CHAPTER 19
Yuri wasn't able to watch the game. After what happened with Tasha, she needed a breather. Some solo time to just let her thoughts roam free in her mind so she found a quiet bench by a shaded tree and just sat silently
Before she knew it, the game was done. Students were again walking around campus, going back to their scheduled lives
"Hey!" a female voice called
Yuri turned and saw Gretchen running towards her, towel wrapped around her neck and sports bag at hand
"Hey" Yuri greeted with a smile, "So I bet you guys won, didn't you?"
Gretchen looked at her with confusion, "didn't you watch the game?"
Yuri shook her head, "I'm sorry, something came up and I didn't get a chance to watch"
Gretchen stared at Yuri, seeing the unsettlement on her face, "It's fine"
Dropping her bag on the bench, Gretchen sat next to Yuri, "but I think we should cancel our movie date"
"Why? Are you mad at me for missing your game?" asked Yuri with a worried tone, "If yes, then I'm really sorry"
"No it's not that" answered Gretchen, looking down on the pavement as she brushed the sole of her shoes against it "Truth be told, I had an agenda with that movie date" she blushed
"Oh..."
"Yeah and I'm sorry but I just wanted to see if I could change your mind but I don't think I could do that" Gretchen confessed, "it's unfair to both of us if I force it to happen so I think it's best if I keep my distance for a while, just until I get over my crush on you"
"I understand..." Yuri replied, "But I'm still your friend okay? So don't hesitate to come to me when you need a friend to talk to"
"Thank you"
Not being able to control herself, Gretchen leaned forward and lightly kissed Yuri on the lips then quickly took her bag and left
Yuri stood and watched Gretchen ran away from her but unlike her reaction from the earlier event. The kiss from Gretchen felt empty.
-------
A week went by and Tasha and Yuri have not been talking each other. Tasha has been avoiding Yuri for obvious reasons and Yuri was not making an effort to talk to Tasha either
Tasha entered the cafeteria and immediately went to Amber and Toby's table. Upon arrival, she dropped her bag on the nearest empty seat
"I hope you're happy" Tasha said as she sat down, looking troubled as ever
Toby turned to his girlfriend, pointing his thumb at the girl across the table while mouthing the words, "Is she okay?"
Amber shrugged then faced her friend, "what's going on Tash?"
Tasha sat quietly. Her eyes moved from Amber to Toby before giving him "the look" and by look, she meant, 'GTFO, girl time'
Which Toby instantly got, since he had a sister who gives him the same look throughout high school, "Got it" He scrambled out of his chair then kissed his girlfriend's cheek, "I'll go get us some drinks, be right back babe"
Amber smiled and nodded. When Toby left, she again turned to her friend, "okay, so what should I be happy about?"
"Yuri and I haven't been talking for a week now" Tasha answered
"Why?" Amber reacted, "and why would you think I'll be happy about that?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"When I said cut the crap off the revenge thing, I meant it exactly that, not, deny her existence"
Tasha placed her chin against her palm as she answered, "well I accidentally took it up a notch, sorry"
Amber looked at her friend, suspicious of her actions. Tasha had always been hot and cold about some things, just last week they had a fight at the infirmary and 2 days later, Tasha acted like it was nothing and went back to the way things are but this time, Tasha seemed genuinely troubled and that's uncommon
"I'm so failing that Physical Ed. Class" Tasha groaned, "How are we gonna practice dancing now?
"Here's an idea" Amber said, "go ask Yuri when she's free and then arrange a practice time and practice together"
"I can't do that! It'll be so fucking awkward!" Tasha buried her face into her palms as she groaned in frustration
"Why would it be awkward?"
Tasha sighed and hesitated, "I kinda...sorta...kissed her"
"You kissed her!?"
Tasha simply nodded
Eyes squinted and eyebrows scrunched, Amber leaned in, "Is it really a kiss or did you make-out? Cause making out is like a habit of yours" Amber paused, "is this part of the revenge plan? Are you continuing this?"
"No! not at all! And it's not a make-out, just a kiss..." Tasha answered with a dreamy expression, "a kiss but more"
Seeing Tasha's expression like that for the first time, Amber's eyes slowly widen as it dawned on her, "Tasha, do you genuinely like Yuri?"
