Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Amelia's p.o.v;

I came to cafe with my friends.

It is a Saturday and it's still relatively light outside but the weather has turned cold. It is only a matter of time until winter sets in but for now, the sun is out and there are no clouds above.

"What's with the attitude?" Andrew asks when we've sat down.

"Nothing," I replied simply.

I could see Andrew and Cathy exchange looks of disbelief.

"Well whatever happened to the happy girl who was talking to me last week? " Andrew asked and Cathy looked up at him confused.

I leaned on the table and asked him, "Why did you asked me out?"

"So you came to the house that day looking for information on the fued?" Andrew questioned me.

"Why did you say it to him?" I questioned Cathy.

"Answer me, why are you asking her?" Andrew questioned.

"Yes." I replied to Andrew.

"What have you discovered there?"

"Help me, Cathy, why are you silent?" I whimpered.

Cathy addressed Andrew as, "Why are you interested in that? Why are you accusing her of wrongdoing in your question? She is the reason your family's dispute was settled. Your sister wouldn't fulfil her dream if she didn't accomplish it."

Andrew, "Yes, I am aware. I simply want to know where she found it and how she fixed them."

"Please refrain from making her feel uncomfortable and refrain from asking any more questions. Now, that it has been resolved and everything is OK. Take a look at her, how she's being scared"

I thanked Cathy for speaking for me after Andrew nodded.

Andrew asked me, "Are you buddies with Cathy or me?"

"She's also my friend too," Cathy said as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Amelia, aren't you my friend then?" Andrew questioned.

"You two are my friends. Why are you asking me like that? Don't put me in a predicament like this. And, why did you ask me to come here?" I replied as I turned to face them both.

"Why bother bringing me along?" I continued, "If you two wanted to go anywhere, you should go by yourself. Why did you drag me here?"

Andrew, "I believed you would enjoy this location. Did you not?"

"I enjoy it, but I don't enjoy being a third wheel though."

"You're a friend to both of us, therefore you're not bothering either of us." Cathy chuckled. She then gave me a head pat.

"I feel like I came out with my parents. You should have seen them lovey-dovey in front of me. They don't bother me sitting there at all. They just do whatever they want to. You're two like them."

Cathy patted my head and asked, "What do you like to eat, my love?"

"Don't make fun of me."

I surveyed the menu and remarked, "I'd like to have two eggs with bacon, a barbecue pork omelette, french toast, and a blue moon since I haven't had my breakfast yet. Don't you intend to place an order?"

"Will you have enough time to complete everything?"

"Since childhood, I couldn't eat out since I had an allergy attack when I was tiny, so I wasn't able to eat things like this outside other than home cooked food. But after taking medication, I can eat now." I hurriedly nodded.

"If you want to taste anything, order more because Cathy will be paying for our breakfast" Andrew tapped me on the shoulder and whispered.

"What? When did I promise to pay?" Cathy asked.

Andrew said, "Order whatever you want, she will pay."

Cathy to Andrew, "Andy, don't be silly, I didn't bring my wallet with me."

"I didn't bring mine either," Andrew said back to her.

"Guys, I brought mine. I'll pay." I interjected.

Andrew said, "Hey, I brought mine with me. I was just kidding around with Cathy. I'll pay for three of us."

Cathy said, "I know you were just kidding?"

"Oh, really? How did you know it?"

"Because you never forget your wallet."

"What if I forgot it today?"

I let out a sigh and asked, "Are we going to talk all day?"

They both chuckled and we started to eat together.

We had a stroll on the sidewalk after we finished our meals at the cafe. "Where should we go next?" Cathy and I went hand in hand.

I said, "Do not make any plans with me."

Andrew asked me, "Aren't you interested in going out with us?"

I replied him, "I enjoy going out, but not with the two of you. It's strange."

I received a call from Ash while I was still speaking with Cathy.

"I must answer this."

I turned away from them and picked up the phone, "I'm so glad you called. It is what?"

"Anna and I plan to visit a beach together. Do you want to tag with us?"

Fu*k! Why are there couples all around me?

"I, uh, can't go. Andrew and Cathy invited before you and I'm with them now. Brother, enjoy the day with your lady since you just got back together officially. Have a safe and happy trip. See ya."

I hung up the phone and moved toward Andrew and Cathy.

