Chapter 25: Roses

Break Time

I sat on the bench with Marina, I look in front of me where Brian is playing football, well not just him there's other boys too. 

"Why do you think he's not talking to me?" I ask Marina hoping she has an answer.

"Maybe he's trying to make you jealous." 

"It doesn't look like it. Looks like he's mad at me." I make an assumption.

"Why would he be mad at you?" 

"That's what I want to know, I did try to talk to him but..."

"Did you actually?" Marina squints her eyes as if she doesn't believe me.

"Y-yes...?" I stutter slightly thinking if I actually tried. "I tried but not really, he should know because he definitely heard me when I called his name and plus I caught him looking at me in class."

"Maybe he wants you too follow him around and try to get his attention."

"I'm not doing that." I sigh. "If he doesn't want to talk to me then be it."

"Aww, you're breaking up with him?"

"Are you making fun of me?"

"No, I was jus—"

"Whatever i'm going." I say getting up.

"Where? Are you mad at me?"

"No i'm not, i'm going to the library, I need to get a new book."

"Oh ok, i'll see you in class."

"Ok." Saying that I start walking to the library.

I walk upstairs and my eye catches someone standing in front of the main gate.

Someone with a black suite and something in there hand, I squint my eyes trying to see.

Whatever I should go.

I walk towards the library.

"Excuse me?"

I look back and that man is smiling at me.

"Yes..?"

"Do you perhaps know in which class Lia Kay is?"

Oh?

Hmm…

Interesting.

"Yeah…? Why?" I answer.

"Could you tell me? I need to deliver something."

He's holding a big bouquet.

"Deliver what?" I say even though clearly he's talking about the bouquet.

"This bou— could you just please tell me which class she's in?"

"What do I get?"

"Excuse me?"

"If I tell you… what do I get?"

"What… do you want?"

"Hmm, nothing much..." I tap my chin. "How about you tell me who send you here?"

"Hahaha, I can't."

"Alright, then I won't be accepting the bouquet." I shrug.

"This is not for you, it's for miss Lia Kay."

Ouu…

Miss?

"Tell me who sent these then I'll tell you who miss Lia is."

"It's ok I don't need your help." He walks to the other side. "Crazy lady." He says in a low voice.

"I heard you."

"Hm?" He looks back. "Heard what?"

"Did you call me crazy?"

He shuts his eyes and sighs.

"Yes. Yes, I did."

"Apologise."

"If not then what?"

"Then…" I frown dramatically.

"Ha. You are just as crazy as you look."

"Really?"

"Yeah and i'll find miss Lia myself, Sir must be waiting."

"Uh-an? you can go and throw this bouquet at your Sir's face because I don't want them."

"They are not for you and why do you think these are for you—"

I look at him as he slowly realises.

"Unless you are Miss Lia herself." His voice getting lower.

I start walking away.

"No! Miss Lia forgive me, Sir will kill me if you don't accept this."

I stay silent.

"Then tell me who is this 'Sir'?"

"I… can't." He says a disappointment in his tone.

I reach my hand out.

He smiles and hands me the bouquet.

"Your Sir has a bad choice, he should never send flowers to someone again." I look at the bouquet. "Who even gives black roses to someone?"

"Isn't it unique?" He says slightly nervous.

"No."

"Oh."

"May I ask why did he give me this bouquet?"

"He wanted to thank you."

"By giving me black roses?"

"Well…" He scratches his head.

"Thanks for this but I think they're are better ways to thank someone and if he was actually thankful he would've been here personally."

"He was busy but he will someday thank you in person."

"I want to know what did I do? and who is he?"

"I can't tell you that." He drops his head down.

"Then how do you know me?"

"We have some information about you."

"What?! so you stalked me?"

"No no—"

"If you had information about me then how come you didn't know who I was? shouldn't you recognise my face?"

"No, someone else searched about you and only Sir has seen you—"

"Great. You know that I can file a complaint right?"

"Madam we don't have bad intentions he just wanted to thank you and he told me that someday he'll personally thank you." His expression suddenly changes to a slight hesitation.

"Yeah yeah. Have a good day." I wave my hand and walk towards the library.

"Hope you have a good day." He says.

I look back and smile that may or may not be scary.

What do I even do with this bouquet? I can't bring it home with me or else i'll be showered with questions.

In class

"You can take as many as you like." I smile.

"Really? you're so sweet, i'll take three." A classmate says.

A line is formed in front of my table as I give roses to my classmates.

"Since when did you start a flower stall?" Alex laughs slightly as he enters the class.

"You want one?" I take a black rose and give it to him.

