"Wow. That was a long story" June stood up.
"Hey, you were the one who kept asking, so I had to tell the entire thing." I reply.
"Yeah, yeah. I do feel for you though. It must've been rough."
...
Oh, it was. But I'm not sharing such backstory for now.
Let's just say I genuinely fell in love a long time ago.
...
As we were returning to the classroom, June spoke out a comment.
"That backstory just destroyed my state of bliss thinking about Carlo. Good job, Josh."
"Hm. Is that bad?"
"Kinda. I never thought I'd know a person with such messed up thinking."
"Yeah. Wait. Who do you mean? The girl?"
"I'll leave that to you. What do you think?"
"The girl?"
"Sure, if that's what you think."
"That does not make anything clear, June."
...
We enter the classroom.
We continue working on the props.
...
Suddenly, the door busts open.
"HOO! I didn't think Carlo would make us play a whole match." A guy shouts as he enters the room.
"It kinda works though. We learned a lot just from that game. The actual training begins tomorrow." (Guy 2)
"Yeah. Carlo is a great coach." (Guy 3)
...
The rest of the boys playing basketball enters.
June senses something.
From her intense focus on the props, she immediately turns her head to the door, stopping whatever she was doing.
June looked straight at the door.
Earnestly waiting for someone to enter.
...
Carlo arrives.
As he enters the room, his head is already facing the props group.
More specifically, he's already looking at June.
Like he knew where she would be, just as June knew when he would enter.
Making eye contact, June immediately turned away.
...
Heh. Adorable.
...
Carlo notices June blushing and turns away blushing as well.
...
They're adorable.
...
Dammit, I think I should be angry that they have genuine feelings for each other, but it seems that I cant be mad at them.
In fact, I'm becoming more supportive of this as time goes by.
...
Carlo went to his seat to drink, as June continued her work.
June gradually returned to her working state, where her mind is completely focused on the work, and whatever happens around her is none of her business.
A few moments later, Carlo joined in the props group to help, sitting beside June.
Still sweating heavily, exhaled and started working.
...
I'm about to see an adorable couple moment.
I am eager to see this work.
I wonder why.
...
Sweat drops on the floor.
"Heeey.. You might as well wipe your sweat off." Focused on her work, June takes out a towel and wipes Carlo's face.
She's still looking at her work as she does that.
She didn't realize what she's doing.
On the other hand, Carlo is frozen, stunned by the towel in his face.
Everyone was silent, eager to know what would happen next.
...
Carlo looked at the face of the focused girl, as his face is still being wiped.
"Uhm.. June?" Carlo speaks out.
Hearing his voice, June flinches.
"Eh?" A slight squeal.
Pulling her arm away,
"I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO! I WAS TOO FOCUSED ON WORK THAT I- AAAHH!" June shouts with her voice gradually getting higher.
"Oh, uh, thanks.." Carlo takes the towel from June, and bashfully turns away.
"Yeah!-- yeah.." June covers her face with her hair.
...
ADORABLE.
I'm pretty sure everyone in the room thought that.
...
Everyone continued their stuff, and the usual noise went back.
My class is always like this. When something happens that catches their attention, they just go silent.
The comments and gossips happen an hour after.
Aaaand, this is why our class is considered as a "behaved" class.
When students are expected to laugh or make noise, we don't. We do it an hour after.
...
The tense air of embarrassment can still be felt around the work area.
...
Dammit June, just tell him already.
You too, Carlo. Just ask her out!
...
This gives me unnecessary stress.
...
Alright. It seems that I'll fail once again.
But I think this is a failure that I'll accept. They're meant for each other. I even support them whether or not I consciously think about it.
I guess. I'm gonna look for a new one now?
...
The prop team members started leaving one by one because the props are already done.
And because they plan to get June and Carlo alone.
...
"What is this extremely fast romantic progression" you say?
No. This has been a thing since two years ago.
I may not have been paying attention to events for the last two years, but I certainly feel the air of a pair who's been a thing for years.
Everyday, there's progression between them.
It's like slice of life rom-com manga.
Two hundred chapters have to pass before you get to see actual progression.
Their story is like that, but only that it has been going on for two years. Daily.
Hmm. Daily chapters for two years with very little progression?
That's like, 730 chapters of very little progress.
Most would've dropped a manga like that.
...
And my classmates want to have that one chapter. The chapter where things change and the story format changes.
They want things to actually happen.
And for me, I think I want to as well.
...
It's just me and the two now. Everyone has left.
The others have signaled me to leave, but I stayed for a bit to make things seem natural.
