Chapter 11: Chapter 11

After senior Caleb left, I entered Ash's room and stated, "He said you two are friends, so why did you speak to him as if you didn't know him?"

"That happened in the past. Leave my room if you came here to ask me about him. He stated that he is after you. What exactly does he mean by that?"

"I said I'm not interested in him but he's not taking it, I don't know what to do with him. I only like Andrew." I said quietly as I sat near him.

"Anyway, he'll attempt a lot of things, so don't fall for him at any cost. He likes a girl and moves on to another when he loses interest in the first. Even if he doesn't, inform me and I'll take care of it myself."

"That is what Andrew told me."

Sh*t!

"Wait, what did you say, Andrew? When did you first start talking to him? Did you tell him you loved him? Please tell me the entire tale."

"Wait, wait, wait. Don't draw any judgments on your own. First of all, Andrew is my crush, not more than that. Secondly, Andrew was in the same music club that I am. So we talked for a while. Just a little."

He smiled at me and asked, "Was it a coincidence or..."

"I joined on purpose."

"Well, that explains the guitar. So, despite your dislike of music, you enrolled in the class for him."

When I attempted to leave, he asked, "Where are you going?"

"That concludes the story."

"Don't forget to update me, little sister," he remarked as I was leaving.

I sighed and wondered why he knew everything about me.

At university,

While Hannah and I were headed to the cafeteria, she commented, "I still remember what you said when I asked you to join. I thought you'd attend one or two classes and bunk others but you consistently attend every class. Did you develop a taste for music?"

"Yes. I began to enjoy it. It's quite appealing to me."

"What's appealing to you?" Caleb, the senior, arrives out of nowhere.

Hannah, "I believe I will have to go to the cafeteria by myself. See you later, Leah."

"Leah?" says senior Caleb.

"She calls me that when she wants to tease me."

"That's adorable, Leah."

"However, I don't like it."

"Oh, okay. Will you be visiting the cafeteria?"

I agreed by nodding.

"Could I tag you?"

"Your wish."

While we were on the way to the cafeteria, I asked senior Caleb, "Everyone says you're a flirt, and my brother said the same thing the day before when you visited the house. Is it true?"

"I don't want to lie. Yes, I used to be but it was before I saw you."

"What?" I asked.

"I know you'll laugh, but it's true. I liked you as soon as I saw you. Perhaps it's love at first sight. Who knows?"

While he was speaking, I laughed.

"What made you laugh so hard?"

"When everyone claimed you're a flirt, I imagined you'd be a sweet talker. But I don't notice any indications of a flirty man. If you're a flirt, as they say, you must be terrible at it. Is this the reason why your girlfriends left you?

But you're creating the impression that you're losing interest in them."

"Wait, are you a spy or what?"

When he asked that, I laughed again.

"I've never seen you laugh like this before."

I paused my laughter and asked, "So?"

"It's cute," he murmured as he pinched my cheeks.

"Do you pinch every girl's cheeks like this?" I questioned, brushing my cheeks.

"Don't talk about others in front of me," he remarked, pouting his lips. "Because I am solely concerned with the person in front of me."

"Wow! That was actually a good one." I answered with a smile.

"Really? Thank you. I think you began to like me. Actually, Did you notice anything else? You began speaking to me in the manner in which you speak to your closest friends. Wasn't this a Level up?"

"Perhaps I began to regard you as a friend."

"More than a friend," he replied as I entered the cafeteria.

I shook my head and searched the room for Hannah.

"Can I locate her for you?"

"I have eyes, Caleb, senior."

"While I'm here, why are you looking for her on your own? I'll track her down." And he walked away.

While I was looking for Hannah, someone behind me commented, "I was thinking about how she passed the test while so many of them failed, but I know why."

When I looked at them, it was the seniors who bullied me. I remained silent.

They talked among themselves,

"What exactly is it?"

"You can easily pass the test if you have connections with one of the judges."

"That's the most shady way to pass a test."

"Yeah, but someone takes the easy way out."