"Oh thanks."

"No problem."

I'll keep the red rose to myself.

There's just three black roses left.

"Can I have one?" Laila asks.

"Yes, you can." I hand her the black rose.

I look at Marina who is making a mini bouquet of 5 black roses that she took.

"Who're you planning to give it to?" I ask her.

"No one, they're for myself."

I chuckle.

I look at the door as I see Hazen walking to his seat that is beside me.

He looks at the bouquet weirdly.

"You want one?" I say as he sits down.

He keeps staring at the bouquet.

"Who gave you this?"

"I don't know." I shrug.

"What do you mean you don't know?" He furrows his eyebrows in confusion.

"Yeah I don't, someone came and gave this to me."

"How can you just accept it?"

As I was about to speak I saw Brian walking in class.

Should I give him one?

"Hey give me another one, that one broke." Alex says.

"Here." I hand him another black rose.

"Thanks, sweetie."

"Don't call me that." I say.

In answer he winks at me.

"Hazen, here you can have this one from me." Laila says handing the rose to him.

"No, I don't want it."

"He'll want mine, here." Another girl from my class hands him the rose.

"Or mine?" Another.

I thought they wanted those roses for their partners, didn't know they were for him.

Hazen looks at me.

And keeps looking at me.

"…?" What does he want.

"Give me one." He reaches his hand out.

"Oh. Here—"

"I also want one." Brian pick up the last black rose that I was about to give it to Hazen.

"Uh…" I look at Hazen. "Sorry there's no more left."

I feel bad now.

"It's ok." He says.

Is he sulking?

Pfft.

I see a pout on his face.

"Here you can have this one." I hand him the red rose.

He takes it.

It's not like I wanted any roses, actually I feel relieved that there's no more left now.

I glance at Brian and suddenly he gives the rose to Laila.

Huh? It looked like he was not mad anymore and now he's giving me the same look.

Next day

Time is flying. We had a test today, I have a feeling that I will get good grades.

I'm still thinking to talk to Brian.

And why is he so sleepy today? He keeps closing his eyes.

I look at Hazen. His face is on the table with his eyes closed.

I softly poke his shoulder. He turns his head towards me but still on the table.

"Are you ok?" I whisper.

"No."

"You should go home then."

He doesn't answer me.

"Hazen?"

"Hm?"

"I said you should go home."

No answer again, just staring.

Maybe he doesn't want to talk about it.

I softly sigh and sit straight looking at the blackboard.

"Lia?"

I look at him, waiting for him to talk.

Silence.

I slightly tilt my head confusingly.

"Nothing." He says looking away.

What is wrong with him?

Ring

Oh, break time.

I walk outside with Marina and look for Brian.

5 minutes pass by and he's nowhere to be seen.

I guess I'll talk to him tomorrow.

Me and Marina sit on the bench talking.

"Lia?"

Oh! that startled me. I look up it's Brian.

"Yes?" I answer.

"Uh… I need to tell you something."

Why does he look so nervous?

"Yes..?"

"Not here…" He grabs my hand and walks upstairs leading me to the gym.

He ends up stopping in a quite and empty place.

"I wanted to tell you about— I mean I was about to tell you but I didn't know how, so today I felt like was…"

What is he gonna say? i'm getting nervous. Is he gay? No no, maybe he already has a girlfriend…

"Today was a—"

"Lia?!"

Me and Brian look to our right side where Hazen is standing.

He suddenly grabs my wrist and starts walking somewhere.

"Hey?!" I try to free my wrist.

What's got into him today?

"Hazen leave my hand what are you doing?!"

He keeps walking upstairs.

"Don't you even think about behaving like the other day." I slightly wince.

Ow, why is holding my wrist so tightly?

We reach to the third floor where he opens the door to a storeroom.

"Hazen! stop— Oww!"

He pushes me against the wall.

That hurt.

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD!"

"YES!" He shouts.

I get startled.

"WHY DO YOU EVEN TALK TO HIM!"

"WHY DO YOU CARE?!"

"CAN'T YOU SEE WHY!"

"…"

"I told you to stay away from him!"

"And I told you to not act like this again!" I try to free my wrist again.

"Do you only see him?"

"Hazen, leave my hand."

"I can't see you with other boys."

"WHY DO YOU KEEP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!"

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!"

Huh?

What?

Love?

"Wha—"

"You would've known if you ever looked at me." He loosens his grip. "But for you I never mattered."

"…"

"This is the first time I fell in love."

"…"

"I want to know your answer."

"…"

"I'll wait."

Saying that he leaves while I stand there speechless.