Louisa's p.o.v;
At college,
I waved at Diego who just finished the race against his club members, came as a third in position.
He waved back and walked to me and asked, "I thought you would forget and ditch me, Lou."
"To be honest, I almost did." And I smiled at him and continued, "Bernie made me remember the promise I made to you."
He patted my head and said, "And, I wouldn't have spoken with you till the end of the year. You should thank Bernardo for this."
"Ehhhh… so demanding. By the way, you said that you invited your boyfriend, Where's he? Let me have a proper look at him this time. I didn't look at him properly since I was in a hurry last time."
He remained silent.
"What is it? Didn't he come see you. Poor guy." I held his hand and said, "Your friend is here though. Cheer up!"
"He came."
"Then why the long face? Shouldn't you be happy right now? Where's he?" I nudged him while taking a look around the stadium.
"He came with his girlfriend." He said while pointing at a couple in the audience seat.
"Aw! So he's straight. Don't get upset though. I guess we're meant be single all along. Let's have a hotpot to celebrate your victory."
"I came third. What's there to celebrate?"
"No, wait." I made him look at the contestants and continued, "You competed with eight guys and came third. You should be proud of it. Who knows? Maybe you'll come first in next competition. So, cheer up, Diego. Are we still going for the hotpot?"
He made a smile and said, "I wonder how you can change my mood just like that."
I signalled him to come closer and whispered, "Because I have superpowers to change people's mood, don't tell this to anyone or it won't work."
He laughed and said, "Hotpot it is." "Okay, wait here, I'll go and get changed."
"What's wrong with this outfit? You look good already. Let's go like this."
"You mean in a swimsuit?"
I smiled and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you. Don't be late. I don't like waiting."
After Diego left, I looked in the direction where Diego pointed at his crush along with a girl. They left already. I felt bad for Diego.
While i was waiting for Diego, i saw Lucas and his girlfriend alongside the audience. I averted my gaze away from them and looked at the guys who were in swimsuit talking to each other. Even though there were many guys standing in front of me being half-naked, all i could think about Ace's face. I don't know how long it takes for me forget about him. But my problem is, I remember everything. No matter how hard i try, i can't forget easily. Sometimes it's been a strength to me but most of the times, it is my weakness. Because i still remember when i saw my ex-boyfriend Lucas being with a girl in a bed together. Added to my past worst memories.
"Louisa!!" Diego shouted in my ears saying, "What were you thinking about? You didn't even heard me calling out your name. What is it?"
When i looked at him, he was all dressed up and was ready to leave.
"Nothing. I… i was thinking about the test coming this Friday."
"What were you thinking about the test?"
"I… I didn't take books from library and didn't prepare notes yet so I was thinking about it." I stood up from the seat and asked, "Shall we go now? I'm feeling hungry already." And walked ahead of him.
At the nearby restaurant,
While i was eating my food, Diego asked, "I thought you'll invite Bernardo too."
"I did. But he already had plans with his girlfriend Everly so he said he'll join us next time."
"Is everything ok between you and Everly?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"Since you and Bernardo was pretty close, doesn't Everly get jealous of you two?"
"Nah, she's pretty and very understanding too. She's not like others who Bernie dated in the freshers. She sees me as her friend too. It's kinda good to hangout with them. It's fun. It'll be awkward only if they forgot to close the door." I laughed and continued, "One day, i caught them making out in the living room, i closed the door and came out of the apartment and waited till they finish it. It was funny but someone should remind them about closing the doors. They're forgetting it a lot." And continued laughed.
"Looks like you're having fun being around them."
"Yup!"
"Louisa, don't get mad at me for what I'm about to say."
I sat straight and asked, "What is it?"
"Drop that attitude of yours a little bit and listen to me."
I let out a sigh and said, "Tell me."
"I talked with Lucas…"
When I stood up from the table, Diego held my hand and asked, "Where are you leaving? Aren't you going to listen…"
Before he finishes, i said, "If you're going to talk about him, I'm gonna leave."
He stood up and made me sit again while saying, "I don't know how Bernardo got used to this temper of yours. It's so difficult for me." After he took a seat, he continued eating his food.
After a while, I asked, "What did you talk with him?"
"Are you going to sprint again if i start?"
"Just get to it quickly."
"Lucas came to me and asked about you since Bernardo treated him very badly."
I laughed at what he said and commented, "Because Bernie knows that he's a jerk."
He gave me a stare.
"Sorry, continue."
"He told me that his intentions wasn't cheating you, he was just trying…"
"Hold on. I heard this story already. Directly from him."
"Did he told you about his girlfriend?"
"Yeah." I let out a fake chuckle. "Girlfriend."
"Then why did he asked me to tell you?"
"Because he wants his coooked up story to come true. He tried to make me believe his story but i didn't so now he's catfishing my friends to change my mind. No matter what he does, he remains a liar and a cheater to me."
"I can't believe that i almost believed his story."
"There's more about him you don't know. I'm mad at myself for falling for that kind of guy. Anyways, don't speak with him again. Avoid him at any cost. Understand?"
