I don't have a choice. I just nodded and accepted the responsibility. How can I say no to my teacher?

"I'm really sorry if I had to let you do this. It's just that I have an urgent out of town meeting and no one is going to do all this work! You know, everyone is busy because graduation is near," she explained. "I promise! When I get back, I'll be sure to give you gifts," she said and then winked at us. And just that, she went off.

I swallowed hard. Being with Kevin, alone, is really uncomfortable... and awkward! We haven't talked for quite some time now.

Are you entertaining suitors now?

That phrase suddenly popped in my head again! Argh! Erase... erase... erase!

Then our teacher suddenly came back.

"Rain, I already told Kevin the instructions. Kevin, just tell Rain what to do. You're in charge! I really have to go!" She went off again while shouting 'goodbye'.

What?

I turned my head to Kevin and he also looked at me. We had some few moments of staring fight, but we backed down just the same.

Why is everything so awkward! Why do we have to work together in the first place? Ish!

"So-

I was surprised when he suddenly speak beside me.

"Ahm... Miss Lee said we should check these papers and also arrange that files," he said in a really low voice as he pointed at the boxes at the side.

I nodded at him.

"Here are the answer keys for the papers we are going to check." He handed me papers. "Miss Lee said we don't have to finish everything today. We just have to finish checking the papers. We'll just arrange the files tomorrow."

What? We also have to work tomorrow? I suddenly felt mad at our teacher. How could she procrastinate doing her job!? Now we have to suffer!

I looked at the papers and they seemed to be exam papers of students in the lower years that our teacher handles.

"Seat there at our teacher's chair, and I'll take this one," he pointed at the chair infront of the table. I just nodded my head again.

But, does this mean we're going to seat facing of each other?

I'm crying inside! I don't know what to do anymore! I want to go home!

I sat silently at the seat assigned and he also sat infront of me. I started checking the papers. And it's quite hard to check them. Have I told you we're checking a Math exam?

Yes it's Math and it's so hard to check papers with different solutions! Our teacher have the policy that solutions are better that the answers. So higher points are given to the solutions. Insane I know. But what is more insane are the solutions of students with lots of erasures!

Then there's this paper that I can't understand the solutions at all! I wanted to ask Kevin for help, he might understand it. But I'm too shy to talk to him.

It's just that...argh!

Should I just put X marks on those items I don't understand the solution? But, I pity the owner of this answer sheet. He might fail the exam if I did that.

"Ahm..." I called his attention. "Can you... ahm... help me with this?" I asked. I hope he doesn't mind.

"What about it?" he asked then he stood up from his seat and went to my place.

"I can't understand his solution," I stated.

He leaned towards me to see the paper. My heart started to feel so aware and anxious of his presence. Why does he have to be so close?

"Oh! He placed arrows." He pointed at the numbers in the paper. "Look, this is the first part of the solution then he made an arrow to left and then to the right." He scratched his head. "You're right, this one is really hard to check!" he said. Then he started pointing at the paper again.

I know I should listen to him fully. But half of my attention is diverted towards his face that is only a few inches away from me. I can hardly breathe. I scolded myself. When will I ever get over him if I keep on entertaining this feeling?

"...and here is his answer and he is right," he continued and placed a check mark on the paper.

"Okay I got it already. Thanks," I dismissed. He went back to seat and I continued checking. Now, I must get this over and done. And so I'd be able to get over this fluttering feeling.

It's so unfortunate to be chosen to check these papers. Come on. Why me? We're like more than 30 in class and I was chosen?

Hello to my efforts of avoiding Kevin!

Later, Kevin went out for a while and when he came back, he was holding milk and bread.

"Take a break for a while." He handed me my share of milk and the bread. I'm equally hungry so I accepted it with no hesitation.

"Thanks," I muttered. I was eating when I suddenly remembered John! We were to meet after class!

I immediately looked for my phone in my bag and whoah! 10 miscalls! I didn't know he was calling! I always put my phone in silent mode when I'm in class!

I immediately dialed his number. "Hey John!" I feel really sorry. What if he waited for me?

I looked at Kevin and he's looking at me intently so I stood from my seat and made some distance away from him so I could do the call more comfortably.

"Rain!" he exclaimed on the other line.

"I'm really sorry I wasn't able to meet you! Miss Lee asked me for some errands. I'm really sorry did you wait for me?" I asked.

"Thank goodness! I thought you were angry with me with all the things I said a while back so you were not picking up your phone."

I curled my brows. What? Then I suddenly remembered what he said. I still have to confront him about that. I know he was not serious with that knowing he is that cool/happy-go-lucky guy.

"Let's just talk tomorrow," I dismissed and went back to my seat.

And I noticed Kevin was still looking at me. Then he went back to work when I caught him staring. I just shrugged him off.

I must really finish checking cause' I really want to go home already.

--------------

Finally! We finished checking! But we didn't sort the papers yet. Which means we have to work again tomorrow!

"We can finally go home," he muttered.

"Yeah!" I exclaimed as I stretch my arms and smiled at him. And he just stared at me. I suddenly realized, why am I smiling at him? I immediately drop my smile and looked at the floor.

We walked out of the room together and headed outside the gate. It's quite dark already. It's so unfortunate again that we have to walk in the same direction. And of course we have to walk together because we're supposed to be friends right?

I mean before kiss, we were fine, we were friends...

But now it already changed. Especially to me, it's awkward. I noticed he isn't speaking to me comfortably either like we used to. He is not in his usual talkative mode. Or maybe he felt that I'm not in for a conversation?

We just continued walking in complete silence. And now we are at a pedestrian, just standing there, waiting for the streetlight to turn green and watching the cars moving infront of us.

I can only hear the noise of the vehicles, and on top of that, I heard him speak.

"Why are you ignoring me?"

I looked at him with his sudden question. He was just staring at the road. When he noticed me looking at him, he stared back at me.

Because I love you? And I want to stop loving you...?

Those words immediately crossed my mind the second I heard his question.

But should I say that?

<A/N> Keep on inspiring me to write okay? I want to read your comments :)