Me: "Hey Jace, are you serious right now? Did Tyra really mess you up so bad that you..."
Oops.
I said it out loud. And I think I just pissed him off.
He throws the ball violently. It bounces hard against the floor and rolls away with a loud thud.
In a split second, Jace is right in front of me. His fingers wrap around my wrist... hot, almost painful. With one sharp move, he pulls me and slams me against the wall.
His face is so close I can feel his ragged breath against my skin. His cold black eyes stab right into me. No hint of playfulness. No smirk. Just pure fury.
Huhuhu. Mister "anti-girls" really looks like he's about to kill me.
My heart skips a beat.
Me: "J–J-Jace… I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean to..."
Him: "Why don't you just mind your own business?"
Me: "I…"
Him: "Shut up! Don't you ever say that name again, got it?"
Me: "I…"
He lets go of me abruptly and storms out of the gym.
Oof. For a second there, I thought he was going to kill me. He must have really loved that Tyra…
*
The next morning, I walk into school and can't stop replaying what happened yesterday. Jace was so furious. His eyes. His breath.
I should apologize… but how? He doesn't even like seeing my face.
After math class, I tell Tami and Jonas everything.
Jonas: "Didn't you hear what I told you last time? Jace is super sensitive about Tyra. He goes crazy just hearing her name."
(He shakes his head.)
Me: "Ah…"
Great. I really am the best at making people angry. Ah, Hiyaaas!!!
After that talk, we head to the cafeteria.
And there he is, sitting with his friends.
Alright. Courage, Hiyas. Time to apologize.
I grab an ice cream and walk over to their table. I greet his friends. Felix is there too. Alex, who's sitting beside Jace, scoots over to give me a seat. Jace, on the other hand, looks… very annoyed.
I timidly offer him the ice cream. He ignores me. I insist, but he still doesn't care.
Alex (laughing): "No way… don't tell me the Ramzon couple had a fight?"
Charles (another friend of Jace): "Ramzon?"
Alex: "Yeah! Ramos + Corazon = Ramzon!"
Charles: "Bro, stop. That's so lame."
They burst into laughter. And suddenly… Jace stands up.
He grabs my hand and drags me out of the cafeteria.
Alex (yelling after us): "There goes Ramzon, off to solve their drama!"
Outside, I rush to explain myself.
Me: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that… It just slipped out…"
Him: "Next time, watch your mouth."
Me: "Okay… So… will you take my ice cream?"
Him: "No. And you, ugly… stop bothering me."
And then he walks away.
… Fantastic.
At least I know he's not mad anymore. Because when he's really mad, he doesn't even call me "ugly."
Well… I think. Anyway.
I head back to the cafeteria. My friends are still devouring their food like starving wolves. I sit down, and Jonas throws me one of his looks. Ugh, this guy…
Jonas: "Hey, Hiyas, are you doing this on purpose or what?"
Me: "What did I do this time?"
Jonas: "The bet. I don't see any progress."
Tami: "Huh? What bet?"
Me (to Jonas): "What do you mean?"
Jonas: "You two don't look like a couple at all. We made a bet, right? If you're never with him, how are we supposed to know if you'll actually fall for him?"
Unbelievable. This guy really knows how to get on my nerves.
Me: "Whatever. I'm going back to class for a bit."
Tami: "Why?"
How do I tell them?
How do I tell them… I need my medicine. I can't find it, so it must be in my bag, in class.
I'm sick, and I need to take it… but it's missing. I'm sure I had it with me, but since it's not here, it must still be in my bag.
Me: "I forgot something."
Jonas (sighing): "And here I am trying to talk about something serious…"
I ignore him. I have to find my medicine. Otherwise, I might have a crisis right here… and that's the last thing I want.
So I hurry to class. Once inside, I glance left and right like a thief (lol). I rummage through my bag, whispering:
"Ah, Hiyaaas, what a complicated life you have! Acting like a thief just to take your medicine… and I still can't find it! Where is it? Did I leave it at home? No way. Mom must have put it in my bag. Then why…"
…: "Is this what you're looking for?"
I freeze.
Oh. Crap. Felix.
I'm busted. Huhuhu.
**
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