"Your late." I was catching my breath while moving closer to them even though I just walked and not even run. I know that it was caused by her overbearing presence that exact overbearing pressure.
"I...I.. I'm sorry." I stuttered " I got confused by the counting." eh why is she looking at me like that? Man! did I do something wrong? What is this? Waaaaahhhhh I wanna go home!!!!! her gaze is so piercing it sent shivers down my spine. Those look that resembles a hungry tiger eyeing its prey. It holds so much authority and power that my body responds automatically. My throat feels dry, I'm breaking in cold sweat and my heart beats so fast like I have run a marathon. All because of a single glance.
I was rooted in my place when someone suddenly bang my shoulders creating a loud sound impact, that actually hurt a little. When I turn to look who it was, I was welcomed by a towering figure - I am already considered as tall given our age with a height of 163 but this person go beyond tall his humongous, his name is Jericho with a height of 173 - as I have heard from Grey. No wonder his hand is so heavy. "You should know the basics since you'll be staying with us for the whole duration of junior high." contrary to his words that seem offensive, he was smiling at me. "Don't worry I'll teach it to you in our break during this play." he displayed a thumbs up like some cliché main character from a movie with shining aura an sparkling smile.
" Ah, no thank you. I'll be fine. Grey my seatmate has already told me about it. And said that we will discuss more during lunch. Thanks for the offer by the way, I appreciate it." there is nothing wrong with his offer, I just think it'll be a bother.
"Hmmp.. your choice." he went to his seat next to a girl in our group and I also went to mine which I don't know if considered lucky or not because it is next to Amarillys, all in all there are ten people in our group - four girls and six boys.
"Now that all members are here this is what we are gonna do." She explained to us the things that were needed to be done in the play. The out play, props and our position. All the duration of her talk, I saw why our classmates respect and fear her. She is an independent woman, with the way she carries herself you'll know immediately that she stands by what she believe in and that her words contain power. She is confident about herself and she is sure about her actions. Beauty and brains as they say. Although I don't know about the part that she decided, I would play as the main character. No one disagreed with her or more likely no one had the guts to.
The play went on great. She was able to finish the script the next morning and distributed the papers to each member. Mainly the main characters which include me has to rehearse while the others do their jobs with the props and custumes if not when we are on break they are the ones rehearsing. Everything was going smoothly that it seems like we were group mates working for a long time or friends that chose to be in the same group.
I can not say anything about her leadership. She did not take up any role in the play and focused on directing and supervising the output all through out. We ended up having the best grade and were praised by teachers and enemy groups alike.
And in those days that I spent with her I came to know her a little l guess. She was not arrogant as what others say, If I have to word it. She just came out that way since she is reserved. We did not talk a lot but my eyes follow her unconciously that I just came to....know. She portrays a kind smile whenever people approach her but it was so little and not often that its almost non existent. She is warm in a sense that she makes sure everyone shines. She corrects our mistakes not to embarrass us in public but to enhance our capabilities. She is full of ideas and is smart to making them alive.
Though I have to admit those times when she called out my name to correct my posture and actions, I would feel as if my heart is going out of its ribcage. My face automatically heats up that I have to face her aside so she won't notice my hidden desire. Her voice was so mellow that it lull me to sleep. Sometimes I don't even know to myself if I'm really making a mistake or if it's intentional all in the purpose of having her attention directed towards me.
But if her voice became tough I know my heart race for another reason. It is not out of joy. It is out of fear. I have seen her on bad moods and she really is scary. When her eyebrow twitches and her mouth pouts with sharp eyes like a tiger looking at its prey. I ....we all know we need to pray for a storm is coming out way.
All throughout the year we did not have any proper conversation much less a connection other than the play and other school related stuff. I would often just see her in a sit wherever comfortably reading books, at first I thought it was a book like encyclopedia and etc but unexpectedly it was non educational type of books like those ..... hmmmm.... what do girls call it? Ah yeah pocketbooks. She mostly spend her time in those and anime as I saw her smiling by herself looking at her phone. I thought it was about a boy... but that did not sit right with me so I took a peek and saw that it was anime. I know since I also watch them. As for friends she does hang out with Jericho and Juliana even with Zed but other than being in the same circle I just see her sitting with them during snacks or lunch she would often leave them be after eating to proceed with her own personal world.
I on the other hand continued with my life as a low tier student amidst this specials..I did not specifically excell but I did not let my grades to down hill either, God if I did that my parents would come running home from states just to lecture nonstop and that would be a pain in the ass. No we're not rich, they are just there because my father works as a consultant in a company that is base there. I lived here with my grandpa and grandma together with my older brother and younger sister. Aside from the money we receive from our parents we have a small business here at home. A water station, milk tea shop and agricultural products. We also own a small building that is rented for commercial use. We live quite comfortably if I have to say. We can things that we need and things that we want in that sense it was more than enough.
Speaking of backgrounds I just heard a little bit of Amarillys', just that they said her mother was a teacher and her father was a small business owner probably just like mine. But I also heard from Grey that they own eight hectares of land and is used as a rice field. From what I see she too is pretty comfortable.
Since according also from Grey that I did not know was a information broker - I mean master. Her parents are sending her brother to a marine school in the city and have his own apartment there, I did not even know she have a sibling since she does not talk much about him - I mean we are not that close for me to know about him.
I once ask Grey were he heard all of these, that is when I learned that he and Amarillys used to go to the same school in elementary. They were not in the same class though, but because Amarillys was a natural born achiever and is the number one contestant of that school in any contest, rumors and her family background are apparent and a little bit public. But he said he only saw her father once and that was during her graduation where she came out as a validictorian and her mother not once even in recognitions as her grandparents where the one to attend even in meetings.
"Are you interested in her?" Grey asked with scrutinizing glare, one afternoon as we were having our lunch in the bench in one of the school garden.
"What!? no, I'm not interested in her." I denied but his gaze never left mine. "Okay maybe a little bit curious. Not interested, just curious." I gave up not meeting his eyes as I feel my cheeks hot in embarrassment, I bet my face is red now.
"Hahahahaha...." I looked at Grey when he suddenly started laughing out loud. Nonstop that he hold his stomach and rolled in the ground still laughing his ass off.
"You done?" I gave him a deadpan look as he tried to calm his laughter by covering his mouth but his shoulders were still visibly shaking from the aftereffects.
"Man, not to be an ass or anything but that was really hilarious." He chuckled a little bit before facing me seriously. So serious that it seems like he was not Grey. He inhaled a great amount of air before exhaling loudly. " You are not the first one to make a move on Amarillys bro, and definitely not the last. I'm not saying this to discourage you or to sully her name. But a lot of guys already tried, she won't budge. She is focused on her path that maybe if you confess now, I know you will only get a thank you."
" Trust me I know, not because I courted her but because I saw another guys confess to her and that all she said before going away." he shake his head and gave me a pity look. " If you want your ego in tact, find another one." he finished before grabbing his garbage and walking off.
I stared at Grey's back as he stride his way back to the room. Thinking of what he said... I mean it's not like I was going to confess to Amarillys or anything, he's going out of this world to even think I have the guts to do such a thing. But if you really think about it....really.... really think about. I guess I do like her.
Wait....wait....wait... what did I just say? but there is no explanation as to why I'm so engrossed with her , why I unconciously look for her and to why I grave for her......I mean her attention and stuff. God what am I even saying. No I denying it anyway. Yes self I do like her.
And with that realization and with myself coming in terms with it. I just froze in my seat.....and after a good one minute ....I just gulped.