tries to manage his breath while watching his friends lying in the field. He then looks at Natty, who looks fine despite being a little tired. Drake smiles while admiring Natty, who has better endurance than most people.
“No wonder you’re a mainstay for the women’s basketball team, it turns out you have great stamina.” Drake praises Natty.
“ You, too, as captain of the men’s basketball team have pretty great stamina. You’re even good at reading your opponent’s game.” Natty replied praising Drake.
Drake smiles, he likes compliments from Natty to his dimples visible. Drake’s been shaking up for a long time, and he’s been thinking about a lot, but today he’s convinced that he’s feeling very comfortable with Natty. They also knew each other well, and there was something he felt about Natty that he couldn’t explain.
Although Drake is now confident in his feelings, he also knows at the moment Natty is not ready for it because deep down, Natty still can’t forget Gale. Even if the relationship is over and there is no longer a possibility of returning, but pieces of memories still hold it back. Natty loves Gale so much that it’s so hard for her to forget the memories.
Drake also knows that even if he feels very comfortable with Natty and can be himself, not necessarily Natty will feel as comfortable as he feels. Drake starts staring at Natty differently. His gaze is so deep it’s even as if he wants to say something with that look. Even Natty can feel drake’s unusual gaze. But the ridiculous thing is that Drake turned his face away as Natty looked at him like someone who was scared after making a mistake.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” asked Natty.
“What do you mean? I didn’t see you.” Drake said he tried to lie but it was useless because Natty caught him.
Natty just nodded her head leaving Drake with his lies. Drake breathes a sigh of relief thinking Natty believes the lie when Natty gives him a chance to lie. Drake then looks at Natty again for the umpteenth time, but now he’s trying to muster up the courage to say something that might damage his friendship with Natty.
“How’s your relationship with Gale?” asked Drake, making Natty’s face instantly somber.
“Why are you suddenly asking me that?” said Natty again asking with her teary eyes.
“If you still can’t get over it, what if I help you move on,” Drake said.
Natty fell silent, she looked into Drake’s eyes looking very earnestly. Natty could feel something different from Drake’s gaze, so different that she didn’t know how to respond. Drake could also see the doubts in Natty’s eyes, perhaps his confession would have ended badly but Drake decided to keep going because he couldn’t pull what he had already said.
“ Do you want to be my girlfriend? We know each other, we’re both hurt and comforting each other, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to try. I’m very comfortable with you, too. So, how is it going? Want to try it?” asked Drake while hiding his doubts with a fake confident smile.
“You sound more like you’re negotiating than expressing love,” Natty said with a thin smile.
“Hmm, maybe this is a love negotiation for a friend. How? Isn’t this a bad idea? We already know each other, we feel comfortable with each other, and I don’t hurt you or leave you either. And most importantly I’m captain of the men’s basketball team and you’re a mainstay of the women’s basketball team, I can keep you company practicing.” Drake said he was trying to convince Natty.
Natty pauses for a moment, but she smiles thinly, listening to Drake’s offer. Although it sounds like an excuse and like an offer in negotiations, what Drake says sounds very true. Natty also thinks they see each other well, they can go through all the introductory stages in a relationship. They can be themselves when they’re together. It won’t feel awkward when they’re dating because they were friends. They know each other well and badly.
There is still one great doubt in her heart. The doubts were considerable and made her hesitant to answer Drake. So far, she has never been interested in any man, whether she can open her heart to a man indeed though she liked women. The doubts were huge, but when she saw Drake’s smiling face staring at her, Natty tried to get rid of her doubts and just think of the good things. Then Natty smiled at Drake while looking drake in the eye.
“All right, anyway it doesn’t mean it’s okay to try.” Said Natty.
Hearing Natty’s answer made Drake so happy, he even screamed while raising his hands as if he had won a big game. All eyes were on them both because of Drake’s thundering voice and filled the field, but all that stare meant nothing to Drake, who was filled with happiness.
Drake was so excited that when he looked at Natty, he hugged Natty. Natty, who is still unsure of her feelings, is a little shocked by Drake’s sudden embrace. Natty clenched her fist and was hesitant to return Drake’s hug. But having tried to love Drake, Natty wraps her arms around Drake’s shoulders, and they cuddle.
***
Time travels as fast as the wind blows. The school bell echoed into every corner of the school. The dropped leaves in the fall became friends of teenagers in uniform who were walking towards the school gates. Fallen yellow-yellow foliage covers the street as a carpet for those who want to go home after struggling to understand each class.
On that beautiful street, the air felt quite cold for Alex who was standing on the side of the road while watching the people walking past him. A leaf fell and fell on Alex’s head. Alex took the leaf and looked at it long enough. Then he stared ahead, and he came back sad to see some pairs of lovers walking in front of him.
Alex seemed very empty and lonely at the time. It’s like he’s alone in this crowded world. He felt alone, especially when he found out that his best friend Drake was in a new relationship. Everyone seemed to move forward in his eyes, and he was trapped and walking around. Alex reflects and grieves without thinking of someone who is the same as himself.
Yes, Helena. She’s the girl whose life was trapped in Alex’s back. Her attention is always focused on Alex, as if her world is only centered on Alex. Indeed when she herself said, she would try to forget Alex, but in reality, it was very difficult to do. Indeed now, she still follows Alex and watches him from a distance.
Then Alex’s steps completely stalled, and he stared straight like a statue. His heart seemed to be pierced by a very sharp spear when he looked at Ruby running past him and hugging Ricky, waiting in front of the gate. Ruby smiles so much, and she looks so happy that it makes Alex so hurt. Alex even closed his eyes and rejected what he had seen.
Helena who saw Alex felt so caring that she indeed wanted to hug Alex. But she knew it would only damage Alex’s self-esteem because Alex didn’t like anyone else seeing his weaknesses. Helena keeps a close eye on Alex by keeping her distance so that Alex does not know where she is.
‘After heartbreak, the first thing to move on is to acknowledge the wounds and feelings that have ended because before admitting it move on it will feel very difficult, even impossible.’