Rhezi was already feeling bored. Apart from the fact that she was bored with what was happening, nothing had taken her interest inside the gym where she was in. The only noise that could be heard was the students shouting around but her mind wasn’t there. She was thinking about Kraius and her argumentative essay.
Actually, she could do the paperworks for a few minutes but the girl couldn’t understand what pushed her to call Kraius and ask for his favor. Rhezi did not expect, too that he would agree immediately without any difficulty. In the end, what she did was to stalk on all of Kraius’ social media last night.
“Hey!”
“Ouch!” Rhezi immediately frowned when Tin’s face appeared in front of her. She has a condescending smile plastered on her lips as she held the ball used in volleyball game. She on her cycling shorts while wearing their PE shirt in white and green combination. Her long hair was tied behind her back and forehead was sweating.
“Dumbstruck?” Why don’t you join us?” Tin encourage her with a raised eyebrows.
Rhezi sighed. She felt that she was very tired of everything. She just didn’t want to admit it to her friends because she didn’t want them to worry. Besides, she knew that they would only gave her some advises or worst scolded her.
“I don’t feel like it. You can play without me, Tin. Mics and Mina are there,” Rhezi replied seriously as she meets her eyes with suspicion.
“Shut the fuck up, Rhezi! You’re such an annoying brat!” Tin retorted back and throw her a piercing glare. She also threw the ball she was holding on the wide gym’s field and quickly turned to her again. “You’re really such a brat, Fatty!”
Rhezi didn’t do anything when Tin pulled her. No matter how she complained, Tin didn’t listen. Her friend pulled Rhezi by the arm while holding her tightly. Rhezi complained, but Tin was determined. She was also strong because she’s a black belter in Judo. All of her three friends are active in sports while she was only active in eating food.
” Why were you forcing me here?!” Rhezi snapped in annoyance when her friend finally released her. Her voice was loud which snatched some student’s attention. Some were whispering, and some raised their eyebrows.
Tin tapped Rhezi’s left shoulder. She also faced her as she gave her a scrutinizing look. She shook her head and then after a while put her arm around Rhezi’s shoulder.
“We know you are starving yourself, Rhez. You’re a suicidal! It’s not like that if you want to lose weight. ”
“I know,” She replied reluctantly.
“That’s how it is, indeed!” Tin replied harshly. “Oh! Can you please do some tweak on this over acting brat, ” she added while looking at the approaching Mics and Carmina.
“I’m sorry,” Rhezi whispered softly while her eyes were on their friends who had just arrived.
“Rhezi, if you want to lose weight, then do it through exercise. It’s not right that you make yourself hungry, ” Mina advised her.
Rhezi smiled. Even if her friends have their own personality, they are kind to her. They always supported her too even when she was rude to them sometimes. They shared the best and the worst memories together.
“Yeah, yeah,” Rhezi said to her friends. She’s very grateful for having them as her friend.
“Good to hear that from you, Rhez. Don’t act up again. You’re not beautiful!”
Rhezi just smiled at what Mics said. They talked for a while and decided to play volleyball as a practice in their sports activity. Although Rhezi had a hard time, she forced herself to do her best. And it wasn’t a failure because their group won the said activity.
“I’ll just take a seat, Mina. I can’t do it anymore!” Rhezi said to her friend.
Rhezi was so tired and exhausted after their PE subject. She decided to sit on the bench just on the side of the gymnasium. She walked slowly and promptly sat beside her sports bag. Rhezi’s breathing hitched. She feels sticky because of the sweat that already soaked her PE uniform from playing. Even her hair was wet because of the sweat dripping up to her forehead. Her body also felt strange out of not being used to too much exhaustion.
Rhezi took her tumbler inside her sports bag. She drank the water from it and somehow it made her feel a little better. She also leaned her back on the bench she was seated to rest.
“Are you tired?” Jericho asked her teasingly.
Rhezi frowned instantly. She didn’t even notice her classmate approaching because she was so tired. She looked at him with scowled expression on her face. He did not budge though and laughed instead at Rhezi’s looks as he quickly sat down next to her. “You’re really ugly. And also fat,” he said as he put his arm around Rhezi’s shoulder.
Rhezi’s forehead creased. She desperately wanted to take off Jericho’s hand on her shoulder and she did. She looked at him with a deadly stare, but he didn’t even budge. “I lost weight. Who are you to me! ” She dreadfully spatted on him.
Jericho was stunned by what Rhezi had said. The truth was, he liked ever since, even though she has a big body. He couldn’t tell her because he is driven by fear. Aside from that, Rhezi was too frank when talking so he just expressed it through bullying.
Rhezi scrunched up her face while looking at her friends who were still playing. She also glanced at Jericho who seated next to her who are still stupified. Her forehead was furrowed and an eyebrows were raised. She’s still holding the tumbler on her hands while being put on her mid thighs.
“What are you looking at? Rhezi asked Jericho.
He just shook his head at Rhezi’s question and stood up. He didn’t say goodbye and just left the her. Rhezi shrugged her shoulders and ignored him. Besides, she doesn’t care about him.
When the PE was over in that period, Rhezi and her friends immediately went to the restroom of the gym. Carrying their gym bags, the four of them went inside loudly. They all took a shower and change to their uniforms for the next class. Rhezi finished early so she got out from the restroom and walked back to the gym’s bench first.
