Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Today's music contest,

"I assumed you wouldn't come because you despise music. But here you are. Okay, follow me. Let's go to the ice cream stand and get one ice cream for each other before the competition begins." Hannah drove me to an ice cream parlour near the venue.

In front of the ice cream parlour,

Hannah chose the mint chocolate flavour, while I was still considering my options. There are so many different flavours here. Which flavour should I go for?

"If you're unsure about tasting new flavours, go for chocolate. I bet it'll taste good." While I was looking at the ice cream, Senior Caleb said to me.

Hannah muttered, "What's going on here? Is the gossip true?"

"What gossip are you talking about?" I asked back.

"Caleb, the senior, is hitting on you."

This is probably why Andrew inquired about senior Caleb. He must have heard the rumour as well. Who is promoting such rumours? Actually, it's not like that, but I don't want to be perceived as such by Andrew.

Senior Caleb handed me a chocolate ice cream and said, "I paid for it," while I was pondering in my palm.

I reflected on what Andrew had said to me. I should say that I dislike him, but how do I go about doing so? I had never rejected someone before because no one had ever hit me.

Senior Caleb waved his palm in front of my face and murmured, "Please return to the earth."

"What?"

"I wonder what you're thinking in your little head, causing you to go blank," he remarked with a smile.

I gazed at the ice cream and took out the money.

"Aren't I allowed to buy ice cream for the girl I like?"

But he wasn't entirely wrong. We enjoy doing things for the people we care about. Like buying flowers for Andrew every morning.

"Thank you."

When I tried to leave, he stopped me and handed me some flowers, adding, "Please cheer for me. I'll be performing today."

I gave him a nod and took the flowers from him.

After senior Caleb left, "Do you like senior Caleb?" she said as I walked with Hannah, having ice cream and clutching flowers in the other hand.

"No."

"How come you accepted the flowers and ice cream?"

"If accepting flowers and ice cream indicates that I like him, then I should stop accepting things from you as well, my friend."

"Are we the same to you? Amelia, I'm your pal, but who is he?"

"A senior."

"Can you tell me about your relationship?"

"The senior-junior relationship."

"I don't believe you're acting correctly. You should quit doing this. What if it occasionally goes too far?"

"Not to worry. I've heard he's a flirt. He'll move on to the next girl once he's tired of me, so there's nothing to worry about."

"Really?"

"Yes. Let's move on to the arena before the contest begins."

When we arrived at the location, they began to announce the music competition.

Someone tapped on my shoulder.

"Ash!"

"What is your brother doing here?" Hannah prodded me.

"You can ask me directly if you want to know something," Ash says to Hannah. "Who are you going to give these to?" Ash said as he grabbed the flowers from my grasp.

Hannah, "It's not for everyone. It was granted."

"How did you get it?"

"A senior from our faculty."

I whispered to Hannah, "Stop telling everything to him."

Ash pulled me away from her and inquired, "Is she being truthful? Is this to say you've given up on our neighbour?"

"I got it because it was from a senior. Apart from that, I have no feelings for him. And, I still like that neighbor you mentioned."

"Okay, Did that senior compel you to take it?"

"No. Why are you interested in my possessions? Go tackle your problems first."

"You're forgetting the flowers," he said as I tried to leave.

"I don't need it."

"How should I use it?"

"It's your wish."

"What happened?" I inquired of Hannah.

"Isn't that something I'm meant to ask you?"

"He left. I inquired about the competition."

"Why are you suddenly so interested?"

"Because I'm also a member of a music club now."

They introduced the band in which Andrew was a member while we were watching the tournament. The band walked on stage as if they owned it. It looked fantastic. They began playing on stage shortly after the announcement. I enjoyed seeing Andrew play the cello since he always looked stylish while doing it. Who knew the cello could be so cool?

After they finished, another team took the stage. Hannah asked after each performance, "Are you staying till the end or leaving in the middle?"

"Until the end. I'm curious to find out who wins."

"You appear to want someone to win. Which band is your favourite? Was it the work of the Black Devil? They looked extremely good in their attire and with their attractive faces."

Peter interrupted us while she was bragging about another college band, asking, "Hello, ladies! Why are you looking at other people when you have the two most attractive men next to you?"

Hannah rolled her eyes and asked, "Do you even look in the mirror?"

"Don't start a quarrel," I said as I grasped Hannah's hand.

"Listen to your friend and be mute," Harry advised. And she was shushed.

Hannah approached me and questioned, "Why are you terrified of these pests?"

Harry, "Who were you calling pest?"

I apologised to Harry and told him, "Today's music competition. Everyone is having a good time enjoying it, so please leave it alone."

