One who bathes willingly with cold water doesn't feel the cold.
~African proverb

"Oh, Tristan, what are you doing here?" I said a bit startled. I felt like running away but from his expression, it looked like he needed to talk to me. So I  stood next to him, staring at him while anxiously bouncing my leg.

"What does it look like I  am doing? I am listening to your conversation with Mrs. Smith."

That response left me shocked. Why would he want to listen to my conversation with Mrs. Smith?

I stared at him with a scrunched-up face, I  had nothing next to say to him because I  well knew that what I  said to Mrs. Smith would cause his girlfriend to be suspended.

"Has it come to this Luna?"

"Come to what ?" I asked. His question sounded nonsensical in my ears. Even at that point I  couldn't help but stare at his handsome face.

"To you causing trouble for my girlfriend ."

Trouble? I wasn't causing trouble for her, in fact, I  was helping him give her the payback she deserved and he dares to say I  was causing her trouble.

"I didn't mean to bring trouble on her, she technically brought it on herself," I  replied bluntly. I was not going to take the blame for the hot sauce in my eyes, the slaps, and the trouble I  had to go through.

"I don't think so, Luna. You brought trouble on both of us with your liking me shenanigans ." He said with a somber expression. After that slap, he looked miserable, his eyes still reflected so much hurt. I didn't know he cared about kassy that much.

Shenanigans?

This is what I  get for liking Mr .popular. He calls my feelings shenanigans.

"Are you alright Luna, you have been staring at me for a while?"

No, I  am not alright. You just showed me that my feelings are invalid to you.

"I am alright." I lied. He looked like he already went through so much and it would be really pointless to start an argument about my feelings.

"That's good to hear. I thought you were upset with me because I  don't like you back" he muttered. Now that was absolutely unnecessary. I don't know why he had to stress it.

I couldn't take having this conversation with him. He was getting on my nerves. I gave a straight face when deep inside I  was battling with the urge to rip his mouth out.

I should have seen this coming. Why would I  think a popular guy like Tristan could like a nerd like me. He loves bad chicks; chicks like kassy.

" No, not really." I lied. Of course, I  was upset with him, actually extremely, but just because I  have feelings for him does not mean he also needs to like me back.

"These things happen. " I  replied, trying my best to ignore that topic and get away from him before I  could let a tear fall from my eyes.

"Yeah, they do. But just so you know I  don't like you in that way, not even a little. Don't feel bad though ."

For God's sake, I  said I  am fine. I know you don't like me.

Okay, but that was rude not even a little? I know he doesn't like me but he could at least reject me in a nice way. Looks like he did not even consider my feelings when saying that.

"Feel bad about what exactly, being rejected by you? I am fine now Tristan. I understand you don't  like me back and it's not like I  meant for you to." I was very hurt by his words but no matter how mad I  was at him, I  couldn't tell him anything bad.

"Oh in that case thank the lord. I thought I  needed to apologize to you."

Yes, you need to, you hurt my feelings.

"No need for that I  am alright," I lied." See you tomorrow."

I was ready to leave and  I  even started to walk away when I  felt a tight grip on my hand.

"Before you go... I  need to tell you something." I looked at the hand that was holding mine and then looked at him. I felt very uncomfortable especially because of the feeling I  felt when I  felt his touch.

"Yeah sure... what?" I said while gently pulling my hand out of his grip.

"Remember when Kassy slapped me?"

"How could I  forget that? It was ironic." I said brusquely. After his rejection, I  felt the need to tell him mean things.

"She showed me a picture of you kissing my cheek. That was what was making her extremely furious ."

A picture?

"Do you know who might have sent it?"

"Yes... it was Pearl who sent it. She kind of snitched on you ."

I should have known. That girl always seemed to have a thing for Tristan but how could she snitch on me. I thought we were friends. That's what I  get for trusting too easily.

"Oh, I  see. Thanks for the info ."

With that, I  left him and decided to head home. I left with anger and sadness. So this is how rejection feels like.

_____________

Ouch!

That was really harsh of Tristan to do, don't you think so?