I get knock back to present due to the huge chaos that's going on in the classroom. Steve is still grabbing Zoey by her shoulder and the whole class has gathered over here for enjoying the drama. But thankfully everyone backs off as soon as teacher enters the class.
"Everyone back to your seats." The teacher clapped. But I can still hear chit-chats about us going on.
Steven Song! Zoey Malcolm! Meet me in the office room after class." Mr. Zachary orders harshly. "Now everyone, open page no. 357."
I let out a sigh of relief. But still I hate Mr. Zachary. He's so annoying. I hope Steve survives his shit of a lecture later... And hopefully Zoey too?
_ _ _
As soon as the class breaks, I turn behind to face Mac and pull Steve's chair beside me.
"Why would you guys do that!?" I asked worriedly.
"It's none of your business. Do your own work." Steve being grumpy all of a sudden.
"Bruh, don't be so rude. Jeez, you're acting like it's her fault," Mac sighed.
"Well, it is. Why would she let another popular show-off girl be that close? To get hurt again?"
"Chill, chill. It's not like I'm dating her-" I shrugged.
"YEAH RIGHT!?" Mac tried defending.
"Yet~" I added to my last sentence to tease Steve.
Steve groans and Mac shouts,
"EVIEEEE! Cut us some SLACK, will you!?"
"Whatever, I've to go. Hey Zoey, accompany me to this shit you caused," Steve says grabbing Zoey's wrist.
"EXCUSE ME-" Zoey tried to speak up but gets cut off by Steve. "Just shut up already and follow me."
And he rushes out of the classroom while dragging Zoey with him to Mr. Zachary's office. I feel so bad for her!
"Man he's so stubborn as always and you too." Mac looks at me disappointedly and continues, "Another plus point of you is that you, despite being a fucking genius, somehow manage to give wrong vibes. Every. Single. Time."
Why do I cause so many problems? Can I ever unhate myself? Coming around loving myself got a long way to go. I've to stop hating myself first. But how can I do that if I keep messing up people around me like that?!
"Sorry, I didn't mean to-" But Mac cuts me off with a tight hug.
"You were overthinking again, weren't you? Rest at ease. Whatever mess you create, we'll make sure to clean after it."
If it wasn't for Tressy calling Mac out and destroy our buddy moment, I would've legit teared up. I'm seriously tired of giving out wrong vibes and actually done with being misunderstood always.
"HEY! What's up with y'all messing with my girl?" Tressy said in an irritated tone. No because seriously I would've been hella mad too if I was in her shoes.
"NO, NO, Gurl! What's up with YOU and YOUR GIRL messing with OUR GIRL?" Mac said making an irritated face.
"Huh?! What do you mean by GIRL?! This guy just seduced my precious ZOE!" Tressy yelled.
Well, can't blame her. That's just me and I hate myself. Though I'm grateful to God that I didn't turn out that spiteful and pitiful like certain someone. When Mac tried to say something back, I suddenly realized that last year, around this time, I took a huge step back in my life and fell apart. Though I have gathered all the missing pieces but one, I've to take responsibility. I can't have Mac and Steve by my side forever. It does make my heart ache a lot all of a sudden but I never feared to face reality...except that one time. UGH! WHY THE HELL THAT EVENT KEEPS REPLAYING IN MY HEAD ALONG WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY THOUGHTS!?
I signal Mac to keep shut and step forward.
I never had great communication with Tressy, even when we hung out with Zoey.
"Sorry but can you mind your own business, please?"
My mouth. My FUCKING mouth! Can't words come out of it without sounding rude!?
"OH! Hey pretty boy. It. Is. My. Business. You can't let your popular friends back you up when you're just going to play with her." Damn, she sounds angry.
"Ok." was all I could get out my mouth.
I turn around and grab Mac's hand.
"Let's head out and save Steve and Zoey from that demon."
"But-" Mac starts hesitating.
"Ok ok." I let go of his hands. "It's not like I'm still your and Steve's little baby boy....or girl, whatever the fuck you call it. I've grown up, DAD!"
"Ok but still- Wait, WHAT!?" No sooner does Mac finish his sentence than I hear someone cracking up hard from the entrance. A smile curves on my lips too seeing him. Neo. Besides him is an upset Zoey and a pissed-off Steve. I give Mac a fierce stare as he turns redder.
Tressy rushes towards Zoey to wrap her up in a warm big hug. Steve tries to move out
f
rom there to give them space but ends up tripping Tressy and she falls over Zoey. DAMMIT! I'm shipping hard. AHEM! Stay focused Evelynn! Now's not the time. I would've thrown an Oscar at Steve for creating these beautiful moments for me always even though they are unintentional.
"So, what's up, Lynn? I overheard the whole story and rescued these two from Mr. Demon's office." Neo says walking towards me. I take a step back and just nod gratefully in reply because I don't want to piss off Steve more than he already is. They've been on bad terms ever since my parting with Austin.
"You better thank me." Neo says elbowing Steve.
"Yeah yeah, thanks."
Sigh! These good friends grew to hate each other because of me. Wow, I really mess everything up or maybe I was just born to mess up people's life? My thoughts vanish as someone's hands rest on my shoulders.
"Stop blaming yourself already. I'm in bad terms with Neo on my own choice." Steve whispers softly in my ear. "Right, honey?" he asks looking at Mac.Mac looks hella confused and cute too not going to lie.
"What? Me?" Mac asks pointing his finger towards himself. Steve laughs softly and nods.
"Yeah right, Darling. Totally~" Okay, Mac is back to his flirty self again.
"I know, I know." said Steve.
