9 Ninth Chapter: Trouble? (1)

The next day.

Stifling a yawn trying to escape from my mouth, I walked through the dimly lit hallway, void of people like yesterday. Walking towards my room, waking up early this time, I'm not late nor too early. 

Standing outside the room, I saw a few people doing their own things. Some listen to music and some talk with their seatmates. 

Girls everywhere. I thought as I gazed through the window of the classroom.

Different types of girls filled the room. Girly girls, quiet girls, loud girls, tomboy girls, and normal girls.

That'll be me, of course. 

Nursing has always been female-oriented so I'm not too surprised. Furthermore, I prefer it this way, it'll be less uncomfortable. Though, I feel like it will bring more trouble for me …

Cross fingers.

My feet felt heavy as I knew how attention-grabbing opening the door was. Why can't I just phase through walls like a certain lemon hero (without my clothes falling off, please)? However, I know that I can't keep on standing and looking like an idiot outside. 

I'll just get more attention that way, which I definitely don't want to. The sooner I get inside, the faster I'll get my peace. I inwardly reasoned, gaslighting myself (that's my forte).

I reached for the doorknob—and almost at the same time someone also tried to do so. Our hands bumped together. Surprised, I looked at the person and saw that it was actually someone I knew.

"Alex!" Evans exclaimed, showing a joyful surprise at seeing me.

She looked around, seemingly trying to find somebody. "You're not with your friend?"

I was a little confused about who she was talking about.

Noticing my confusion, she added. "Rebecca, you know, the pink-haired girl?"

Ohhh, so she was talking about Rebecc—hm? How does Evans know Rebecca?

Wanting to satisfy my curiosity, I asked. "You know her?"

"Uhhh, let's go inside first! We're blocking the door," Evans lightly pushed my back.

I looked back and saw a girl with an ivory black straight hair. Her eyes are covered by her bangs, making her a little gloomy.

And I realized that we were, indeed, blocking the door. 

I hurried to get inside and moved towards my seat yesterday with Evans at my tail.

"So how do you know Rebecca?" I said evenly.

Eager to know, I asked once again how she knew Rebecca. 

"We went to the same junior high," she answered, supporting her chin with her hands. 

Oh, so that's why … Hmm, why then did it seem as if Rebecca didn't know her? If she knew her, without a single shred of doubt, I bet Rebecca would greet her with a blinding smile and energy. 

Social butterflies are afraid of nothin'.

As if Evans understood my thoughts, she continued. "But she doesn't know me. Rebecca was so popular in the whole school back then, so it's almost impossible to not know her if you went to the same junior high."

Hmm …

"I mean, just look at her, even the girls back then had a crush on her! Her title as the school's crush before was not an exaggeration," Evans told me with an animated expression.

It is undeniable that she is beautiful.

Although, I had a not-so-good-first-encounter with her since, after all, she Olympic-dived me into the mud. It's not her fault, though … Still, It took me ages to get the mud off. Sigh, I don't know what to feel.

"What's wrong?" Evans asked, probably noticing me having conflicting emotions.

I shook my head and signaled with my head to continue her story. 

"Well …" Evans paused, scouting the area. 

She leaned towards me and whispered. 

"Don't tell this to anyone, 'kay?" 

I'll forget about it soon, anyway, I thought while nodding my head. 

"I had a huge crush on Rebecca back then," Evans said quietly, blushing after saying it.

Oh. 

"And when I say huge, I mean huge … I won't go into details, I'd be so embarrassed. Just know, I was crazy for her in junior high."

Evans averted her gaze while talking, probably remembering all the things she did for or maybe to Rebecca? Anyway, I prefer minding my own business so I did not say anything along the lines of:

'I won't tell anybody.'

'Come on! You already made me curious.'

'Spill the tea, sis!'

I don't know why people want to know about other people's business so badly. It's not like you can't live without gossiping.

I nodded.

"But I know you wouldn't tell no one so I'll tell you," Evans said matter-of-factly.

Huh? 

