After telling Craige everything, he didn't say much and just readily agreed that we keep the fact that we know each other from Teacher Kimmy and he will help me keep this 'friendly' facade in front of her during weekends.
He was really cooperative.
'Too cooperative.'
They say when something is too good to be true... it probably is not.
Three days passed since that emotional late night talk.
And it took exactly three days for me to actually question my decision to tell him my secret.
'He only asked why we can't tell Teacher Kimmy that we know each other, and you spilled an entire barrel of beans! What the hell were you thinking?'
'Were you even thinking at all?'
I didn't know if I was being dense or just plain stupid, but I was pretty sure that it's either one or the other.
Since that night, I just couldn't stop myself from being overly conscious, whenever he's around or NOT around. I kept having this strange feeling that someone was watching me. And whenever I turned around, although he wasn't looking at my direction, he would always be there.
What are the chances right?
So for the past three days that he has kept me on my toes, whether intentionally or unintentionally, I've been restless and stressed out. I could not figure out what's running in that brilliant head of his! How could I? When I could not even figure myself out.
So I gave up and stopped overthinking. And hoped that that's all it was: overthinking. I passed it off as me being 'paranoid' again, as he previously put it. But on Tuesday afternoon, to my bewilderment, I suddenly received a message from him to meet up in the school garden after class.
In High School, when someone asks to meet you after school at a place where only eventful things happen, there could only be two reasons:
1. Confession
2. Confrontation
And I was a hundred percent sure that when Craige called me over, it wouldn't be for the first reason. So I braced myself and put my game-face on as I marched towards the back of the school buildings with confidence.
"I don't know why he's trying to pick a fight with me, but I know Jujitsu." I muttered to myself as I turned the corner, only to find him sitting on a bench with his legs crossed and dazedly fidgeting with his bag.
'Uh. That's not a fighting stance.' I thought and immediately lowered my guard. 'Ey~No way…. Option #01? Why?'
I walked closer and the leaves on the ground made crunching noises that alerted him of my presence.
When he saw me, he immediately got on his feet and approached me with an uncertain look on his face. "Hey."
'Was his purpose really was to confess after all?' Then a disturbing idea struck me. 'Could it be... he told Teacher Kimmy about us?'
I frowned at my own thoughts. "Why are you being awkward? Did you do something wrong?"
"Huh? Ah... No… no." He cleared his throat and was fidgeting with something behind him that made me suspicious.
So I asked, "What's that?"
Then without a word he held out his hand with.... two tickets.
Train tickets.
I reluctantly took them from him and examined the tickets. They were Deluxe Cabin Vouchers and can be used for up to 10 travels. "What's this for?"
He didn't answer immediately as if carefully choosing his words. "Let's go together from now on."
My head snapped up. "Go where?"
"To Cape Hollows." Then he fiddled with his fingers, not meeting my eyes.
"Weird."
He looked at me and just as quickly, looked away. "What is?"
"You." I narrowed my eyes at him and even tried to purposely move closer to his line of vision but he skillfully turned the other way. "Why are you not looking at me?"
He stiffened for a moment. "You said that you hate it when I do that, so I'm trying not to."
'Really?'
I saw a bead of sweat trickle down the side of his face which he hastily wiped off with the back of his hand. I scoffed. "Liar."
"Huh?!" He quickly turned his gaze towards me and his pupils were dilated.
I smirked and started to sing a song very softly as I moved threateningly closer to him.
"One, two, three, four, five... Once I caught a fish alive~" I grabbed his elbow and he flinched, which just strengthened my suspicions. His elbow was cold so I went ahead and took his hand which turned out to be equally icy. "Six, seven, eight, nine, ten... Then I let it go again~"
"W-what are you doing?" He nervously stuttered which was very unlike him. Craige Clinton was not the type to stutter. Unless....
"Wrong question." I eyed him sharply.
His eyes wavered and he took a step back but I tugged at his pinkie. Then he finally asked, "Why did you let it go?"
I slowly lifted his finger to my lips and watched as his eyes grew wider. And just when I was about to put it in my mouth he jolted backwards and pulled his hand away from me.
"Ya! Are you seriously going to bite my finger off?! Are you nuts?!" He exclaimed with a panic-stricken face.
I burst out laughing. "HAHAHAHAHA! It's a joke! A joke!"
"I don't think so." He said nervously and continued to step back.
I took a step closer. "I really was just kidding. You should have seen your face. You looked so cute! Hahahahaha!"
'Wait. What?'
He slowly relaxed then he bared his teeth and knuckled my forehead. "Aish! Don't joke like that! You understand? Not to me. Nor to anyone else."
"Fine. Fine. Relax. It was just a warning." I crossed my arms and tapped my foot, a skill that I learned from my mom which means 'fess up now or you'll get in trouble'. "Now, tell me the truth."
"What truth?"
"What's with the tickets? And why were you being awkward?" I peered at him and studied his face.
He took a deep breath and massaged his temple. "I was being awkward because I realized that you might get the wrong idea when I summoned you to this place."
"Oh... I did get the wrong idea." When he opened his mouth, most probably to correct me, I hushed him. "I thought you were trying to pick a fight with me."
"Why would I?" he frowned.
"Who knows?" I shrugged. "So... the tickets?"
"I figured that we could save a lot if we traveled by train during weekends." He reasoned which was perfectly rational. But I don't plan on letting him off the hook that easily.
"And why should it be together?" I checked the tickets again, just to make sure. "This is a Deluxe Cabin Voucher. I don't think we're saving a lot here."
He bit his lower lip and I found myself staring at it from time to time since then. "I don't like being surrounded by a lot of people so I booked a Deluxe Cabin. And that cabin is good for two, so I thought of inviting you along."
'Ah... Buy one Get one?'
"Fine, I'll take it. But let me pay for half of it." I suggested.
"There's no need." He muttered.
My eyebrows raised at him. "But, I thought you wanted to save money?"
"But... I just forced this on you... How could I ask you to pay for it?" He reasoned. And again it was pretty rational.
"Because I want to." I gave him a honey smile then spoke through gritted teeth. "Besides, who knows if you were being honest about this BOGO deal or if it's just an excuse to keep your eyes on me all the time like you've been doing for the past three days. And if it's the latter, I'd have to tell you that this ticket is not nearly enough to salvage your precious finger."
He chuckled nervously. "$567. You can wire it to me later."
'Eh????? That much!?!'
I kept my poker face on and quickly did the math in my head. Thankfully, it turns out that it's actually cheaper than plane tickets.
"Ts. I knew it." Proud of myself for keeping my cool, I put both tickets in my wallet. "I'll let you off the hook for now. We don't want you performing on stage this Friday with one less finger on."
Before I turned to leave, I saw from the corner of my eye that he took a deep sigh of relief with his hand on his chest. I could just shake my head and walk away with a smile.
"He'll definitely need a lot more practice before he can dream of lying to me."
***
Dear Dairy Milk,
I think Craige rattled on Teacher Kimmy about our conversation. I don't know what he told her that would cost him $567. The amount is very vague. I guess he didn't tell her everything?
$567….for telling her that we're classmates?
$567….for telling her that I told him about my condition?
$567….for telling her that I had an episode while telling him about my condition?!
… No.
She would have called me by now, if that was the case.
Just what exactly was this $567 for?!
P.S.
I did something really crazy today to scare him... but I guess that's nothing new.
I always randomly say and do crazy stuff whenever I'm with him.
If I want to stop being crazy, I should stop meeting him.
But that's not likely to happen.
So I guess, I'll be a little crazy for a while.