Five: Noodles

I kept staring at them, helpless. Why did they always have to behave like babies? Virg had also seen him, but she didn't react. But here they were, embarrassing me. 

Was I supposed to talk now?

"She's not my girlfriend," Roy spoke first. 

Phew, good.

I looked at him, smiled uncomfortably. "Can you give me a sec? I'd like to speak with them."

"Sure."

Turning to my two childish friends, I glared hard at them, took their hands, pulled them somewhere I wasn't sure of. Well, somewhere was the door of the store I just stepped out of. 

I released their hands from my grip, sighed, and gritted my teeth. First, I turned to Bella. "What's wrong with you guys? Do you think it's funny?"

"Oh, yeah! We're just happy for you!" Barb shouted again. This girl seriously needed a zip on her lips. 

"Stop, please." I brushed my palm through my face. "This truly isn't funny. I really don't know anything about him. He's just been… coming to me for a couple of days."

Barb tried as hard as possible to not laugh, biting her lip. And, Bella on the other hand, smiled like she was being forced to. 

"I'll take that explanation." Barb cut the silence around us, dropped her hands on her waist, stared intently at me. "Anyways, since he's here with you, maybe you should just go with him."

I shook my head violently. "No, no. You guys should come with me, please. I don't wanna walk alone with him."

Before I'd say any other thing, Barb took Bella's hands, ran past me. "See you at home," they both announced, and jogged out of the vicinity. 

I squealed in my palm, feeling so, so uncomfortable. Turning back to Roy, he was already smiling at me. As expected, Virginia was gone already. Gosh, I hated this. 

Walking to him, I swallowed. To be honest, boys like him couldn't be trusted. What if he—

No. I guessed I just had to be less judgemental, and be positive instead. Maybe he just wanted to be friends with me. 

"So…" I tugged my fist to my sweater, so nervous. "Do you want something?"

"Can we go now?"

I debated with myself. Could I go now?

"Okay." That came out of my mouth in a rush. 

Saying that, I walked past him, still so confused that this guy had been coming to me for a couple of days. Again, what did he want?

***

"How many places do you work?" Roy cut the silence between us. Good, I was getting uncomfortable with the stupid silence. 

"About three places." At first, I didn't want to reply to him, but I just thought of being nice. Maybe he truly wanted a friendship. At least, he hadn't said anything about a hookup since we had left that store. 

"Wow, really?" 

"Huh."

He sighed. "That's a lot of work, you know? I mean, how do you get to study at the same time? I feel it's quite stressful."

I snorted. "People who've got money, don't know what it means to need money. So, I don't know how to answer your question."

"It seems like you love to tease the rich, right?" He stood in his tracks. I wondered if it was because of his question, but then, I realized I was at the building of my dorm. Woah, woah, when did we get here? And, woah, woah, woah, how did he know my dorm? 

I raised my neck to catch his gaze, stared dumbly. "Um, that's not it."

He chuckled for some reason, and looked away. "Not everyone who's rich, is happy."

"Huh?" I furrowed my brows at him. 

"Anyways…" he returned to smiling, sighed. "I'll be leaving now. Thanks for your company. I really appreciate it."

"Oh. Okay." 

"See you tomorrow." He winked, as usual, and turned to take his leave. 

Again, and again, I just stood with widened eyes. I still needed an answer for the reason he was coming to me always. 

***

I yawned, feeling drowsy. My reading lamp light was twitching at every second, signaling that I had to fix or change it soon. But, how'd I get a new one now? I was literally broke. I guessed I was always broke. 

"Don't you think you should get a new one?" Virginia asked as she sat on her bed, which was opposite to mine.

I turned to her, rubbed my fingers against my sleepy eyes. "Oh. Yeah. I'll do that soon."

"Okay." She returned to studying. 

I smiled. She was just so boring. She didn't even bother to speak about any other thing. And that was why I loved to read with her. If Barb and Bella were awake, I'd definitely be able to read nothing. 

Turning back to my book, the thought of how Roy had been following me, made me Instantly bothered. He knew certain things about me, and I absolutely didn't like that. What if he was truly stalking me? That wasn't fine at all, huh?

Someone knocked on the door, which made me flinch from my thoughts. Knitting my eyebrows, I looked at Virginia. As well, she was looking at me. 

"You're expecting someone?" She queried. 

I shook my head. "Nope."

"Do you think we should open it?" There was some kind of fear in her tone. Fear? Really? Well, that was quite okay. It was weird for someone to come over, by this time of the night. 

Slightly shaken, I stood from my bed, headed to the door. Reaching the door, I propped my neck forward. "Who's there?" I asked calmly. 

"It's Sean," the person said. I sighed in relief. 

Opening the door, I smiled a little. Why would he come by this time of the night?

"Hey, Sean," I greeted first. 

"Noodles." He lingered a bag in the air. Ah, good! My favorite noodles. 

A huge smile grew on my lips. I wanted those noodles so bad. But because I couldn't get enough money, I never bothered to buy it. 

"Thanks. Would you come in?" I licked my lips, intertwined my fingers in each other. 

"Let's stay on the balcony," he suggested. 

"I'll join you there. Let me get my sweater."

Stepping back in, I took a thick cotton sweater since it was cold out there. And turning to Virg, I was surprised to see her smiling at me. 

"That's a date, huh?" She winked. That wink definitely didn't suit her. She was too nerdy for that. 

"You're silly," I remarked, and stepped out. 

Walking into the hallway, I heaved a deep sigh. To be honest, staying with Sean wasn't so good. It reminded me of the time we used to… date. We had dated in our first year at the University. Due to my screwed up lifestyle, we had to break up. We had truly never had time for each other, so what was the point in the relationship? 

As soon as I walked into the balcony where every student on this floor liked to stay, I bumped into Sean, which made me gasp. Blankly, we stared at each other. Again, I was seeing the handsome guy I used to like. Those adorable brown eyes, bright lips, bronze hair, high jaw, and the straight nose which featured in between those unreal arched eyebrows. He was just so cute.

He smiled warmly as he looked down at my 5"8 height. Raising his hand, he used his thumb finger to soothe my cheek. "You're so pretty tonight," he remarked. "As usual."

I blushed so much. Not wanting him to see my red cheek, I put my eyes down, bit my smile. 

"Thanks," I said. 

And before I'd say anything else, his lips met with my cheek. Gosh, what?! 

"I miss you," he stated. 

I tried blinking away my tears. This was not the time for him to miss me. When I had needed his support in the past, he had left, claiming he didn't want a busy girlfriend, although he had fully known that I was the breadwinner in my family. 

"Let's just eat. I don't wanna—"

He raised my jaw so I'd look at him. Again, he pecked me on the cheek, without being permitted to. What was wrong with him?

"Don't worry about anything. I won't force you to come to me. I'll give you some time."

I nodded. "Good. Can we eat now?"

He chuckled and pinched my cheek. "Foodie. Alright, let's eat."

We sat on the small bench in here, served the noodles, ate and chatted all night. 

***