As my class ended early today because some of my professors won't be meeting us so we need to do an advanced reading on our next discussion. My conversation with the person who owns the drawing made me really anxious because I don't wanna get reported to the guidance office because of misunderstanding and I don't really have an intention of keeping it all the way, it was just good to know that people chose me as their subject and with Grant's annoyance was really inconvenient on my situation and that's why after class I immediately headed to the clinic to check him up.
When I got into the clinic, I talked to the nurse to check up on Grant but she instantly told me that he was gone after taking a medicine, he didn't take a rest. I asked why would he left, the nurse said Grant sneak out so she doesn't know where he could have gone. I just thought that maybe he left to go home so he could rest accordingly but when I walk back to the school grounds, I saw him under the tree—eyes closed, a sketch pad on his lap and I think that he's sleeping.
I slowly walk closer to him as he didn't mind my presence. I poke him on his shoulder and he startled when I did that. I laughed to saw his reaction and he just grunted and settled on his position because he almost fell out of his seat.
"Where's my pencil?" he muttered as he looks at both sides.
Then I notice something under the bench and I kneeled down to fish it out but when I look up to him, he was giving me a sneaky smile. I abruptly pick up his pencil and handed it back to him. Grant chuckles as he gets it from my hand.
"I don't know what's with you, Grant. Jowang-jowa ka na ba?" I growled.
"If you were already 18, I would definitely take you."
I rolled and sighed, "Stop amusing me with your words because it doesn't affect me at all."
"I'm not making you amused, I'm just saying the truth."
I scoffed, "whatever, Grant. What are you doing here anyway?"
"Drawing?" he responded.
"I just came from the clinic and I thought you were there taking a rest and then I found you here, what were you taking? Are you even all right?" I asked and then I placed my hand on his forehead to check his temperature and it's better than before.
"You really worry about me, 'no?" Grant smiles.
"I'm just worried—a human is capable of doing that. May gano'n ka ba?"
He nodded, "Yes, now that you say it. I worried about you too." He giggles and I know where it is going that's why I keep my faced expressionless. "You know what, you don't have to worry about me all the time. Just like what you ordered earlier, I took some medicine and I couldn't just stay in the clinic because I don't want to miss my class. I just don't want to fail in my class."
"Then you could've told the nurse there,"
"But if I said it, she won't let me go so I had to sneak out. All right?" he said as he tries to make me understand what he said. "So, what are you doing here now and bothering me once again?"
"I'm not bothering you, I saw you sleeping and I think you need to go home now and have some rest," I suggested but of course, I need to say what I need to say before he walks away again. "But I actually have to say something that's why I was looking for you."
He smiles, "And why were you looking for me? And what are you gonna say to me? That you're finally decided to be my boyfriend?"
I glared at him as he wouldn't want to give up with it. As if, I will end up as his boyfriend.
"And I thought you wouldn't want to see me?" he smirked. "But don't worry, I like you bothering me, that's fine." He said shrugging off his shoulder and make it all a joke again. What should I expect to him? He's Grant. He knows how to play with everyone. "So what now, Lili? Please bother me."
I let go a deep breath, "I know you took the frame on my wall."
He narrowed his eyes. "What frame?"
"Please, Grant. I don't wanna fight with you but please can I get it back?"
"I don't have what you were asking for," he answered, and when he said that, I sit myself beside him and pouted like a child. I hope it works. "And why are you acting like that?"
I face him and his raising his brow, "first of all, it is not mine and I need to give it back to the real owner because if I don't he will report me to the guidance for stealing his drawing. And I would if I have it now and I know you took and I know have 24 hours to give it back to that person. Please, Grant..." I pleaded but then he laughed while I'm grieving. I scrunched my face, "and what's funny with it, huh?"
He tapped my shoulder, "your friends have already reported to the guidance, don't you think it is your time now so all of you were quits?" he giggles.
"It's not funny," I lamented. "Have you got the drawing?"
"No.," he said and shook his head.
"Then we shall go," I said and I stood up.
He creased his forehead, "and where should we go?"
"To your house—"
Grant's giggled cuts me off, "you're still a minor, Lili. We can't do that."