And also to make sure to myself if I'll let this event happen.
'Cause there's still a part of me that doesn't want to.
...
I notice June taking swift glances at Carlo, and Carlo trying to maintain his focus on work.
Work that isn't even needed. The props are already finished.
This happened for a few minutes until June gave up.
Her hands just stopped working and her eyes are locked onto Carlo.
She's not taking glances anymore. She's just looking at Carlo at this point.
Carlo seems to have noticed this, as he kept on dropping the pens he's picking up.
...
Alright. They're basically telling me to leave.
And I guess I've made up my mind too. I'll leave. I'll definitely take the loss this time.
...
I told them I'll take my lunch, and left the room.
...
Passing through the door, I hear giggles.
All of my classmates are peeking behind the door, eager to see how all this escalates.
...
"With their feelings bottled up for 2 years with daily temptations, I won't be surprised if they would start making out right now."
I giggle with that thought.
...
Exiting the building, I look back at it.
Dammit.
I think I should stop this. There's no point to pushing myself to someone just for a single act of affection.
We don't even know each other that well.
...
But I've done so much for this that I can't think of giving up this goal.
I've wasted so many months for this.
This dilemma makes me a bit sad.
This event made me sad.
...
Whatever. I'll forget about it for now. I'll just head to the gymnasium or something.
...
I arrived at the gym.
...
Ah, yes. Girls in sports attire. A sight to behold.
I sat on a bench and enjoyed the view.
I'm not a fan of sports, but boy do I like watching the players.
The time for the sports practice for males are done, so it's just girls here.
And it's not weird to be a guy in this place because there's lots of guys in here.
Some are passionate about the game, some are coaches, some are friends,
and some are like me.
...
I hear a whistle blown.
It seems that a team will take a break.
It's the running team of section 3 - A.
Hm, is this important information?
...
"Oh wow, you actually went here. Did your male urges cause you to seek females to be in your sight?"
...
Yes. This is important information.
"Hi, Shaina. It's nice to see you." (Josh)
"Oh? A decent greeting?" (Shaina)
"I'm at the state of defeat right now. My self confidence is at a fragile form."
"Too bad. Is that why you're here? To make yourself better with me?"
"Wow. You really think highly of yourself."
"Ah, but am I wrong?" (Shaina)
...
Actually, no. That's exactly the reason why I'm here.
...
"Actually, yes. That's not the reason why I'm here.."
"You lie."
I chuckle.
A moment of silence.
...
"Yeah."
"Wait, you admit it?! What happened?! Josh?! Are you okay!?" Shaina panicked.
...
Shaina showing this amount of distress?
Well this is new.
...
"What's gotten into you? You usually don't show this much worry." (Josh)
"I have emotions too, Josh." (Shaina)
"Ah! What an extraordinary discovery! A being such as you, showing that you too have feelings?" I say with loud and deep voice.
"Sigh. You don't want to tell me."
"I'm not required to."
"I know."
"It's amazing how you actually showed genuine concern--" Ah.
--I didn't mean to say that out loud.
"You're saying things that I'm not used to hear from you. Of course I'd be concerned." (Shaina)
"No. I'm not talking about that. It's normal to react that way. What I mean is.." (Josh)
"Why do I have this much concern for you?"
"How do you not have any grain of embarrassment when saying these? How can you even say that with a straight face?!"
"I guess it's because it's exactly what I wanted or needed before as well."
I looked at Shaina, confused.
"Hey, I get confusing negative feelings in my lifetime too."
"So? Wouldn't you actually hesitate in helping because you didn't get help before? You could call it being fair."
"Huh? I understand what you mean, but I think it doesn't matter."
"Care to explain?"
"Hmm. I don't think so. I'm not in the mood to think about specific concepts in the topic of "kindness". Also, I had practice. I'm tired too y'know?"
"Alright. I'll be silent for a while. I'm a bit tired too."
"You feel a bit sad, right? Can I do something about it?"
"Not really, no. I don't even know how to take care of this myself."
...
"There are different ways to cure sadness. I don't know them all, but I'll just stay with for now. I'll think of a way." (Shaina)
"Sadness is a disease?" (Josh)
"No, but why would you want to keep feeling sad?"
"Fair point. You can't get anything in return for this though."
"It's fine."
I nod in agreement. I sit back in silence.
...
Odd. When you didn't get something before, you usually don't give it to others. Why would you give something you didn't even have before?
You don't benefit from it. So why?
...
Sigh.
This day feels longer.
It's like my mindset is being kicked around for the entire day.