-Wake up…

I was running through a beautiful field of flowers, when I heard a distant but audible voice calling me. I stopped and looked around, but there was no one here besides me.

-Wake up…

There it was, that voice was calling me again.

This time I opened my mouth to try to respond, but for some reason, the words wouldn't come out of my mouth. In a panic I tried to speak, but no matter how hard I tried, the words wouldn't come out.

---

I suddenly opened my eyes and tried to process the world; something that I did not have time for, because I heard the class applaud. Out of reflex I put my hands together and started clapping so as not to look out of place.

It was rude to squint your eyes when applauding something, so I opened them wide and looked around.

For some reason my classmates were looking at me. My mind entered into understanding and my hands stopped clapping slowly; my face turned red.

"Good morning, Alexa."

Hearing my name, I turned to the right and saw the teacher looking at me with a smile.

It wasn't just him, the whole class was looking at me with different smiles on their faces.

My face (which was already red) turned bright red. I sadly lowered my head and mumbled an answer to the teacher.

—Okay, since we're all connected I'll continue with the class

That comment was so unnecessary that I could only bury my head in my hands in response.

"Didn't you sleep enough?"

After the teacher left I felt a touch on my back and a soft voice spoke.

I turned around and saw the face of a boy with a mocking expression, but at the same time understanding and curious.

I started to explain that I had stayed up all night fixing a paper for one of my elective classes; I seized the moment to complain about it and say how absurd it was.

—I told you not to choose Arts, but you insisted that this time it was your passion and that you would not leave it

Faced with this comment I could only remain silent, but not for long, I immediately replied saying that he would have stopped me more insistently.

"Would you have listened?"

My eyes narrowed and I immediately turned around pouting.

I knew it was my fault, but I would never admit it.

The class ran its course until 3 hours had passed.

Like every day, at 10:00 AM the bell rang and the teacher ended this block of classes.

I put my things away and after making sure everything was in place I was going to turn around, but I remembered what happened before, so I immediately straightened up in my place and looked at the window with my jaw resting on my left hand.

That went on for 5 seconds before the same voice from before called out to me.

Let's go to the cafeteria for lunch.

I ignored her and kept looking at the window, which was useless, because it was actually foggy, so I couldn't see anything beyond 6 meters.

—Ah… sorry, I know how irresponsible you are and I also know how useless you are, next time I'll make sure you don't ruin it.

Before said words I immediately turned to see him and, when he was preparing the right words to insult him, he spoke.

—Just kidding, I just like to see the adorable face you make when you get angry

He said to himself as he laughed.

My face turned red, I immediately got up and started to stride while he insulted all the generations of his family in my mind.

He followed close behind me, apologizing the whole way, though the smile he was trying to hide said otherwise.

At one point I stopped and looked him straight in the eye.

He surely thought that he had really pissed me off, because his face turned serious and uncomfortable.

Contrary to his expectations, I told him that he needed to go to the bathroom. It seems that only then did he realize that we were in front of the ladies' room.

Without looking at him again I went inside.

The bathroom had a wall between the entrance and the bathroom itself, making it impossible to see inside from the outside.

I made sure I was out of his sight and walked over to a mirror.

I stopped in front of the mirror and looked at my face, then using my hands, I began to touch my face and view it from various angles. I didn't see anything worth admiring.

To confirm I contorted my face and made an angry expression, but apart from seeing myself as someone who stabbed you, I didn't see anything else.

I didn't understand how adorable this is.

But if he said it, it should be true, he has never lied to me.

But there was also the possibility that he had undiagnosed blindness. I tried to convince myself of that, I knew the real answer, but I didn't want to think about it now, I'll leave it for later.

I was in that dilemma for a minute until another student walked in, so I went out.

As I came out I saw him leaning against a wall.

Seeing me he smiled and stood next to me.

-Are you ready? I nodded and then we headed to the cafeteria. We walked down the long hallway until we got there.

He was about to direct me to order when he stopped me.

—I know what you like, I'll pay this time, go sit down

I nodded and went to look for a seat, this behavior was not unusual between us, sometimes I invited him, sometimes he invited me.

I walked between the tables until I found an empty one and sat down.

I unconsciously looked in the direction he was standing in and watched all his movements.

Patiently lining up; Moving her leg with obvious boredom as he looks around; finally reaching the front of the line, which made him energetic; talking to the sales lady and pointing out things on the menu; waiting for his command while he plays a melody with the fingers of his right hand; receiving the menu and thanking; walking in my direction.