Andrew asked me, "Who is it?"

"My brother. I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I must leave. It's urgent, will hang out with you later."

Andrew, "Should I accompany you?"

"I'll handle it, it's fine."

Cathy, "We should have complete faith in her to handle situations like these. She'll find a solution whatever."

I nodded at him.

I said my goodbyes and made my way to the bus stop. I awaited the homeward-bound bus.

My eyes were fixed on the phone screen. I was waiting for my mom to pick me up. She would pick me up and then we could head to the movies after dinner. I looked up when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was a Senior Caleb, with brown hair, and green eyes looking at me.

"What are you doing here? And, How are you today?" I asked as I got up.

"I'm OK. How are you doing?"

I said, "Doing fantastic," and I nodded.

"Where are you headed?"

"Back home,"

"Get in. I'll drop you at your home."

"It's okay. I'm awaiting a person."

"Who is it? Who are you waiting for?"

"My boyfriend."

"Why is your boyfriend always running late to pick you up?" he inquired while nodding and turning to either side.

"Other than picking me up, he might have an important task to complete. What about you? Did you get yourself a girlfriend?"

"Forgetting someone I liked will take some time."

I took the seat in the bus terminal. He sat beside me.

He eventually said, "Call him and ask him where he is and why he is late."

"Why are you waiting with me in the first place?"

"Maybe I don't want to leave you alone."

I eventually got up and made an effort to go.

"Where are you headed? What if your boyfriend comes and searches for you after you leave?"

"Why are you coming with me? I'll call him and let him know by myself."

"To determine how long you can keep telling lies."

I halted my progress.

He continued, "Why did you stop going forward? Did you decide against leaving? Are you going back to the bus terminal?"

I ignored him and kept moving forward.

I was then grabbed by senior Caleb, who said, "I want to talk to you."

"Senior, there is nothing to discuss between us."

"Why do you stay away from me?"

"Let me go" , I muttered as I turned to face him. "I have to go home and practise," I murmured as I withdrew my hand from his.

He stood in front of me and said, "Before you go anywhere, please respond to my question."

"What's that?"

"Why did you make it seem like you had a boyfriend? Why did you lie to me?"

"Who told you a lie? I didn't tell you a lie. I have a boyfriend."

"You are lying to me."

"Fine! I lied. Then what? I'm not connected to you in any way. Get out of my way."

He asked as he stood in front of me, "To what are you running? Answer me."

"What do you want to know, then?"

"Why did you tell me you had a boyfriend when you don't have one?"

I pointed my finger at his chest and said while staring at his eyes, "Because you were obstinate in holding out for me. What do you want me to accomplish?"

"Why did you lie to me?"

"Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what I said?"

Senior Caleb hugged me all of a sudden which made me startled. I pushed him away and shouted, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you doing this to me?"

He walked towards me while saying, "I'm not…"

"Just stop right there. Don't come near me."

He didn't listen to me and came closer to me and hugged me again.

I held his shirt and asking, "Why are you making me feel guilty more and more? Every time you talk to me, see me with those eyes, taking care of me, I've never experienced the kind of love you gave me. You're the first to pursue and flirt with me. Senior, I have never had to decline a request before since no one approached me. I'm not sure how to reject you without offending you, but there was nothing else I could do. Do you know how hard for me to reject you? Because I also went through the same thing, i don't want you to face what I did."

"What just happened, exactly?"

"What?"

"You claimed to have also gone through it. Tell me what really happened to you?"

"Senior…"

"Amelia, what happened? What do you have to hide from me?"

"Senior, I have nothing to hide from you. I must leave."

"Why are you escaping? What happened, Amelia? Please explain."

I jerked his hand and uttered, "Why are you acting so obstinately? I can't do that anymore. I-I have to go."

I made a move to get away from him.

"Amelia!"

I disregarded him and carried on down the sidewalk.

"Amelia!"

Why is he calling my name loudly? I put my hands over my ears and kept moving.

Some tapped on me and asking, "Was that guy calling you? You should turn back."

He was walking backward in the middle of the street when I turned to look at him. Is he insane?

"What the heck are you doing?" I yelled as I raced over to him. "Come with me."

He stayed his position and made no movement at all as I grabbed his hand to drag him along.

"Are you insane? Come with me," I pleaded as I searched everywhere for the cars.

