Called, I look toward Sera.
"How's it going with Chloe?"
FYI, Chloe's my crush right now.
"Oh, that. Well, still haven't mustered up the courage to even start and talk with her," I answer, embarrassed with myself.
"Haha, coward," Sera mocks, putting her tongue out.
Not hesitating, I put my tongue back out at her, causing her to burst out laughing.
"Man, just when I thought you couldn't be any uglier. Anyways, I was mocking you, but truth be told, I also do have my own share of problems."
"Huh, what problems?"
Too interested in what Sera had to say, the question slips out of my mouth, in such a high speed that it feels like it's completely out of my control.
"You know Bren?"
"That super muscular dude who goes around tables at lunch?"
"Yep, a bully," Sera nods vigorously, "Apparently, he likes me or something. He even confessed just today, before basketball practice."
"So now, you guys official?", I joke just to get slapped hard on the shoulders.
"Ouch!"
" Yes, in your dreams. I rejected him, obviously," Sera stops and stares at me.
"Yeah? And how did he react?", I question, genuinely engaged.
"Not good... Not...good. He rampaged off and even swore at my face....saying I'd regret it and stuff... Actually...I have bad news for you."
"Wa...waait. Why me?", I jump into the air with full confusion and half amazement (I've forgotten how to do math with all that adrenaline pumping).
"Well, umm...I have a confession to make," Sera giggles, "That is... I told him I'm dating you."
"...."
"...."
"What?...Did?....You Say?"
"I told him I'm your girlfriend," Sera replies, and smiles with her lips closed.
"How could you do this to me?", I shout, "I'm already shitting my pants just by looking at him. That guy's massive!"
"It won't hurt that much. Just a single punch and boom! No more suffering, 'cause no more life."
"Oh my gosh, I hate you. Why?"
Sera laughs heartily. "You'll be fine."
"No, I'll not be."
I couldn't believe Sera did this to me. The thing is I am already too used to being pranked by her, but this time things seem to have gone a little too far. Honestly, I am sort of exaggerating my disappointment, because I know Sera would never bring me big trouble. This one probably isn't as bad as one would envision, but that doesn't change the fact that it shakes me to the core.
"From slapping pie onto my face, making me sit on a fart cushion and treating me super hot ghost peppers, to this? I thought the ghost peppers one was bad enough!"
"Man, that reminds me, you were really funny with the ghost peppers, not gonna lie. Milk! Milk! Haha... Well, it's your fault you don't try and get me back," Sera shrugs, "But to be honest, this is not really a prank."
Hearing that last sentence, I become puzzled as my brain trips in its steps. What does she mean by that? What is it if it's not a prank? Does she think I'm mad at her or something?
"What do you mean? Just so you know, I am not actually mad at you, I was just overreacting a bit, just like I always do. I know you would never get me into major trouble."
Hearing my words, Sera smiles with content.
"I like how you'd always believe in me, you really shouldn't."
"There is no reason why I shouldn't."
Sera looks away, smiles again and sighs.
In the sky, the dark has finally set in, causing the automatic street lights to flicker up. From them, yellow light hits Sera's face, illuminating it and brightening the usually dark-brown almost black eyes into a pale chocolate brown.
"But really though, this is not a prank. You'll see later on," Sera drops a cliffhanger and pauses. A few seconds later, she continues.
"Hey, can I ask you a favor?"
"Sure, anything."
Sera's cheek, the one faced towards me, flashes pink again, probably a consequence of the chilliness that has built up as the night slowly takes its place. Too bad we've both forgotten to bring extra clothes to change out the sweaty ones on us right now and because of that, the cold's even worse than how it'd normally be as the sweat aggravates the chilly breeze.
"You cold?", I ask," I actually know a convenience store right down there. We should get something to warm ourselves up... Let's get running before it gets even colder, you can ask me the favor there."
Sera nods, her face still pink, although the yellow lights, now in complete darkness, are distorting its hue to an orange a tad bit.
In hopes of warming ourselves up, we start picking up our pace, and before long reach the store.
.....
"What do you want?", I ask, looking at the items in the heated foods section.
However, Sera seems disinterested, her face pondering.
"Can I just ask the favor first? You know I'm serious if I've gone quieter."
It's true, Sera becomes a mouse when things get serious in her head. In fact, her personality actually flips a 180 degrees in these situations, and gives off a mature aura, instead of her very different, usual, energized self.
"Okay, I'm sorry. I understand. I am all ears now."
Sera pauses for a while. She takes a deep breath.
"Can you be my boyfriend?"