It's already lunchtime. Many students are inside the cafeteria to eat, but Georgina stays at the back of the school building. Until now, she feels embarrassed about what happened before. Even her friends, Maila and Janna, keep asking when they got together. But luckily, she escapes from them, but not from Jaceriel Yuson, who keeps following her like a loyal dog.
Even though the weather is nice, no one is around to pest her except to the man, who just came. It annoys her. The man doesn't stop blabbing something; he complains a lot though he just came.
"I already said many things, but you seem out of focus," she jolted at what he said.
"The pile of complaints you said is nonsense, and besides, can't you make friends with others? Stop bothering me."
He laughs and leans on the tree next to hers. "It's fun. You look serious even yesterday when we first met."
She shrugs and looks up at the clear sky where a group of birds flies towards the east. A long silence came between them. In the middle of it, Jace glanced at her. A little smile escapes his mouth as he pokes her cheeks out of nowhere. It caught her attention, and she glared at him with annoyance.
"What are you doing?"
"I wonder what a woman like you thinks a lot about to makes such expression." She chortled out, slapping his hands away.
"Well, I'm thinking about how to get rid of a man like you." She utters.
"You make me feel embarrassed to death. I can't even face my schoolmates because of what you said. How come I broke a rule? A Student Council President dared to flirt with a man?"
"No one accuses you."
"Are you serious? For Pete's sake, can't you read the rules and regulations of both the school and the Student Council? Don't just act on your own and ki..." she stops before the words finish. She doesn't want to remember it anymore.
"Ki? Do you mean kiss? Do I need to tell you first before I do it?" He gives a playful smile.
"Argh! Y-you. Damn annoying man," Georgina stands up and walks back inside in a hurry. There's no way she can talk it out with him. He knows how to annoy a person. And it's working on her.
She continued to walk with her head bowed down on the ground floor hallway. She didn't need to look to notice those students staring at her. If there's a hole in front, she'll jump as soon as possible to hide in embarrassment. After a few seconds, she bumps into someone. Since she's almost running, the impact is powerful. A hand of someone wraps around her waist to not fall on the ground. She winced when a familiar smell lingered. The moment she looks in front, they both get shocked to notice each other. Without a word, she stands up properly and removes his hands and distance herself. It's Giovanni Javier.
"Look where you are walking," he said.
"S-so..."
"Hon, how come you can walk that fast?" Jace stops behind her while catching his breath.
"Gina, we've met again. How small the world in reality, don't you think so?" Kiela came behind Giovanni with a smirk. "Are you fighting?" She asked, clinging to his boyfriend's arms.
"F-fight? We're not as sensitive as you. So, you better waste your time in your relationship to get stronger and not prioritize your jealous side. Van hates it."
"What? What do you know about him? You've gone almost two years without a single explanation. People change, Gina. It's just like you've gone ahead on it."
Georgina bites her lower lip, holding tight on the side of her skirt to suppress the anger.
"Let's go, Kiela, don't waste your time with a useless woman who doesn't know where to stand," Giovanni blurts out before he bumps into her.
There are no words, just a tear about to fall from her eyes. Those words Giovanni uttered made her body freeze in shock and disbelief. Until now, it's impossible to ignore whatever words came out of his mouth. It hurts. The truth hurts. The fact she's not yet moved on from his past is evidence of it. The fact that the truth always hurts her makes the guilt arise.
"Are you okay?" Jace asked, but instead of giving him an answer, she walked again. "Tell me you love that man, right?"
She flinches. "So what? Tell me whatever you want, but I will not lie to myself anymore. I know how stupid I am to love someone who doesn't even love me anymore and whom I pushed away. Stop following me, will you?"
They didn't notice. Both of them are in front of their classroom. Only a few students passed by in the hallway, so they thought no one heard their conversation, but it was not. On the other side of the door, Marga and Joshua are in the middle of their verbal fight.
"Ms. Martinez, why do you keep ignoring me? What did I do wrong? I'm handsome and rich, but it looked like I'm an invisible air." Joshua grabs her wrist, but she slaps it away and gives him a death glare.
"How come you're smart but didn't get what I want?" She chuckles. "Stay. Away. With the biggest period." She emphasizes every word and walks towards the back door.
"You're too cruel." He mumbles, following her.
Marga was about to open the door when she heard Georgina's voice outside. It seems like she's about to cry any minute. Her hands stop mid-air near the doorknob.
"So what? Tell me whatever you want, but I will not lie to myself anymore. I know how stupid I am to love someone who doesn't even love me anymore and whom I pushed away. Stop following me, will you?"
"You're not stupid, Hon. You love him so much."
'Jaceriel Yuson?' It was the first thought which came to her when she heard the voice. On the other side, Joshua's brows frown while looking at her, who looks surprised and flustered.
