"Something? You mean, that you like me?"
"WHAT??????"
Gulf couldn't believe at what Mew has just said to him. He was saying those words without even a single trace of being surprised or the what-not on his face. Although Gulf wanted to defend himself from Mew, words are nowhere to be found. And all he can do is quickly get his notebook back. He immediately looked at the back of his notebook so he can see up to how far does his embarrassment goes.
"Phi, did you really see something?" Confused, Gulf asked Mew as he saw that there were no writings at the back of his notebook.
"Why? Is there something I shouldn't see?" Mew said as he looked straight in Gulf's eyes. Though it is invisible, but Gulf felt an electricity flowing from Mew's eyes to his. He was stunned for a minute and all his senses seemed to malfunction. It was not about the thought "I-caught-you,-confess-it-already"-thingy but mainly the way how he looks at him. It is just so overwhelming. And our boy is once again lovestruck.
His heart is melting.
Pounding.
Racing.
Rolling.
Tumbling.
"Uhh--- N-No-Nothing. Nothing." Gulf is stuttering. He is nervous. And it is very obvious. But we can't blame him especially if it is Mew, his long-time crush. After realizing something, he mustered up all his courage, ready to strike Mew with his another question.
"And why did you say earlier that I like you? Do you have a proof? Huh? Huh?"
After knowing that there wasn't anything written on his notebook, Gulf took it as an opportunity and acted as if he was being accused of something he didn't. But we all and Gulf himself know that Mew is right. It is just that it is not a good idea to let Mew know about his feelings.
"Uhm--"
Mew is about to say something. That it was his experiences that told him so. He has a lot of admirers and of course, at least one of them had done this silly thing before. But Gulf has no intention of letting him to do so. He is just as embarrass as he is. There's no way he'll allow Mew to know about his little secret.
"See? You-- You shouldn't run your mouth carelessly like that. Got it?"
And as much as he wanted to say those words as natural as he can, he just can't. How can he? If he is too nervous.
Mew was left speechless after hearing Gulf. But little do they know, the class is just looking at them argue.
"What's going on there?" Miss Nan who finally noticed the commotion at the back asked. But there's no one willing to answer her so they just proceeded with the lesson.
"Aish. What have I done? This is SO embarrassing. The whole class was looking." said Gulf in his mind. Though he isn't voicing out his thoughts, his facial expression could clearly tell one what's he thinking about.
Until he felt a crumpled paper ball tossing from behind him and landed in front of him. It was from Mild.
[What the hell are you two doing?]
[Long story.] He replied and tossed it back to Mild.
Until another crumpled paper ball came.
[Tell me. Are we having a love story already?]
[NO!!!]
Gulf received another crumpled paper ball but he didn't want to see another one nor reply to another one. He simply put the paper ball on his pocket and pretended to be listening to their teacher but in reality, he can't focus.
Yet, another crumpled paper ball was on his desk. He carefully turned to Mild but he just saw him doodling on his notebook instead of listening.
"Whose paper ball is this?"
He opened the crumpled paper ball. But he was so surprised to see what's on the paper. It is not Mild's penmanship. He's got a very awful penmanship so there's no way this is his. This is too perfect.
One person pops up in his head. But he doesn't want to believe it. Besides, why would he send this paper? Until he has realized what was written on the paper.
[Are you two talking about me?]
And then, shoot. He started panicking, again.
He nervously turned to the direction of the suspected sender of the paper ball, but a raised eye brow of Mew's welcomed him. He even almost choke himself when he realized that it was really Mew.
Mew on the other hand, still waits for the other lad's reply but there's none. Instead, he just received an awkward-slash-apologetic smile from him.
"P'Mew will be the end of me. I swear it. Why do I have a feeling that being his seatmate is a bit stressful than what I actually imagined.
Wait. Hold up. This is what I wanted so I must bear with it and I must admit, this kind of excites me rather than that of stressing me."
The class has now finished. At some point, Gulf wanted to leave the room for a moment so he can breathe at least. The whole period was a lot tense than the periodical tests they usually take. He even felt like he'll die if it goes on forever.
Meanwhile.
"Mew, come with me to the faculty room."
To be honest, he doesn't have a clue why he is being summoned to the faculty. He just followed what Ms. Nan has asked of him.
When they arrived at the faculty room, Ms. Nan puts down first her things, heaved a sigh and looked at Mew with concern eyes. Mew is kind of worried with the face Ms. Nan is giving him. But he is all ears, nonetheless.
"Do you have some issues with your seatmate Gulf, Mew? I saw you two arguing earlier."
Ms. Nan is really worried about the two. She just wants everybody to be close with their classmates, especially with their seatmates. If there is anything she can do to bring peace to the quarreling parties, she will do it as long as there will be harmony.
"No, Ma'am."
"Then, why did you switch your seats without my permission yesterday?"
"Oh that, Ma'am? It was just nothing. I'm now back to my original seat beside Gulf, right? What else is there to argue about?"
"I know but I still want to know if you are not comfortable sitting beside Gulf."
It took Mew a few minutes before he can answer Ms. Nan.
"No, Ma'am. In fact, I am so excited to be his seatmate. And I wish, we will continue being seatmates," said Mew and smiles at their teacher. She wanted to be convinced by what Mew has said but she is doubtful after what she's seen earlier. Or is it just her imagination? Mew seems honest when he was saying those so there is no need to worry.
She then told Mew that he can now go back to his class.
Mew went out of the faculty with his both hands on his pockets. Until he felt a thin paper in one of his pockets.
He smiled when he realized what was that paper. It is the reason why he now wants to be seated beside Gulf, without complain.
He opens it.
And the smile went wider when once again, he saw the drawings on it.
It is a simple comic strip where two cartoonized boys are talking to each other. You can see that the comic strip is carefully drawn for the fine details it has, even if it was just a sketch.
There are four frames on this comic strip. But unfortunately, half of it was still unfinished.
On the first frame, the boys are facing each other. One boy has slightly curled hair and the other has a straight hair.
Honestly speaking, Mew has no interests when it comes to comics or anything that has pictures. He's more into novels where there are only nothing but words. But what made him change his mind is the dialogue those two boys are having.
Even though he has already read this earlier, it still makes him smile whenever he reads the dialogue he is so familiar with.
"I didn't know you are like this. I thought you are decent but I guess I'm wrong."
"Do I really look as arrogant as this drawing? Gulf, you really are something. Hahaha."
***
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