"Roger, POPS!" I said giving a salute. It was until then I realized everyone in our class was laughing at our short melodrama created between the 10 minutes break of our classes. Zoey's laughing too which gives me a sense of relief. Our eyes meet and I offer a little smile which I'M SURE turned into a freaking smirk. No wonder she removes her gaze hurriedly. Well, I'll make up for that later. I should focus and enjoy my ships whenever I can. The opportunity's hard to come by. If only popcorn was available too!
Mac's POV:
HOLY SHIT! What's actually going on? Did that Evelynn bastard just set us up calling us freaking DADS? I don't even know anymore if I should be happy or offended by that sly smile of hers?! Doesn't matter either way. I. Fucking. Love. Her. Nevertheless. My imagination falls apart as soon as Ms. Carter calls us out.
"Bravo fellas! Got a huge entertainment in this daily boring life of mine." She smiles while clapping hard.
"You're definitely going to be my Prince- AHEM! I mean our male-lead in my stage act on this year's cultural festival, Lynn. No objection's allowed!" Even though she says it in a teasing tone but deep down all of us knew that she'll do everything in her power to make sure that happens. Ms. Carter is our literature teacher and there is almost nobody in school who doesn't love her.
"Oh yeah, I'll add your DADS too in the act too. Just the Purrfect family~!"
Evelynn nods nervously. I was kind of happy, awkward and embarrassed at the same time. Steve doesn't seem to care too much though. He just laughs it off.
All of a sudden everyone started gathering around Ms. Carter's table as she continues to discuss about her stage play which keeps getting creepier everytime someone shares their opinion. My eye catches Evie standing beside Zoey looking totally awkward. Whenever I feel restless, looking at Evelynn reduces the pain to minus trillion degree celsius. Until I feel like someone is leaning over me from behind putting his hand on my shoulder.
"Do you think she'll actually end up dating Zoey?" Steve says in a worried tone. I follow his gaze and it's right where my attention was before he came over here. He staring at Evelynn and Zoey hard. Like REALLY REALLY HARD! I understand his pain. I'm going through the same shit afterall. Staring at the person we love as they keep staring at someone else which ain't me.
"She'll be fine. As long as it helps her forget that Austin bitch, anything works for me." I say.
"I know right? But still-"
"Yeah yeah, I KNOW! I don't want her to get hurt either. I care about her too, you know!?" I'm a bit mad now.
"Sorry."
"She's bisexual, so I guess we shall support her for now?"
"Yeah I don't get it properly like you two afterall haha."
"Bet you're wishing hard right now 'if only she was as straight as a cotton bud too', huh?" I said teasingly.
"HELL YEAH, you bet! I'm straight afterall. By the way, weird comparison though. The hell you mean cotton bud!!" Steve says while laughing.
"Hehe. But that's a huge let down though. You could be as straight as my hair too- (my hair's curly)"
Ms. Carter calls us out before I managed to finish my sentence.
"Hey there! I spotted a married couple. What y'all doing out there alone? Getting spicy, are we?"
Fuck. It. I'm blushing too much today. Maybe I'm having blood circulation problem. All of my bloods are clotting on my cheeks. And I hate it how Steve's reaction is so natural.
"We sure are." Steve says bringing his face closer to mine.
"NO MA'AM. It's boys' talk. You won't get it." I deny it. I can't take it anymore.
"Sure sure. You boys sure do grow up fast. But Mr. Neo may I know why are you bunking your class?" Mr. Carter asks.
"You're not really taking your class so I thought it's cool and all. Nevermind. I'll go back. See ya guys!" Neo leaves and Ms. Carter asks all of us to go back to seat. When I decide to head back to mine, Steve grabs my hand from behind. I gave him a confused look.
"What were you saying earlier?" Steve asks.
"Oh! It's nothing."
"Hey! Just spit it out."
"Fine then. I said it's a huge downer than you are STRAIGHT."
"Ohho? Do you have a secret crush on me or something?" Steve asks dancing his eyebrows. I swear to God! This idiot-
"Oh my Lord! How did you find out? So embarrassing!" I rolled my eyes and made my voice sound as sarcastic as possible.
He gives me a dumb look. Dumass.
"Now get your shitty ass back to your seat, DUDE!"
"Whatever." and he just shrugs it off like always.
I try to shove away my thoughts and focus on the class. But just before Steve takes his seat, he calls out,
"Ms. Carter! Let's not do that." he stops and looks at me for a second then again diverts his gaze back to her, "I mean the Lynn's DADs thing in the stage play."
Wait, WHY? My smile fades away. Wow, it's my fault? Is it because of the answer I just gave him now? I mean how'd I know if he's serious when he keeps telling me he is straight? Did I just mess up my own chance?
Then suddenly Steve comes infront of Evelynn's desk which is just in front of mine. "I'd rather be the Princess- I mean the female-lead of my Lynn." Steve proposes reaching out his hands towards her while bowing like a PRINCE! She giggles a little and takes his hand. The whole class applaused together and someone even screamed about how her ship is sailing. I didn't know people had gay fantasy about Steven and Evelynn.
Well, nahhh. I didn't mess up my chance. He just rejected his offer with me because he wanted to be with HER not ME. Not because he hates me but because he loves her. Should've expected that to be honest. Ms. Carter nods and agrees with a soft smile,
"We'll see about that, lovebirds~"
Steven lets go of Evelynn's hand and takes his seat beside hers because that has always been his seat. I always watch them talk and laugh with each other from behind because my seat has always been behind hers. Be it class or Steve's heart, it's always same for me. But watching them smile together, I realized I can't stop smiling either. I actually am happy imagining them together someday in future, getting married and me being the Best Man in their wedding. I really wish from deep inside my heart that they end up together someday. So that I can keep looking after both of them behind their backs just like now and all these years I had been. Their precious smiles are more than enough to heal my bruised heart.