"What's wrong? I thought you wanted to leave first..." she covered her mouth before he could finish those words, still having the menacing glare.
"You look ugly when you're about to cry. Hug me whenever you want. I'm all yours."
"No thanks. I don't need your body."
Both Marga and Joshua flinch when the doorknob move. They look at each other with wide-open eyes. She let go of him and looked around to find a place to escape. Although no one was around the area beside them, her mind went blank for a second. Instead of going back to her seat, she walks towards the front door. She didn't notice a pile of water on the floor, so after a few steps, she slipped on it and thought of falling on the ground, but a hand wrapped around her before it happened. Her heart skips a beat in fear.
"Be careful. I didn't know you were clumsy." Joshua said with a sarcastic tone and a wide grin.
"Y-you... L-let go of me,"
"Marga? Joshua? What are you doing with both doors close?"
In an instant, Marga came to reality and noticed their awkward position. It seems Joshua hugs her from behind. She removes his hand and pushes away with quivered eyes, trying to avoid her cousin's stare.
"G-Gina... It isn't what you think."
"Hon, it looks like we disturb them. Shall we eat first? We have at least half an hour to spare." Jace said with a smirk.
"Though they are my cousin and co-Student Council member, I won't tolerate flirting."
"H-hey, I'm trying to say it's not what you think," Marga explained.
"It doesn't count as flirting. It's courting. Anyway, let's eat first."
"W-well, you should be the one to treat me."
"Of course," Jace smiled before he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and turned their back to them.
"Ugh! Georgina Alvarez... Don't think that something is going on between us. I will tell you as early as now. There's nothing between us." Marga shouts in frustration, but a playful smile escapes their lips as they close the door. "Damn her. Argh. It's your damn fault."
"What? All my fault? I didn't do something. I want to be friends with you, though."
"Dream on. Don't follow me, or I'll report you for harassment." Marga glare at Joshua, giving a last warning look before she storms out of the room.
***
As they reached the cafeteria, the two found an empty table, but others occupied almost all of them. Some students stare in their direction, whispers at each other. As soon as Georgina glares at them, they'll look away and continue to eat in silence.
"I told you, the cafeteria is not a good choice. Let's go outside." She's about to walk outside, but Jace grabs her wrist—walks towards the corner.
"H-hey, I told you to eat outside."
Both eyes widened in surprise when she saw Kiela and Giovanni looking in their direction. She tries to pull her hands from Jace's grip, but he's stronger to get dragged. In the end, they stop in front of the two. Jace places the tray down with a genuine smile while Georgina looks away with annoyance. Even without looking back, she can still feel the intense stare of her ex. She knows well. They shouldn't be running on each other, but here, they are facing each other after a few minutes.
"There's no available table here. Can we eat here?" Jace asked.
"Sure. It's not like we own the table alone. Besides, it looks fun." Kiela said in a sarcastic tone before she clung to Giovanni's arm.
"Thanks. Let's sit and eat, Hon." Jace pulls a chair for her so she can't ignore it anymore and sits with her head down.
An awkward silence lingers on their table. It seems like a dark menacing aura keeps building up as time passes, only the sound of their utensils and noise from students around them.
Few minutes pass by like that, no talks or glances at each other. They focus on their food in front.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Since I think you still like my boyfriend, you better be aware of this..." Kiela breaks the silence. "Van and I are already engaged in each other. Soon we will be husband and wife. You better know where your position is."
The moment she heard those sentences, the spoon slipped into her hand. It trembles as both brows frown. She didn't know about this matter. Kiela and Giovanni getting engaged to each other are too far away from reality. Back then, he always complained about how he didn't like Kiela's attitude. But to hear it gives a bolt from the blue. And to see neither of them tries to deny it signifies what she said is all true.
"Congratulation to both of you. Isn't it good news? Am I right, Hon?" She is startled when Jace squeezes her hands still with a smile.
"Y-yeah,"
"I think you didn't expect it because you thought Van could only fall in love with you, right?" Kiela said. "Well, sorry to disappoint you... He can love someone other than you."
A silence continues between the four, but after a few minutes, when Kiela's about to say something, Georgina slams both palms on the table and glares at her—full of anger.
"Nothing is going on between us, so please shut your mouth. It looks like you're the one who can't move on from the past." Her voice raises that catches other students' attention.
"Hon, calm down, and let's finish."
She heaves a deep sigh before sitting down again and continuing to eat. In the middle of it, she felt a gaze piercing her, and when she turned towards Giovanni's direction, he stared at her. She looks away and gulps as soon as possible. Those eyes were full of anger and disappointment. 'It's scary,' she thought while drinking water.