Chapter 99 - 99: Were You Bullied?

(Third POV)

Anthony entered his class thinking how ironic it was that less than 2 hours after deciding that he should avoid Michelle so that he could expel her from his thoughts, he inadvertently made himself spend more time with her again. It's not like he could just let her be after she told him that she lost something. 

If she couldn't find it later, he should help her go to the university lost and found center ask around and maybe file a report. He was so used to missing stuff in the past, so he was very experienced with that. 

Anyhow, he took his seat which was at the back middle row and from where he was seated, he could see that Michelle was standing outside the classroom next door.

Given the view, he could not tear his eyes away. Her slightly fitted dress outlined the curve of her breast and since her hair was tied in a ponytail, he could see her long white neck and collarbones. Her skirt flared a little but under it, he knew that her buttocks were rounded. She looked at his direction and blushed. 

Shit.. Did she see him checking her out? He scolded himself for becoming a bonafide pervert.

Tearing his eyes away from her, he looked and tried to listen to their professor who was still giving a lecture. After a few minutes, his eyes were back on her. This time, he saw her fiddling with her cellphone while smiling. Was she texting with someone?

He shook his head. It should be none of his concern.

--

At 10:12 am, Andy was sitting in his class not really listening to the lecture of their professor on Engineering physics. He looked at Steven and Lara who were seriously taking notes then shook his head. He was an actor; he doesn't need to become an engineer. Last night after getting home, he received his acceptance letter from acting school for film in country A and he thought about whether he should go or not. 

He brought out his cellphone. Should he ask for Michelle's opinion? The school there would start mid- September and if he wanted to enter this school year, he would need to confirm his slot within the month. Of all the schools for acting in the world, that school was the most prestigious. 

In the past, he was decided to go if he gets accepted, but now, he was reluctant. He wanted to spend more time with Michelle, and it seems like she was equally invested in him as he was in her. 

Aish, this was one of the reasons why he did not want to court her just yet. There were still things he and she needed to accomplish. Him, he wanted to be the best actor. It has always been his dream so despite the fact that he likes Michelle, he didn't want to ruin their chances. He knew that long distance relationship has low probability of working. 

He sighed. Still, he really liked her a lot. Ugh. Just text. Maybe she will tell him not to go? If she does, he wondered what he would feel. Might as well ask to know.

He began typing. [Let's meet after your first class. Should I fetch you?] 

He waited but did not receive her reply. Maybe she was busy listening to their class lecture.

When the bell rang and he did not receive her reply, he decided to go to her classroom to see if she was still there. Let fate decide if they should meet.

Andy told Lara and Steven that he has to go somewhere. The two just nodded their head, Lara looked particularly happy that the third wheel would not be around to ruin their moment. Ah. Andy could read her thoughts quite well as he shook his head.

He walked to Michelle's classroom only to see that it was already empty. The time was 10:26 am. Maybe it's not meant to be for them to meet that day.

He pulled out his cellphone from his pocket. Still no reply. Should he give her a call? Or should he text her again? 

No. It would make him look too clingy! He was not texting her. 

He walked to the SOM mall, bought blended fruit shake, and sat in front of one of the round tables alone. Many students, especially girls looked at him. He did not look at them, he was not in the mood. He pulled his cellphone out again. To text or not to text?

Took him 10 minutes before he lost his will not to do so and decided to text her again. 

--

(Michelle POV)

I could not believe what just happened. It's like I'm in a real-life fairytale drama! Anthony was like a very cool CEO who demanded I wait for him as he will help me look! I tried to contain my smile. 

My eyes followed Anthony as he entered his class and find his seat. Before he sat, I positioned myself where his line of sight can see me. I stood straight and inhaled trying to make my stomach smaller. Ah, the lengths I go for him.

Not being able to help myself with the curiosity if he's looking at me, I turned to look at his direction. The result? He caught me looking at him!

I blushed and turned away. Ah, my campus boyfriend please don't look at me like that I will melt! I took a deep breath and tried to peek at him again, this time I saw him listening to their prof's lecture. Ugh. I should not impede him from his studies! What am I doing!?

But I could not stop my lips from tilting up. Anyway, I felt my cellphone vibrate and pulled it out of my bag. I saw that I received a text.

I unlocked my screen and saw that there were 2 texts from Andy. 

[don't tell me you weren't able to wake up early again?] 10:48 am

[Let's meet after your first class. Should I fetch you?] 10:15 am

I smiled as I read each before composing a reply. He's such a clingy friend. [Sorry for the late reply. But no, I was not late for my first class! Sorry, I can't meet with you right now.] I sent back. But then, I realized I had nothing to do while waiting and standing like an idiot. Besides, I should also ask why he was wanting to meet me. It was only polite. So, I drafted another text, [Why do you want to meet?], then I remembered that he was asking to fetch me! so I decided to tease by adding, [Wait, don't tell me you went to my classroom to fetch me earlier?] Satisfied, I pressed send.

--

(Third POV)

Andy read the first text which arrived about 3 minutes after he sent his text. He smiled with how she denied her tardiness. It's now a joke between them. But then, he frowned when she just said that she can't meet him. He wondered what she was doing. He was about to reply when he received another text from her. The second text erased the frown on his face and made his smile gentler. 

He had no idea that the girls looking at him all melted, well not literally.

[I wanted to ask your opinion about something, but since we can't meet now, maybe we can meet after your Math 11 tomorrow? You have 2 hours break before our ES class, correct?] Then he pressed send.

Then he drafted another reply, [No, I did not check your classroom, I just passed by and saw it empty!] He pressed send again with a grin.

--

Michelle did not think much that Andy remembered her schedule, she just thought that he has good memory. Honestly, she can't remember his schedule anymore. Anyway, she replied.

[Ok, we can do that.]

Then as she pressed send, another message arrived which caused her to giggle soundlessly. He was admitting that he went there to check. She was reminded of the time when Angie tried to embarrass her but then she opened the door only to see Andy looking for her.

Anyway, since they were better friends now, she can tell him about it. so, she typed another reply.

--

Andy read her first message and as he was thinking of what to reply, he received another one from her.

[Haha! Do you recall the first time you went to my class to fetch me? One of my blockmates, not telling who, just said that don't know what kind of people my friends were, then suddenly you showed up! Her face went different shades with the shock of seeing you and… it's just so funny! Anyway, ok, I believe you, you were just passing by the area. ^_^]

[Were you bullied?] he replied first, realizing what her text implied.

But then, with his own presumptuousness, he wondered, was she asking him to fetch her more often with that story? Andy's eyes mooned as his pearly whites were revealed as he smiled.

[Perhaps I should fetch you every time your class ends.]

--

TBC