There is a guy in my class named Minghao. He is rich, handsome and came from a well-known family. Despite of his positive portraits, he never acts like one. Being known as a trouble maker; he always got into a fight, talking back to our teachers, saying foul words every minute and never shown respect both to boys and girls. Minghao is a total jerk. And I think he is on his rebellion stage.

However, I find it weird when he treated me in a different way. Minghao never cursed, shouted on me or embarass me like how he did to my other classmates. There are also some times when he helped me cleaning the room.

Why?

Why is he like that towards me?

I am walking on the way to my home, thinking about him while holding a plastic bag of sweet tangerines. My mom told me to bought fruits before I go home from school. I swing the plastic bag, back and forth, until it accidentally stripped, so the tangerines rolled down on the ground.

"Oh no!"  I gasped.

I picked up one... two... three tangerines so far. The other five rolled in the other direction. As I am about to pick the five remaining tangerines, I saw two hands. Based on its appearance, I am certain that he is a guy. So I lifted my head and my eyes went round when I recognized the man who picked up my fruits.

"M-Minghao?"

He looked at me while holding the tangerines. "Going home? Alyssa?"

I stood up right there, quite amazed by the fact that for the past 3 years of being his classmate, this is the first time he talked to me! And he even called my name!? Waaah! I need to calm down!

"Y-Yes," I managed to utter a word. I gulped and continued, "T-Thanks for helping me."

"No problem. But I think you can't bring all of this by yourself. Your bag," his eyes glanced on my bag. "is packed with books," he added. "So let me carry these on the way to your home."

WHAT?! NOW HE OFFERED TO HELP ME?!

Before I could response, he started to walk and leave me no choice but to follow him. As we walked to my path, our steps are in sync: left, right, left and right. The silence is in between and the awkwardness is thicker than the clouds I saw up in the sky.

I want to break the wall between us. I know I can do it by asking some questions like: how are you? Are you going home too? How's your family? Etc. But I am so weak that  I can't utter some words. I am afraid I might change his mood. Also, for this moment, I suddenly forgot how to breathe.

"We are here," he said and stopped walking.

I freeze and lifted my sight. That was so quick! I didn't notice the time that passes by!

"Ah yeah, we are here," I answered. "Thanks for-"

Wait. How did he know that this is my house?

  "But can I ask something? H-How did you know that this is my house?"

He paused, and I can see by his actions that he is hesitating to looked back, nor to talked back and answered my question.

"Oh Alyssa! You came back!" my mother exclaimed and approached us. She hugged me before shifting her gaze on the guy standing beside me. "Minghao? You are here, together with my daughter?"

My eyes widened when my mother called his name. They knew each other?! But how?!

"Ahem," Minghao forged a cough. "Alyssa is my classmate," he said.

"Really?! Aigoo. What a coincidence. Why didn't you tell me?!" my mother laughed.

"Well, sorry," he apologized then he looked away.

And here I am, changing my sight from him to mom; mom to him. What is happening?

"I helped her with these tangerines. It fell down," Minghao further explanation.

"Y-Yeah," I added, still confuse.

Mother held my arm and said, "He is the guy I've telling you. The one who helped me from a thief at the market."

Minghao, is my mom's savior.

A month ago, mom told me about a boy who helped her from a thief. That boy always went here to visit mom after that. Unfortunately, I was not at home when that boy visited. Mom said how that boy treated him sweetly, even brought some fruits for us. That's why my mom treated that boy as her own son. I remembered that day when she told me how she pities that boy.

That boy and Minghao are the same.

For now, I got to know a little story about my classmate who got hated by others. He maybe rich, but he never got any love by his own parents. This boy is thirst from affection and love.

My mom invited Minghao to come in and eat some tangerines I bought. Mom even peeled one for him, but not for me. Tsk.

"Alyssa and you are classmates. But why didn't you tell me my son?" Mom complained while pouting.

Minghao scratched his nape and answered, "Sorry Mrs. I just know it two weeks ago."

Wow! Minghao is acting like a humble puppy! This is the first time I saw him acting like that! I got used to him, talking sh*t to our teachers.

"Alyssa's mom! Are you there?!" my aunt shouted from the outside. Mom stood up and yelled, "I'M coming!" She looked at us and asked, "Wait for me guys. I'll gonna checked my niece business with me. Minghao, feel at home, okay?" She smiled and went out.

Now, it is awkward again.

WHAT SHOULD I SAY?!

"Your mom... she is sweet," he said in gentle tone. I looked at him and he is looking up in the ceiling. "I am jealous of you, for having a lovely mom like her." He tilted his head and met my gaze.

There is something in his eyes... something that made my heart beats crazily.

"Do you  treated me better than other because of my mom?" I asked.

He nodded. "One of my reasons is that."

"There are other reasons?"

"Hmmm. Because you are special."

"How?"

"Just." He looked away and ate some fruits.

I fake a laughed and blabbered, "I thought it is because you like me."

Wait.

Wait wait.

Wait!

I said something so crazy!

Now he is looking at me with his eyes wide opened! Waaa!

"I-I m-mean, you like me as a human being. HA HA HA HA," I reasoned. Hooo! That was so embarassing.

"Pffttt hahahaha!" Minghao laughed.

I freeze and watched how he laughed so happily. Badum~badum~ badum~ my heart beats like a rolling drum. I held my chest as I looked at his smile, breathing heavily. What is wrong with me? Why am I like this? His laughs sounds like a beautiful melody in my dreamland. And I can't help myself but to raised the corners of my lips.

Minghao stopped laughing and stared at me for a minute. I can see his cheeks getting red as he looked away while covering his lips.

And then I saw his eyes looking at one of the pictures on the frame hanging on our wall. My goodness! It is my picture when I was a kinder!

"HA HA HA, I looked weird when I was young, right?"

"No. You looked cute."

"Huh?"

He stared back. "You were cute. Now you looked pretty."

"I-I am pretty?"

"Hmm. For me you look pretty... Alyssa."

Gosh. My cheeks felt hot and I think I am blushing. I hope he won't notice it. I cupped my cheeks and looked away.

"Are you okay?"

"I-I am."

"But your face look red. Are you sure you are  okay?"

"I am ok--"

My words halted.

When I looked back, his face are inch away. Our lips accidentally touches each other- an accident kiss!?

We pulled back, surprised and bewildered.

W-We kissed!

And that's how our love story started: Loving the badboy in my class.

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