"So let me get this straight, you're suddenly interested in the nerd who wears glasses and has no friends. A lowlife, in other words. Really?" Nandi helps me adjust my wig, and I peep over her shoulder to glance at the adjustment through the restroom mirror.
It's another lovely morning, or what I'd like it to be, but I rushed out the house when I heard my parents arguing yet again. I don't need that sort of energy this morning or any other morning for that matter. So yes, my wig wasn't adjusted and I may have been looking like a hot mess moments prior to this, but right now I look as hot as the next meal ready to be served.
I hope he likes my appearance today. I decided to look different, wear all pink. Pink mini skirt, pink crop top over a bright pink long sleeve. My shoes are white though, but that's fine because my socks are pink. Pink clips in my Bob wig, and pink lipstick — even have pink sparkles on my eyelids. I've dressed to impress.
"Listen, I never judge you guys with the people you're interested in. Matter of fact I don't even question the people you both sleep with, so leave me to like who I want." I comb my fingers through the strands in the front to have it more to my face. "Besides, you are the one who said find a different person I could like. Francois is busy with his girl, let me be with my man."
Vicky, who chuckles not too far from us, taps her feet on the ground as she patiently waits for us to finish up. "Should we even identify him as a man?"
"Yes, we should. He is a man. You just remain looking at the outside when you should look within."
"Within what? His clothes? You hardly even know him, dude, you just met him and already you're making it seem like he's your lover-"
"Maybe he is!"
"He's not. You're just infatuated, and I fail to see what of him is that good." Nandi steps back from me, sighing as she adjusts my jersey. "This time, find another. A proper one, friend."
"No thank you. I like this guy, and I know he will like me back. It's just a matter of time until he does, and I get over Francois, but! I am happy where I am." I lick my lips before pulling out my small tub of Vaseline. "He gives me a challenge, and boy do I love challenges. And even the way he looks at me, the way he speaks to me. You guys should see it, he likes me. He's just playing hard to get."
I rub some Vaseline on my pink lips carefully so it doesn't mess up. Nandi takes some from the tub and rubs on her lips as well. Very soon, Vicky steps up and takes from the tub. It's like a community service here.
"Hard to get or easy to understand? Because knowing you, you'll force a situation that isn't meant to be."
"No, Vicky. I'm not forcing anything. I know what I'm doing and I know he's playing hard to get." I close the tub and put it in the front pocket of my bag. I then fish for my phone before motioning for them to get by me so I can take pictures.
That goes pretty well. Of course, with them still insisting I find another person worth my time.
The first two morning sessions go by quite quickly. Mostly because I don't even pay attention, but also because it simply goes by fast. So when lunch time rolls by, I contemplate whether or not to hunt down my friends, or hunt down the only other person I want to see.
I decide to spend a good amount of time with my friends, eating my food and theirs as we fall in small talk. Mostly because Nandi has her sudden boy toy all over her, and Vicky and I can't seem to gossip about him when he's there. But soon, I decide to part ways with them, promising to meet them after school so we could go get a few essentials Nandi has been saying she's in need of.
I quickly speed to the lady's restroom, pee, wash my hands and spray an excessive amount of vanilla deodorant to make sure he smells it with just one whiff in my direction. Then I exit the restroom, already attracting onlookers as I make my way down familiar paths towards my destination. I can bet he's in the garden, sitting alone, waiting for me.
I step through the door, eyes hungrily scanning for his physique but he doesn't stand out. My heart is beating so hard it's banging against my eardrums, and I roll my lips in as frustration slowly starts to seep into my body. My hands even form loose fists.
Maybe he's in class? Maybe he decided to spend his break in class.
I turn around, making my way down the direction to the lecture room we should be having our session in after the lunch hour. Once again, because I am a popular person, I wave here and there to those who call my name with excitement. I sure do make their day, I've noticed that.
Just as I bust the door open to search for him, my name is called down the corridor. My hand is on the handle and I glance over at the individual crying for my attention. Not too surprised to see Thabang, one of Nandi's minions heading towards me, adjusting his tsotsi beanie and he walks as though he's limping. Maybe he's hurt, or maybe it's his style.
To that, I sigh.
"Dia, what say you." He smiles at me, his eyes wandering over my body. I know I look good, he doesn't need to make it that obvious.
I smile, crossing my arms and sticking my hip out. "I just thought I would be early to class. What can I help you with?"
"Hai, no. I just saw you and I thought I should say hi." He places both hands in the pockets of his sagging jeans. "We should hang out, you know?"
"Is this not hanging out?" I move my index finger between him and I as an indication.
He smirks, eyes rolling about playfully. He's cute. He'd be hot if I was attracted to him. "You know what I mean."
"It's just... we don't know each other like that and stuff... I don't want to give off the wrong impression."
"I get that, Dia. That's why I'm thinking maybe we should hang out. Maybe we can go to the movies, or lunch? Maybe supper. Get to know each other. What say you?"
