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Chapter 24: Not Even Friends

24

Not Even Friends

    

It was about three in the afternoon, and Nicky was tired from all the preparations and putting up decorations on the stage. She excused herself, stopped by their room for a moment. Most of their classmates were practicing the dance number. Since last morning, nobody had been teasing her anymore. And even Priscilla had gone quiet. A yawn escaped her mouth. She felt sleepy.

Without even realizing it, she was finally walking towards that mango tree with that rice-sack hammock hanged on it. She knew it was some sort of Red and Eddie Boy’s territory, and she had only been there twice, but she paid no mind, as she badly wanted to just take a nap and get away from everyone for a while. She was praying Red and Eddie Boy were not there. She breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the place was empty. She immediately sank into the hammock, eager to doze off from the world.  But instead, she cried. She cried until finally drowsiness took a good hold over her.

She heard someone coming, and with a start, woke up. She looked around and saw Red looking down at her. She immediately sat up, adjusted her uniform, and then hurriedly said, “I’m sorry, I’m going back.” She did not meet his eyes, afraid that her own may appear blood-shot. She was relieved her tears were long dried, though.

“Were you sleeping? Again?” Red asked as he backed up, then, sat on the rotting log that Eddie Boy used to sit.

She looked at her watch before she replied, “For only like half an hour. Anyway, I didn’t mean to trespass or anything. I’m going back.” But Nicky was still rooted on the hammock.

“I was wishing I could talk to you.”

It was finally then that Nicky looked him in the eye. “What about?” She struggled to keep her heartbeat steady. But it was just something she couldn’t do. Instead, she fought to keep her voice steady and her face straight.

“I felt really bad on what happened at my birthday. I’m really sorry.” It was Red who couldn’t look at her in the eye, this time.

“It’s okay.”

“Of course, it wasn’t. It was my fault. I didn’t know. I hadn’t realized you were there, too, and I completely forgot you’re name was also Nicole.”

“Well, everybody calls me Nicky. So, I don’t blame you.” She was fighting not to sound bitter.

“How stupid could I get?”

“I know. I was even being stupid, too.”

“No, Nicky, don’t think that. It was clearly all my fault. I shouldn’t have just sung that song on my birthday.”

“Well, you also shouldn’t have just sung it with me in the first place.”

Red was silent as he looked at her. He looked upset, then he looked down at his feet.

“You shouldn’t have sung it with me,” Nicky repeated. “You should have just let me humiliate myself with that song we’re supposed to sing in our Music class. That could have been a lot easier. But I guess, you didn’t want to humiliate yourself, either.”

“No. What? It’s not even that.”

“It could have been a lot easier for both of us if we had just stuck to that song we planned on singing, Red.”

“I’d never thought it would turn out like this. I decided to sing that song with you because I know it would save us—it would save you from a failing mark. And you sure didn’t want that.” Red did not really sound like he was patronizing her, his tone was somewhat nicer, which pissed off Nicky even more.