Chapter 8: Chapter 8

"We want to go to a place that kids our age frequent, but Alex doesn't seem to know much about that. You can show up and take us to nice places, right? I am happy!" said Ruby with a big smile as she stared at Helena.

"Huh? Will you not be disturbed if I join? " Helena asked as she saw Ruby's eyes with a suspicious look because she thought Ruby might cover up her genuine feelings.

"Eh! I am delighted that I can have lots of friends. What is your name?" replied Ruby with a wide and sincere smile.

"Helena ..." said Helena and with a confused look because Ruby looked pleased even though she was interrupting her and Alex's date and it felt strange for Helena.

"Helena, what a beautiful name! Does Helena want to not be my friend? We can do other exciting things like going to school together and coming home from school together like other people and friends. Just imagining it I'm so happy! You want to be my friend right? " Said Ruby, holding Helena's hand and looking at her with a sincere gaze.

Helena felt confused and surprised at Ruby's behaviour. SHe indeed thinks Ruby is an idiotic or even crazy person because she doesn't understand at all that she hates Ruby, and they can't be friends. But Ruby couldn't refuse Ruby's request to be friends or indeed say terrible words when Alex was looking at them.

Then she likewise thought if she could be near Ruby then she would approach Alex, an opportunity that was very difficult for her to get. Thinking, Helena also accepted Ruby's proposition to be friends. Ruby who knew nothing was delighted and hugged Helena.

The three of them took a walk around the city, visiting places where high school students often spent an hour. They go to cafés, playgrounds and even karaoke places. They have fun and ignore all their uneasiness behind. Enjoying the moment without thinking about anything else. They are so carried away that they ignore the hour and without feeling it is already dark. They also walked home together.

On the way home, Helena could not take her eyes off Alex, who was walking in front of her. She was pensive and thought of all the memories she spent her days watching Alex. Then something came to her mind, Helena remembered that this was the first time she saw Alex laugh. Alex looks happy, even his eyes say that Helena is delighted because Alex's grin is so charming for her. But when she knew who the grin was for, Helena was irritated and jealous, and she couldn't control her feelings.

Helena also stopped walking until Alex and Ruby who knew it too stopped. They turned and looked at Helena, who lowered her head. Helena remained silent for a while and the atmosphere became awkward, Alex didn't care but Ruby seemed to care about the girl who had just become her friend today.

"Helena, what's wrong?" asked Ruby

"Nothing, then I'll go home first." Said Helena trying to leave but Ruby held her back.

"Let's go home together ..." Ruby said holding Helena's hand

"No, I can go home alone. My house is in a different direction anyway. " Said Helena then left

Although Helena said that she was fine and smiled as if nothing had happened, Alex and Ruby knew that something was bothering her. Something that made her feel uncomfortable but she couldn't say anything. But sometimes you don't need words to describe a mood because you can feel it right away when something feels wrong.

***

Alex and Ruby sat at the bus stop waiting for the bus to come to take Ruby home. They sat side by side, but they kept silent until the atmosphere became awkward. Occasionally, Alex peered at Ruby, then shifted his gaze in another direction. Likewise with Ruby, who glanced at Alex, then pretended not to notice Alex by turning his gaze to the bus window.

Maybe because the full moon was shining that night or maybe the streetlights that were coloured orange gave a warm impression and made the air sweet until their hearts were pounding. They can only smile silently, then glanced at each other. They don't know how they feel and think it's just because they got carried away or because they've had so much fun together.

The melody of the Ballad song played by the bus driver became the theme song that adorned happy memories simultaneously. They are getting closer even though they are new to each other. For the first time, Alex felt like it attracted him to a girl's charm. His eyes couldn't stop looking at her and in no chance, his world was filled with her.

This was the first chance he had felt this, so Alex didn't understand how he should behave. He wants to talk, but he feels restless, hesitant to mention or do all wrong. He became so concerned and so careful that it was difficult for him to express anything.

He knew he had to tell something and destroy the awkward atmosphere that surrounded them. But the more he wanted to talk the faster his heart was racing, he was too shy to tell anything. He only continued to secretly glance at Ruby and Ruby too. They were too embarrassed to talk first until Ruby ventured and spoke first to solve the awkwardness they felt.

"Alex, where is your house?" Ruby asked just to break the ice. Ruby was so uneasy that she couldn't think of anything else to say.

"My house is two blocks from here," Alex replied while looking at the path they were on.

" Is it true? Then we'll drop at the next bus halt. " Said Ruby while grabbing the bell stop button with her right hand.

Ruby is fit to ring the station bell for the bus to drop at the next station so Alex can go home. That's because it was late at night and the one they were taking was the last bus and the last bus would not drop at the station if no one pressed the bell to stop because the streets were quiet and there were very few passengers. But Alex, who saw Ruby's grip was fixed to press the bell, stopped Ruby and pulled her grip until Ruby looked at him with a confused and surprised look.

"No need ..." suggested Alex.

" But why? If it doesn't stop here, you will pass your house and this is the last bus." Replied Ruby looking at Alex with her beautiful and innocent eyes.

"It's okay, I want to take you home, anyway." Said Alex.

"But, how are you going to come home at this hour?" asked Ruby who looked at Alex with a caring gaze

"It's okay, I can pick up a taxi." Replied Alex.

Ruby couldn't say anything else because Alex was so adamant about taking her home. Alex has fallen for Ruby's charm, even though he still doesn't realize it himself. He is a man who is never attracted to other women. He is a cool guy who doesn't pay attention to how much people feel. He always builds walls other people can not pass that, but now he is destroying the blocks he built with great care for Ruby until he takes Ruby home.

Since when did he change and become interested in Ruby? Has it been since their brief encounter in the hospital garden when Ruby came to watch him? Or since they met again as schoolmates, and they played together?