Aileen
“What do you mean?” I asked puzzled by his question.
“I mean exactly what I said. Why do you worry about others so much? Is this your hobby?” Skylar complained, pointing at me.
“My hobby? Why would it be my hobby? I was just worried seeing how both of them walked out of the party. That’s all. You must be curious as well, right?”
“Curious about those two? Me? Never”
“Don’t lie, I’ve seen you kissing” Oh no, what am I saying?
I covered my mouth not wanting to let it run off any further.
“Hm…. so you were there on that day? And I thought it was great no one was there. Guess, I was wrong,” he comments, looking away.
“Uh…. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to look. You don’t hate me for it, right?”
“No, it’s okay. If you’ve already seen us, then”
“I know it’s not the place to ask you this, but what’s your relationship with Rosalia?” I blurted out without thinking. “Is she really your ex or do you still have feelings for her?”
“Will knowing the answer makes you feel better?”
“Uh…. I don’t know…. maybe yes?”
“Then, you should ask her the questions yourself. Cause this is regarding her and not only me. If she considers you as her friend, she’ll not mind answering.”
“Are you sure she’ll say anything to me?”
He glanced in my direction, giving a nod. “I hope so. You consider her your friend after all, don’t you? Friends don’t keep secrets from each other. The class is gonna start, focus.”
Have I managed to be such a good friend after all with whom she’ll feel like sharing her secrets with?
I don’t think so.
The teacher mentioned about the upcoming exams. I had a lot to take care of at the moment in my hands.
After the class ended, I had to take a detour and went past the Principal’s cabin. I tried not to look. But my eyes wandered off to that place because I swear I managed to see a woman in there.
I looked closely to see Rosalia inside with the Principal as well. What are they up to at this time? I thought she didn’t come to college. And yet, she’s here doing the principal’s class.
I guess this is how she managed to get by even without studying, This isn’t fair. Even I want to experience things like her. I’m jealous
Oh wait, Skylar told me to ask her about those things. This is my chance now both of them are alone.
I went to stand in front of his room. “May I come in?” I greeted.
The principal and she both were surprised to see me.
“Oh you, come in,” he replied, fixing his clothes.
I went inside and walked over to his table. Rosalia was pretending to look for something near the book selves.
I kept a smile on my face and asked, “Am I interrupting? I can go if you want to.”
“No, no, what do you need help with? Let me know.” He asked so genuinely.
I gulped down and lowered my gaze at my hands.
“Well, it’s not exactly help. But do you mind telling me about you two? Just knowing how you two are doing will ease my mind. Is that a no?”
He didn’t react to my question. Instead, he kept his cool and looked in Rosalia’s direction, “By you two, do you mean her as well?”
I nodded confidently, “Yeah, her as well. It’s because I had already seen you two yesterday at his party leaving together. That’s why you don’t have to explain it to me anymore.”
Rosalia seemed to be listening to me as well.
“Um…. I know there is”
“So, you’ve seen us yesterday together? Why? Were you tailing us?” he asked, folding his arms. He didn’t seem to be too surprised, but he did look a bit upset.
“No, I wasn’t tailing You. I just managed to see the two of you by coincidence. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, don’t apologize,” he sighed. “If you’ve already found out so much there’s no need to keep it hidden from you anymore. You are fine with her knowing everything right? Lia?”
Rosalia stopped doing what she did and immediately came over to my side. She fisted her hands and looked up at me with an upset face.
“Because I didn’t tell you anything, you are using this as an excuse to know about everything about us, aren’t you?” she remarks, glaring at me.
Did I make her mad?
“No, I only want to know how the two of you were doing since last night he brought you back like that. I was worried, that’s all!”
“Your words and actions don’t match at all. How do you expect us to believe in you?” she retorted, “I thought Skylar was the only one aware of us, and a few close friends thought I doubt any of them suspected anything. Out of all the people I talked with, you are the only one who came to confront me like this. You are odd.”
