Melissa Grace

I wetted my lips as I thought hard to find ways to make it up to Drew. It's almost Christmas and he still hasn't been talking to me.

His older brother annoys me a lot too. Hindi ko naman akalain na magtatagal siya rito ulit sa kanila.

Right..

I have been hanging out with Drew ever since we became groupmates in an activity in one of our subjects. Our conversations were always kind of short but he's a man of few words so it was quite expected of him.

What I just don't understand is ever since that I tripped on my own feet two weeks ago, he hasn't even taken a glance on me.

It just bothers me that much.

Lalo na at magpapasko.

I hate it when an important occasion comes and someone is holding grudges at me.

Nakaka-bad vibes yun. Especially when I don't even know what happened or what I did wrong to snub me off like that.

Then, I saw him went out of the male's restroom.

"Hey, Dr—" I almost shouted but my words hung in mid-air when I saw him smile at Patrice.

Patrice is a year younger than us and from what I heard, she has been his tutee since two or three years ago?

I have no issue against them but something tells me that his girl in front of me likes someone like him a lot. I mean, talaga bang kailangan niya ng tutor?

Can't she ask help from her friends?

And, si Drew lang ba ang kayang magturo sa kanya? Wala na ba siyang ibang kilala?

"Melissa! Wait up!" Yosef distracted my thoughts and I turned around to face him.

"Ah, yes?" I asked flashing a sideways glance at Drew who stood far from where I was. He was currently bent over tying his shoelace while this annoying guy went up to me.

It's not a rumor that he likes me. I just don't mind it like some girls na GGSS.

I already rejected him but he just won't stop. I just talked to him now just to be polite as there are many students around the hallway.

"Okay ka na? Hindi na masakit ang paa mo?" He asked and I nodded absentmindedly.

"Look. Save your breath. I am in a hurry. Please. Just give your attention to someone else. Bye!" I said in one sentence as I saw Drew stood up and headed to the direction of the library at the left wing of the building.

I remembered that I have our club meeting for journalism today and yes, I have an excuse to head to the same direction as him.

"O-kay. Just, don't run." Yosef managed to call out as I walked briskly away from him.

I treaded the hallway and saw Drew's collar flaring up and his ID lace hung over his shoulder. I shook my head at how sloppy he can be despite his usual studious looks.

"Hey, watch out!" A male student with a universe model for astronomy class emerged from the science lab and I was able to avoid bumping into him.

"Sorry!" I shouted and I started making big steps to catch up with Drew.

Before he even turned towards the stairs to the library, I was almost at foot with him.

"Saan ka ba talaga papunta, Melissa Grace?" He let out an exasperated sigh and stopped in his tracks. I almost slipped but he was able to catch me on time. "Bakit ba ang lampa-lampa mo?"

My face reddened and I don't know why it happened.

Is it because we had locked eyes again or was it his arms around me that kept me safe from falling or the fact that I was clumsy?

"Next time, please be careful. You're ruining my day." He said and gently helped me up. "Alis na ko." Those were his last words which left me speechless.

My heart just couldn't stop beating so fast. I almost thought that I had a heart attack.

"Uy, Mel! Lika na, magstart na tayo!" Eula noticed me and yanked my arm into the room with me still in daze because of my encounter with Drew earlier.