"Got it. You talk so clearly now then how did you fall fo him in the first place?"
I smiled at him and said, "Everyone's stupid at some point."
He pinched my cheeks while laughing and asked, "I wish to see that stupid girl someday."
"After that night, a lot changed inside me."
Suddenly, he gave me a kiss on my cheek and asked, "Did you become a boy?" And laughed at me.
I kept my hand on my cheek and said, "You stole a kiss from me."
He said while showing me his cheek, "You can take it back if you want to."
"Sometimes I wonder are you really gay or not."
"Why?"
"Because you're way more cheesy sometimes. Hold on, did you forget that I'm a girl?"
"I did remember that you're a girl. The most stubborn one I've ever seen."
"You can stop right there! I'm full already with the food."
"Where are you going from here?"
"To library, i have to get books for the test. What about you?"
"I'm heading home. I'm so tired from the competition."
Outside the restaurant,
Diego, "Let's see tomorrow at college." And he took off after giving me a quick hug.
While I was on the way to the college, I turned on the phone to see what time it is. It's 2 already. Did I take too long to eat? What to do? The food tasted really delicious. I must visit the restaurant again.
The sky began rumbling. When I looked up, the dark clouds were clumped above me which looked like it's going to rain anytime. When did the sky become like that? Wasn't it sunny in the morning? I should hurry up before it starts raining.
While I was running on the street, the rain started pouring, making my dress wet. People were running somewhere. I looked for a shade but couldn't find it since it was all buildings I could see wherever I turned. By that time, I got fully drenched in rain. I wiped my face and continued looking for a place for shelter but it started downpouring already.
I took shelter near a shop but I was still getting soaked since there wasn't any shade and it started getting chilly because of the wind. I felt raindrops stop falling on me, when I looked up, someone was holding an umbrella above my head. When i turned to look at the person, Ace was standing beside me holding the umbrella.
I walked away from him and walked under the rain.
Ace grabbed my hand and asked, "Why are you being stubborn? Can't you see it's pouring?"
I snapped his hand and said, "I asked you to not come in front of me again. That was a simple request from me. Can't you do that for me?"
"Do you want to talk it here? In the middle of the rain?"
"Why are you here? How did you find me? Are you still keeping tabs on me?" I looked around while asking him.
He grabbed my hand again while shouting against my face, "Let's get somewhere first."
I struggled to escape from his grip but he was too strong for me, i shouted, "Take your hands off me! I said, Take your hands off me!!"
He let go of the grip and said, "Let's go and take some shelter nearby."
"I'm not going anywhere with me."
I walked away from him and continued walking under the rain. As time passes, I started shivering from the rain. If i get fever now, i won't be able to write the test. I have to hurry up to college before I get fever out of this rain.
When i turned back, i saw Ace walking after me. Why is he following me? Is he insane?
I took a shelter under the bus terminal and took a seat. Since it was downpouring, everyone was standing under it making it a little crowd. Ace stood in front of me.
I moved closer and asked, "Why are you still following me?"
When he turned quickly, the water droplets on his hair splashed on my face, and get into my eyes.
"Is it fun for you to hurt me again and again?"
He asked me to stop rubbing my eyes and take my hands off.
When i looked at him, he said, "Close your eyes."
He patted my eyes gently with some cloth and gave me some water to wash. He asked me to open my eyes, asking, "Do you feel any discomfort in your eyes?"
I shaked my head and said, "No."
He said while removing my coat, "Let's get you out of this wet fabric."
I held on to it and said, "What are you doing?"
"It's wet. What if you get fever? You have college to go tomorrow. Didn't you say you have a test to do?"
I nodded and said, "I can do it by myself."
After i removed my coat, he hanged it nearby on the seat and stood beside me.
A girl beside me said, "Your boyfriend looks handsome."
What!?
I said to her, "He's not like what you said. He's nobody to me."
"Really? But you two looked like a couple. If he's not your boyfriend, can I get his number?"
I laughed and said, "You won't ask his number if you know who he is."
She got a weird look on her face after hearing it from me.
I moved closer to her and whispered, "Have you heard about spirits who died because of some tragedy that can't leave the real world and wander on the grounds of earth? He's one of them. Actually, i got aback when you saw him. Not many people can see him. Is he still visible to your eyes?"
She looked at Ace with terror and walked to the other side of the bus terminal.
Ace asked, "Am I a wandering ghost to you?"
"I just saved someone from danger."
"Or are you jealous of me?"
"Like I am."
I got chills from the windy breeze and began shivering a little.
Ace touched my forehead and said, "It's waste of time to wait here." And took his phone to call someone.
After a while, a car stopped in front of me and I saw Mateo in the driver's seat.
Ace said, "Get in the car. If you continued to stand here, you'll get fever."
I got in the car and he got in after getting my coat from the bus terminal.
When I get some warm environment, I feel warm and comfortable.
Ace asked Mateo to take me home.
I mumbled, "I don't want to go to that house again." And felt dizzy so I fell asleep.