"I haven't told this even to my best friends, you know?"

So why are you trying to say this to someone you can't even call a friend?

"Ahem, so you see—" 

"So you were here, Caikee."

A dignified voice interrupted Evans from behind.

We both looked towards the source and saw that it was … 

"Cecilie!" Evans called out in surprise. "When did you get here?"

"I just got here," Shvets replied. "And why are you here?"

Shvets confusingly asked after seeing Evans sitting here in the back.

"I was just catching up with Kris." 

Her eyes shifted to me, sitting beside Evans. She doesn't seem to be that surprised seeing me, probably because she already knew from Evans or when we did the introduction yesterday.

She smiled and greeted me. "Hello, Kris."

I silently waved my hand in greetings. Fortunately, Shvets didn't take it to mind as she is used to me being silent.

"It's such a nice coincidence, we ended up being blockmates again!" Evans cheerfully said.

"Yes, what a pleasant surprise," Shvets replied softly.

"I also heard from my friend from another block, Avetis, and Taniel are here!"

Ugh, really? I cringed internally.

Shvets lightly smiled and patted Evans' shoulder.

"Good for you."

"Yeah!"

I feel like there are many things hidden between those words.

"Anyway, I won't bother you any longer. Have fun with your talk, Caikee, and Alex," She added.

"Okaay, just save me a seat!" Evans lightly shouted.

Shvets simply made an 'okay' gesture and moved to the front.

"..." 

Evans stayed silent for a short while. She seems to be focused on Shvets' moving figure, seeing that, I noticed that everyone else is also doing so.

What a charisma. 

Simply by walking, she can get everyone's attention. Even just a few seconds are a big deal, some would not even give a single glance, you know? 

"Cecilie is so pretty, right?" Evans suddenly said.

"Yes." 

"Keuk, she's pretty, smart, and diligent! How can a person as perfect as her exist?! Leave something for us, damn it!"

Dunno.

"Anyway, where was I?" Evans said to me, trying to continue her story after taking her eyes off Shvets. 

Just how much do you want to say it, huh?

"Ah, right! So as I was saying … Back in junior high, 'cause I'm so, so, so much of a fan. Rebec—"

"Hahaha!"

A loud, boisterous laugh interrupted Evans. 

Despite that, she continued to try to tell her story.

"I tried t—"

"O-M-G! Did she really?" The people in front of us loudly talked, interrupting Evans for the second time.

Maybe, slightly irked, she continued with an irritated tone.

"I'm an idiot fo—"

"Crazy sh*t, right?"

As if a storm was brewing, Evans' face darkened, glaring at the girls in front, acting like they were the only people in the room. It's not only Evans, though. I can see even the other people in the room are starting to stare or even glare at them. Several people started to frown and even whispered to their friends. 

I'd bet 100 that they're talking about these girls in front of us.

Still, they act as if they didn't notice their loudness.

"So you see, I was a craz—" Evans decided to ignore them one more time and leaned closer to tell her story.

"Alex!"

"Motherf*cker!" Evans shouted in anger.

But alas, she was interrupted for the third time.

Three points, ey.

The voice seemed familiar, though … 

"Ah," realization dawned on my face.

Speak of the devil and he, well, in this case, she shall come.

I turned towards the voice and saw a petite pink-haired girl giving me a bright smile and a wave.

"Hey," I said.

Glancing at Evans, I saw her frozen shocked in the chair, eyes wide open while looking at Rebecca.

Uh-oh. Great. What a great way to make a first impression on your ex-crush.

Rebecca glanced at Evans, stunned by her words, for a moment, she looked a little troubled but immediately caught herself.

"Umm, sorry?" 

Evans burst out of her bubble and immediately tried to defuse the situation.

"No, no, no, I was just surprised! Like, uhh, that wasn't at you, you see! It's an expression. Yes, an expression!" Evans hurriedly explained herself.

Rebecca, seeing her so flustered, lightly laughed and said. "Eh, really?"

"Yes, yes!"

