Loved You Once, Love You Still

Chapter One: The Blooming

Chapter One

THE BLOOMING

*** TWO YEARS BEFORE PROLOGUE ***

“You know it’s you babe, whenever I’m in weary

And I’ve had enough, feel like giving up

You know it’s you babe,

Giving me the courage and the strength I need

Please believe that it’s true,

Babe I love you.. “

Lalalalalala. Gosh how I love this song, someone, I know that someone, will sing this to me someday--

“HEADS UP!”

Uhmn, say what? WHOOP!

“AWW! What the hell was that?!” I jumped up as fast, or if possible, even faster, than I fell. My eyes darted from side to side to see who’s the jerk responsible for that ball stealing a rough kiss on my beautiful, angelic face.

A familiar silhouette approached me, and I heard that stupid laugh, that laugh that makes my blood curl knowing who is it owned by. I shake the dust off my newly bought Gleek shirt, turned around and got into my offense position.

“Hey sup Andy? Aw, are you that desperate, want to get my attention, trying to do me a favour by catching my ball with your face? You’re sweet,” said the tall, lanky guy in front of me, a cocky grin creeping on his face. I knew it, no one would even dare throw something in my way, but him, Raven Chung. I’ve known this guy since Year One, we went to detentions way too many times together. I couldn’t even be bothered remembering all of them. They said he’s my male counterpart, we’re the same - rich kids, smarties, annoyingly good-looking, teachers trust us even though we publicly ‘oppose’ them. Maybe. And that just might be the reason why I’ve been trying hard to never let him beat me at anything, even getting the record for being the biggest troublemaker at school.

No one was around this area at the moment. We’re at the elementary block because everyone else is in the high school performing arts centre, watching the first rehearsal of our play, Cinderella, for the school spectacular. Our school, Roraima Academy, offers education from kindergarten, to Year 12. Our school is pretty enormous, but divided into two blocks, elementary and high school. Anyways, I am the script-writer of the play, and I am here in my annoyed face getting ready to give the silly boy a piece of my mind.

He made some karate moves in the air, tried to punch me, and miserably failed. Yes, we’re not normal. Me being a girl and him a boy doesn’t change the fact that we’re rivals in many ways, and it clearly isn’t a problem. We’ve been competing with our grades, talents, money, and yes, martial arts, and even just random bashing, since the day we met. Everyone in school, and some people who knows us both, are already kind of getting the hang of our situation.

“Raven. Raven. Raven. Trying to ruin my perfectly planned day? Good try, but it was already wrecked about, two hours ago. By someone with the name Freaking-whiteboard-eraser-that-made-me-trip-in-class.” I said breathlessly, in a full on Santana Lopez way. It makes me happy when I try doing this and then sound so awesome after. Ah, the mystery.

“Haha, yeah that was funny. But wasn’t as embarrassing when Superintendent Whateverhernameis caught you drawing a caricature of Miss A in class. She brought that in their office, and something was put in your permanent record.” He chuckled as he reminisced to that very day. Right. Embarrassing.  The ‘drawing’ was supposed to look like she’s petting these little puppies because she’s such an animal lover, but because I was such a bad drawer, it turned out like she was being eaten by ‘wolves’.

As I came to the realization that I’m just wasting my time here and I should’ve been on my way to the performing arts centre ten minutes ago for our Cinderella play rehearsal, I asked him to just get to the point. “Get there Raven, what is it that you need this time? Money? Go get it in my locker, you know the code, and even if you don’t, there’s a hairpin somewhere there, use it to pick the lock, got to go, goodbye, thanks for that ball” my statement half-filled with sarcasm.

At that moment, I saw a scene, something I haven’t seen before from Raven, ever. His usually hyped up all happy-happy face, for a moment, seemed to be filled with shyness and awkwardness. Is this happening? Something’s actually making this dude, feel very nervous? Tsk. What is wrong with this world?

His tone changed, and I think even his confidence dropped a tiny bit, as he started to speak , “Hey, you know that we’re kind of rivals.. right?” his eyes were fixed in mine, and this made me just as uncomfortable as an awkward turtle.

“Right. Okay Rave, this is freaking me out, for some reason. Just drop it. In 5,4,3,2,1..”

“Can we lay this whole rivalry thing off for a while and go somewhere where we can actually just be our real sweet selves? 

And there, I heard everything he said, but I didn’t understand. I did not want to understand. Is he telling me that..

“Andy, yes, we have been frenemies for a long time. But I think I know what you really are, and we’re pretty close because of this, which I’m kind of thankful of. And okay, I admit it, you’re beautiful. I know this sounds pretty suspicious to you, you may think I’m just messing with you. But I’m not. I like you Andy. I love you. All these years, we’ve been fighting here and there, that’s just a way to show my affection for you, just so I can be closer to you. Please, believe me. I’ll prove it to you, give me a chance..” So yes.. he was trying to say that..

“Oy, what now?” he asked, getting kind of impatient. Excuse me! I’m not an easy catch. You’re my ‘enemy’ and you just confessed your ‘love’ for me here, what you want me to do? Jump on you and hug you and tell you that I have loved you too ever since I don’t know? And I'm just thirteen for freak's sake. Okay. I’m glad I didn’t say that out loud.

“Man, so you’re saying I’ve been beaten up by you, and been rushed to the hospital at least three times, just because I’m gorgeous and you love me? Awesome. I feel good.”

“Really, you really do?”

“GOSH OF COURSE NOT! You idiot! You could have told me! Who in the world would think hurting someone would make them feel loved? You freak! I know you’re a guy but that.was.just.too.far!!” Again, playing hard to get.. but what I said was actually true.

“I’m sorry.. I’ll just.. walk away.. “ His head dropped and he turned around to be on his way.

I couldn’t resist the cuteness. I tugged on his shirt to stop him.

“.. Why?” he whispered. I swear he sounded like a little boy who just got his pants pulled down by the school bully in front of everyone in class.

“I thought you knew me?,” I sighed. “Oh just shut the hell up. I love you too. How did you not know?” and my cheeks showed a hint of a blush.

And yes, he shut up, we just stood there for a while, not wanting to say anything due to the sense of assurance that surrounds us, saying us that this isn’t the moment to talk, but just feel. Feel the blooming love creeping between us, the archenemies turning out to be lovers.

*******