So sweet, that's the problem. He's too kind. He has no sense of aggression, unless he's protective over something. I appreciate that, I do. But I want more. He's not hitting my soul.
"Let me think about it, yes? Give me some time to make up my mind." I pull open the door, smiling at him as I shift away from him and closer to the door. "I'll let you know by the end of this week."
"The end of this week is in two days. Friday, right?"
"Yes," I nod. "And I will look for you before the end of Friday and give you my answer. No high hopes though."
"Sure thing. Heita heita," he grins, nodding as he takes his steps back.
I chuckle at that, getting in the lecture room. There are a few students lingering around, talking with various levels of voices. My eyes scan the room, pinpointing on the very same person I've so badly wanted to see today. How unfair that I haven't seen him until this moment in time, but even still, how glad I am to see him alone, reading his book with a content look on his face.
He better be content when he sees me.
I'm content with myself. No one is sitting next to him. I gently close the door and make my way towards the middle of the class, exactly where he's seated. I then peel off my bag and place it on the ground. He hasn't looked up yet, so I can only assume he's too focused on what he's reading. I quietly make my way to him before standing right behind him. A silly grin is printed on my face, and I lean in and read anything that grabs my attention.
I furrow my eyebrows as I process the words. The girl leans into the guy, hands on his shoulders as his are around her waist. She breathes him in before she places her lips on him.
"Theodo- oww!" I instantly hold my mouth in pain before glaring at him.
He jumped in shock the same time he shut his book closed and his shoulder hit my chin which in turn made me bang my jaw shut. I think I bit the inside of my lip; I can taste a faint iron-like taste when I rub my tongue on the dull ache.
He quickly turns around, eyes widened when he sees me take a step from him. "I... I'm so sorry! I was just taken by surprise. I didn't mean to hurt you, I promise. I'm sorry."
His brown eyes bat up at me through his lenses, eyebrows raised with concern, maybe even fear? His hands aren't holding his book anymore, they are midair as if wanting to touch me but hesitant to do so.
Oh I like this. I frown, whining a bit as I settle in the seat beside him. "It hurts so much."
"I'm sorry." He looks so sincere, eyes lowering down in shame. "I really am."
"It would hurt less if you kissed me on the lips as payment for hurting me." Instantly, his expression changes to that of shock. I grin at him, giggling as I lower my hands and lean against the table. "I'm just kidding. I forgive you. But I'm not kidding about the kiss. I do want you to kiss me."
He simply huffs, rolling his eyes before turning back to the front and lifting his book.
"Anyways, are you not going to greet me? It's a new day, you should be happy to see me." My eyes casually graze over his seated formation. I see he's wearing clean shoes, casual joggers and a black hoodie this time around.
His nose — I'm getting a side profile, and his nose is quite straight — still holds up his spectacles. His lips from the side look so good; the bottom one is quite nice and plump, not even a dead skin in sight. I lower my head a bit to try see his eyes from the side, but the sides of his spectacles are in the way. He does seem to have long dark eyelashes though. And his hair, neat as ever, is combed and styled to his liking.
"Hello. Are you ignoring me?" Still, he pays me no response. "You know, in high school I did drama, and I used to be a top student almost all the time, whenever we'd have assignments and performances. I'm very good at faking my tears. I'm sure you saw for yourself yesterday. I wouldn't ignore me if I were you, you know, unless you want a repetition of yesterday."
He doesn't reply. He only turns the page.
So he wants to play like that...
"Okay then," I sigh, resting my face as I stare at him.
He looks at me, first glancing a bit and then fully paying his attention. I slowly allow my face to form a look of pain, lips forming a frown and my eyebrows attempting to touch each other. It's quite easy to tear up; all I have to do is think about my messed up life. Very quickly, my eyes well up and when they do, I start whining before making sounds of sobs. The look of horror on his face ignited that satisfaction deep in me, and I produce more tears, allowing them to slip from my bottom eyelids down my cheeks.
Before I can cause a scene with my wailing, he instantly holds his one hand against my mouth, the other at the back of my head. "Stop, stop, stop! Stop it." He harshly hisses at me.
Oh so I must keep my hands to myself but he gets to embrace me like this?
I stop, tapping his hand to signal him to release me. He does with hesitation, and I grin at him despite tears still wetting my cheeks. "Will you kiss me if I stop?"
"What? Are you... are you out of your mind? N-"
Instantly, I start sobbing again, eyes shut as I force myself to produce more tears. Before I could cause a few more onlookers to glance over at us, Theodore shuts my mouth again. Hard. It hurts, but it's the good kind of hurt.
"Stop! Stop! You're causing a scene, just stop!"
Because of the sound of desperation in his voice, including the desperate look on his face, I stop, blinking at him and my lips form a grin hidden in his hand. My useless hands get to work, one holding the hand on my mouth and the other places on the side of his hoodie. I hum, eyeing him like he's the last meal of mine before chucking. I then run my hand down his wrist and underneath the sleeve of his hoodie.
