She couldn’t help but wondered what was going on with Marlon. He didn’t attend any of the classes that day, her guess was the school had probably suspended him because of the incident. She checked on her phone, nothing.
To her surprise, when she walked out of her class, Lee was waiting across the hall. Her heart raced. She missed that face so much but she couldn’t figure out if he was waiting for her or someone else.
“Hey,” he greeted her.
“Hey,” she acted casual.
“I heard about Marlon … just checking if you’re alright,” he said.
Hazel shrugged awkwardly, “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He nodded with a slight smile. She could see his adorable dimple formed on his cheek.
“I … uhm … I thought I could give you a lift home today, Marlon’s not here … I heard he’s been suspended ’til the end of the week,” he said.
“Really? I didn’t even know that,” she was surprised that Lee knew more than she did, but she was more surprised of Lee’s offer to take her home. She would love to, she would jump right into his car right there and then, but she kept her cool.
“Yeah … I figured you would have to walk home,” he smiled shyly.
How adorable. It was exactly what she loved most about Lee, his soft spoken shyness.
“It’s no big deal really,” she was selling high.
“No, I insist … ” he stopped on his feet and looked at her. He was shy but firm, “I miss you,” he chuckled, “I’m still allowed to miss you, right?”
Her heart melted. If he only knew how much she missed him too. She smiled almost grinning of happiness. “I miss you too,” she simply said.
When he took her hand, shivers ran down her spine, but she held him and tangled her fingers around his. She was thrilled though she didn’t understand what was happening. What did it all mean? Were they back together?
“I have so many questions to ask you,” Lee said in the car. “Is he treating you well?”
“Who? Marlon?”
“Is there anyone else? Yeah, Marlon.”
She laughed lightly, “That’s an odd question, we’re friends, it’s not like we’re dating.”
“You’re not?” he made sure.
“No … is that what you think? I was dating Marlon?”
He shook his head, “I don’t know what I’m thinking … it’s been so weird … with us … you know?”
She couldn’t agree more, the conversation alone was weird and not to mention the holding hands. And then having him asking her if she was dating Marlon, it seemed that Lee was as messed up as she was when it comes to their relationship.
“Dating or not, I heard a lot of things about him … he sounds like a violent guy,” Lee added.
“He’s not,” she defended him immediately, she realized how fast she responded but didn’t want Lee to have the wrong idea about them, “I mean … that much I can say, I’ve been working pretty close with him lately and he’s not violent … towards me at least.”
He looked concerned, “That’s good … but he’s quite problematic, don’t you think?”
“Everyone has their own problems, his is just much more complicated I think.”
Lee nodded, “Well, I’m just checking to see if everything’s alright with you.”
She looked at him with solemn eyes, everything is not alright with her, she just pretended that it is. She missed him and she still wanted him to be in her life the way he used to. Especially now that they are together in his car again. She reached for his hand, “Is everything alright with you?”
As if a curtain had just dropped to reveal his true feelings, he stopped the car and turned to her. His expression changed, “No … I’m not alright, I couldn’t sleep most nights and I miss you … I hate that you spend so much time with Marlon and I wanted to see you.”
Their eyes locked and she felt the hair on her back stood up. It was inevitable, the pull was too hard to resist. She couldn’t tell who started it, maybe they both did at the same time, they kissed. A kind of kiss that stir her insides, the kind that made them close their eyes because the feeling was too intense.
It’s not even a week since the breakup, but the kiss felt like they’ve parted for much longer than that. His hands slipped under her shirt, she felt the warmth of his touch on her back and she fell deeper into the euphoria of their kiss. She pulled him to her, she started to feel her body reacting to him.
“Wait .. wait … Hazy …” his soft voice broke the kiss and they were gasping. “I have to tell you something …”
Her eyes were heavy from the steaminess of their kiss, she didn’t want to talk, she wanted him to kiss her again and maybe do something more.
“I’m leaving earlier than expected,” he set his gaze at her flustered face, her passion was turning into disappointment.
“What?” she was trying to grasp what he was saying.
“I’m sorry … I should’ve told you earlier … I only just got the news last night, they want me there early because I have to take the language class.”
“How early?” she brushed her hair away from her face.
“They want me to have at least 4 weeks intensive course before the program starts …” he looked away for a second, “So … next Saturday.”
She couldn’t believe what she just heard. Her mouth gaped open, there were no words coming out. It was getting more real than before. She could almost feel her heart breaking.
They sat in their seats in silence. They were staring into nothing. He made the first move and held her hand. Then she started to cry.
“Oh Hazel … please don’t cry,” he was holding back his own tears. “I don’t want us to stop communicating with each other … what we’ve done these past few days, I don’t want it to be like that.”
“I don’t want that either, it was horrible,” she managed to say.
“It doesn’t have to be that way, right? I want to be able to call you or text you and tell you everything … I want you to tell me everything too just like we always do? Just not …” he paused, “Just not if you’re dating anyone,” he chuckled sadly.
She looked at him with her teary eyes, “I don’t want to know if you’re dating anyone either … that’s too much …”
They laughed lightly. They knew they couldn’t be together as a couple anymore once he left, but at the same time, they don’t want to lose each other.
He kissed her hand, “Do you think we can do that?”
Her cry subsided, she nodded, “We can try?”
He was relieved with her answer. He knew their friendship was strong and he never want to lose that. He leaned closer and put his hand on her cheek, “I love you Hazy, girlfriend or not … I think you will always have a special place in my life.”
She looked into his eyes and thought how lucky she was to have been with a guy like Lee. He truly cared for her, most guys she knew in her peers were careless. They date girls just out of curiosity, to explore their sexuality and to boast to their friends if they get to second base or third base. With Lee, she really felt like they have fell in love.
“I love you too … in more ways than one,” she smiled.