Chapter 5: Girlfriend

“Tell him I’m not here.” I turned her back on me and pushed her outside my unit. She stumbled and almost lost her composure but when she regained her thoughts, she suddenly halted then pinched my arm. I let go of her, wincing in pain while she’s pointing her finger at me, eyes gleaming with rebuked.

“You can’t turn away from him, dear. You need to face him. He’s been waiting outside for an hour. You should be ashamed!” she then pinched my ears. I was crying for help, asking the gods above to help me get out from this cruelty, but I think it’s my punishment for making a commotion earlier.

“Go changed into something vogue. Use something on your face. You look-”

“Ugly? Better believe it, I thought of that.” I grunt then caress my ears. Good thing she let go of it but I don’t think I can run away from her, now that she has an idea that I know the guy she’s alluding to.

“I was going to say washed-out.” She then walked past by my side and went to my closet. I let out a tired breath. Even if I dissent or make a rally here, she wouldn’t listen to what I'm going to say.

“This fits you.” she hurled a bit of cloth then it landed right on my face. I struggled to take it off and I nearly passed out because of the sight. I forgot I had to dress like this. Mainly I rarely wear them for occasional purposes, but attending school wearing them? No.

“Oh, no. Please-” she hushed me and pushed me inside the bathroom.

“Change dear! I won’t leave this unit if you try to sneak out!” I heard her threatening voice outside.

I protested. I figure I don’t have any other choice but to wear this unsightly piece of clothing. Well, it’s really not that awful. I’m just anxious about what others will say if I walk within the school wearing this. I really don’t want to be a head-turner or something since I don’t like attention.

Hold up, why am I expecting things? I shook my head then just changed my style. Once I’m done I fixed my hair, letting it drop on my back neck then opened the door. Mrs. Johnson, who’s waiting, looked my way and her jaw almost hit the ground. She looked up at my face then gave me two thumbs up.

“The dress suits you.”

I look down at my body. Well, I know my body has curves in corners but I do really prefer wearing normal crop tops and loose pants. Be that as it may, the fit suits my body so well I think I’m beginning to get a hang of it.

“Well, you don’t need any make-up at all. Characteristic magnificence is still a standard sweetheart.” She then tapped my head and guided me outside my unit. That’s really the first time Mrs. Johnson complimented me. I felt my cheeks burning as if like a bomb that has been lit.

While walking down the stairs I saw that the end of the staircase is bombarded with numerous individuals. I was befuddled at first since they are all accumulated waiting for some sort of meeting or something when I recalled somebody is waiting for me. Now I regret changing my dress since he will see me looking like this. I was about to run upstairs when Mrs. Johnson squeezed my ear lobe then dragged me down.

“Okay coming through shows over! Girlfriend has arrived!”

When we arrived, they suddenly made a way and with domino effect, they looked at us. I gulped as I tried to digest in my stomach their deadly stares. I’m not really used to this. I heard whispers and complaints, mostly from the old ladies. When I looked up from the window, I saw Nathan leaning on his car, hands on pockets, side-profile, and probably thinking of something as he was just staring out of nowhere. Not really minding these females who are curious where he came from.

“Is it true he is your boyfriend, Nash?”

Well, people here call me either Nash or Nat. It’s not truly much of an enormous bargain besides but what’s puzzling is that why are they concluding Nathan is my boyfriend? But I didn’t say anything to them as I just strolled away, not making any eye contact. I heard their complaints, but a great thing Mrs. Johnson shoved them away. They can think anything they want from me.

When I opened the door, the daylight hit my eyes so I closed it, blinded by the sight. I was about to step onto the porch, but all of a sudden I lost my balance as I couldn't see clearly where I was walking. Before I could fall, I felt a grip on my shoulders, helping me to stand up.

“Hey.” his deep baritone voice that sends chills on every corner of my body. I gulped silently when our eyes met.

“Hi, what are you doing here?”

Okay, that was a bit inconsiderate. I want to slap myself but I already said those words to him. A sly grin covered his face, making me anxious. I really can’t study what he is thinking as he just keeps on peering toward me. I saw how his eyes landed on my dress. I want to shrivel on my spot. I won’t protest if I turn into a cockroach. He can just squash me with his sizable feet.