He snapped my hand and said, "You are aware of my obstinacy."

"What do you require of me?"

"What did you mean by experience it? Who was that?"

"The guy i liked has a girlfriend! Was that enough?"

I held his hand and came to the sidewalk.

"Why did you tried to get yourself killed? Are you crazy?"

"Didn't you say you liked him?" he asked me.

"How can I say I like him when I know he's having a girlfriend? I watched him all those years and yet didn't know his relationship. He is the one who made me smile and grin and happy but now, he ended up being the cause of all my sorrows."

"Can I talk to him?" he asked as he wiped away my tears.

"What do you mean 'talk to him' ? He has a girlfriend, senior. What are you thinking? It's all over now." I murmured while shaking my head. "I gave up on loving him. I ceased to perceive him in the same way I once did. He is now simply another friend just like the rest of them."

"Do you really no longer love him?"

"Yes, these days, he merely serves as an inspiration for me when I see him. No longer a unrequited love."

"What about me?"

"What?"

"The person you like, likes another person. I can get you to like me, right?"

"Senior, you are not a fallback option for me. I should feel something for you if I have to like you. Just because I failed in one try doesn't mean I should like you."

"Don't worry, I won't push you to love me," he stated while nodding.

"Promise me you'll forgive me and move on."

"I'll try to" , he smirked before adding.

"Promise me."

He answered with a smile, "Okay. I swear to you."

"I'm grateful,"

"Can I hug you for the last time?"

I hugged him and exclaimed, "Even if I had no feelings for you, senior, I wouldn't forget you because you're the first person to like me." before he had finished.

"I'm pleased to be your first, Amelia." he remarked as we break the hug after an embrace.

"Ah! I should have told you something."

"It is what? Have you had a change of heart?"

"Stop making fun of me", I told him by hitting him in the shoulder.

"Okay, good. What is it then?"

"Between my parents and Andrew's parents, everything was resolved. They also acknowledged my brother's love and agreed to it."

"Really? It's good to know."

"They intended to arrange for Ash and Anna to get married following his graduation."

"Don't forget to invite me to the wedding" he grinned.

"I won't, Senior."

"I'll start moving now, thanks. It appears that your boyfriend is taking a while to arrive, should I drop you off at your house?"

"Senior, stop making fun of me."

"Okay, get in. I'll take you there."

I got in his car and headed to the house.

At home,

When I attempted to enter the home after senior Caleb had left, I noticed Andrew standing at the gate.

"You mentioned that you're going with your brother. What are you doing with senior?"

"We ran into each other on the way and he offered me to drop at home. Why are you here earlier than me? Aren't you on date with Cathy? Is she's inside the house?"

"She departed after you did. She claimed that without you hanging around with me, it would be boring."

I gasped in amusement and questioned whether she had truly said that.

While i was laughing at him, he asked, "You said you and senior are just friends, yet you usually get caught by me often, so what's going on between you and Senior?"

"Why do you want to know about it so bad? Are you envious of me?" I questioned and teased him.

"Yes, I am. It annoys me whenever I witness you interacting more closely with others. Since you are my friend, I should be envious, right?

"Actually, friends don't feel jealous of each other. Are you treating me like more than just a friend? Are you hitting on me? Should I tell Cathy about this? Want me to report this to her?"

"If it's you, she won't say anything."

I picked up a stone from the porchand struck him and said, "Stop talking rubbish already."

"Oh no! Why did you hit me?"

"To make you more rational,"

"How is the novel, by the way? Did you make it public?"

"No. Not yet."

"Why? We have already completed the editing process. Why didn't you make it public?"

"I'm considering altering the climax."

"What's your plan of action?"

"Read for yourself to discover."

"That is unfair. Now, I need to know after you teased me."

"You now seem like one of my readers." I made fun of him.

"I'm an editor. You must fill me in on the climax."

"Ex-editor. Since I didn't begin writing, I'm actually in the planning stage. As soon as it is released, you can read it. Okay? Since you helped me to edit my work, I'll remind you when I'm finished."

"What makes you alter the climax? Was it because i told you that wasn't upto my like?"

"No, You are just a factor in why I felt strange when I gave it some thought. don't worry, I'll let you know when I'm done."

"Don't forget to notify me!" Andrew said while I was leaving to my home.

"Okay!"