‘That I care about you.’
These words kept ringing in my head, but I knew it was because of the emotions that Raul had worn in his eyes when he spoke them.
I didn’t think I would forget them any time soon.
It was foremost, the emotion of sheer attachment, which kept bringing back those words.
And it was not like I was remotely interested in Raul. No. He was handsome and all that, but he seemed to have caught Diana’s fancy.
A few years would determine if it was a childhood crush, or something else.
Somehow, a feeling or gut-call it whatever-chose the latter.
I sighed at that. This development wasn’t good. When had he developed the feelings?
Was it when I had rejected Adam publicly in the eatery?
Worse, after my conversation with Raul, Rachel hadn’t stopped staring at me.
Sometimes she was glaring, some other times she was just staring at me, in amazement or surprise.
But those few times I caught her looking at me in that manner, as if I was holding gold, she righted her face before I could even blink.
Tsk. Drama was sure to follow.
From the attitude of the students too, the female populace to be specific, they were not at all glad that Raul has taken a liking for me.
Not at all. It was like I was back in the pack again.
Difference was that I wasn’t the same naive girl.
“Dora….”
A tap on my arm followed the call of my name, and I furrowed my eyes when I saw Raul standing in front of me.
What now?
Yes, I was grateful that he had reduced the punishment that Proffessor Bulock had given me, but for the sake of Diana, I couldn’t entertain or give him any green light, or whatever light at all, except of course, red.
“I’ve been calling you for a while now. The teacher left the class two minutes ago…”
Is that so? The teacher had talked about religion and what-nots. I hadn’t seen the need, and so I had kept zoning out. Luckily she wasn’t as stern as Prof Bulock.
If she had noticed that I hadn’t been paying attention to her teachings, she hadn’t said or called me to order.
Yet, I knew I shouldn’t be doing this. I needed to pass all my classes. I couldn’t afford to fail. It’s just that…
Raul’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “It’s recess time. You want to join us at the cafeteria?”
I piqued my eyebrow at his request before looking behind him, at the ‘us’ that was assembled a few feet away from him.
Rachel wasn’t with them, and so I was tempted, but I couldn’t. How would I get away from this?
“Were you that spooked by my last comment about caring for you? Jeez, Dora…it’s just the same way I care about my friends…”
I nodded lamely, not looking at him, knowing what I would see there, even if for a mere second.
It was best he saved face anyway he could. But I had seen the longing in his eyes earlier, it hadn’t been faked.
“I honestly don’t understand what you are saying though. I was actually thinking about something else, your sister…”
I held back a smirk when he sighed in relief, before pointing out that his sister sat with her own crew.
Of course I had figured that out, but I kept silent about it, until I saw Sinclair by the door. He too was gathering attention from the female populace.
Well, this spoke worse for me, especially as the head boy came for me. When his gaze met mine, I knew it was time to leave.
“I’m sorry, Raul. Maybe tomorrow? Sinclair is supposed to show me around the school ground, and he is already here.” I stated, pointing behind him.
A look of surprise appeared on Raul’s face before he turned to watch Sinclair saunter into the class like it was beneath him.
“Hello Prince.” Sinclair greeted, when he reached Raul.
That was when I noticed the tension between the two guys.
Bad blood? I fixed my thumb and index finger on the space between my two eyes, feeling a headache coming on.
“Hello Headboy.”
I stood up from my seat then and packed my books in my bag, walked to the lockers behind the class, found my own locker, and dumped my things inside, before locking it with the rusted key.
“The old man didn’t give you a magic one?” I shrugged my shoulders at Raul’s question, aware that he wasn’t aware that I had no magic, or rather I hadn’t discovered it.
“What happened to your magic?” Sinclair asked, a note of curiosity and surprise in his voice.
“I thought we agreed on no personal questions between us, Sinclair.”
Raul looked unbelievably annoyed that I and Sinclair had gotten along earlier.
I almost explained to him that it was just this morning, but held my tongue. There was no need for that. I didn’t owe him an explanation.
Sinclair had nothing to say to my statement, rather he gestured with his hand like a guard would to the door. “Let’s go, my lady..”
I scoffed, then nudged Raul softly.
“I will see you later.” I said, before walking toward the door, Sinclair right behind me.
I didn’t turn to see Raul or what his face might look like.
“Are you going to get me something to eat? I am hungry. Can’t we eat whilst doing the tour?”
First words to Sinclair as we started parading the grounds.
We had checked out the labs and magic rooms, the competition center, and a lot of places with crazy names.
But we haven’t been to the cafeteria yet. I had thought that would be one of the places we would have gone to first.
“Not yet. We will go there to eat, after we have checked out the entire grounds. I hope you are storing all this information. I won’t be doing this for the second time.”
I nodded. I hoped I wouldn’t need a second tour too. Without glucose in my stomach or head, I was beginning to drag in comprehending the names of places.
“So you and Raul…it seems you both have kicked it off…”