Chapter 98 - 98: Hard Habit To Break

(Michelle POV)

'Ah, I think this shirt would fit my Anthony so well! He would look so handsome… and… wah!!!! Would he wear it on Saturday if I were to give them to him tomorrow?' I wondered as I grinned and hugged the shirt to my chest imagining it as Anthony himself.

Anyhow, after unbagging all the things I bought for him, I started placing them inside just one bag. It would be weird if I were to give him separate shopping bags tomorrow. Overall, there were not a lot just 5 shirts and a pair of cufflinks. I hope he will like them. 

After doing so, I placed the bag down and saw the other shopping bags. Which reminded me of Andy. When it was time for us to part ways, Andy considerately walked me to my car and then handed the driver the things I thought he bought for his mom. 

Honestly, I was a bit stupefied by his action. I thought with some alarm that perhaps he liked me! Not that I was a presumptuous maiden but come on. Which normal girl would not think that way? It's not that I want something between us to bloom for I still have my Anthony, but which girl would not feel endlessly flattered? Andy was the nation's husband! 

I tried to ask about it in a roundabout way, maybe reject him if he planned on courting me, but in the end, it was proven that I was thinking too much. He just said that he suddenly realized that his mom would never wear the clothes he bought so I should just take them as him returning the favor for me helping him shop. 

I feel embarrassed about myself, Michelle, have you looked in the mirror? Ok, I did like what I saw coz I still have some confidence on my physical appearance, but I know that in comparison to Andy and the world he's in, I am just a speck of dust. Oh well, not that I like him that way.

"Miss Michelle, dinner is ready." I heard Rona call behind the door and I looked at the time. It was 7:30pm. 

--

"So, did your evaluation exam results come out yet?" My mother asked after we had our dinner.

"Yes Mama. My result in the mathematics is not bad, I got a 94! Third in class. I was so ecstatic in the morning. However, in the afternoon, our prof in English also gave back our result and… I failed to move up to the regular class for my English subject. I feel bad, I got a 74, just a point away." I said with some twinge of regret. What? How could I tell them I failed it deliberately? Besides, in the past, even though I failed, my parents only told me to work harder. 

"don't feel so bad, it's just the first exam. But, having a 94 in math is very good. Keep up the good work." My mother encouraged.

"Yes mama, I will try to perform better next time." I replied, then thinking of my other matter, I told them, "Ma, on Saturday, my classmates and I will have to meet for our class project. We would be meeting from noon to around 9 or 10 in the evening."

"What kind of meeting last that long?" My father asked. 

"Don't be silly Morris, perhaps they will also have some bonding time. Michelle, Mama is ok with this. Just don't forget your studies, ok?" My mother said with complete trust on me.

Ah, I feel guilty with me lying, but it's not like I will do something evil. Ehem ehem… ok, sorry but I'm a real adult woman so please understand.

We talked some more before I went back to my room. I checked my cellphone and saw that I received some texts. At once, I imagined them coming from Anthony, but to my disappointment, the 3 texts were only from Andy. I opened them one by one.

[Did you arrive home? I just arrived.]- 7:35 pm

[thank you for earlier by the way. I had fun.]- 8:04pm

[Good night.]- 9:24pm

I looked at the time, it was already 9:40 pm. Was he already asleep? Anyhow, I started typing my reply. 'Sorry for the late reply. I only saw your texts now as I was having dinner with my parents earlier. I arrived home at 7:20 I think. Thank you too, I also had fun. Good night!' 

Then I pressed send. When no reply came, I did not think much about it. I just went to the restroom to brush my teeth then prepare myself to bed. 

--

"Do you have any questions regarding this lesson?" Our professor in economics asked. When no one spoke, he continued with, "Alright. since there's none, I will be dismissing you early. Please be reminded that next meeting we will have our first major exam."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." My classmates responded just itching for the class to be dismissed.

Our professor gave us a nod, said his goodbye, and left the classroom. The rest of my classmates also started to leave. I looked at the time and saw that it was just 10:10 am. I wonder what Anthony was doing, yes, we just saw each other yesterday but I already miss him. 

Then, I recalled from when we had breakfast together last time that his first class for today is at 10:30am and it would be in bellarmine. Should I go see him?

"Michelle, let's go." Camille said as she stood from her seat.

I smiled and shook my head, "Sorry, need to go somewhere." 

"Okay. See you around then." She said as she joined our blockmates leaving the room.

When everyone has left, I looked at my cellphone. No text, no nothing. Was Anthony being shy? Oh well, I need to be more assertive. With that thought in mind, I decided to walk to bellarmine.

--

When I arrived in Bellarmine, it was 10:23 already. I tried to wait at the building's entrance to see if Anthony would be arriving and make it look like coincidence that we met there. Ah, my stalkerish existence was again manifesting itself. 

I waited and waited but did not see him until the 10:30 am bell rang. Ugh. Maybe he arrived early and was already in his class since a while back. Hmm… perhaps I should look around and see which classroom he was in. 

The building has 3 floors and I first entered and looked through the windows of each class as if I was just passing by. I started with the 1st floor but did not see Anthony in any of the class. I walked to the second floor and also did not see him. Finally, I reached the third floor and as I was looking inside one classroom, I felt someone standing beside me. I looked to my left and to my utter horror and embarrassment, my eyes met with Anthony's smiling ones.

--

(Third POV)

Anthony took two steps at a time climbing the stairs. He was already late. Reaching the third floor, he walked briskly towards his class but then, he saw a familiar side profile. Was that Michelle? He slowered his pace. He wondered what she was doing there.

As he got nearer, he observed that her brows were furrowed in concentration. She was looking through the window as if searching for something or someone. He looked inside the classroom, seeing nothing amiss. Then, he turned to look at Michelle again.

Perhaps sensing someone's presence she turned to look at him. Seeing the recognition on her face, he greeted her.

"Good morning, Michelle. What are you doing here?" he asked.

Michelle stopped breathing and her face turned white in an alarming speed while thinking 'Did he catch my trying to find which class he was in!? Fuck my life. Why did I have to go back to my stalkerish ways!?' 

Anthony seeing her turn pale was alarmed. Did he scare her? "Are you alright? Sorry, sorry." He apologized with a worried look on his face.

Michelle hearing Anthony apologize realized that he did not know that she was there to stalk him. So, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then, seeing his worried visage, she blushed. "I'm a-alright. I… I just think I left something in this classroom yesterday, so I came to see i-if it's still here. Ah… I will wait for their class to end so I can check…" she explained while thinking how much of a genius she was. That was a good save.

Anthony smiled and nodded his head. "I see. If you want, rather than waiting here, I can check for you later. My class is just next door."

Michelle stopped herself from squinting in delight with his words. He's so caring and… ah, she's a woman in love.

"Oh… I didn't know that. It's okay… I... I'll just wait here for a while. Don't you have a class after this one?" she asked with a nice blush. Congratulating herself with her excuse.

Anthony smiled as he shook his head. "I don't. I will help you look after my class, ok?"

Michelle wanted to just melt into a puddle of goo. "Okay… I will wait for you then."

Anthony gave a nod before leaving to enter his class.

--

TBC