Rhezi looked at her phone inside her Gucci leather bag. She immediately frowned when she saw that there was no sign that Kraius had called her. She expected him to call her, but there was no trace of him. He seems to have forgotten about it.
She frowned and started typing a message for Kraius, but she didn’t know what to type. Erase here. Erase there was all that she did. She didn’t even know how to begin what she’s go to say to him. She also did not know what alibis she would tell if he asked. In the end, she put her phone back into her bag and put her left hand to her jaw.
“Boyfriend my face! Goodbye! ” Rhezi’s resentment. She stomped her feet on the ground and pouted her lips. She’s disgusted with Kraius but more so with herself. She knows she shouldn’t, but her own self pulled her to feel sad. Whatever Rhezi was thinking stopped when her cellphone rang. She quickly took it out hoping that it was Kraius. She felt a bit of dismay when she saw her driver’s name on the line. She answered unenthusiastically.
“Yes?” Rhezi asked.
“I’m on my way, Ma’am. It’s just a bit of traffic,” the driver informed her.
“Okay. Just wait for me. I will come out later, ” she replied. After a while, the driver on the other line said goodbye.
Rhezi looked at the door connected to the restroom after the call. She creased her eyebrow when her friends were still inside. They have been inside for too long and she felt bored waiting on them. She also searched the gym and found no one inside. Rhezi just sighed and just waited for them to come out. She waited a few minutes before seeing her friends finally came out of the restroom. They just carry the bag full of important things. They were talking and laughing as if they were overjoyed. Though she doesn’t know why they’re so happy, Rhezi still smiled. She was happy seeing her friends happy. And it was enough to change her mood.
“I’m sorry Rhez, we took a lot of time inside,” Carmina apologize. She’s still wearing the hijab on her head even though she had just took a bath.
“It’s all right. I enjoyed waiting for you, guys, ” Rhezi emphasized the last word she said. She also raised her eyebrow when she saw them smiling at her.
“We don’t we play while walking, guys?” Tin’s suggestion.
“We’re not kids anymore!” Rhezi stood up and get rid of dust that probably hooked on her dress. Then, she also gave her friends a scrutinizing look.
“Brat!” Mics said loudly and patted her arm. “You are so serious, Rhez. Do you have an unwanted visitor of the month? ” She added.
Rhezi frowned. Her friends were making her lost her temper. She glared at them and winced away. She picked up her bag on the bench and slung it over her shoulder. In her mind, she shook her head as she remembered what her friends had said. She also can’t blame them for feeling bad just because of Kraius. Her good for nothing boyfriend.
“What game is that?” Rhezi asked afterwards. She also started walking with them.
“Truth or dare!” they said at the same time.
Rhezi pouted.”Seriously?”
“Did you know that Mina already admitted that she had a crush on Uno! I feel thrilled! ” Tin exaggeratedly said who’s walking ahead of them. She even faced them and touched her heart.
“You too, Rhezi. It’s your turn!” Mics said happily her.
Rhezi stopped walking. “Why me ?!”
“You’re the only one who haven’t done it!” Tin replied.
“Mina! Defend me! ” Rhezi pleaded with Mina who was just looking at her. She frowned when Mina shook her head.
“Fine!”
“Yes!” they said all at once.
“Bullies!” Rhezi said annoyingly.
She was walking ahead of them now so she just turned around and asked. “What could that be?”
“Truth or dare?”
“Dare!” Rhezi answered quickly. Tin smiled.
“Kiss the first man you will see outside this gym.”
“Damn! Legit?! ” She covered her mouth. She hated to curse. Her gaze shifted quickly to Mina.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“Not again Rhez,” Mina reminded.
“I’ll just change to truth. Please! Spare me from this, ” she pleaded. When he saw that they were dissapointed, she just nodded.
Agitatedly, Rhezi walked ahead of her friends again. She was determined not to see anyone outside of the gym. She crouched her head down while walking carefully. But, unfortunately Rhezi bumped into someone. She would have been almost landed on the ground if it hadn’t just hold her right away. A muscled arms was holding her back.
“Hey, easy Chubz!”
One … Two … Three … Until Rhezi couldn’t count how many times her heart was beating fast. Faster and faster as if a wolf was chasing it. All the fibers her body woke up. Everything seemed to shine upon her even more as she opened her eyes and Kraius’s handsome face appeared in front of her.
“Are you okay, Chubz?” Kraius asked.
“Y-you’re my boyfriend, right? ” Rhezi asked him. She tried to stabilize her voice even though she felt that her heart would come out from her chest because of pounding too much.
“O-of course.” Kraius replied hesitantly. To Rhezi who’s seriously staring at him.
“There is no malice in this. Just close your eyes! ” Rhezi’s strongly ordered to the lawyer.
As if being cursed by the Elves in the mound again, Kraius immediately obeyed what she had ordered. Nervously, Rhezi wasted no time. She grabbed Kraius arm to get support from it and stood up straight because it felt like she was losing strength from the awkward feeling. Rhezi closed her eyes and slowly brought her face closer to him. In trembling lips, she kissed Kraius Montreal.