Peter took my hand in his and said, "Everyone else is having a good time, but I'm bored. Come along with me. Let's have a good time too"

"What!?"

Harry moved Hannah away from where Peter was attempting to harm me.

Senior "Before you hold someone's hand, attempt to know who that person is," Caleb says as he appears out of nowhere and removes Peter's hand. Senior took my hand in his and said, "She's the girl I'm after, so keep away from her."

After hearing senior talk like this, Harry and Peter departed.

"Why are you still standing there? Do you have no idea how to fight back?" Caleb senior, inquired.

Hannah, "She's always been like this. She does not respond. Even if she doesn't like it, she won't tell us until we've found it by ourselves. That's just her personality."

Caleb senior "You look tired. Aren't you leaving?"

"I'm interested in seeing who wins."

Caleb, the senior, tapped my shoulder and said, "I'll let you know who wins. Leave for the time being."

I nodded and exited the school. Why am I still paying attention to him?

I saw Ash waiting with his companions as I exited the institution. I walked away from them and toward the bus station.

The following day,

In the lecture hall,

Hannah mentioned something that happened in her neighbourhood, but I wasn't paying attention because I was thinking about yesterday's music competition. If I asked her, she'd be suspicious and irritate me until she got the answer. I should go to the music club and find out who won the competition by myself. When are the classes going to end? It's taking forever.

"Where's your guitar?" Hannah asked as she shook me.

"Huh?"

"Sh*t!" I exclaimed as I looked at my bag. "I had forgotten while wearing my shoes. What should I do now?"

"What happened?" She inquired one more.

"I left it at home."

"Didn't you say you had an important class for you?" She laughed. "What will you do without your guitar? Are you planning on playing in the air?" She was making fun of me.

I sighed and sat down at my desk, wondering, 'Should I go home and get it, or should I ask for an excuse?'

When the classes were finished, Hannah said, "Good luck." And then she departed. She departed early because today's lesson was solely for beginners.

I strolled slowly down the corridor, considering an excuse. Someone behind me tapped on my shoulder.

I turned to see Senior Caleb.

"Are you going to class?"

"I... I left my guitar at home."

"You have an important class with Jacob, right?"

I hurriedly nodded and said, "Will he make excuses?"

"He is the polar opposite of me. He doesn't like people who give excuses. That will only create a bad impression on you."

"What?"

"Wait here."

After some time, senior Caleb returned with a guitar and said, "Take it."

"Does it belong to you?"

"No, that was a friend of mine. Today, practise with this."

"Thank you."

I took the guitar from him and entered the classroom.

I spotted a handwriting on the guitar while practising with it.

"Andy," my eyes nearly sprang out of their sockets. Does this mean... this guitar... is it... What the f*ck is this? I'm practising on Andrew's guitar, right? After all, this should be my lucky day.

"Amelia!" Senior Jacob called my name and inquired, "Where in the world are you now?"

"I apologise, senior." And kept training with the other members.

I grinned from ear to ear when I realised I had Andrew's guitar with me.

After practice, I said my goodbyes to my fellow members and exited the music club. I should photograph this moment. I took out my phone and looked both ways. I took a picture of me clutching Andrew's guitar.

"How was the practice?" Caleb, a senior, inquired.

"Yes, it was good," I said, hastily slipping my phone into my pocket. "Thank you for lending me this guitar, senior Caleb," I replied as I returned the guitar to him.

"Are you on your way home?"

I gave him a nod.

"Don't you go out with your friends? Whenever I ask, you always respond that you're heading home."

"I don't get out too often."

"Then come along with me today. Let's go outside."

"Where?"

"Come and have a look for yourself."

Caleb, the senior, drove me to a neighbouring eatery.

"How will I eat dinner at home if I eat here?" I whispered.

"Assume you've already eaten. What's the problem with that?"

"I always have dinner with my parents."

He pressed his nose to my nose and murmured, "You're no longer a child. Come on, place your orders."

"I rarely eat outside. So, what should I get?"

"This time, I'll order for you."

After a while, the food that senior Caleb had ordered arrived at the table.

"Wow! It already appears to be wonderful."

"Then delve in to see what it tastes like."

I nodded quickly and began eating the food he had ordered.

"Yummy. It tastes fantastic. Do you come here frequently?"

"Yeah, I think I should take you to a lot of restaurants," he added with a nod.

"Eating outside will ruin your appetite and produce stomach problems," I remarked with a smile.

"Why are you talking like you're born out of a book?" he chuckled.

"That's what I've been told as I've grown. Was it incorrect?"

