"Miss, we have arrived. Contact me when you're ready to go home." I waved to Alice as she drove away.
My head was filled with thoughts until I didn't see where I was walking and bumped onto someone.
"Watch where you're going." I looked up to see who was that and he patted my head. It was gentle enough to not mess my hair and it was the first time I felt the size of his hand.
"Your hands are big, Eric." He stopped what he was doing and was gloating at someone behind me. I did feel a presence there but I didn't care who it was. However, I couldn't help but turn my head when I heard a familiar voice.
This is bad. They'll start arguing again like how they did in the library that day.
I wanted to prevent that from happening but I was too late. They already started their first stage of argument and I couldn't help but sighed while seeing who was going to win since I stopped them last time.
"Don't mess a woman's hair."
"I didn't mess it up. It was a pat."
"That's exactly what messes her hair."
"She'll let me know if she's uncomfortable with it."
"She might just be too kind to hurt you."
Excuse me, boys? I'm still here you know? They were already in their own world and have forgotten my existence. The students around us were talking about them who argued in the library before.
Ah. Rumors sure spread fast.
I took out my phone to check the time. I wanted to watch them argue longer because I thought it would be fun to see the loser's reaction but I guess not today. It was already seven and class is starting soon. I kept my phone and grabbed Eric's hand because I knew they wouldn't stop if I just told them to.
In the past, I would hesitate to grab his hand but now that I know we're relatives, I didn't care anymore. I seldom hold someone's hand so I thought the way I held it might make him uncomfortable but he was smiling at me when I looked back.
Not again, Amanda!
"Walk on your own. I'm not your mother." I released his hand from mine and he carried my bag.
"I never asked you to hold me hand," he smirked while walking beside me.
When we entered the classroom, Mia dragged me away instantly. I was so confused and wondered if we were having another gossip conversation. Eric put my bag at my seat and was dragged away by the boys too.
"Amanda, who are you giving?" Mia asked eagerly and her eyes were sparkling in excitement. "Is he in our class?"
"What? I don't understand." I tilted my head and questioned her.
"Oh don't tell me you've forgotten what day is tomorrow?"
I checked my calendar to see if there was anything special happening tomorrow. It's the 14th tomorrow and that means… "Valentine's Day?"
On the other side, the boys were discussing who would get the most chocolates.
"Getting one from Natasha isn't too bad."
"No, Amanda would be better."
"I don't even care who, I just want the chocolates."
"Eric, what about you? You've been silent the whole time."
Eric was supporting his chin with his hand on the table, while his gaze was on the girls. He didn't look interested in the conversation much, like there was something else in that head of his.
I returned to the girls' talk and they were talking about who they'll be giving their homemade chocolates to. I suddenly remembered grandma's unique chocolate taste and I had to hold back my tears the entire time.
I couldn't talk because I knew if I did, my voice would sound weird and they would find out I was crying.
I just smiled and nodded in response to whatever they were saying. But I could no longer use that way when they asked me something.
"Amanda, who are you planning to give?"
"I… I haven't thought about it..."
They seemed to have realized my voice and what they asked afterwards made me bursted out in tears.
"Amanda, are you crying?"
"No, I..." Before I knew it, my eyes stung and the girls were panicking. ���Amanda!"
The new spread to the boys and they all came to see what happened.
"I never knew girls would do something to hurt girls."
"We didn't do anything! We were just talking about chocolates."
Crap. I'm drawing attention to myself.
I kept telling myself to stop but tears just won't stop flowing out. Mia was asking me what was wrong when suddenly, I felt a warmth on my back. It had the same feeling as the person who patted my head this morning.
"Are you okay?" I wiped my tears and nodded. "Mph. Go wash your face."
"Come, Amanda." Mia accompanied me to the washroom.
I turned on the water tap and let it run while I washed my face. Mia was standing by my side comforting me as I sobbed.
"You could have talked to me, Amanda. What's wrong?"
"I just… remember something I shouldn't have.." I turned off the water tap and dried my face with a handkerchief. We returned to class after I calmed down. "I'm fine now, let's go."
Mia did not mention anything about my tears when we went back. I guessed it was because she feared I would cry again and that'll be a big problem. She did ask a little about my current relationship status with Eric so I decided to tell her about it.
"So you're saying, Eric is your relative?" I nodded my head in response. She thought about it thoroughly and suddenly realized something.
"Then doesn't that mean your love is forbidden?"
"That's exactly the case here."
Both of us sighed in despair and returned to class. I startled when Eric suddenly sent me a text when he was literally in front of me. I took out my phone and checked what he sent.
He asked if I was alright and that I should not keep my thoughts to myself too much or I'll break down again when I can't handle it. I've always talked to Mia but just now wasn't the right time since I didn't want to ruin the mood but it seems like I made it worse.
I thanked him for his concern and told him to not worry about me. Focusing in class was far more important than that, especially for someone of the big families.
'Chocolates, huh… I've never baked one before but I can learn it from the maids.'