6- "Paired."

"Camila Valdemore, you'll be paired with Trey Gregori for this activity."

I almost wanted to retaliate as the professor announced in front of the class who would be my partner for today's microscopic observation activity in Biology.

She was announcing the pairs she randomly picked. And I couldn't believe that of all the people inside the classroom, I would be paired with Trey Gregori—someone that, as much as possible, I avoid having encounters with. Now, we are even going to be partners for the sake of score!

I wanted to stand up and speak out, to ask if I could possibly change a partner, but then I remained glued in my seat, and my mouth was zipped. All I could do was glance at Trey, who was sitting at my back, only to see his serious eyes while listening to our teacher shift to me as soon as he felt I was looking at him.

Gently shrugging my shoulder, I composed myself in my seat and focused again on our professor's instructions regarding the activity.

Not too long later, we were already left doing the activity on our own, and Trey and I sat on chairs beside each other while in front of us were compound microscopes and microorganisms we needed to observe via the said device.

It was awkward at first and uncomfortable to be sitting next to him, and I was sure he was feeling the same. But I sighed and composed myself as I knew I had to be at least casual for the sake of doing this activity with him and gaining a score.

"I suggest we take turns looking at the microscope so that both of us can see and have observations on the organism. While I look, you write up and record everything I'd see. And vice versa, you look, and I'd write your observations. What do you think?" Trey suggested.

I nodded, agreeing with his actually good suggestion for fair performance.

"Yeah. Sure."

"Ladies first." He gestured and made way for me to look at the microscope.

I looked at it and verbalized the things I saw there. He recorded everything on the activity sheet. When it was his turn, I did the same for him, and then I couldn't help but stare at him while he seemed to masterfully know what he was doing. He looked articulate and intelligent. He had many observations, and it felt like he had been doing it like a pro.

Maybe because this is really his line of expertise, and he'd loved doing it for a long time or his previous years in school, he appeared to know many things.

After the time was up, each pair was obliged to present in the class what we had observed and learned from the activity.

I did the introductory part of their observations, and Trey explained further.

"Gonadobotryum sp. mold grows as a parasite on other fungi, especially Ceratocystis/Ophistoma, on framing lumber. Gonadobotryum sp. mold on framing lumber definitely isn't a health hazard because it hasn't been reported to produce mycotoxins. Yet, its potential role as an allergy cannot be ruled out."

As I heard him effectively report to the class, I couldn't help but think of Noah, who I had also seen present in front of the class with a nearly comparable level of intelligence, confidence, and knowledge of the topic. The only difference was that Noah was more Math-minded back then because he did a business-related course, but Trey was speaking like a Scientist at the time, possibly due to his course choice of Veterinary Medicine.

After reporting, our classmates gave us a round of applause while our professor was smiling ear to ear. We seemed to have effortlessly impressed everybody, including our prof., though that wasn't really part of our intention in reporting. We had just done our part as presenters.

"You made a great pair together, Camila and Trey, didn't you?"

He and I were a bit startled by what the prof. said. As we glanced at each other, we immediately mutually looked away. Awkward…

"Yes, Prof! They are! We all agree! Right, guys?" Barbara followed and made noise so that the rest of our classmates would tease us.

"Yeah! Yeah!" And they all started to be noisy while grinning at both Trey and me.

We couldn't seem to know what to do or to react, so we both just kept our mouths quiet and didn't say a thing and just let the noise go on while pretending as if we weren't heard anything at all nor affected by their teasings.

"Prof, they should be partnered once again in our next activity!" Jude seconded.

My eyes widened a bit at that. I wanted to react and shout, "No!" But as I looked at Trey, who was looking at me with no expression on his face, my mind suddenly changed and remained silent instead.

"Alright. That's enough now. Camila, Trey, thank you so much. You may now take your seats. Next pair, please."

Later on at the canteen, after I got my order and carried my food while finding an empty table to sit on, I saw the Gregoris on their favorite seats. As usual, they were talking a bit loudly, and Jude seemed to light up their mood by non-stop telling funny jokes.

"Camila!"

I was already about to pass them and go to an empty table, but when I heard Barbara calling my name, I had no choice but to look at them again.

All their eyes were on me. It was really because Barbara called me.