"I'm not saying it's improper, but eating outside once or twice a week doesn't jeopardise your lifestyle."

"Oh…"

"Where do you and your pals hang out often?"

"Hannah's house or mine, the library, or the cafeteria."

"Those aren't hangouts, Amelia."

"Like I mentioned earlier, I don't get out much, so I don't know any locations," I shrugged.

"How come your friend didn't take you out? Does she like you as well?"

"No, she goes places with her classmates."

"Did she abandon you?"

"No. I was the only one who wasn't interested. She asked me several times to accompany her, but I always declined, so she stopped asking me." And kept devouring the food.

"How come you came out with me? Is it because I'm your senior? Did you accept solely on the basis of that?"

When I looked at him to respond, his phone rang, causing him to leave the table.

When he returned after a time, I asked, "Shall we leave? I didn't tell my parents I was going out to lunch, they'll be waiting for me at home."

He gave a nod.

Despite the fact that I stated that I could walk to my house, he insisted on walking me home.

"I can walk from here, Caleb senior."

"Don't worry, I only wanted to know where you lived so I could drop you off at your house in the future."

When we arrived at the house, he inquired, "Is that Andrew's house?"

I agreed by nodding.

"Do you live next door?"

I agreed by nodding.

"Why didn't you inform me sooner? You acted as if you didn't know each other. He also did not inform me."

"Even though we live next door to each other, we don't talk often."

"Why is that?"

"Our families don't talk so it continued with us too."

"Okay." he remarked, nodding. And stroked my hair.

"Why do you pat my head every time you see me leave? What if I become shorter?"

"Then I will pay you extra," he responded, laughing.

"Amelia!" I heard my mother's voice.

"Was that your mother?" Caleb, a senior, asked.

I nodded.

"Hi, mom!" exclaimed senior Caleb. And began strolling towards the entrance.

What is he up to?

Someone seemed to be observing me. When I peered through Andrew's window, there was none, so I followed the senior who entered into my house.

"Please wait for me."

Within the home,

Senior Caleb and my mother spoke as if they were old friends.

"What made you late, Amelia?" Dad inquired as he hugged me.

Before I said anything else, the senior stated, "I brought her out to supper, sir."

"Did you eat out?" Mom inquires.

I gave her a nod.

She took my temperature and inquired, "Are you okay? Do you have a burning sensation?"

"No, mum. I'm good."

Dad, "Amelia does not consume outside food. Don't you realise that?"

Caleb, senior "Yes, but we can't constantly keep her inside, can we? What if she started working and staying outside the house? What will she eat during those hours?"

Mom, "He does have a point."

Dad, "We'll take care of that later. For the time being, she has a house and may dine there."

Caleb, senior "How come you don't let her eat outside?"

Mom, "Because she developed an allergy to restaurant food when she was a child. Since the physicians couldn't figure out what was causing her allergy, I've been packing her food till now."

Senior, "I apologise, sir. That was new to me. I'll be more cautious from now on."

Dad, "Amelia, you haven't yet introduced this guy. Who's this?"

"He's Caleb Jenkins, a senior from my faculty."

Mom, "What is the relationship between you two?"

"Friends."

Senior, "I'm pursuing your daughter, sir."

Mom smiled at me.

Dad, "Is he telling the truth, Amelia?"

"Yes, dad. However, I did not..."

Senior to father, "You appear credible, young man. Please have a seat."

When Dad expressed interest in him, I was taken aback.

Mom inquired, "You have excellent taste. He appears to be attractive."

"Didn't you hear him, Mom? He stated that he is interested in me. I'm not."

"Why? He's in good shape. You can also like him back. He appeals to me."

Ash entered the house while mum was chatting to me about senior.

When he saw what was going on in the house, he brought me into the kitchen and demanded, "What is that person doing in here?"

"Do you know who he is?"

"Answer me first, did you bring him here?" he responded with a nod.

"I didn't, in fact... Yes, I brought him here."

"What's the reason?"

Before I could respond, senior Caleb entered the kitchen, laughed at my brother, and said to me, "What a pleasant surprise! I had no idea you were Ash's younger sister." And turned to Ash, asking, "How are you doing?"

"Do you know my brother?"

"Yeah, we were best friends."

"In the past." Ash emerged from the kitchen.

"What's between you and Ash?" I asked a senior.

"We got into an argument because we both fancied the same lady. You don't have to be concerned about that because I changed. I'm just interested in you right now."

Mom, "Caleb, will you be staying for dinner?"

Senior, "No, mum. I have to return. I apologise. I'll be there next time."

He said his goodbyes to everyone and departed the house.