My eyes widen with his words. "No, it's not what I meant and you shouldn't be thinking of that. I meant to say that we should go to your house so I could pick up the drawing and I can give it back tomorrow to the real owner. I will be meeting whoever that is so if I don't comply, I'll meet that person in the guidance office."
"So you'll meet him?" he asked and I nodded to him. "What is he's a senior?"
I narrowed my eyes, "and what do you mean by that?"
"You would take him as your partner?"
I shook my head and there's something on what he said, "Him? So you know who's I'm talking about? Or maybe it was you all along. Don't play with me, Grant. I know your tricks already."
He chuckles, "I'm not playing with you... I'm just jealous that if that person was a he, you will change your mind being with me."
"You're my partner," I emphasized. "And I wouldn't take anyone, okay? So, please can we go to your house right now so I can have it back?"
"No," he shook his head and then pulled me back on the bench and sits beside him. "And... it looks good on my wall."
I gasped on what he said at halos maitulak ko siya sa akin. "I knew it! You had it! I know you took it because you've been looking at it since you got into my place. It is just my face, you jerk. You don't want to place it on your wall. People will wonder why you have my face on your wall."
He crossed his arms and hummed, "I think they'll be amused. You're pretty handsome, you know what?"
I could almost give up but there's a lot of risks if I will let him go with it. "Stop it, Grant. I know you won't like me. You're straight, followed by many beautiful girls. And a type of man who's not much like to end up with a guy. So don't play with me because you know I like both genders it doesn't mean I like you."
"I like you too."
"Grant," I sobbed because he keeps doing it. Tumayo na ako at hinila siya patayo pero ayaw niyang magpatalo. "Please... I just want it back. Bibigyan na lang kita ng picture ko—kahit album pa no'ng baby pa ako. Ibibigay ko sa'yo 'yon but this drawing—I need this back. Please..." I pleaded.
And then he sighs and nodded and I felt like there's a firework shooting up in the sky when it happened, "but I'm not taking you to my house..."
"So... how I'll get it back?"
"I'll bring it back tomorrow and," he pointed, "I want your baby photos album."
"And what you're gonna do it with? Ipapakulam mo ba ako?"
He smirks and shrugged off his shoulder, "maybe who knows. I will bring it unless you promised to do the same thing—you bargain that and I accepted it."
I nodded, "fine, deal." And I reach my hand towards him to shake his hand and then he took my hand but the next thing happened, he pulled me and he just embraced me. I was like a little confused about why he did that. I saw some people looking at us and they were on their phones and before they could take a shot, I pulled myself away from. "What are you doing, Grant?"
He smiles, "don't you want a warm embrace?"
I shook my head, "No, I don't want it and I guess see you tomorrow—and take a rest when you got home!" I said while running away from him and as soon as I got out of the gate, I chased my breath and just walk 'till I got into the bus stop.
What's with Grant? He's getting weird and weirder.
⚤
I wake up early so I could be at the school early too so I could catch up with Grant. Naghintay talaga ako ng mas maaga sa student's lounge kung saan makikita ko ang bawat estudyante na papasok ng gate. Fifteen minutes before nine, dumating na si Grant. I rush towards him and he was shocked to see me coming at him early in the morning but he just smile at me and it's weird. I'm still 17 though.
"Where's the drawing?" I started and my face was already hoping for it.
He winced, scratches his forehead. "I forgot it, I'm sorry."
And my shoulder dropped when he said that, "you promised me..." I sobbed.
He put his hand on my shoulder but I shoved it away. "Don't be upset."
Then I gave him a sharp look, "Why wouldn't I be upset? You just promised to give it back to me and now you're saying you forget it. What should I do now? I only have three hours left before meeting him!"
"And what do you want me to do?" he asked.
"I think that... we should go back to your place now and I'll take it personally."
"And that's not convenient." He remarked.
"Do you want me to end up on the guidance office?" I blinked my eyes.
"Uh... what are you doing?" he raised his brow.
I smashed my palm on my face, "if you really care for me, what would you do?"
Then Grant leaned forward as he cupped his hands on my face and I know I look like a blowfish because of what he side. "I care so if you're meeting him then I'll talk him out of him."
I shook my head shoving his hands off my face, "you don't need to do that," I took a deep breath. "I think I'll manage it, don't worry about it anymore."
