Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Isabella's pov;

When I woke up, I felt lighter. I think it's because I talked it out with Jose. Sophia's the one I go to whenever I feel down or happy. After she got a girlfriend on her own, it felt like a distance grew in between without our consent. Without Sophia, i realised that i got no one to share my thoughts with. After talking with Jose, it felt like I got a friend to share my thoughts again. He always made me feel comfortable around him. He knows before I say it out loud. He acts before I ask him to. Even though it's tiring to be beside him when he's lovey-dovey with Tracy, I liked their presence. Tracy really got a great guy for her so it's wrong to be lovey-dovey with him.

I came downstairs and walked to the dining hall merrily.

"What's for breakfast?"

The cook gave me a bowl of cereal and said, "Mr Martinez asked me to serve you cereal for breakfast."

"Why did he say that?"

"You should ask him for yourself."

I sat on the kitchen slab and asked him with puppy eyes, "Do I really have to eat this for breakfast?"

He closed his eyes with hand and said, "Don't use that with me. If you want to change the menu, you have to speak with him."

"Fine! I'll eat the cereals. Does he say the reason for giving me cereal?"

"He said you gained weight."

I kept the bowl on the table with a thud and asked, "How dare he say that i gained weight? How did he know that? Did he weigh me?"

"Yes."

I heard Mr Martinez's voice behind me.

"Huh?"

"Don't make me say it. There's people around here."

"Ha! You're lying, that's why you can't say it aloud. Admit it."

"Believe me, you don't want me to say that."

"What makes you think like that?"

He moved closer and whispered into my ears, "When I lifted you during the kiss, you felt heavier." And moved back and asked, "Do you want me to say that aloud?"

I took the bowl in my hands and hurriedly ate the cereal.

Mr Martinez made a smirk and sat beside me for his breakfast. He got fish fillets with garlic bread.

"Why aren't you eating cereal?"

"I'm not the one who gained weight." He leaned and came closer and whispered, "Moreover, I have to be strong if I want to lift you again in the future." And went back while laughing.

Big brother, "What's funny on the dining table? What are you talking about?"

"Huh?...."

While I was struggling to answer him, Mr Martinez asked me, "Your brother is asking you. Why are you being silent? Do you want me to tell him?"

I gave a stare at him.

Big brother asked me again.

Mr Martinez said to him, "I asked her for a movie but she said she's coming with me since it's sci-fi."

Big brother asked me, "What's wrong with a sci-fi movie? Don't you like it?"

Mr Martinez, "She said she only likes romance and especially steamy ones."

Big brother asked me, "Seriously? Steamy romance? You look more like someone who watches horror films. You don't look like someone who likes watching it."

Mr Martinez whispered to me, "Maybe a person who likes to experience it." And let out a chuckle.

What's wrong with him? He's been teasing me since I fought for the rights for breakfast. Did he get hit on his head last night?

While I was staring at Mr Martinez, Big brother said, "I can't understand the relationship between you two. Yesterday, you two acted like strangers but today, Mr Martinez is teasing you like you're his girlfriend. Anyways, don't fight and always be happy like this. Even if you two got into a fight, resolve it quickly because you two can't be apart more than a day even if you wanted to."

Mr Martinez said, "Don't rush it. Save the speech for our wedding day." And winked at me.

I got choked on the cereal I'm eating. Mr Martinez patted behind and said, "Eat slowly. Where are you rushing to?"

Big brother passed me a glass of water and said, "It's not because she was in a hurry. She choked up because of your words."

Mr Martinez looked at me and asked, "Really? Hey! Only if you don't return the money. Don't worry. There's still time on the agreement. Fighting."

I stood up at the table and walked to the entrance after bidding goodbyes to Big brother.

While I was on the way, I got back hugged by someone. Who was that? With the force and the body, I recognised that it's Mr Martinez.

"You forgot to tell me."

I removed his hands and said, "What are you doing? What if someone sees us?"

He came closer to me and asked, "What if someone sees us? I don't mind."

"I think you went nuts because of the workload. Get an appointment with a doctor."

Mateo didn't start the car after I got in. I asked him, "What are you waiting for?"

He pointed at Mr Martinez.

Mr Martinez leaned on the car and said, "The car won't move until I say."

When I tried to get out of the car, Mateo said, "No, don't get down. I'll start the car."

I made a smirk and showed him the tongue out when Mateo started the car.

"Looks like not everything works under your wish." I said while leaving the house and waved at him.

Inside the car, I burst into laughter and high fived with Mateo.

Mateo said, "Looks like you got back to yourself."

