•••••
Eunice's POV
I was focused on the book I was reading, with a chocolate bar in my right hand. Studying can be exhausting, but I'll persevere for my future.
"Eunice, it's time for lunch. You've been at it for a while," said my friend Lily, who has been with me since elementary school. Sometimes I can't help but feel a little envy over her beauty.
I've always been curvy and chubby for my age, i'm trying to eat less but it hasn't been effective. My mom says it's just in our genes. We have larger breasts, wide hips, and thick thighs, while my waist is more average. Many say my body shape is attractive, but I still can't understand why my crush doesn't like me back.
"Go ahead without me, Lily. I'm still full," I replied. She just rolled her eyes and closed the book I was reading.
"You're skipping lunch again? You've done that for a week now. You'll get sick," she lectured me.
We both stood up and headed to the cafeteria in our school. There were many students there who glanced our way.
I spotted the guy who makes my heart race, talking to a beautiful girl with a slim figure and long blonde hair.
"Let's sit here," Lily said, pointing to an empty seat. We sat down and ordered our food.
"One Crunchy lettuce salad wrapped with sweet satay dip for me and just water. Can you deliver ne choco frappe for Arcus, please. Just give it to him when it's ready, and also a chocolate cake," I told the waitress who asked for our order.
Arcus loves chocolate; I've noticed it during my four years of secretly following him. It's his comfort food, and when he's stressed, that's what he eats.
"Is that his girlfriend?" I asked Lily, who was busy on her phone while gesturing towards the girl with Arcus and his friends.
She looked where I pointed and shook her head.
"Arcus isn't the type to get into a relationship. They say he's a mama's boy. Arianne is pretty, but you're prettier and sexier. You have a very big bre*st, a wide hips and a small waist. Just flaunt those curves," she said bluntly.
I quickly covered her mouth when I noticed the stares and chuckles from the other students.
"Lily, you're so loud. I just asked if she was his girlfriend. You've said way too much," I said, shaking my head.
"Arcus is not a mama's boy lils, where did you hear that? he's just a loving son. I saw her mother before and she's beautiful, she can pass as an angel" I whispered.
"Arcus looks like senator Buenavista, the drug lord senator. I just heard it from my mom" she said while tapping something on her phone.
"Someone might hear you" I said
She shrugged and waited for our order. After a few minutes, our food arrived. I checked if Arcus would take the food I ordered for him, but he only shot me a disdainful look.
"I don't take food from strangers," he said coldly to the waitress and pushed away the food I had bought for him.
My heart sank,he really considered me as a stranger. But I just let it go. There was no point in crying over it. I ate quickly so I could leave, feeling suffocated by Arcus's presence.
I could feel his hostile gaze on me, so I lowered my head and continued eating. I felt tears stream down my face without realizing it. "Hey, are you okay?" Lily asked, looking at me with concern.
I wiped my eyes before turning to her, forcing a smile and nodding. I tied my hair back to eat properly, not looking at Arcus anymore.
"I told you to forget about him. You've been trying to get his attention for years, and you're still empty-handed. I don't know if you're naive or just plain foolish. You're smart, but maybe you're just foolish. Arcus is a jerk" she said before taking a bite of her chicken sandwich.
I didn't respond and just focused on my food, disregarding everything she said. My mom always told me there's still hope.
As I walked down the hallway to my next class, I saw Arcus in front of our classroom. I subtly adjusted my clothes and hair before walking toward him.
"A-Arcus, what are you doing here?" I asked shyly.
He looked at me coldly, as if he was disgusted to talk to me.
"Stop giving me random things, and stop texting and calling me. Leave me alone; your classmates think you're trying to court me, so they always tease me about you. Wake up from your delusions, Eunice; I'm not interested in you. I don't want anything from you Eunice" he said before walking away.
I ignored all the stares from the people around me. I hear their laught but I didn't mind it. I didn't want to give up on him. Why did he have to smile at me before and help me when others teased me for being fat and ugly? but i'm sure i'm not ugly. Why did he say I was pretty? Now I couldn't move on from him.
I ran to the nearest restroom in the senior high school department and locked myself in a cubicle.
"I'll only stop if we graduate from senior high without anything changing in our relationship," was my last promise.