For about 5 minutes I watched all of his movements, without taking my eyes off him except, of course, to blink. An unconscious smile formed on my mouth.

—Done, chicken sandwich with the accessories you like

He said he as he sat across from me and put both trays between us.

I thanked him and unwrapped my sandwich.

Haven't you thought about changing your diet?

I had the sandwich almost in my mouth when I heard that; My gaze slowly went down to my stomach, after a while it went up again with anger.

—No, no, I don't mean that, it's just that you eat the same thing every day

I wouldn't know if it was just an excuse or if it really was the initial intention, anyway, I took a bite of the sandwich and started to tell him why he always ate the same thing.

I told him about the time my parents left me alone for a whole week which made me have to survive alone, then I said I was bad at cooking so I almost poisoned myself dozens of times, finally I ended up with this sandwich It was the only prepared thing they sold in the store and since then it has become my favorite.

I finished my survival story and waited for his response.

"Pff… Ha ha ha ha ha ha, th-is that why? We live nearby, why didn't you tell me?

I didn't say anything, I just wadded up the napkin and threw it at his face. He caught the ball and thought, then realized it and apologized.

"Right, it may have been when we weren't close."

I nodded in response and finished the last bits of my sandwich.

When I raised my head to tell him to leave I found him looking at me. I asked him if something was wrong or if I had something on my face.

—It's nothing, just that you look pretty eating

Without measuring words I leaned over the table and twisted his ear.

—Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry! Wow...one can't be honest these days

Deftly he let go of my grasp and began to trot.

—But, you know, I know my heart doesn't lie!

He yelled that last one for the whole place to hear and ran off.

I went blank for a second; then I followed him, I had to punish this guy.

(+)(+)(+)

I finally caught up with him and gave him a good blow to the head.

-Hahaha I'm sorry!

He said he as he followed me.

I know that anyone would think that I am indifferent and I am playing with his feelings, but I am not.

•|•

It all started 1 week ago, more precisely on Tuesday of last week.

"Hey Alexa, can you come with me for a sec?"

He spoke to me like always, but this time he seemed anxious and uncomfortable; I thought something serious had happened, so I followed him in silence.

We walked through the corridors, which seemed longer than usual.

We took a few turns and got behind the school, at which point he stopped and turned around.

-I have something to tell you

He looked into my eyes and I into his. I could see hope in his eyes, that made curiosity take over me.

I told him that I would listen to him, so he could speak with confidence.

He took several breaths and then dropped a bombshell.

—Alexa, I like you.

Given this, my mind stopped processing the outside world, at this moment there was only him and me.

—It is very likely that you do not feel the same, but I just want you to know it, even if it is not reciprocated

At this moment, a boy my age, a 14-year-old boy, confessed to me, just as it happens in the series and movies.

He knew he would be uncomfortable if he didn't say anything, so with a shaky voice he asked why she liked him.

—There are many things, too many to list, but the main ones would be; your personality, you are a warm and kind person, although sometimes unreasonable... but despite that you don't let others abuse that; your intelligence, despite not being the best in the course, I have seen how, when you really want to, you are able to do anything, even if it is something that others would call "useless"; lastly, it's nice to see how clumsy you are, I think that was the main reason why I fell in love with you

I couldn't say anything for the next 30 seconds, but seeing my red face and the way I avoided his gaze spoke volumes.

Maybe he got impatient, because seeing that he didn't speak he continued. —As I already said, I don't expect to be reciprocated, much less an answer; But I didn't want to keep hiding my feelings...

Before he could continue speaking I raised my hand for silence, then I spoke.

I told him everything I thought of him; how i like it in general. I talked about our time together, how helpful and supportive he's been, all to end by saying that she was in love with him too, but hadn't said it for fear of rejection.

-Then we can…!

Before he finished I shook my head, it was too big a step, and I didn't think I was ready for a relationship.

He didn't lose his momentum.

"But can you at least think about it?"

I thought for a moment and nodded, I also wanted to be his girlfriend, maybe after considering it carefully we could achieve it. I told him that I would give him an answer in a week.

-Good!

He immediately walked over to me and wrapped his arm around my neck.

I walked away from him incredulous, this was something I had never done.

I asked him the reason for it.

"Maybe if I'm closer to you, your heart will soften and you'll say yes."

•|•