'It's all that I wanted for the longest time- to open my eyes and see you there.
To stretch out my hand and touch the soft, yielding warmth of your skin. But now I have learned the secret of distance.
Now I know being close to you was never about the proximity.'
***
"I need the presentation completed by tomorrow." the teacher yelled as the students rushed out of the class.
My friend, Suzie and I were passing a junior class as we saw the kids rushing out as if they had a train to catch.
"Are you sure you'll be able to write that essay by today, before the deadline?" Suzie asked.
I nodded absentmindedly as I watched this girl bumping into the exit door.
Aw finally someone like me.
"Annika?!" Suzie called out and I looked over at her surprised.
"What is it?" I asked tilting my head a little as I was confused.
She narrowed her eyes and ignored me.
I kept pestering her until she finally repeated what she had spoken before.
"If you won't be able to complete it, you know what will happen right?" She said and I nodded terrified.
Well, we were threatened that if anyone fails to finish the assignment this time, they will be banned from the trip which is to be held in a few months or weeks.
As we were walking together talking about irrelevant things we came to the volleyball field right next to the football one.
Today was some kind of inter school competition for the volleyball kids so the field was empty today.
Whereas the football field was hustling and bustling.
My eyes caught sight of the important figures of our school in the football team.
I had recently transferred to this school and I didn't know much about them.
But just by the looks of it anyone can say that they were someone important or well, feared.
Suzie was my botany class partner and our class just ended, so we were hanging around.
"Ah, I'll have to leave now." Suzie said getting up from the bench as she watched her phone ring.
"My friends want me to come to the cafeteria. Why don't you join me?" She said smiling.
"Haha, some other day. The weather is too good to be inside." I said as a cold breeze flew through us.
"You are right. I'll join you later." she said waving me bye.
I closed my eyes enjoying the birds chirping and the soft breeze.
Though the people around me weren't very quiet.
Well, what did I expect sitting next to a football field?
I opened my eyes, annoyed a little.
The football flew and came to stop a little distance from me.
My eyes became wide in surprise.
They have a whole freaking field and yet they are throwing the ball here?
I saw a guy running to get it.
The ball came to a stop right in front of me. And I got up to pick it.
I couldn't catch sight of the person who was coming to get it.
And now that I did, I regret not running off from here when I had the chance.
He was a literal giant.
Like tall, tall.
He probably had been playing for a long time since he was almost wet from sweat in this scorching sun.
His hair covered his eyes as he pushed it back with one hand.
I had the stupid ball in my hand or else I would have been disappeared from here.
Damn it.
He was one of the popular ones.
His eyes came to rest on the ball and then on me.
The stare was enough to bring out butterflies in my stomach.
He slowed down as he came close to me. He signalled to throw the ball and I did.
Thank god the football went in the right direction or it would have been so embarrassing,
He looked intimidating but cute at the same time.
How is this even possible?
I shook my head and took a glance at his retreating figure before going back into the school building.
I didn't want the ball to land on my head next time.
Later after going to my next class I realised that the dreamy guy from earlier and I shared a lot of classes together.
And from that point on I was always looking in the hallways to catch a sight of him.
Or occasionally going to the fields just to take a sneaky glance at him and run away.
I had caught him looking at me so many times that now I believed that I was straight up dreaming.
I didn't know his name.
I made a new friend but I didn't even ask her for his name.
He was careless in class and the teacher usually chose to ignore him. He had a group of 5.
But most of the time he hung out with 2 of them.
Maybe those 2 were the closest to him.
I need to stop being obsessed with him.
***
"Fuck." I cursed under my breath as I wore my outfit.
It was my first day after summer break and I was unsurprisingly late.
"My breakfast, please." I said in a sing-song voice as I entered the kitchen.
Well, doesn't matter how late I am, Food is an essential part of the day.
I saw my dad cooking and mom was getting ready for her work.
"Wait, is it your day off today?" I asked, turning towards my dad as I sat on the dining chair.
"I have a meeting at 12, so no." he shrugged.
"Hey good morning guys." My younger brother, Jason, greeted everyone cheerfully.
"Morning." said my dad and I at the same time, after which we got excited about speaking like that.
"Sis, do I need to pick you up today?" Jason asked looking at his phone.
"Nope. I'll be fine." I said as I ate breakfast.
Today was one of those rare days when I get a normal family kind of day at home.
After reaching the school I looked around at the very quiet hallway.
Oh to have this kind of peace during lunch when people have no manners to not block and talk in the hallway.
"Hey." I heard a voice from behind me.
I looked behind and my breath got stuck in my lungs, The guy I was and still am obsessed with right in front of me.
Shit
"Yes". I said faking confidence.
"Is this yours?" his low and soft voice resonated throughout the hallway.
I saw a pastel blue ribbon in his hand.
I immediately touched my hair to check if mine fell down.
Yes. It was found missing.
Oh I must look horrible right now.
"Yes, it is mine, Thank you." I said walking towards him after fixing my hair with my hands a little bit.
He nodded not removing his eyes from me for even a minute and I smiled softly before leaving to get to my class.
As I turned to the corner, I stood there placing my hand on my heart side to calm it down.
It was not a freaking proposal idiot.
I chanted while trying to look presentable before entering the class.
I didn't get much scolding for being late since the teacher didn't give a fuck about it.
I waved as hi to my best friend, Blair.
She waved back and I found her eating chips which were under her desk.
I shook my head disappointed at her.
I sat on the last bench next to the window.
The flowers were still in their full bloom and the weather was perfect.
And on this perfect day, my mind kept drifting to a certain someone.
***