I gave him a disgusted look in response. Sometimes, not dealing with problems is the best solution. I tried my best I could to ignore him the whole day, but he wouldn't stop texting me.
During history class, he suddenly texted "Focus." Isn't he the one who was not focusing when he could even text me in the middle of the lesson? Seriously!
And another time was during the English class. Eric suddenly texted me unrelated things like "be careful not to mix up celery and salary." I could get a headache by just receiving all this every day.
Finally, it's break time. Mia invited me to the cafeteria to eat, but I was so tired from History so I asked if she could buy some food back for me. Of course, she said okay, she's my best friend after all.
I glanced at Eric, who was looking at his phone, typing something. At that moment, I knew, he's texting me since I'm very sure he overheard my conversation with Mia just now.
Ding!
Indeed. I received a text from him.
"Go to the cafeteria, you lazy girl. Poor your friend."
Ignore it, ignore it, ignore it...
I kept telling myself to ignore his texts. To do so, I decided to complete some assignments we were assigned today.
I slipped my hand into my bag to take out some books. Suddenly...
Ding!
I got another text from him.
"Is the lazy girl becoming a hard-worker?" What?
Okay, I don't think it is necessary to ignore this text, so I replied.
"Yeah, so what?"
I heard a notification coming from his phone right after I sent it, so I thought it was mine. I waited for his reply, but he hasn't even read it. What's taking him so long?
Suddenly, he clicked his tongue. His seat wasn't too far away from mine so I could hear it loud and clear. Did he gets bothered by my text?
And there, I thought, I was finally free from his texts, so I resumed my work. He got a call afterward and he picked it up in the class since there was no one except us.
I was curious because he had a sour expression, so I eavesdropped even though I knew it wasn't right to do so. But curiosity was killing me so bad so I had to do it.
I couldn't hear what the caller was saying, but he kept responding with the same sentence, "I said I have already found one. Please do not arrange for me."
...A treasure hunt? An argument?
Well, I don't think I should be hearing this if it was an argument. I packed my books into my bag and went to the cafeteria, giving him some personal space.
I was just on time. Mia had just gotten out of the long queue and got me some buns.
"Thank you, Mia!"
"Haha, it's nothing."
We went to look for a place to sit. Since we were late, most seats were taken and we could barely find any anymore. Mia suggested that we ate in the classroom, but I refused because I didn't want to disturb Eric's call.
Luckily, we managed to find a seat and ate our food peacefully. We chatted a little before heading back to class.
"I thought you said you were tired?"
"Eric had to pick up a call so I thought I shouldn't be there..."
We threw our food packaging into the trash can and headed back to class, when suddenly...
Ding!
A text came from Eric.
I told Mia to wait for me while I read his text. To avoid blocking other students' way, we stood at the side of the corridor.
"You didn't have to leave."
Oh, really? That's why he picked up the call in class despite knowing I was there. But hey, I respected your privacy. Be thankful.
I kept recalling the sentence he said repeatedly to the caller earlier and felt pity for him. What exactly is it that he chose on his own? I couldn't think of anything else except "treasure". Perhaps he was arguing with his treasure hunting teammate.
Out of pity, I decided to reply to his text.
"What was it that you have found?"
He left me on 'read' without replying, so I thought it wasn't something he wanted to share about. Well, not like it matters to me anyway, I was just curious.
"Mia, let's go to class."
Mia and I headed back before the next class started.
It was a need for me to pass by Eric's seat to reach mine. As I was walking past his seat, he whispered, "fiancee". It came into my mind so suddenly that I couldn't quite catch that, not until when we were studying about 'family' in health class.
Did he mean... future wife...? But usually, we of those big families have our marriage planned out since young, by our parents. The Frederick clan should not be an exception. We younger ones have no right to oppose what the elders have arranged for us.
Ding!
Another text of his, again.
"Don't think too much about it."
I took out my pocket mirror to check the expression I had. Was my face showing it?
I turned to look at him and he already kept his phone, focusing on the lesson.
Crap. Curiosity is killing me again.
He never texted me again for the whole day, not until after school, right before I entered the car.
Ding!
I entered the car before checking his message.
It was an image of me getting off the car in front of the school gate this morning. I take back my words, he's a total creep! Even worse, a stalker! I do not pity him!
A few seconds later, he texted again.
"Reach home safely."
Before I knew it, the corner of my lips tweaked unconsciously.
"...ss....miss....Miss. Miss Amanda!"
Woah! Since when did I space out?
Seeing Alice's worried face, I quickly kept my phone into my bag and apologized to her for spacing out and making her worry.
"Oh, no, I was just worried if something happened to Miss."
I smiled at her words and told her I was fine, and not to worry about me.
Just when we were about to arrive, a notification came.
Ding!
It's him again.
I was not aware of the expression I had at that time. All I knew was that Alice had a very warm and happy smile formed on her face when she saw me using my phone.
"Miss, may I know who you are chatting with?" Alice asked with a pure smile. I never knew she was someone who gets curious.
I don't see any harm in telling her, so I told her that it was Eric who texted me.
She seemed surprised by my answer as her eyes widened.
"Eric Frederick? The son of one of the big families?"
Well, I'm from one of those big families too, you know? Please don't make it sound like our ranks differ so much.
"I'm so glad you met him, Miss. I must report this to my lady."
Not like I mind, but... Is it that surprising for me to be able to talk to him? The last time when I told her about Mia, she told my mum too. Is it necessary to report every single friend I have? But why does she seem surprised about Eric? It shouldn't be surprising since the academy I go to is famous for children from big families to attend.
"My lady! Big news!" Alice went to look for mum as soon as we entered the house.
"Calm down, Alice," Mum said as she stood up from the couch and placed the book she was reading on the seat. "You just interrupted my reading. What is it?"
Alice stood straight and tall, with a serious look on her face.
"The young master is attending the same academy as the Miss."
I went to my room and took a bath since the matter does not concern me.
"I never knew Alice addresses Eric as 'young master.'"