Tasha closed her eyes for a bit, before opening them once again and giving off a worried look, with her eyes screaming 'yes' mixed with uncertainty
Amber was about to respond when out of the blue, Brenda approached the table
"There you guys are! I've been looking all over campus, why are you not replying to my texts?" she said and sat next to Tasha
"My phone's in my bag, sorry" Amber answered
"And mine's on silent mode so I probably didn't notice, sorry too" Tasha added
"O-kay..."Brenda turned to Tasha, "So how's the plan going?"
"Brenda.." Amber was about to tell Brenda the situation but Tasha suddenly intervened
"It's going great!" Tasha answered, "In fact, we're gonna practice our dance routine later, so more time for me to get my flirt on!"
"Ooohhh nice, I can't wait to see that bitch's face when you dump her sorry ass" Brenda grinned with excitement
Tasha smiled back while Amber peeved at her friend
Meanwhile, Yuri went on with her day as usual, going to her classes and finishing off term papers due this semester but behind the organized exterior lies a girl uncertain with her feelings as well
The kiss between her and Tasha, it stirred something within her so strong that it just can't be put in the back of her mind. Despite having a busy week, she always catches herself replaying that kiss in her mind, it made her heart flutter but it made her feel guilty as well.
Meanwhile, At the student's lounge
"You need to take a break Yuri" Kristen said as she handed her friend a bottled milk tea
Yuri extended her hand, still focused on her laptop, "thanks" she answered, opened the bottle, took a gulp and went back to typing
After finishing two whole pages, Yuri decided to take Kristen's advice and take a break for at least 15 minutes, just to refresh her mind
"Finally" Kristen announced when she saw Yuri close her laptop, "You've been typing for like a solid hour there"
"Yeah, well I need to finish this as soon as possible since I have another term paper due" Yuri sighed and placed a palm on her cheek, "I also have that stupid dance practice"
"You should have just enrolled here in the first place so you wouldn't have to do all this extra work"
"I guess that's the downside of being an irregular student, school works pile up compared to you regular people who get to do this one or two at a time per sem" Yuri smiled, "but I wouldn't trade my time at my former uni for anything, because I was with Kaley and everything with her was so wonderful"
Kristen beamed and lightly smacked Yuri on the knee, "no wonder people have a crush on you, you're too charming. It's gross, almost"
Yuri giggled at Kristen's remark, who knew their friendship would become this solid within a few months
Yuri stood and stretched, "I'll just go to toilet, would you keep an eye on my laptop?" to which Kristen responded with a thumbs up
Yuri was quietly walking towards the comfort room when she felt someone grab her hand from behind, Turning to see who it was, Yuri was genuinely surprised to see that it was Tasha since they haven't spoken to each other in a week. They also haven't seen each other in a week despite being in the same dorm floor, they just somehow strategically avoided seeing each other.
"We need to talk" Tasha simply stated then pulled Yuri outside the lounge
When they reached outside, Tasha instantly let go of Yuri's hand and Yuri subtly made space between the two of them
And the awkward silence began.
Despite initiating the meet-up, Tasha stood speechless, staring intently at the girl in front of her. Yuri did the same thing, fiddling with her fingers inside her pockets
Both feeling butterflies in their stomachs, the two girls shyly looked at each other, waiting to see who will speak first
"Ah" the two spoke simultaneously, "no, you go first"
Both laughed at their attempts to start the conversation
"Okay since I brought you here" Tasha started, "I wanted to talk about our dance routine, since it's just two weeks away"
Yuri looked somewhat disappointed about the topic, "yeah, I wanted to talk about that too, I mean we should start practicing"
"Yeah, I thought the same thing" Tasha answered, "so if you're not busy, can you come over? We should start learning the steps"
"Yeah that'd be great, I'll go after my last class"
"Okay good, see you then"
"Yeah, see you"
The two just smiled at each other and parted ways, with Yuri going back to the lounge and Tasha going towards the cafeteria
As Yuri made her way back, she can't help but look back and watch Tasha walk away, wondering whether they should have talk about the kiss or not
On the other hand, while Yuri walked back inside the lounge, Tasha looked back and watched her with a smile on her face, feeling elated with the small interaction with the girl she adores.