I take a long, slow sip from the soft-drink.
With how cold and fresh it is, it stings a bit.
I don't like how it stings, but I somehow continued sipping.
...
Look. I am fine with Paul and Aira being together.
But the fact that they easily became a couple from mild flirting for less than a month bugs me.
Like, how?!
I hung out with only Aira for months just so I could gain her trust.
I acted all kind and nice to gain her heart.
And after all those, I just got friend-zoned!
But look at them.
I remember Paul asking me if she's available and the next time I blink they're a couple now.
...
I'm pretty sure Paul is as average as me.
Then how is it that they became a couple that fast, compared to me?!
I gave all my efforts to come off as a decent nice guy.
Aira even pointed out Paul's plan to "gain her heart", and was proven guilty of his plans!
I hung out only with Aira, and we always spent time together for months, and even hung out at the classroom.
Paul only visited our class, and that went on for less than a month as of now!
How?!
...
I'm not jealous of Aira and Paul's relationship, I'm pissed at how Paul reached that level in less than a month compared to me who got the friend-zone card after months of work.
In fact, I'm not even mad at Paul.
...
They finished their order, and started talking.
It seems to be a fun chat.
Lots of giggling, laughing and playful taps on each other.
...
That's exactly how I was with Aira. But we were just a little less couple-y.
...
I kept watching them, and before I knew it, I already emptied my drink.
...
Should I order for another one?
...
I took another glance at them.
Yep. I'll leave.
...
I stood up, paid for my drink, and walked towards the exit.
...
At least I have a decent reason to leave: I finished my drink.
...
As I was about to leave,
"Hey Josh!" Paul called me out.
...
Dammit.
It's a small area so I can't say I didn't hear him.
...
I turned around, and walked towards them.
...
I have to go there now.
Sigh.
...
"Yo, what's up?" I greeted normally.
Probably. It was probably normal.
"Uh, nothing much. Wanna join us here?" Paul asks me.
...
Haha,
No.
...
"Nah. I have something to do for school." I replied.
"Ah, do we have assignments for today? I didn't leave immediately after the announcement, so I thought there wasn't anything to do." (Aira)
...
I forgot we're classmates.
...
"Well, it's about what the president told me to do. I left early, so I'm actually surprised that there isn't an assignment that I didn't know."
"The majority of the class were working on the preparations for the event. Aren't you supposed to be there too if you have something to do?" Aira innocently asks.
...
Why are you being perceptive right now, Aira?!
You ask that innocently, but you're already trapping me.
If it was Shaina asking that, I would immediately respond with something that points out her perceptiveness, and ask her about the intent in asking.
But this is Aira I'm facing.
She doesn't have an ulterior motive, and pointing out her perceptiveness would only make her ask even more.
And she'll still keep on asking with an innocent intent.
...
"Ah, I was told that we can discuss about it on at home. This isn't the ancient times, social media messaging exists now, right?" (Josh)
...
Well that slipped out a bit.
Hmm.. I think I got a bit too used with Shaina.
I could've responded with better comebacks of ill-intent than that.
I mean, if I want to intentionally bite back at her, I have a prewritten responses for her specifically.
But it's Aira, so it would be odd if I just immediately get rude towards her for no reason that she's aware of.
...
"Oh right. I just assumed you were given work about making props and stuff, haha!" Aira giggles innocently.
...
To think that I kept up with this for months, and keeping a nice attitude towards her too.
...
Hmm. I'd assume Paul would notice my displeasure of the current situation?
...
"Oh yeah, how's things with you and Shaina?" Paul smiles with great interest.
...
Ah.
He's under the spell of romance success.
He can't seem to notice how I'm feeling about all this.
He's too happy about how his love life is going.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
...
"I was just at her house an hour ago." I smile to show fake confidence.
Paul shows a face of awe.
...
I do want to be on an equal level to Paul, so I might as well give him vague information for him to be interested and impressed.
It's not to please him, but to make myself happy by making him think I'm making progress too.
...
"That's awesome! So, did you do "things" there?" Paul asks suggestively.
"Ah, well that's a story for another time." I smirked, slightly turning back to indicate I'm leaving.
"Ooooohhh! Let's talk about that sometime, my dude!" Paul and Aira wave me goodbye.
...
Fool.
If you were on your right state of mind, you would know this is a false statement for praise.
You would know because that would be what you are doing as well.
If you were not to be in this success, you would say the same as I did in this situation.
Oh, how it pains to see a comrade leave the battle.
...
I'm glad I managed to leave that situation easily.
No stretched chit-chat and unwanted questions.
I didn't have to look at them being a couple even more.
...
I immediately went home.
...
Entering my room, I drop my bag and drop myself on my bed.
...
Today was about to end well.
With the wonderful time I had with Shaina and her family, I should've just gone home.
Why did I even go to the mall?
I didn't even have anything planned to do there.
...
Maybe I just wanted a drink.
But then it brought to the situation of me watching a newly formed couple.
...
Although, it did feel a bit nice talking to Aira again.
I kind of did miss talking to her.
Especially after all the banter I had with Shaina, I needed some casual, innocent conversation, even if it was just a short one.
Maybe that's why I went to that cafe.
It wasn't even a cafe.
...
Huh, am I really that sentimental?
A mere restaurant can mean that much to me?
And did I actually miss talking to that girl who basically rejected me?
...
Hmm..
Probably, but I'd like to think... No.
That place did not mean much to me.
It was the last place we went to before I was "friend-zoned".
I did not miss talking to her. Things are going well with Shaina. I have a higher chance of success with her, so I shouldn't be missing talking to those who rejected me.
...
At least, that's what I'd like to think.
But as of this moment, I don't know.
I didn't feel as much hatred as I thought when talking to Aira. In fact, it was refreshing to talk to such innocence again.
...
Sigh.
Maybe I'm just tired.
I have a lot of stuff to do starting tomorrow according to June, so I should rest early.
...
I'm confused.