Friends don't tread upon what we are doing these days.
I cannot help but just think of that.
But I don't find it annoying though.
Maybe I'll be sure of it if I keep spending time with her.
When it was time for the first break, our math teacher beckoned Sayumi, our class rep to follow him and simply collect the work that was intended for us as a class and as soon as they exited, my classmates started bombarding me with useless questions.
"Takemoto. I never expected you to be so smooth."
"That gave me a shock! I literally had a heart attack!"
"Are you two actually going out because that's what it looks like to me."
"Never thought I'd see another romance in our class. Just the thought of it is making me excited."
Go get your own.
"So Sakurai, what is it?"
And more of those just kept on until they were suffocating me.
"No we're not going out. We are just friends." I replied to the uncontrollable mob.
"Just friends?! With that!"
"Are you taking us for idiots?"
"That kind of personal space violation isn't performed by 'just friends.'"
"Yeah. She's right. Its so unreal."
"That's what they all say at first."
I have to admit, I can't help but think that too.
Still, that's none of their business.
"Calm down guys. Believe me, it's not like that."
I tried to control them, but every time, the commotion just kept on getting worse and more rampant.
"Ah! I figured it out. Guys remember yesterday it was Maki." Gossip girl began doing her splendid business. "Today its Sayumi. Which brings me to one question. Takemoto, are you per chance a hidden playboy of some sort?"
Excuse me?
"You think too much. Cool your jets." I replied to her.
That was uncalled for.
"Guys didn't the notion that he may be dating both ever occur to you?"
After that, there were multiple gasps in unison one after the other. Others seemed to nod like gurus as if comprehending some unique mysterious information or scientists feeling the success of the fruition of their research.
These people.
"Now it all makes sense."
"Yeah. You're right."
"That's awesome. How did you manage to pull that off?"
"You're amazing. I should've noticed that before."
"Hah."
These people are deflating me.
"As I said before and I'll say it again. I'm not dating anyone. But I can date both of them if you would like."
"Really!"
"Seriously."
"I knew it."
"Hah. I was correct."
"I knew my hypotheses would never let me down."
But they are right this instant.
"From today on, you are my mentor. Teach me your worthy ways."
Cringe.
Then I spotted Maki looking at me and I smiled back at her when we made eye contact, she scoffed as she looked away annoyed.
Yep. She may be THAT stereotype.
And other people also saw that which in turn, made Maki earn the attention of the crowd as they finally left me alone and surrounded her wanting to confirm something.
Her view from me was finally obscured due to other people surrounding her mercilessly and I sighed again as I left free.
Sigh.
Forgive me.
Felt free.
When Sayumi returned, that's when the bell signaled the beginning of another period meaning she was spared from the predatory bombarding of our classmates.
Lucky girl.
Or at least I thought she did until the next break as people swarmed over her like flies again. This time, there were more since some of her admirers were mixed in with the crew.
It was almost twice now.
No, that's the definition of thrice since even students who don't belong to my class joined into the fray.
How does this type news travel that fast?
As the social monstrosity she is, she solved all of the baseless rumors with ease, convincing people otherwise and doing what I failed to do.
She's amazing.
Although through the expressions of some of them, it was written all over them that they still had their doubts but were losing it bit by bit.
The following prevailing breaks had nothing interesting in them, except for some small talk about today's incidents which were never dying down and some miscellaneous things, but nothing interesting in particular until it was time for lunch.
"Saku." Sayumi whispered.
"I can hear you." I leaned my chair back a bit to hear her a bit more.
"I think we should escape while we still can."
"You talking as if we are in an action game."
"Stop talking nonsense. You know what I mean. Or do you want to be swarmed by these annoying people again."
"They won't swarm me. But they will swarm you. Besides, I thought they were all your friends."
"Typically they are but when they come all at once it becomes a bit difficult for me to navigate who I'm talking to. I'm exhausted and I'm looking for some relief."
"Isn't that easy for you? I know you can talk with everyone like it's nothing."
"Of course I can but I want you."
I failed to place my feelings between gob smacked and euphoria.
"Hehe~. You look so funny when you're like that."
"Sayumi, to be honest I want you too."
Then she blushed hard.
Kill me now.
I have decided. She deserves no wins anymore.
She deserves all the losses from me.
If that's how she wants to play it, then I too can play that card.
