He's different with you

David and I walk together in silence, and I am secretly relieved by it. I still don't know what he's up to, and this game we're playing is making me uneasy. I wish for a moment that he would just confront me about his wallet again. Noticing that he's slowed down, I look back at him, cocking my eyebrows up. He's frowning at me, distracted.

"David?" I snap him back to attention.

"Yeah, everything's fine," he tells me, suddenly awkward. He scratches his flushed neck, and the movement exposed a bruise on his shoulder. Judging by the looks of it, it's most probably from our encounter in the hallways yesterday. I should apologize for that. He's a jerk, but he did protect me from getting seriously hurt when we fell down.

"So, um...." I start, clearing my throat. "I also want to say sorry for what happened yesterday. You know, that thing with the running and chasing and you hitting your head. Then me almost choking you..."

David smiles, noticing my uncomfortable expression. "Nah. Forget about it. I was only hurt a little bit." he tells me.

Just then, David grins like he's just had a brilliant idea. "By the way, when do you get your car back?" he asks me.

"Oh...um.." I stop walking, thinking of an excuse. "Probably not until next week. It's the um... it's been having so many problems. The mechanic said it'd take a while."

"Huh. Okay." he says, "But that's weird. I would've expected Arnold to buy you a top-notch vehicle. From what you're saying, he's bought you a second-hand."

David slows down, leaning down to pin me with his gaze. The gears in my head turn as I try to remember the details of the story that I spun earlier.

"It--It was. It was an old car of his. He didn't buy me a new one."

Straightening up, he nods as if he understood. "Oh, well. That's too bad." then he stops walking. "Do you wanna carpool with me, then? I ride with Sai, but he's finally getting his own car this Monday.

My jaw drops open. Why would he want to--

Realizing what he's been setting me up for the whole time, I open my mouth to reply, but he continues to speak, "I'll take your silence as a yes, then. I'll pick you up first thing on Monday,"

"Oh no, it's fine, I actually--" I counter, but up ahead, our school is coming into view, and David looks like he hasn't heard me.

"Oh, here we are, " he says, stating the obvious. I scratch my head in exasperation as we continue to walk towards campus.

"Ye--" I try again, but he's suddenly busy with his phone, pulling it out from his pocket and holding up a finger at me like I'm his secretary or something.

"Hey! No loitering around the school entrance when people are coming in. Head to your classroom now." the lady guard announces, frowning at us as she ushers the students entering the building. As if to prove her point, a guy bumps into me on his way in, and I get separated from David.

"David? Hey--" I call out, determined to finish my sentence. But he's already on the other side, seemingly engrossed in his phone call. I huff in frustration as I step aside to let the other students in.

"Girl, are you not going to class? Move your ass, now." the lady guard calls out to me from her station at the entrance.

"Yeah, sorry, " I reply, stepping inside campus against my while, gritting my teeth the whole time.

Stupid freaking David Choi. Freaking stupid David Choi. I curse the guy in my head as I am forced to enter my first class for the day. More than him, I curse myself. What is wrong with me? I'm usually good with talking back. Carpool, my ass. No freaking way. I cannot let it happen. He's going to ruin my plans. I need to look for Uncle Fern and I can't do that when someone like him's breathing on my neck the whole time.

"Are you okay?" Ari says, looking at me in concern as she seats herself beside me.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I tell her.

"Okay," Ari responds, but I can tell she doesn't believe me. She looks at me silently for a moment before saying, "He seems different with you."

"I--who?" I ask her, face scrunching up.

"Dave," she clarifies and I scowl at her.

"It's true." Ari asserts. "He doesn't usually talk to people that aren't close to him. He barely knows you, but he was teasing you when I saw you guys earlier."

"How do you know he was teasing me?" I challenge her.

"Well, I just happen to know him better than most people," Ari replies. I wonder what she means by that, but I decide not to push further. In fact, I wish she'd stop talking now and leave me in peace.

"He likes you," Ari repeats, not getting the silent memo. And she claims to be perceptive.

"That's ridiculous," I tell her. "He was only messing with me because he thinks I took something from him."

"Oh, yeah. His wallet. I heard about that. Now, that is an interesting story." she comments.

"It's not an interesting story, it's an annoying one." I feel the need to correct it.

"I don't know. Really? 'Cause, it seems like it's a start of a love story." she tells me, beaming excitedly.

"You're crazy." I blurt out, feeling my face heat up. What the hell? Isn't David gay? And even if he weren't, Ari clearly doesn't know why he's been following me around.

"Yes, I am. Thank you," Ari responds, unbothered at my half-meant insult. I glower at her, but I smile reluctantly. Her cheerfulness is contagious. I don't plan on taking her declarations seriously though. I know my relationship with David. It's a rocky one full of mind games and senseless bickering. And I'm sure he feels the same way.