Chapter 15 - All Too Well (Present)

“Over here!” Daniel called out my name, raising his right hand, I project my straight teeth and Gelli was seated beside him. We are inside of the school's laboratory with the other groups and the teacher writing his lectures in a scribbled way.

“How are you?” I asked and perched next to him.

“Good.” then smiled in thin lips. I pulled out my laptop from its satchel and Gelli extended her arm through Daniel's front.

“Let me have your research and development for our project.” without looking at me and sights darted on the whiteboard. My gaze and Daniel's met, we chuckled under our breath.

“Here.” grabbing the documents from inside of my bag.

“50 pages, font Arial, size 12..” and winked at Daniel, he manages to smirk and tilted his head.

“Thank you!” she seethed, scanning it page by page. Daniel typing on his laptop while sights back and forth from the board to it. And started to mind my own business too.

Mr. Davidson's lecture was as boring as his voice, he speaks very slowly that you can't even emphasize if he's interested or happy or mad but despite all of that I love him for being my teacher – a good teacher and also he's so compassionate with his students. And a little trivia, his age already out on the calendar numbers yet unmarried.

I exhaled – a sough, lurking from the third row, in a narrow laboratory table most of my classmates are unattended listening, and we're here almost an hour – time flies very fast. I groped my phone and checked if there's a message from my boyfriend and none.

How is Romeo doing in his new job? Was he doing it right? I started typing but catch on to what the sound of the bell. End of the class – End of the discussion.

Everyone beginning to rise from their seats and clearing their stuff into the territory of what we so-called a backpack.

“Are you coming with us?” Daniel asked I could see no point asking that question if he really knows what would be my answer.

“No, I gotta go meet my boyfriend.” I fabricated my response. He just glimpses.

We're evacuating the corners of our boring lab as Mr. Davidson reminding each about the deadline for our group project.

“Good day sir.” we bid individually and walking down the hallway, Gelli prompted my name and I looked down, my eyes darted on the sheets I gave her. Daniel stopped, behind me.

“Would you mind if I'll borrow these copies of yours?” she asked, her lips red and I knew her intentions were dark.

“Yeah, sure as a leader you have that will.” I hurled back, her complexion was as confident and vulgar as ever. “I still have a soft copy on my computer,” I added.

“Good. Because I could spot errors from your work, so needed to be a double check.” she spat out, my lips twisted. I'm not alarmed – she was just trying to be superior. Gelli and I were classmates but never friends in high school and both graduated as an honorable recipient and I've garnered an average a little higher from hers.

“Do what you wanted and I'll do my part,” I told,

Then she turned with her clanking sandals and Daniel followed, he bid me with his sweetest smile and I waved. I fished out the phone from my pocket and dialed Romeo's number. It was ringing until I was directed to his answering machine. I'm being a little flimsy.

I trailed down the corridor and standing in front of the library, I don't want to go home, it's too early, four had just passed and what I'm gonna supposed to do in my apartment if I did; bingeing on Netflix and fed myself with much salt from every pack of chips. I soughed – and I did this several times today. What a boring day.

I continued when someone clutched my hand, “Daniel?” I blurted out to my surprise, he was beaming and his elegant eyes talking to me – full of hope.

“What are you doing here? I thought you already left with Gelli.” as I feel alive again rinsing the boredom I'm feeling.

“Yeah, but she was fetched by her boyfriend..”

“Really? I didn't know she had a boyfriend.”

“She didn't talk about him much – and you were surprised as she was when we knew about you and Romeo.” I just released a bit chuckle, Daniel smiling.

“Where are you heading?” he added.

“I don't know, m – ”

“Great! You wanna come to my place?”

“Sure?” I replied, but not that really I wanted to come but since I am searching for something to do, so yeah. Why not?

We traipsed to the parking area and jumped into his car. As he drives it backward and I extended my arm to put my things at the back seat and soon he was steering on the freeway. I've never been inside of their house but all I knew was both of his parents were doctors. He keeps glancing at me and I could tell.

“I'm glad that you came back to me..” I laughed, watching the horizon with a pomegranate colored sky as the sun's setting.

“What do you mean of that?” his lips unsteady and eyebrows in one line.

“I mean that you saved me from the doldrums waiting at my apartment..” I kidded, and his sweet giggles escaped his mouth, “I don't wanna go home actually, that's why – yeah – that's it.”

“It's really my intention to invite you.”

“Like you've planned it?” shifting my questioning glare – while his eyes nailed on the road.

“No, not like that – I mean after Gelli swapped me with her boyfriend..” we both chuckled, my eyes still glued at him and his face was being kissed by the rays, and he appeared silhouetted against it. “Then why not asked you to hang out with me, since I am alone.”

“So it's like I'm your last option to hang out with if Gelli's not around?”

“Let's just say, I'm your saving grace. Okay?”

“It doesn't change the fact that you only did this because you're unaccompanied.”

“Me either, I'm never in your option and only said 'yes' because you're alone too.”

And that was purely innocuous jokes and we both laughed, I never thought Daniel would be this humorous. All the time I'm with him we always talked about the project, he's the barrier controlling the fire not to ignite when Gelli and I were together and a very accountable guy. But I've barely seen this side of him – witty.

The entrance opened automatically and he drove his car inside. The house wasn't that big but it really looks modern – and new.

“We're here!” he stepped his leg out and nailed by his looks bewitchingly.

“But? This isn't your house, right?” I asked as my eyes bulges.