CHAPTER 13; MISSING CLASSES

I sat on my bed trying to

gather as much

confidence as I could. my

heart kept pounding in

my chest as the day get darker.

Any moment from now, I will

be in Sylvia's house. I stood

up from my bed, as it was no

more comfortable for me to sit

on. I paced in my room trying

to rehearse a few words I

would say when I get to her

place. my gaze went to the wall

clock in my room and I

realized it was already 6:45pm.

I was supposed to be at her

place by 7pm. I was getting

really nervous. maybe I should

just call her and tell her that I

won't be coming anymore. but

she might think I'm still angry

with her if I tell her that. I

have to go. I have promised

her already. I will try my best

not to look nervous.

I took my wallet from my bed

and left my room.

I got to her place exactly

7:15pm. I stood beside her

door contemplating on

whether to knock or not. After

10 minutes of standing, I

summoned courage and

knocked.

"hold on please. I'm coming"

her voice sounded from

within.

After about 30 seconds, the

door opened. My heart missed

a beat when I saw her but I

remained calm.

"wow! you came. I thought

you won't come." she said

"I already promised to come. I

don't want to disappoint you."

I said

"please come in" she said

I entered and she followed

behind me.

"please have a sit" she said

pointing to a plastic chair

beside a table.

"thank you" I said and sat on

the chair.

She sat on the other plastic

chair opposite me.

"thanks for coming" she said

"now I know you are no more

angry with me"

I didn't say anything.

"you didn't attend lectures all

through last week. what

happened?" she asked

"nothing" I responded

"you just decided to stay at

home"

"yes" I responded.

"I hope you had gone through

all the topics we did that week"

"yes" I responded.

She looked into my eyes as if

she was searching for

something.

"it seems you are a guy of few

words" she said

I didn't know what to respond.

I just smiled.

"please give me a minute" she

said and went into her

kitchen.

That was when I took my time

to admire the beauty of her

room. I haven't been able to

observe her room since I

came. her bed was just beside

her wardrobe. her room was

painted pink. posters of some

popular celebrities could be

since on the wall. while I was

still admiring the beauty of

her room, she emerged with

two plates of rice in her

hands. she placed it on the

table beside me. she went back

inside and returned with a

bottle water and two glasses.

she placed it on the table and

sat opposite me.

"okay, dinner is ready. I hope

you will like it" she said.

she served the food and

started eating, while I stared at

the food like I needed approval

before eating.

"are you not eating?" she

asked when is realized I have

not touched the food

"I will" I said and quickly took

a spoonful into my mouth.

she stared at me as if she was

trying to read what was on my

mind. she smiled and

continued eating her food.

"I hope you like the food"

"yes." I answered and fixed my

gaze back on the food.

she kept staring at me with

smiles on her face. I tried not

to look up from my food in

order not to meet her gaze.

Her continuous stare was

making me uncomfortable. it

was as if she was reading my

mind.

"for how long have you been

this way?" she asked

Her question got me really

confused. I didn't understand

her question

"I don't get you" I said

"you can tell me about it. it

helps when you share it with

close friends." she said

I still didn't understand what

she was trying to say

"I really don't get you. what

are you taking about?" I asked

she smiled and dropped the

spoon she was holding.

"my uncle was once like you.

things didn't go well for him

because he decided to keep it

to himself. he had to marry

someone he didn't love." she

said

The more she speaks, the

more I get confused. what does

her uncle got to do with me.

"Sylvia, what are you trying to

say? you are getting me

confused." I said

"you don't have to hide it from

me. I know already." she said

"you know what?" I asked

"I know that you are always

nervous anytime you are alone

with a lady. you are a shy guy"

I froze immediately she made

that statement. I stared at her

in shock.