Déjà vu... a feeling of something happening in the past repeating itself. But that wasn't what I was feeling. It wasn't a past event whatsoever; it just feels like I had seen that face before. It's at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't seem to let it slip out. It was as if my memory played a trick on me, teasing me with familiarity, yet keeping its secret locked away like an elusive puzzle waiting to be solved.
I stared at him from the corner of my eye. Just a day in school, and he was already popular, with the girls, that is. But it was still something, if only it had been that easy. Matilda and I had only each other to depend on in a school like this, where you needed to be rich or extremely pretty to fit in. We never made friends. It was never easy for people like us to do so; that's until we became close to the alpha trios.
Only then did people make an attempt to talk to us or invite us to their parties with the hopes of the alpha trios coming along. Of course, we knew our situation and couldn't take advantage of it, so we most times turned them down.
He must be feeling so damn lucky right now. I watched as a girl slid her hand through his hair, but he pulled back, slamming his tray. Not too loud but enough to catch the attention of others. He looked at her, irritated, and then pulled his tray back to another empty seat in the cafeteria, leaving her confused and her hand dropped to her side.
I have to admit that was quite funny. The look of disgust on his face. I almost laughed. Almost. But a smile did creep in. She deserved it, and that wasn't cute at all; it was more creepy to have your hand over someone without consent.
"Are you listening to me?" Matilda's voice rang in the corner of my ear. I diverted my attention and stared back at her. She had her spoon in her hand as she played with her food.
"What is it?" I asked, noticing her worried expression.
"It's Ethan." I knew it.
"What about him?" Had he confronted her already? That would be an interesting twist.
"He's suddenly avoiding me. Since yesterday, I think he's mad at me for something." Oh, he sure was. Even I am surprised. Who would ever think Ethan would be jealous? Not even in a million years.
"Have you asked him why?" I inquired, staring at my plate. I took a scoop from the soup, placing the spoon in my mouth. It tasted salty but sweet. I had no idea what this was, but it wasn't bad.
"How can I when he's ignoring me!" She stated in a matter-of-fact tone. If only I could tell her; she was so smart yet so oblivious. But it wasn't in my place, and I wasn't 100%. Ethan didn't look like a guy to get jealous; they were indeed close, but he never showed a hint that he liked her, at least not when I was present. Who knew what they had going on in my absence? Matilda wasn't one to keep things from me, but who knows?
"I don't know, Matilda; you just have to find a way to talk to him. Ethan is a good guy. He would come along." I can't believe I was saying it. A good guy? Not even close, but he was honest. Painfully honest. So yeah, I could regard him as a good guy.
I took another sip from my spoon when I suddenly felt a hand around my shoulder. The soup froze in my mouth as I turned my gaze, tracing whose hand it belonged to. My heart suddenly raced as I stared at Jake.
I have been avoiding him all day; I didn't like how I was feeling anytime I saw him, and now he was making things more difficult for me. He rested his face on his other hand, elbow propped on the table, his mischievous brown eyes locked onto mine with a sly smirk.
"You are my girlfriend; what does it look like I am doing," Jake replied, his words barely audible but loud enough for Matilda to hear.
"I thought the contract was done," Matilda stated. So did I, girl, so did I.
"Change of plans," Jake responded, and I could feel a mischievous grin spreading across Matilda's face as she stared at me. I knew exactly what she was thinking, and she knew that I knew. To change the topic, I asked, 'Where's Owen?'
"Where's Ethan?'
I looked up, my gaze now fixed on Matilda, and we burst out laughing simultaneously, leaving Jake momentarily confused.
"He... they, I have no idea." Jake finally admitted.
"What kind of friend are you," I said casually stirring the soup. I had suddenly lost my appetite. So I placed the spoon by the side and pushed the tray away.
"Aren't you hungry?" Jake asked.
I shrugged. "Not really,"
Jake, who had been wrapped around my shoulder, suddenly dropped to the side. Jake leaned back, his smirk replaced by a furrowed brow.
"Is it because of Owen?" He asked, but there was something odd about the question.
I looked at him confused for a second before averting my gaze to Matilda,
who was now staring at her phone. "Not really about Owen. I just don't feel like eating."
"Okay." He nodded.
After lunch, I disposed of the leftovers and made to exit the cafeteria when I was stopped by a male figure. The new guy.
"Hey," he waved at me with a warm welcoming smile.
"Hey," I gave him a questioning look, with one of my brows raised. I think he must have gotten the message as he replied.
"You don't remember me, do you?" Remember you? Was I supposed to? Does he know me?
"Alex? The new guy everyone is talking about?" I asked. I had heard some girls talking about him in the girl's bathroom.
He chuckled, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. I wondered what he must have found amusing, probably the fact that he knows he's getting popular.
"So you don't remember me then?"
"Am I supposed to?" I asked back, slightly getting irritated. "Although you do seem familiar."
"Oh, remember the Blackpink concert, the guy who bumped into you by accident with your boyfriend," he stated while I stared at his light blue eyes. It looked like I was staring, but really, my mind had wandered back in time, trying to recollect what he said, and then my eyes widened in sudden realization.
"It was you; I just knew I had seen your face somewhere." I laughed lightly. "The universe works in mysterious ways."
"It really does, doesn't it?"
"How do you know Jake's my boyfriend?" He was staring at me, his lips twisted to the side before saying.
"He got all defensive when I pushed you, even though it was clearly a mistake. You two don't look like siblings, and words spread fast in this school. I am figuring that's also how you knew my name."
I scoffed, not because I was mad but because he was right. About Jake getting defensive and also how rumors spread like wildfire in this school, but wrong about us dating.
I wonder how shocked he would look if I told him we weren't. I really wanted. I would have if we were still at the concert, but now we attended the same school, to them, Jake and I were in a relationship. I don't know how this would continue, but I really hope it ends soon.