"I suppose Hannah left, I couldn't find her here," senior Caleb returned.

I nodded, avoiding his gaze.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I-I have to go..."

"How come you're not looking at me?"

"Why are you crying?" Senior Caleb questioned, lifting my head by the chin.

"I-I have to leave," I murmured as I snapped his hand and wiped my tears.

I went to the restroom and cried my eyes out. I'm not a fighter; I don't even know how to respond to individuals I don't know. Why were they speaking in such a manner? Do I like someone who would do something like that? Do they realise how hard I worked to get into the music club? They made it sound so simple for me.

I took a break and walked out of campus toward my residence.

At my house,

I arrived at the house, but there was no one there. I should have called before coming here. Who should I call right now? I sat in front of the house since I was fatigued from walking for so long.

"Amelia!"

Someone called out my name. It sounded like Andrew. I rose up and looked around, but he wasn't there.

"Look up!"

What? When I looked up, Andrew was waving at me from his room. What exactly is he doing there?

"Did you not go to college?" I asked him.

"I went on sick leave. What are you doing here?"

I didn't say anything and stayed silent.

After a few minutes, Andrew exited the house through the front door and asked, "What happened? Are you sick as well?"

I shook my head.

"Why aren't you going inside the house?"

"I don't have the key."

He can't invite me in, and I can't ask him to come over until my parents arrive. That is where we are. Why is this reality so harsh?

While we were having an awkward conversation, senior Caleb arrived at the house.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned as I stood up and proceeded to the gate.

He went in through the fence and unexpectedly hugged me.

When he hugged me, I noticed Andrew walking away from the scene and into his house. I hope he didn't misinterpret this.

"I know what happened," senior Caleb stated as he broke the hug. "I informed the student council."

"What!?"

"If we don't act, they'll keep doing stuff like this."

"Did I ask for your help? Do you believe they will stop now? You aggravated the situation. It is not the first time I have been bullied. I have been bullied since kindergarten. They will speak, tease, become bored, and move on to the next person until we are forced to bear it. That is how fighting back is meant for me and not reporting. I could cry, forget everything, and restart my day."

"Did you get..." he asked, holding my cheeks.

"Stop touching me!" I snapped his fingers.

He was stunned to see me upset and didn't move an inch.

"I'm sorry, senior," I said. "Please do not do anything for me in the mistaken belief that you are assisting me. I… Please, I don't want to be the centre of attention."

"When she is triggered, she acts in this manner. What did you do to my sister?" Ash appeared out of nowhere.

"What exactly do you mean, triggered?"

"Why should I tell you? Explain what happened first."

Senior told my brother, Ash, about what happened in college.

Ash, "I'll look after her. You may leave."

After senior Caleb had departed, Ash approached me and led me into the house.

I sat down and leaned against a couch. Ash kicked the couch, causing me to fall to the ground.

"What was that for?"

"Enough with the drama. What was the point of that? Why did you ask me to lie in such a way?"

"I don't know how to get rid of him, which is why I requested for your help," I remarked as I sat back down on the couch.

"Should I tell him more bullying stories?"

"Of course, do that everytime you encounter him."

"Why can't you just tell him you don't like him? What purpose does this act serve?"

"Because I recognise myself in him. Longing for someone who cannot love them back."

"Then what about the thing he said? Did they actually say that?"

"It stung when I first heard it, but I grew used to it after hearing it from everyone in the music club."

"If you grew accustomed to that, why did you return?"

"I felt like I needed to get away from those rumours."

"Is that it?"

I nodded.

I dashed to my room and peered through the blinds to see what Andrew was up to. He was sprucing up the cello. While he is ill, he does not clean his musical instruments. As a result, he wasn't sick. So, if he wasn't unwell, why did he take a sick leave? Was he hiding something? He turned to face me. I shut the blinds and wondered, 'Does he know I'm looking at him?' I breathed and looked through the slats once more. He was sprucing up the cello. I breathed a sigh of relief. It's got to be a coincidence. I went over to his apartment, and it was much better organised than it had been the day before. He's not unwell at all.