"What?"

"You were so upset about something yesterday. But now, you're laughing upto your ears. It looks good to see you like this."

I nodded and thought about the morning. Why did Mr Martinez teased me and made fun of me all of a sudden? His actions always put me in a confusing situation.

In the college,

While I was on the way to the classroom, I saw Carlos with a girl.

After she left, he walked towards me.

"Who's that girl?"

"The one who I'm crushing on in the sports club."

"You two were talking like… did you ask her out?"

He nodded and said, "We're going on a date this weekend. I'm so excited. I didn't believe her when she accepted my proposal later she said she had her eyes on me too."

"Wow! That sounds romantic. All the best by the way. I wish you a great date."

Julian came, "Who's having a date?"

I pointed at Carlos and said, "It's him."

"Who's that?"

Carlos, "The girl I told you about. She agreed to go on a date with me."

"Where's our treat?"

I joined Julian and asked, "Yeah, Where's our treat?"

Carlos, "What did you guys do to me to give a treat to you?"

Julian and I looked at each other and I said, "Okay. I'll go and say that you and I are in a relationship and you cheated on me and are going on a date with her."

"Wait, I was just kidding you."

I said to Julian, "He was just kidding us."

Julian pinched Carlos' ear and said, "If you didn't treat us, Bella will do what she said."

"You're two teaming up and bullying me. Wait, I'll report it to Gia."

Gia came and asked, "Who called for me?"

I told Julian, "We're deadmeat today."

Suddenly, Gia took his bag from him and said, "Promise that you'll treat us otherwise you won't get your bag back."

We cheered for Gia together.

"Okay. Okay. Come to the cafeteria for lunch."

I high fived Julian and screamed "Free Food!"

Gia said, "Don't you have classes now, disperse everyone."

We started walking to our classes quickly.

In the class,

Tracy asked me, "Why is your face glowing?"

"Do I? I'm getting free food today."

"What?"

"Carlos, my detention buddy asked out a girl and she agreed to go on a date with him so he's treating us to a meal."

"You didn't come with us when we asked you out." She looked upset.

I tapped on her shoulder and said, "I'm sorry about that. I was in a bad mood when you asked me so I rejected it."

Jose said, "What about going today?"

Tracy, "She's going out with her detention room friends."

I said, "We're not going out. He's treating us to a meal in the cafeteria. You guys can join too. It will be fun if there's lot of people. More the merrier."

"It's fine. You go. Let's go to the hotpot together."

"Okay."

After Ms Greta's class got over, she asked me to carry the assignments with her to the teacher's office. Why did she ask me today? I have to go to the cafeteria. I'm going to lose my Free Food if she asks me to do chores for her.

"Ms Garcia, deliver this to the second year finance."

What!? I'm sure I'm going to miss my free food.

I ran to the second year finance which is on the third floor. I walked to the class and gave the paper Ms Greta asked me to deliver.

When I came to the corridor again, I looked at the steps which I had to take to go to the ground floor. From there, I have to walk to the cafeteria.

You can do this!

I started running down the stairs. I stopped on the first floor, my legs are hurting. I sat down on the stairs holding the handle. Oh my legs! It hurts. I can't walk anymore. My food!

While I was in pain, some girl asked me, "What happened?"

"I couldn't walk."

"Can I help you?"

"Ah! Thank you. Can you take me to the ground floor? I can walk from there."

"Okay. Hold on to me."

I put my hands around her shoulder and she helped me to walk down the stairs. She was taking every step slower.

"Can you please be a little fast? I have to go somewhere."

Sho nodded and took me downstairs.

"Thank you so much."

I started running to the cafeteria.

When I came to the cafeteria, I spotted Gia, Carlos and Julian eating without me.

I stood in front of them and asked, "How can you start without me?"

I saw the girl beside Carlos. She's the girl he talked about.

I changed my voice to a lower tone and said, "Hi, I'm Bella. It's nice to meet you."

Carlos, "Woah! What a transition?"

I stepped on Carlos' feet and, "Oops! Sorry."

I walked over and sat beside Gia and said, "Carlos didn't say he's bringing you with him. My bad. I didn't ask your name and talked on my own. Sorry for my bad manners. What's your good name?"

"Leah."

"Cool name."

"You talk sweet."

Carlos said to her, "Don't trust the Oasis. It's not real."

Leah hit her and said, "Look at how she talks to me, why did you say bad things about her?"

I asked, "He talked bad about me?"

"Yeah, he said you got a sharp tongue."

"He's not wrong though but you don't have to worry. I'll talk sweet to pretty girls."