He instantly retreats, releasing me before wiping his hand on his pants. His other hand shoves my hand away from his body.
"As we've agreed yesterday, Theodore Cooper, I'll leave you alone once you've kissed me. I just feel bad and I don't want to make you uncomfortable." I sniff, tapping my cheeks with my jersey.
"You're so frustrating, I promise you." He breathes out, adjusting his glasses before taking deep breaths in. "I just wanted to finish this semester with no trouble, no trouble at all and you just showed up and now-"
"Theodore, don't blame yourself."
He throws me such a disgusted look. "I don't blame myself. I blame you."
"What? It's not my fault! I never..." I pause watching as he gets to his feet.
"Follow me." He simply instructs and he turns his back, taking the path down to the front of the room.
I quickly get up with excitement. Maybe he'll kiss me now. I adjust my skirt as I follow suit, exiting the room when he has. There's a few students lingering around the corridor but most have already entered class anyway because it's going to start. Nonetheless, I lean myself against the wall as Theodore faces me, arms crossed and a hard glare printed on his facial features towards me.
"What. Are you ready to fulfil your side of the deal?" I mock him, folding my arms too.
"I didn't agree to anything."
"Well, you didn't deny anything either."
"Was me rejecting your offer not some sort of a denial to you? Is consent not a thing in your world?" I can tell he wants to raise his voice but because there's people around, he contains his volume.
"Consent? This isn't about consent. I haven't forced myself to kiss you, have I? All I asked was for you to kiss me."
"I can count the amount of times you've attempted to force yourself onto me if not forced already, for the past three days, including today. I can count them all on two hands. Heck, maybe we can include a foot, because it sure has been enough to label it all as forceful acts upon me."
I'm getting aggravated, I can feel it, but I can't help how hot he looks right now. "Well, maybe if you gave me a kiss, willingly, I wouldn't be so persistent as to force myself onto you. All I want is a kiss. A meaningful one, like I said yesterday. Why is that so hard?"
"There's nothing hard about it. I just. Don't. Want. I don't know you, I don't like you. I'm not kissing you."
I lean off the wall and take a step closer to him. Oh, he notices it alright, but he doesn't react to it.
"Theodore, maybe if you give me a chance, you'll get to know me. You'll get to like me. And then, you'll let me kiss you, like that girl kissed that boy in your book." He groans, uncrossing his arms before lazily throwing them in the air with frustration. "I read it. You can't read about that stuff if you're not even curious to know what it's like. I'm here, Theo. I can be that girl and you can be that boy. We can reenact that whole scene, it can be our own little story."
My fingers lift to my lips, rubbing them gently as I take him in with my eyes.
"Let me touch you."
"Don't touch me." He hisses at me at a volume for only me to hear. "I promise you, you... are thirsty-"
"I am."
"Desperate-"
"Maybe..."
He huffs, shaking his head as his lips lift to a smile, even when nothing good comes off of it. "You need to knock it off."
"You may think that I need help-"
"You do."
"And here I am, asking you for help." I whisper, rubbing my lips once again as I allow my eyes to dart from one of his orbs to the next. With the natural lighting around us, I can see the slight tint of a green hue around his pupils. Or am I imagining it. "I meant what I said, Theodore. Until I get what, and trust me, I always do... I will never let you go. A promise is a promise, isn't it? Trust me when I say I keep my promises. Whatever it is I promise, I'll fulfil it, because I am trustworthy. So I promise you, I will never leave you until I get what I want. Oh and I by now know what it is-"
"Hey you two." Theodore and I look at who calls out to us. Our lecturer, the same lady from yesterday, stands by her door with her arms crossed and a disapproved look on her face. "Class has started and you two are busy here kissing and stuff. Get inside, now."
"Yes ma'am." I call out, and when she enters the room, I look back up at Theodore. "Shall we?"
He doesn't respond but he leaves me where I am and heads in class. I laugh a bit, covering my mouth so I don't seem loud. I then take a moment to calm down, I clear my throat and head in.
"Hurry up, sit." The lady wiggles her hands before preparing herself to start. The class is hushed down to whispers here and there as everyone takes out their notebooks and laptops.
I lift my eyes up to where Theodore is seated, but the grin I had instantly vanishes when I see her sitting next to him, a casually calm look on her face starts to annoy me as she looks at me and smiles. Palesa is seated where I'm supposed to be.
I look at the lecturer. "Somebody is sitting in my seat."
"These seats are not allocated to any individual. Take your stuff and sit somewhere else." She huffs at me before looking at the class. "Good afternoon third years! We have a busy day ahead of us, so I hope you're ready."
I groan, heading to where the two are seated. I grab my bag, glaring at her before going back down to the front of the class. I drop to my seat, dropping my bag on the ground beside me and placing my head on my folded arms.
This is going to be a long day.