"Okay you win. Just follow me to the rooftop if you want. If you don't I will-"
"You will what?" I made a curious expression.
She stood up trying to get a lead on me without ever replying back.
But I took hold of her free hand because the other was holding lunch.
"Are you, Sayumi, trying to run away from me?"
"Stop acting like me. You're being creepy."
"So in other words, you are creepy."
"No. That's not what I'm trying to say."
It was fun seeing her act like that. I was right.
She deserves no wins anymore.
I stood up without letting her go and I beckoned for us to go.
"I was right. You have changed." Although still coy, she managed to bring out these words.
Then she intertwined her slender fingers with mine as I felt the delicate structure of her small palm on mine.
"But I don't hate it."
A warm feeling arose in my chest as she said that. She really has a way with words.
Her hand was so tender, soft and warm and the other was carrying lunch.
.
.
.
Why am I mentioning lunch again?
We exited the class hand in hand which earned us stares of confirmation from people as we headed to the rooftop in complete silence enjoying each other's company.
Despite the envious gazes, I had now gotten used to them as I was undeterred.
They can keep being envious however they like, it won't change anything anyway.
"My, my. Isn't this a pleasant surprise."
We were greeted by Inori.
No.
SHE was greeted by Inori.
"Hey Inori. Been a while… Ichi."
"You're right. It's been a while." Then Ichinose turned to face me.
This is awkward.
Why do I keep bumping into her today?
"Sakurai, don't you know how to greet people." Inori asked me.
"No I don't."
Its not like I have any reason to anyway.
"Urgh Doesn't matter."
"Saku~. You need to work on your communication skills."
"Not you too. Now you're against me?"
"I'm not against you. It's the truth."
"Your truth is flawed."
"Its not. Just look at yourself."
"Are you some sort of mirror?"
"What are you talking abo-. Hah. You can't be serious."
"You know, after the morning incident in our class, I had doubts at first but are the two of you seriously going out?"
"There was an incident this morning in your class?" Ichinose asked as she appeared intrigued.
"What? Ichi? Are you for real? How come you of all people hasn't heard about what happened in our class yet?"
"Technically it's your class so…"
"Yoh. This is the hot topic for the day."
"My mind was somewhere else. I was spacing out."
"Yeah, you seem to be spacing out a lot these days."
"I just can't help it's not my fault."
"It's not my fault either. So anyways it goes like this. In the morning, these two-"
"If you two are about to start gossiping about us right in front of our faces then we'll take our leave." I was the one who spoke that out loud.
"Where are you rushing off to?"
"To spend time together. What else?"
Inori walked towards Sayumi and hugged her and began with her fake sobs.
"(Sniff) Sayumi. I'm so happy for you. (Sniff) I never would have expected you to find a guy so quickly. (Sniff) You have made me proud. (sniff) You finally did it. "
"Hold on. I think you are overreacting a bit too much." Sayumi responded to Inori.
"What's there to overreact about? It is completely evident to me that you finally found your other half. (sniff) Unlike a certain high and mighty bestie of mine." She then turned towards her best friend, Ichinose with her head albeit still enveloping Sayumi in their passionate embrace.
"I'm not high and mighty I just have standards. Well, I used to I guess. But that changed." It was only for a brief moment but her ocean blue pupils turned to me before averting from me in an instant.
'C'mon does she really hate me that much?'
"Used to? What changed?"
"A lot of things changed for me." Then Inori sneered at her bestie.
"Ichi. C'mon. We've known you for a while. The person you are looking for doesn't exist. Aren't I right Sayu?"
"Its what she wants so at the end of it all, she has the final say. Still, you won't stop being our bestie no matter what."
"Thanks guys but let me tell you something. He does exist."
"No way. It has to be Tamaki right."
"No, not Tamaki."
Don't discuss about another dude in front of me.
"Really. I can't think of anyone else who meets those standards of yours."
"Inori. Would it kill you to just believe in me for once?"
"Yeah it would because it's still a shock to me. I think I'm about to faint. Haaah~." Then Inori made a fainting gesture as she collapsed still holding Sayumi in a hug.
"Inori. You are putting too much weight on me. I'm about to collapse."
"That's why he's here right." She looked at me with a mischievous smile.
"Don't even count on it." I replied back to her and I once again returned my gaze to Ichinose and she looked away from me.
Was she looking at me this whole time?