My shoulder still dropped and I feel like I want to end this day to be over quickly.
"Lili!" Grant called me but I didn't turn back but when I notice that I was really far from where I was earlier, I turned my head to see if he was still there but he's gone. I took a deep breath and I thought everything wouldn't get worse than ever.
In every discussion, I feel like I need to drown as the time went by quickly. When it is time, I was at the cafeteria and have enough courage to face whoever this person is and talk him out of reporting me on the guidance because I will fight against him for using me as his subject without consent. As Allen and Anthony keep their distance towards me, I was alone on my table.
"Lili!" I raised my head up when someone called my name and it was Mina. I smiled at her and she joined me on the table and she put down her tray. "What's up? Why are you alone?" she asked but didn't wait for my answer as she continues her sentence. "Anyway, this is a little sad news on our secret club..."
"What happened?"
"Gabby was confronted by some officer that he needs to stop posting photos of him wearing make-ups or girls dresses."
I creased my forehead, "and why? Does he gets no freedom of posting what he likes to do on his life outside this school?"
Mina sighed, "he was told that he should not do something against when he's going to a catholic school and that's not what students meant to do here. I guess they were our biggest enemy right now but we can still have our session every once a week and you're still not sending your assignment on the group."
"I was busy with something but I'll send once I'm done."
She nodded, "I'll take note of that, I'll join my friends now. See you around sissy."
Sissy? I was like, what? Why did she call me that? When I watch her join her friends, I wonder if they know that she's a lesbian but she admitted that she's not out so it's her decision to do so. Then my attention caught by when Grant entered the cafeteria and when he saw me, he smiled as if he was expecting something and then he joined me as he sits across me.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why not?" he countered.
"I'm meeting somebody, right? So get out of my sight before he sees you."
But Grant insists to stay. "Who are you meeting with?"
"The person that you took his drawing."
"Me?"
"No," I shook my head.
"No, you don't get it. It's me."
"Grant, stop playing with me."
"Lili, it's me," he uttered.
"Who?" I asked.
"The one you who'll meet."
"No," pagmamatigas ko pa dahil mukhang pinaglalaruan lamang niya ako. As always.
"It is me who you were talking to."
"It's not you even though I had suspicions. I know it's not you." I said with finality but then Grant took his phone out and then he clicks something on it and then put it on my face, I pull it away from me so I can have a better look. And when I'm looking at the direct message—my conversation with the gram user, my eyes keep shifting back from the phone and to his face. "You're kidding me right?"
"No, I'm not." He smirks and when I was about to grab the phone from his hand, he pulled his hand back away and I didn't get a chance to snatch it away. "Do you really think I would report you?" he was laughing.
I look at my water bottle and had the biggest idea to shove it on his face but I did not as I don't want to get attention from everybody. I remained calm as he was chuckling towards my reaction.
"You seriously played me there, Grant."
"And it's kinda fun..."
"I know I should've believed my guts."
"Believe your guts?" he scoffed, "you didn't even believe me before I showed the DM to you."
"You lied to me, Grant."
And then he settled on his position, rest his arms above the table, and leaned forward. "And I'm sorry for that... I thought it's nice to take the drawing from your wall and do those things to you. And I didn't mean to play you like that, you're just cute..."
"I'm cute so you decided to make me anxious? What do you really think of me, Grant? Playtime?"
He shook his head, "no... someone I can love."
I narrowed my eyes, I am fuming. "No, you cannot do that on me again. And I can see, you're just taking advantage of me now..." I smirked and stood up, grabbed my bag, and was about to leave when he holds my hand. "Please, let me go."
"Are you really mad?"
I glared at him, "you played me all along—"
"But it was you who says you'll keep it in the first place so I just had to make a move to get it back. Don't be upset 'cause I did that on you. And let me repay you for something—do a favor on me. Whatever you like, I'll do it for you so you won't be mad at me."
"You will do?" I asked
He nodded, "if you want me to be your boyfriend, I will."
I washed my face with my hand, "I don't want to be your boyfriend... but I want you to do something for me."
"And what is it?" he asked and because he played me so well, I think it is time for him to face his haters.
⚤
when Grant pulls Lili to a hug.
Lili when Grant said he likes him too.