Maybe Rebecca was feeling mischievous today. So she decided to tease Evans.

"But you see, the damage has been done already. I wonder, what should I do?" Rebecca looked playful while putting her finger on her lips.

Evans was momentarily stunned and then blushed profusely. "P-please don't tease me!"

Maybe it's too early to call her an ex-crush?

"I'm not, though?" Rebecca acted innocent.

"Yes, you are!" Evans' face further reddens, looking like a tomato at the moment.

Should I help Evans?

She looked like she was about to burst if I didn't stop this girl. What's with her today? Maybe she does know Evans? 

"Then … how about you do something for me?" she said mysteriously.

Now what?

Evans gulped. "W-what?"

Rebecca grinned and said. "Stand up for a moment."

"Okay …?" 

Evans, confused, hesitantly stood up. 

I focused intently on Rebecca and Evans, curious to know what the former was up to. Rebecca, after Evans stood up, immediately went to her seat and plopped down.

"Mission accomplished: seat acquired!" Rebecca announced.

Huh?

"Huh?"

We're both dumbfounded by Rebecca's actions.

So …. all of this is just to take back her seat?

"You know, you could just ask," I said, wanting to sigh at this girl.

"That's no fun," Rebecca replied, slightly pouting.

It doesn't have to be fun, in the first place!

Rebecca looked at Evans standing still in front of her. 

She lightly patted the seat next to her. "You can sit here."

"Ah, yes, yes," Evans automatically just followed her words. 

"Sooo, what were you talking about earlier?" Rebecca curiously asked. "Ah, before that, I'm Rebecca, and you are?"

She knows.

Evans finally calmed down and said. "My name's Caikee!"

"Caikee? How cute!"

Aaand she lost her cool once again.

Evans looked obviously shy from the compliment. What with her face turning ruddy again.

"Y-yours, too!" Evans managed to say, barely recovering from the sudden attack.

Are you trying to give her a heart attack, girl?

"Hehe, thanks. Anyway, so what were you talking about earlier?" Rebecca repeated her question earlier.

We both slightly froze, Evans more noticeable than me, from her question. 

"Umm, eh, uh," Evans is stuttering, unable to think of a reasonable excuse impromptu.

Evans looked at me, pleading at me with her eyes; looking so pitiful. Sigh.

I decided to help her out this time. "We were just talking about our senior high days. We were classmates back then."

"Really? And you're together again? That's amazing!" 

"Right? That's what I've been saying!" Evans commented, regaining her previous demeanor.

"How 'bout you two, how do you know each other?" Evans asked.

Rebecca and I looked at each other. She chuckled, probably remembering our first encounter.

"Well, I covered Kris with mud."

Evans looked a little confused. "Like literally? Like how and why—"

"Could you lower down your voices for a bit?" an annoyed voice interrupted Evans.

That's the fourth time.

I looked at the people in front of us. Slightly shocked by the audacity. 

You were the one loudly yapping your mouths!

Evans also looked a little shocked and angry. Well, who wouldn't, right?

"Excuse me?" 

"Are you deaf? I said can you be less loud? You're distracting us, you see," the girl in the middle said, clear irritation on her face.

Wow. Just how thick is her makeup that she can't even feel embarrassed at her words?

I bashed inwardly, looking at the flashy-looking girl with hoop earrings and thick makeup. She has long wavy brown hair tied in a ponytail.

People are starting to look at us. Trying to know what's happening.

"I'm sorry, but you were the one who's loud," Evans said, trying to still be respectful.

"So? Then you should've told us off. But you didn't, didn't you?" the flashy girl raised her drawn eyebrows.

"That's because!" Evans reasoned but was tongue-tied.

"Because what?" the flashy girl mockingly repeated.

"Because …" Evans looked like she was about to cry. She was never the confrontational type of girl, after all.

I was now getting mad at them. We're not friends, but anyone would be, seeing an innocent girl getting bullied. I tried opening my mouth to speak, but someone was a second faster than me.

"That's enough."