"How long will you peer through the window?"

How could I have forgotten to lock my room?

Ash entered the room, sat on the bed, and continued, "Are you going to look at him the entire life? Aren't you going to tell him you like him?"

I sat next to him and said, "Why do I have to tell him? If I tell him, how will it be a secret crush? The thing is, Senior Caleb popped out of nowhere and hugged me while I was talking to Andrew. Andrew noticed us and went back into the home. I'm curious what he thinks now that Caleb is hugging me."

"Woah! That is enormous."

"What?"

"Anyone could say you like senior Caleb from that incident."

"I don't think so."

"I know, but he would have assumed you liked him as well."

"How?"

"Because when he held you, you didn't do anything."

"What exactly do you expect me to do? Did you forget that I see a little of myself in him?"

"Do you like Andrew or not?"

"I do."

"Then, the next time, quarrel with Caleb and chastise him while he's watching."

"You know I don't do something like that."

"Then take action. I know you put on a good show. Do that while Andrew is looking at you."

"Okay. Wait, why are you forcing me to couple with Andrew? Is there any thought behind this?"

"Fine. Do things on your own."

"Wait, wait, wait. I require your assistance."

He gave me a nod and began giving me advice. I had no idea there were so many tips for getting a guy. Because Ash is a guy, he knows it very well, but it appears strange because he's my brother.

Around the dinner table,

Dad, "You two arrived home earlier today."

"There wasn't much to do in college," I said.

Mom, "Why do you say that? You have a music lesson, right? Did you pass it up?"

I completely forgot about today's class. It's all right. I'm going to the class to see Andrew; if he's not there, why do I have to go?

I lied, "Mom, we don't have class today. That's why I arrived early."

She nodded and continued to eat her dinner.

Ash said, "Liar. Liar."

Dad, "Enough of the babbling. Don't talk when you're eating."

"You only remember the rules when I talk," Ash says. "I'm leaving my room," Ash said as he stood up from the table. And went upstairs.

I said, "Dad, why did you do this? He only eats with us as if it were a miracle. Why did you say that to him?"

"Was I wrong?" Dad asked his mother.

Mom responded, "No. You are correct. Speaking while eating is bad for your health."

I forgot mum was always on dad's side.

I returned to my room after dinner and collapsed on the bed.

Through the window, I heard cello. Was he playing, but wasn't it late? Anyway, let's listen to him. I haven't heard him play cello in days since he was busy practicing for the contest in the college.

I sat on the window sill, leaning against the wall, and listened to him play. He never sings like other people. He simply plays music. I pondered why but never asked him.

I stood up to leave when he stopped playing, but he resumed playing. It's bizarre. On a typical day, he just performs one song. I peered through the blinds and saw him playing the cello with his eyes closed, as if he was completely immersed in it.

He came to a halt while playing and walked to the door. Where is he going? He returned after a time, took the cello, and opened the window. What is he up to? Is he insane?

Why is he opening the window so late at night?

He looked at me, No, he can't see me. My room is pitch black. I believe he is thinking in his head. He sat outside facing my room, and closed the window, leaving a small gap. He picked up the cello again. Something isn't quite right. Should I approach him? No. I went back and forth in my room before ultimately opening the window.

He paused his game and looked at me.

"Come inside," I murmured as I looked around.

He was taken aback when I told him.

"Didn't mosquitoes bite you?" I inquired, sweeping my palm across my arms.

He entered my room, and I closed the window after him.

"How come you invited me in?"

"I'm not sure. Perhaps you gave the impression that you didn't have a place to stay."

"Thank you for letting me in," he added with a smile, "but I have to go."

He exited my room by opening the window. He entered his room, turned out the lights, and shut the window. I believe he fell asleep.

"I can't believe he was in my room for over 10 seconds," I thought as I curled under the blanket and flipped over on the bed. It's like if my fantasy has come true. Finally, my crush was in my room. Thank you so much, Lord. "I appreciate you bringing him to my room."