"Did you just say I'm pretty?"

"Yeh, why? Don't you think you're pretty?"

"Not like that. I have a hint that you're a bisexual. Am I right?"

"What? No. What made you think like that?"

"Actually, I can sense people easily."

"Amazing power you got there but I'm not a bisexual like you think."

"Do you really know that? You seem like you attract not only boys but also girls towards you."

I asked Gia, "Do I?"

She turned my head away and said to Leah, "She's straight."

I said, "Thinking about that, I kissed a girl once. My best friend."

Leah asked, "Really? How did that feel?"

"It was good. Pretty good. Not even a little disgust."

"Did you try kissing girls after that?"

I shook my head and said, "I never got close to girls like I did with Sophia, the best friend I told you about." I started eating the food and continued, "You seem interested in this topic."

Carlos said, "She's a fudanshi."

"What does that mean?"

"The girls who fantasise both men together."

"Wow! You read boys love manga?"

"Yup! Those were my favourite among comics."

"What do you like the most?"

"There's a lot actually. I don't know where to start…"

Carlos asked me, "How do you know about those things?"

"The best friend i kissed, she's a lesbian. To learn about her sexuality, I did a little research and started reading Yaoi and Yuri comics and I liked it."

Leah stood up from Carlos and took the seat beside me and intertwined our hands together and asked, "You read Yuri too? Which one do you like the most?"

Carlos asked, "What's a Yuri?"

"You know that yaoi is two boys, right? Like that, Yuri is two girls."

"Two girls? Leah sit beside me."

Leah, "Why? I want to talk to Bella. We have a lot to share."

I smiled and patted her head asking, "Why are you so cute?"

She grinned shyly and said, "I didn't know that I'll find someone in person who reads Yuri too."

"Give me your number."

She took her phone and gave it to me.

I took her phone and said, "I'll give you a missed call. Save it later."

"Okay."

I whispered to Leah, "Go back to your boyfriend. He's getting tense that I'm going to steal his girlfriend from him."

She said, "I feel embarrassed when you say it like that."

Leah went to Carlos and sat beside him.

Gia asked, "Why are you teasing him? Take a look at him. He's looking at you with a fierce face."

"It won't last even for a second. See this."

"Carlos, do you know something? A guy asked me out."

Carlos' expression changed just like that and asked, "What? When did this happen?"

"Yesterday, while I was returning back to my home."

Leah said, "I know who that is."

Carlos asked her, "Do you know who he is?"

"Yes, but it's a secret."

What is she talking about? Who was she mentioning?

After we finished eating, while we're on the way to our classes, I talked with Leah, "Who were you referring to earlier?"

"The senior."

"Senior? Which one?"

"I was talking about Harry, Bella."

"I think you got everything wrong. Actually, no one asked me out. I teased Carlos by saying someone asked me out to make him feel at ease that his girlfriend is safe from me. And about Harry, we're not like that. We're just friends from High school. There's nothing going on between him and me. Did you get it?"

"Oh. When he spoke for you, I thought you two were a thing. My mistake. Sorry for earlier."

"It's fine. Thank you for understanding me."

Carlos asked me, "Who's that guy?"

"That's a secret like Leah said."

"What did you tell him?"

"I rejected him."

"Why?"

"Because he's not my type."

Gia asked, "What's your type then?"

"Um… I don't mind about his appearance but he should be taller than me, tall enough where i could his heartbeat when we share a hug, not muscular though because I want to have a complete hug from him. He should be someone who knows what I feel without even hearing a word from me, he have to surprise me every day with a new dish, he have to get jealous so that I'll taese him more, but shouldn't get possesive, a little bit of rough in sex…"

Gia said, "That doesn't look like preferences, you sound more like you're telling about someone who's in your mind."

"You're the one who asked for the preference."

Julian said to Carlos, "I got a match with my classmates so I'll leave first."

After Julian left, Gia said, "I got to go to. See ya guys later."

Leah asked me, "Aren't you leaving?"

"Do you think that I'm sticking with you wantedly? Carlos and I have classes on the same floor. Didn't he say that to his new girlfriend?"

Leah held my arm and asked, "Do you always talk like this?"

"Why?"

"You look cool when you speak like that."

I gave a flick on her forehead and said, "Your boyfriend is boring a hole in my head so stop teasing him by praising me."

"No, I was telling the truth. You look cool when you speak like that."

Carlos pulled Leah towards him and said to her, "Why are you holding another person's arm when your boyfriend is here?"

"Go and fight somewhere else." And walked into my class.