"Forest!"
I kept walking and ignored his attempt of making me stop.
"Forest!" This time, he playfully sang my name like it was a fucking nursery rhyme. I hated that but his voice was good enough to lessen that hate which I hate even more for admitting.
He pulled me by my arm so I glared at him waiting for what he's about to say. He pouts like a girl and he does it often. "What?" I asked him.
"Why are you ignoring me?" He crinkled his nose as he frowned.
I rolled my eyes. I can't believe I like a fucking baby. God that's worse than dating a goblin. "I don't have any matters to deal with you,"
"You do!" He exclaimed, his grip on my arms tightening. "My heart." He pointed at his chest area with his other hand. My eyes stopped at where he had his pointers pointed at. "It's your responsibility now and yours is mine."
I felt my lips twitch in cringe. He's a lot more expressive with his affection lately. "Don't say that out loud, it's chilling the shit out of me." His ears turned red as he looked away. I sighed. "Can you tell your giraffe friend that I'm getting the room? Tell him I'll need to meet him soon to talk about the process."
"O-Oh, okay."
I shook my head. Seeing this kid so shy and embarrassed is giving me the creeps. He loosened his grip on my arm to I spun around to walk away from him but he follows and walked with me instead.
"So,"
So what now?
"Here," He handed me a heart shaped I don't know what the fuck is but I grabbed it from him out of curiosity and studied the thing he just gave me. All I could see were scribbled letters I was too lazy to read.
When I couldn't really tell what it was, except that it looked like matchbox, I glanced back up to him, raising my brows in confusion. "What the fuck is this? Why are you giving me this?"
He blinked in confusion. "It's a gift."
I frowned. "Gift for what?"
"B-Because it's Valentine's Day?"
Valentine's Day?
"Okay bye!" He ran away and I just watched him disappear from my sight before I looked back down at the matchbox he just handed me.
I leaned squinted my eyes, leaning closer to the matchbox to read the words that were written on the piece of piece that was glued to it.
Maybe I'm too late to be your first, but right now, I'm preparing myself…
That's anticlimactic. That's it? I flipped the box around but it was as plain as him. I gave the matchbox a shake and it was empty. This isn't something people would give during Valentines but I sure didn't want to carry roses and chocolates – that's just humiliating. I sighed and pushed the container from inside. A note was glued there as well.
…to be your last.
My brows arched. I felt my ass clench. I should have expected that. I pushed it back inside and slid the matchbox inside my bag. I guess this is better than fucking roses and chocolates.
I was on my second class, waiting for it to start when a swarm of girls suddenly squealed out loud. It echoed from the hallway as the screams got closer and closer. I turned to the door, my brows creased annoyed by these stupid girl yelling like it's the end of the fucking world.
Mark stood by the doorway, scanning the room before his eyes met mine. Girls that followed him all the way here were handing him all types of roses and chocolates like I expected and he takes them with a smile in gratitude. What a womanizer.
He stepped inside the room, walked towards my direction even if I looked away to avoid his gaze, and stood right in front of me. "How can you avoid me without feeling sad?"
I looked up to him, frowning. The other students inside the room started whispering and it's making me irritated. "You really love getting all the attention huh?"
He chuckled. "I'm leaving after I give this to you." He landed another matchbox in front of me so I stared at it. Did he really had the time to do all these for today? This is fucking embarrassing. "Bye then."
I sighed, biting my lips as I looked around the room. The students had their phone over our direction. They're making this a big deal again – like how they always do.
To the world, you are this big!
The front of the matchbox said. I threw the box inside my bag. I didn't want people staring at me as I open this matchbox. Everything's too uncomfortable to do it.
"What's the ruckus about? Everyone take your seats. The class will begin!"
During lunch time, I headed to the cafeteria opening the second matchbox Mark gave. I should make it as quick as possible. If people see me opening this, I don't know what they would think. Everyone's already talking shit about me after this kid's openly displaying his affection for me.
To me, you're the world.
I shook my head and slipped it back in my bag. I give him props for his effort but this is just another level of cornballs. He's even worse than Connor.
When I reached the cafeteria, I was relieved when I didn't see him anywhere. The last thing I wanted was for him to make a scene in this huge hall of students where everything you do here is a big deal.
I was peacefully eating and crunching on my delicious green salad – it was gross – when the cafeteria filled with more murmurs and whispers similar to what happened a while ago at the classroom. I looked around and saw the fucking kid marching his way towards me again – no, he was running.
