Strings Attached

~Chapter 11~

"Why? Are you interested in her? I told you she doesn't---," "No, that's not it. I... got punished to do her homework. So, I have to ask her for it. I didn't really pay attention in class." I scratch my neck guiltily. "You can ask her about it in English then." And saying thus, the girl's off, confidence oozing out of her. I feel like kicking myself for being so stupid and acting like a big ball of nerves.

Instead, kicking a pebble in frustration, I reluctantly move my feet towards Mr. Whitmore's class. I guess I'll have to ask her myself.

There are two courses of English, one is common to all and the other is studied only by the ones who are majoring in English. They have to study all the insufferable stuff like Shakespeare and sundry. The ones all of us have to study is called Compulsory English, coz it's compulsorily insufferable to all. And I know Hidayah will surely be there.

So, for once, I'm looking forward to Turtleneck's class.

______

As soon as I get to English, I'm bombarded with thumps on my back by my friends that almost lead me to choke. But the ba*tards that they are, they don't stop. "Ya didn't bunk Math today? I heard Kingsley was on leave," Seth remarks, when the 'Choke Daniyal' mission has stopped for good.

"I called to ask about your plans, but you never picked up the phone." "Yeah, I kinda was in the mood to sing. So I performed for them." "That's not allowed though!" "You think I care?!" "Nah! No one really cares for the stupid rules." "Not us, at least!"

"And afterwards, I was with someone," I inform him. "Okay, did you have a good time? You don't look... messy, though." He eyes me weirdly. I raise an eyebrow. "Your hair's gelled sharp, like this morning. Your clothes aren't rumpled. No hint of an obnoxious ladies' perfume on them either. And you don't have---," "Stop... right there," I refrain him from speaking his dirty mind any further. "What are you getting at, really? I was not doing anything with her. I have some respect, man!"

"Really, I didn't know! Sorry. My bad. So who was the girl?" Finally, he got his head out of the gutter! "You remember that shorty Asian from yesterday. The one with the flat shoes. Chuck scared her half to death." "Speak no more, I remember. You were with her?! How did she begin talking to you?" "She's a really sassy one, that girl. She actually disciplined me for hitting her friend, Hidayah," I inform him, and he raises his eyebrow in amazement. "Imagine that!"

"I have to tell you something too," Seth, to my surprise, lets me know in an urgent tone. Now that I notice, he keeps fidgeting every so often, as if he's in a turmoil. "What? Did you get detention? Or, maybe that you're secretly gay?" "Oh! Would you let that one go, for once?!" "Okay, go on." "I have the hots for someone." I raise my eyebrows in astonishment, urging him to speak further. Seth having the hots for someone is not new, but it occurs once in a blue moon. He's a little unlucky in love, that boy. "She's new here, come through the Exchange Program. And damn she's hot!"

"Thank the Lord! You've proved yourself straight," I comment and he throws daggers at me with his eyes. He moves to say something when suddenly his attention is seized by something. Or rather... someone. "There she is," he says. And when I turn my head, I see a group of three girls entering the classroom. One of them is Poulomi, the other is the veiled girl, and another one I've never seen before. I guess Seth was talking about the third one.