"She's been avoiding me," Ethan said as he scratched his nape.
We are at their house to help Chelsea for the preparation of our Moving Up. Chelsea is one of the representatives of our Student Body Organization. The group volunteered to work here.
Ethan's pertaining to Cheska. I don't know if he likes her or what. Ethan is a type of guy that's very secretive and mysterious. We can't simply read what's running on his mind. He may always smirk, but those are just his mannerism to hide the real one.
"Why would you think of that?" I asked. I cut out the foils to make the decorations. I was with him while the others were doing their own thing.
"Not sure, she's very distant this past few days." I looked at him to see his face. He looked at me seriously that I rarely saw from him.
"Yeah, I noticed too," I replied to him. Maybe that's because of Cheska's current situation, about her parents.
"Does Cheska tell you anything. If she has a problem?" I just shrugged at what he asked.
"Wait, why are you so worried about her? Do you like Cheska?" I asked to divert the topic. He also seemed surprised by my question but also quickly smiled at me. I find him suspicious that I arched a brow.
"I don't. Tsk," he said, slightly shook his head. "And one more thing, she likes Zaine."
"Wait, what?! " My voice grew louder so he immediately covered my mouth with his left hand.
"You're too loud, they might hear you." he whispered.
"H-how did you know?" I asked as I removed his hand that covering my mouth, still shocked at his what he said.
I don't have any idea that she has a thing on Zaine. I thought she only considered him as her best friend.
I saw Ethan shrugged his shoulder, as if he's not sure. "Just my assumption."
"Then, you're not sure?" I glared at him.
"Yeah?" He sarcastically answered. He stared at me for a moment before his grin widened.
"You have a crush on Zaine?" He asked while a smiling ly questioned me that made me averted my eyes. I feel like my two cheeks are already red because of what he said. It may not be that obvious.
"N-no, I don't have a crush on him." I pretend to look for something before glancing at him who's still smiling at me. He just asked me before continuing what I was doing.
"If you say so," he just said. Did he really notice that? I don't show my affections to anyone though. As much as possible, I want to be secretive on my feelings. It's fine for me to see him from afar.
Lunch passed by, Ethan's mother called us to eat. I did not realize that she was here. We also did not see her earlier. I wanted to avoid her because she knew about my parents. She knew my mother, they're maybe close.
Ethan and I went to the kitchen to see our friends. They were seating in front of the wide table. It was so huge that it could really fit the seven of us there. Chelsea motioned the seat beside her, so I went to that side.
"Why isn't Clifford sit beside you?" I asked as I sat down beside her.
"He's been avoiding me again, it's been a week." she whispered. Clifford is in front of us. He was next to Luke who had already eaten first.
"Children, just eat, okay. I'll get going." I heard aunt said in the far end of the table. I just wish she hadn't landed her eyes on me.
"Where are you going, mom?" Ethan asked.
" I will meet a friend of mine," she simply replied. Ethan nodded as a response I just breathed a sigh of relief when she left afterwards.
"Your mother is busy, Ethan. It's good that the food she cooked is very delicious," said Luke as he took the Adobo, a Filipino chicken dish, in front of him. I shook my head as I glanced at him, really greedy at any time.
I just quietly took food and it was appropriate to take the bowl when someone took it first. I looked in front of me just to see Zaine. I immediately averted my eyes when he also looked directly at me.
"Jane, you go first." He smiled as he said that. I just nodded when I turned to look at him and took the bowl. My hand was still shaking while holding it. I could not bear his presence especially that we're i front of our friends. They might recognize that I have a crush on Zaine too.
"So guys, are you done with your assignments?" Chelsea asked just next to me after an hour of finishing the food prepared for us.
"We're done." Clifford's answer was short and inconsequential and my friend just sighed.
"Yes, Chels, we're done," Nathan replied next to Zaine.
"Hm, okay. I'll just hand that over to the President later." Chelsea said as she nodded. She's really responsible when it comes to school requirements. No wonder, she ine of the offices of Student Council.
"Can we go home after dinner?" Cheska asked that made us turned to her. Zaine and Ethan were both in her side so I suddenly felt strange in the way the two men next to her gave the look.
"Ah, yes?" Ethan answered. "Won't you wander first?" He asked us.
"Yes," Luke replied.
"Game," Clifford said.
I just nodded. Others seem to agree.
" I'll pass guys, I feel bad today," Cheska said with a hoarse voice. Her cheeks were red and the eyebags are noticeable under her eyes. Maybe because of our examinations but it was still last week. Maybe she is busy with something else. Ethan's observation about Cheska may be true. She's may be avoid him. I can't figure out why she did it. She can't even looked at Ethan's side.
"Okay, next time. We'll just go hunting some, you know, girls." Luke breaks the silence. He even looked at the men with him and raised an eyebrow.
"Hunt you ass, Luke."