"Hi, Barbara," I said and smiled a little but, of course, genuinely.

"Hi! Are you alone? Come. You can sit here at our table and join us," she invited.

I was surprised. Did Barbara just invite me to join their table? I'd be sitting with Gregoris?

My eyes caught Trey. He was, as always, expressionless while staring directly into my eyes. Rain was putting a serious reaction, with no objection and also no approval if he would like the idea of me sitting with them. Jude, like Barbara, was smiling and friendly to me. And Abigail's lips were twitching side to side as if she was irritated or something like that.

I chose to humbly shake my head to turn down Barbara's invitation nicely. "Thanks, Barbara, but I prefer to eat alone."

After saying that, I didn't wait any longer for her response. I just proceeded to the vacant table I saw.

I was already eating while I could still feel the eyes of any Gregori looking in my direction. I chose to be unbothered by it and acted as if I was unaware of it.

"Hey, Camila! Here I am again, annoying you and your food!"

I looked behind my back, hearing that sweet voice. I chuckled.

Who else could it be? Of course, it was still Barbara who seemed to be so kind to me and meant a great friendship, so she always approached me.

"Can I sit at your table?"

"Sure."

And just like before, Jude followed, too.

"Camila, here I am, too! I hope you won't mind!" He approached with his natural humor and charm.

I laughed a little, totally entertained by these nice Gregoris.

"Sure. Sit down."

"So, why didn't you join our table? Was it because of Trey?" Barbara asked and picked a potato slice from my plate and ate it.

I was thinking of how I could answer that question without sounding uncomfortable, but she spoke again for another follow-up interview.

"Are you still awkward around him? You're shy when he's around, huh?" There was a hint of teasing in her tone this time around as if concluding I am into this particular cousin of hers that's why I get shy every time.

When I was about to clear that speculation and say that I have no thing for Trey, I wasn't able to speak as Jude spoke first before I could. "But I thought you and Trey were already fine? You seemed to have bonded well from our activity earlier."

I shook my head at that. "We had just been casual toward each other because we needed to for the sake of the score in activity, but it didn't mean we're friends or what."

"Oh!" There was a hint of sadness in both Barbara and Jude.

I heard familiar footsteps coming by, and as I turned my back to look at it, I was never wrong in concluding it was their cousin—Trey. But it wasn't because he wanted to sit at my table just like his two cousins. He only walked past us, carrying his backpack with him and glancing our way.

"Hey, man! Where are you going, huh? Don't you want to join us here?" Jude asked him. Nevertheless, he was already steps away.

He didn't even bother to take a look back when he answered his cousin, "Out. No."

See? One question, one answer!

Trey was already out of the canteen and our sight when Jude stood and ran to follow him.

"Wait, Trey! Where are you going?! I'll go with you, man—"

"Ahhh!"

Because Jude wasn't watching, he was unable to see a girl schoolmate passing by carrying a bowl of hot soup in her food tray, and because he was hurrying to follow his cousin, he wasn't watching his step and unintentionally sideswiped the girl, so her bowl of hot soup poured out on my skin since my seat was close to where they collided. Both the girl and I screamed in shock at what had occurred and I was completely in pain. I felt like my skin was burning!

"My god, Camila!" Barbara exclaimed, worrying at me. "Are you okay?"

"Sh*t, d*mn! I'm sorry, Miss!" Jude was genuinely apologetic toward the girl and me and immediately regretted his hurrying action that caused chaos. He attended to me. "Camila, d*mn it! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"

I wasn't mad at him seriously, but he wasn't able to finish talking when I found myself running outside the canteen and looking for the nearest washroom where I could wash my burned skin.

"Camila!" I even heard Barbara calling my name while I was running, but I didn't turn back anymore because I wanted to immediately aid the pain by washing it with tap water.

Not looking at the label of the washroom I walked into, I entered inside since it was the nearest I could have found. I went to the sink and let the pain of the burn somehow subside with the help of the water flowing from the faucet.

I caressed it. Soon as I felt relieved, I turned the water source off.

Letting the water in my hands dry, I glanced at the big mirror in front of me, and I was so shocked to see a topless man standing behind me who seemed to have been watching me all this time without me realizing it!

"My goodness gracious!" I exclaimed.

What the heck was Trey doing here, and why was he shirtless?!