"Hey!"
Is he not tired of my face yet? Even I get tire of my fucking face?
He sat across me slipping another matchbox over my direction. I glared at him getting too annoyed by how much attention we were both getting for what he was doing. "Are you not going to fucking stop?"
He shook his head. "No."
I heaved a sigh in dismay. When he says he won't stop, he really won't stop. I already know that. I looked over the matchbox he just gave me and read what the front said.
You're like the pizza's crust. No one likes you.
"Open it."
I ran my tongue over my teeth in frustration. I used to not take orders from this kid but for some reason, he makes me do things he wants me to do.
But I do.
I felt myself shiver. How wholesome. "Are you fucking giving me all these until the end of the day."
He smiled. "Maybe."
"These people—"
"Already know how I feel for you so hiding would be pointless."
They already fucking do? Since when? Fuck. "Whatever."
I wasn't even looking forward to Chemistry anymore because I knew I'd only be welcomed by Mark and another one of his matchboxes. I prayed to the Gods that he wouldn't make more scenes that would cause his already good status in the campus.
When I reached the room, he still wasn't there fortunately. I wouldn't know how to hide if he—
"Forest!"
I'm starting to hate my own name because he keeps calling it to damn much. I just wanted this day to be over so everything he has on his sleeves would be over. "Give it to me now and let's just get over it."
He chuckled. "Are you that furious of what I'm about to give next? I didn't think—"
"No." I cut him off. "I just want it to end." I replied coldly. My hands hanging on the air waiting for him to give me another one of his gimmicks.
"That was the last one though."
I turned to him. My hands froze in shame. Well, that's awkward – but at least I know it ends there. "Great."
"But you can have my hand if you insist." He suddenly grabbed my hands and pulled me inside the room. He smiled, dragging me inside like a toy. He made me sit on the chair I usually take and takes the seat across me.
I looked at both our hands, trying to free myself from his grip. He hold onto my hand tighter and smiled at me innocently. "Let me go."
He shook his head playfully. "Your hand's cold. It needs my warmth."
I almost choked. I wasn't ready for that. "This is basically harassment."
He cluck his tongue. "It's only harassment when you don't like the person doing it." And he means? "But you like me so it's not anywhere near that."
I smirked, staring at him in amusement. "You really got guts for doing this." He leaned closer but I did not crouch away. Let's see how long he can keep his cool then. Let's play then, Mark Lee. I leaned my face closer to him and he crouches a little away in surprise. "What do you want to then, Mark?"
He blinked. That was fast. "I…"
I leaned more and I see him gulp. I grinned pinching his cheeks with my free hand. "You remember this, don't you?" He looks out of breath but I was enjoying the torture I was giving him. I was about to lean in further when he moved away and finally lets my hands go.
I smirked in victory. How wimpy.
In the middle of class, Oliver passes down handouts for the next topic. When Mark turned to pass me one, it came along with another matchbox. I arched my brow. I thought the lunch was the last one.
He looked calmer now. Did I make his heart flutter too much? He flashed a not-so-confident smile before he turned back to the front to listen to the lecture.
I stared down at the box.
You +Me
Two beacon bottles with red and blue liquids were drawn with it. How cure. I wonder what the inside will be. It's probably Chemistry.
We have great chemistry.
Of course. Along with the words was a drawing of one beacon with violet liquid in it – the combination of blue and red obviously. If it wasn't me, this would probably be sweet.
"Okay class. Tomorrow, please prepare for a short quiz before the next discussion. Dismissed."
I grabbed my bag from the floor and stood to walk away only to be stopped by Mark. I stepped back cautiously and crossed my arms at him. "What?" I asked him when he just stared at me discomfortingly.
"Happy Valentine's Forest." He smiled. "You messed with me a while ago and I'm not happy."
Of course, I did. That's the point. I had a crooked smile on my face as I watched him say more cheesy things. "I need to go." I tried to walk pass him but he stopped me – not aggressively this time. His touch was a lot gentler than when he took my hand.
He pressed another matchbox over my palms, smiling before he left the room.
I stared at it.
I like you more than Watermelons.
I smiled because the watermelon drawing was cute – not his gimmick. Maybe a little of his gimmick and I'm just not ready to accept that change. I slowly opened the box.
And I really love watermelons.
I let out a small laugh. Maybe I liked his matchboxes more than I expected. Maybe I like him more than I imagined. Maybe my feelings for him won't be fading away as fast as I hoped.