“I’m odd? Yeah, I guess so,” I replied, smiling. “But, this odd friend of yours is a bit worried about your relationship status, cause I’ve seen you crying and sad a lot lately. So, if you feel better enough to share things with me, I’ll be happy to listen.”
“I can’t believe you still call me your friend even though I kept it hidden from you,” she sulked, looking away. “You are really a fool.”
“That’s a compliment,” I replied, patting her shoulder.
I know she doesn’t mean what she’s saying. No matter how she acts, she’s a good person from the inside.
“So, are you alright with letting her know everything? Cause we’ve been exposed already. So, what might be the harm, right?” he suggested, glancing at our faces.
Rosalia nodded, looking at me. “But, first, Why do you want to know about me and him? To spread rumors throughout the whole college? I hope not. If you do that, I swear I’m going to kill you.”
Wow, I didn’t know she could give death threats with such a cute face. That’s surprising.
“Don’t worry, I don’t have the slightest wish of letting the whole college know about you two. In fact, I don’t care about them at all,” I assured her, “I only care about the two of you, and your happiness only.”
She was startled by my response.
“This is not a good place to talk. Let’s go somewhere else,” the principal suggested, getting off from his chair. “Someone might barge in on us any minute.”
That’s true.
“Let’s go to the rooftop. No one hardly goes there,” Rosalia replied.
“Hm…yeah, let’s go there. Come, Aileen.”
I nodded and followed them to the rooftop. It took us 10 minutes to reach there by the stairs. There was an awkward silence between the three of us at that moment. But, I couldn’t ask for anything better than this, as they’ve decided to tell me everything anyway.
It was surely an easy task, just to confront them on the spot. I think they weren’t even trying to hide it anymore.
Still, I had no wish to force them if they didn’t volunteer.
He opened the door to the rooftop and we went inside first with him following behind us.
A gentle breeze brushed past my face as soon as we stepped in.
Well, what could you expect? This is the top floor after all.
Rosalia went to stand near the railings, and I followed after her.
She looked down at the view from there and I did the same.
“Did Skylar tell you anything about us? Or did he tell you to ask me yourself?” she asked abruptly.
“Eh? Well…. the latter. He said things were better that way as this is concerning you. And this is a personal matter as well.”
“Wow, isn’t he mindful of others’ personal space?” she added in a sarcastic tone. “But, this is expected from him. He has always been this way.”
“You”
“Do you know why Skylar knows everything between us since the beginning and never told a soul?” she asked, gazing at me from the corner of her eyes.
“Uh…. no? Why? I was curious about it as well.”
“Let me answer you that,” the principal replied, standing at my other side. “That’s because Skylar and I are cousins.”
Cousins? They are? Am I hearing it right?
“But, how are you cousins? Your surnames aren’t even the same, are they?” I stuttered.
“Yes, they are,” he replied. “I’m also a Clarke, James Clarke. Don’t you know my full name?”
James Clarke? Wait, why didn’t I ever notice it before? I’ve been ignoring this clue for so long.
So, they are cousins? Now, it all makes sense. How can anyone tell because of the age gap between them?
Wait, now that I think Skylar is a bit like the principal isn’t he?
“Maybe she never noticed this detail like everyone else,” Rosalia added, “I don’t blame her. And Skylar doesn’t act like a family at college either. It saves him a whole lot of trouble because of that. No one can tell they are related.”
“Yeah, that’s why I didn’t notice it as well,” I laughed, joking. “So, how long have you two been together?”
“Never,” he sighed, “Do you even call this being together? We have to keep our relationship hidden from everyone out there like we are doing a bad thing.”
“But, why do you have to keep it hidden? Because she’s a student at this college and you are the principal? The gap in your status?”
“No, it’s something way more than that,” Rosalia asserts, “If you want to know that you have to know everything from the start. Or else you wouldn’t get it.”
“You can tell me everything if you feel free to. I promise I’ll never tell anyone about it. You can believe in me!” I said, holding onto her hand.