(Third POV)
[Anthony! What were you doing? You totally sold us out!] Vince, one of Anthony's teammates while playing World of Warcraft complained after they lost the game.
[Yeah Anthony, how could you have messed up so bad? Did your pc lagged or something!? Geo would totally not let us live this up.] Jeff complained.
[Sorry, sorry guys, something came up, I mean, I had to reply and help a friend out.] Anthony explained.
[Someone actually managed to get your attention off the screen while playing a game? What kind of friend is that? Don't tell me that it's a girlfriend.] Jeff
[No, just a friend that is a girl.] Anthony
[Lara? Aren't you over her yet? She rejected you for Steven just in case you forgot.] Vince
[I never courted Lara, so it doesn't count as a rejection.] Anthony
[Yeah, sure you didn't. You just always pour water in her glass, place food on her plate, open the door for her, give her the best gifts on all special occasions, and oh yeah, you're always at her beck and call. HAHAHA!] Jeff
[To top it off, when you told her that Steven wasn't worth it, she just told you that he is. Hahaha! Totally not a rejection wahahahaa!!!!!] Vincent
[Hey. Stop that. Fine, I did like her, but it was mostly my mom, she's the one who always asks me to send Lara those in special occasions and said that she will be her daughter-in-law. Besides, who amongst us did not have a crush on her then?] Anthony
[Definitely not me! Too bossy for my taste!] Vincent
[See? I told you he has the delusion of thinking Lara perfect! I also never had a crush on her! It's just you who think all the male has a crush on her and afraid she be stolen from you!] Jeff
[eyeroll] Anthony
[So, who's the girl? Give us a name! Is she from the same circle?] Vince
[Ugh. As I said, there's nothing for you guys to know. Just a friend from school.] Anthony
[Then why don't you just mention a name? Why the secrecy?] Jeff
[Yeah besides, why would you need to reply to her first before finishing the game? I don't believe you.] Vince
[Because she's Andy's girl, ok? Stop asking already.] Anthony
[Hayley Xu? Pretty damn hot! And here I was waiting for Andy to break up with her. Got to have a taste!] Jeff
[I'm so proud of you Anthony, have you finally ascended?] Vince
[Hahaha! Anthony losing his V-card, did you ask permission from your Mama? Haha!] Jeff
[Hey, that's not a nice thing to say. I'm not a mama's boy, I just so happen to be an obedient son. Anyhow, no! I have taste.] Anthony
[Yeah, Hayley Xu will never pass the standards of Mama-dear.] Jeff
[If you keep teasing me with your nonsense, I'm just gonna log-off.] Anthony
[Ok, I'm stopping, so who's the new girl? I mean, she's got to be something if Andy got you to be nice to her, unless of course, you plan on snitching her first! Hahaha!] Jeff
[Hey! If it's Andy's new girl then she be attending his party next week, right? I'll see her then! I'm so dying of curiosity. Andy always has the best girl in the room on his arm it's almost unfair! So, what is she like? Can you give me her number? Are they together already? Oh wait, why was she asking your help instead of Andy? Don't tell me, she likes you instead!? If she likes you instead of Andy, I might say she actually has a brain for once. You know Andy, only dating braindead hot girls hahaha!] Vince
[Ugh. So many questions. The only thing I can answer is no, they're not yet together, but she likes him so it's only a matter of time. She chatted me to show me her gift for Andy.] Anthony
[Oh, well then, her name? Let me search her up in Friendster or Multiply. Maybe she has an account.] Jeff
[I can't really tell you guys her name, that would be rude.] Anthony
[Huh!? What bullshit is that? Come on just say, we will know next week anyway.] Vince
[If you don't tell, I'm gonna tell your mother that Lara rejected you!] Jeff
[Hey! I'm gonna ban you from my house from now on!] Anthony
[Come on, just spill! Last chance, I'm gonna call Andy and ask! You bugger. I'm also gonna tell that his girl is chatting you instead of him!] Vince
[No!!!! Fine fine! I'll tell. It's just that the gift is a surprise for Andy. Her name's Michelle Lui.] Anthony
[Huh!? Michelle Lui!? Are we talking about the same Michelle Lui? Daughter of RC motors? I don't believe it! How could she like Andy? I know Andy tried hovering around her in some of the parties, but she never paid him any attention.] Jeff
[That's just not possible. Lui's girl is a total iceberg. She's very pretty I admit, but I think she has the most annoying princess complex like ever! She's not even part of the exclusive 8! And you're telling me she likes Andy and chatting you up? I would say she's trying to social climb.] Vince
[Hey, do I sense bitterness there? I saw her at some parties, and she just kept to herself. I don't think she's a social climber.] Jeff
[Yeah, Michelle is a really nice girl, she's not like what you're saying Vince. Also, she's not an iceberg, just very shy. Even just the littlest of things would make her blush. I just hope that Andy won't break her heart.] Anthony
[Well, I did try to talk to her once, but she just ignored me. I should've just told her I'm Vincent Kho! Oh well, girls are all the same. It doesn't matter if you guys agree with me or not. I mean who wouldn't be tempted to marry one of the exclusive 8?] Vince
[Hey, you're just saying that because you don't know her yet. But we're all entitled to our own opinions, so I'll let that one go.] Anthony
[You defending the girl who's not even your girl!? Anthony, do you like her?] Jeff
[Not like that, I just like her as a friend. You know I'm not up for some romance. I like my single life as it is.] Anthony
[I recall you liking Lara enough to contemplate having her as your girlfriend before. Wait was it girlfriend or wife?] Jeff
[That's why you never had a girlfriend! Even Steven that iceberg got one before you did! How pitiful is your prick? You ashamed to show it to some girl? Coz I think the only females who ever saw that were your mom and your nanny! Oh wait, maybe add Mary Palmers too! Hahaha!] Vince
[Never mind. It's senseless talking to you guys. GTG!] Anthony
[Ok, see you on Saturday! Ugh. Wish we all went to same university! Huhu! My parents still blame me for not passing the entrance there at University A. Now, I'm stuck here in University D!] Jeff
[Pal, at least we're both here. I have no idea how Anthony passed; his grades were worse than ours.] Vince
[hey! I did study for the entrance exam. Anyhow, bye!] Anthony
[bye!] Vince, Jeff
--
Anthony sighed as he shut off the computer. Earlier, when he read Michelle's text, at first, he decided to ignore it. Like he can reply to her after the game. But then while playing his mind was off, like the thought that she might be waiting was weighing on his conscience.
So, he replied. When she asked him for a video chat, despite him still playing, he just thought that why not? His teammates can wait for just 5 minutes it's just a game. So, he opened YM and added her. When he finally saw her smiling at him, he felt that she's really pretty. Like there's a permanent blush on her cheeks. However, when she told him that only wanted to show him her gift for Andy, he felt a bit disappointed.
Anyhow, while she was getting the gift, he went back to see the game only to see that their group has been totally destroyed. Ugh. His friends are going to blame him.
So, when she was back, he only glanced at the gift and had to talk to his friends. Besides, anything she gives Andy, he was sure Andy would like.
Oh well, it's not like he likes her that way, at least he thinks he doesn't. Like they only met for less than 2 weeks, how could he like her that way already?
Not knowing what to think of it anymore, he brought out his school materials. He was never the smartest in the group, so for him, he needed to give double the effort just to pass the exams. It doesn't really bother him that much though.
He knew that for him, studying and aiming for the highest grade was a bit pointless. What was more important was that he learn the basics. As his parents told him, just graduating was enough. Even if all his grades were 75, it's perfectly okay.
--
TBC