“Is it bad to offer you a ride to school?”

I squinted, multiple times, and couldn't seem to handle what he said. I all of a sudden touched his cheeks and squashed it. He was taken aback by what I just did because his brows wrinkled as his lips frown. Before he could go berserk, I let go of him and looked away humiliated by what I did.

“Sorry, you likely mistaken me for somebody else. I’m Natasha, your classmate in Ethics. If you need to ask for the location of the cheeky-burger apocalypse, you'll need to go this way-” he didn’t even let me finish my sentence because he all of a sudden chuckled then grabbed me by my pulse.

“Silly, I’m really looking for you. Come on, let’s go to school.”

Before I may even say anything, he yanked me towards him making me sniff on his cologne. I can almost see the heavens because god knows how good he smelled. I suddenly want to wrap my arms around his torso and let my head rest on his massive chest when he suddenly speaks.

“You can go in now.”

I looked up to him then down to his car. The entryway is wide open, inviting me. I felt my cheeks burning since he must’ve been looking at me but I am so engrossed in his fragrance. I gulped a knot on my throat then went inside. When he got inside the car he began the engine and we took off.

He all of a sudden started a conversation, asking me how my day was and did I sleep well last night. I really don’t know what to say to him. The complete ride was ungainly even though he’s really making efforts to know something about me. I don’t have a good feeling about this or it’s just my uneasiness is telling me that I shouldn’t believe somebody like him. Because honestly? This felt so unbelievable to me.

When he pulled off his car on the side, he rested his elbow on my chair then looked my way.

“So, how-”

“Thank you.” I stopped him mid-sentence then I got out of his car. I saw a few students look our way and my heart suddenly beat so fast and my stomach did a somersault, fear that somebody might notice me.

“Natasha!”

Goodness god, he even shouted my name. I looked down at the path to the entrance of the school, not minding him. I can feel the intense gaze of other students. A few are whispering and pondering why Nathan Jones Davis is calling my name. I quicken my pace, lost in my thoughts. But I stopped in my tracks when he suddenly grabbed my arms and he turned me around in front of him. I swallowed when our eyes met.

“Why are you running?” he was confused as his brows furrowed in confusion. I can see in my peripheral vision that some students stop on their pace just to watch us.

I was suddenly nervous, not knowing what to say. His accusing look penetrated my soul. Before he could speak again, I removed his hand that was holding mine and turned my back on him.

We shouldn’t be talking.

The bell rings, signaling the students that it’s lunch time. I hurriedly get up from my seat while clearing my chair. When I’m done I put my bag on my shoulder then went outside of the room. As I keep up with the ocean of students, I’m having inconveniences with where I will eat my lunch.

Well, ever since I saw Nathan and Natalie on the top most floor of the building, doing the ‘thing’ I’m reluctant to go there. I really don’t need to keep it in mind while I’m enjoying my food. It’s a disfavor to my appetite. I hurled out a heavy sigh. My last alternative is the janitor’s closet. Even if it's a filthy and terribly nauseating scent, I can manage it. As long as I am not around numerous students.

I didn’t take note that I was misplaced in my own considerations when I all of a sudden bump into somebody. I nearly drop my phone on the ground when I catch it. I nearly had a heart attack. I breathed a moan of alleviation then looked up. I immediately didn’t move a muscle when our eyes met. There’s something in his optic that I can’t translate at whatever point I had the chance to lock up with it. As if he's taking you into another depth, suffocating into the pit of abyss.

“Hey.”

When he talked, that’s when I snapped back into reality. I shook my head and forced a grin. He must’ve taken note that I’m not comfortable since his expression is shaped into a disquiet look.

“Is there something wrong? Why are you avoiding me?”

He’s right. I have been maintaining a strategic distance from him. I don’t have any reason I can’t think of. I can’t say he makes me excruciating by the thought he’s actually talking to me. That doesn’t indeed make any sense. He may find me peculiar and something tells me I’m not going to like that.