“Tiffy!” Zoey rushed towards Tiffany and bent closed to her.
Wondering what was happening, Declan followed.
“If anyone takes any picture, I will see that you get expelled from western high school. You know I don’t bluff, right?” Declan bellowed as he caught a student removing 1her phone slowly from her pocket.
“Baby?” Aiden whispered in Tiffany’s ear, he got to reply as the lady was still whimpering and shivering.
“What’s going on?” Declan mouthed to Zoey who only shook her head.
Aiden pulled away from Tiffany slowly and then carried her up in her bridal style.
“Will you take her to the lounge?” Declan asked his worried friend.
“Should I?” Aiden raised his brows.
“Sure.”
~
Aiden dropped her slowly on the biggest couch in the lounge and knelt beside her on the floor.
He removed his handkerchief from his pocket and then wiped the bead of sweat that had already gathered on her forehead.
“Anny?” he called out as she opened her eyes slowly.
“Get me water, please,” he said and Declan rushed to take bottled water that wasn’t stored in the refrigerator.
“Baby, are you okay?” he asked and the lady only nodded her head.
“Here,” Declan dropped the water and a glass cup beside Aiden.
“Will you drink water?” Aiden asked and she nodded her head.
He hurriedly poured water into the glass cup, raised her head gently, and have her drink the water.
“I’m sorry,” Tiffany sighed as tears fell from her eyes to her ears.
“Will you stop saying sorry when anything happens to you?” Zoey frowned.
“I’m so…”
“I… I don’t know what it is, but I hope you’re fine,” Declan pressed his lips together awkwardly.
“Are you okay now?” Aiden asked her.
“Yes,” she forced a smile.
“Are you hungry?” Aiden asked and she shook her head.
“That’s a lie. She’s hungry. We were going to the cafeteria because we’re hungry,” Zoey said.
“I’ll go get what you will eat, okay?” Aiden caressed her hair.
“No, I’ll do that. Just stay with her,” Zoey offered.
“Thank you. Here…” he drawled and removed his wallet from his pocket.
“I got everybody covered, okay?” Declan waved his hand at Aiden with a wink.
“Babe, let’s go get their food,” he grabbed her hand and then pulled her along with him almost roughly.
After they left, Tiffany sat up with Aiden’s help and then leaned on him, wrapping her hands around him.
Aiden smiled as he patted her back and caressed her hair.
“I’m sorry I worried you,” Tiffany mumbled.
“It is fine, babe.”
*
Declan and Zoey returned after a few minutes with Aiden and Zoey’s food.
It was a serving of fried rice, salad, chicken, french fries and chips, toast, and steak.
“I don’t know what you guys might want to eat, so I got all of this,” he exhaled.
“God, this is too much. Are we having a feast?” Aiden frowned.
“Eat what you can. Zoey, let’s go,” he grabbed the lady’s hand again and then ran out of the lounge with her.
“What a nût job,” Aiden sighed.
“Shall we eat?” Aiden turns to look at Tiffany with a smile.
==
Aiden refused to let Tiffany go to the class when the lunch break was over, he sat down with her at the lounge while Zoey promised to help her with whatever they do in the classroom.
When it was closing hour, Aiden was adamant about Tiffany not going to her part-time work which the lady refused vehemently.
“My eyes are normal, I have to resume my normal routine. I can’t keep living off you,” Tiffany had said.
“I am not complaining to you, babe. I can’t let you be especially now that something is tormenting you!”
“I’m fine, and I will be fine. Let me have this my way, please.”
Aiden agreed to let her go to her workplace which he was the one who rode her down there.
He stayed there with her for almost an hour before the lady pushed him to return home.
==
Tiffany had just walked out of the sandwich bar, closed for the day when a power bike halted abruptly in front of her.
“Hey, baby,” Aiden said after he’d removed his helmet.
“Aiden?” Tiffany creased her brow.
“Talking of right timing,” he grinned.
“Babe, please, I can’t argue this night again. I want to go home, please,” Tiffany wore a puppy expression.
“Thank you,” Tiffany smiled.
“Get on the bike. I’ll take you home. Yes, or yes? Ain’t taking no for an answer,” Aiden said as he brought out a helmet.
“Yes,” Tiffany giggled.
==
As the bike halted as per Tiffany’s order, Aiden looked around the shabby neighborhood where there was not a single street light.
“I live here. You can return, I’ll be fine from here,” Tiffany smiled at him.
“I’ll follow you inside. I have the right to know where my girlfriend stays, right?” Aiden got off the bike and Tiffany gulped.
*
They stood in front of the door while Tiffany searched for the key in her bag.
“Seems like something is here,” Aiden switched on the flashlight of his phone and then pointed it at the notice that was plastered on the door.
“Notice to quit?” he frowned as he read the letter.
“This place is going to be under renovation in two months, you are advised to move out before then,” the letter says.
“Whatever,” Tiffany ripped it off and then opened the door.
Aiden pressed his lips as he entered the tiny room his girlfriend had been living with pride.
In the room were only a mat and her bag of clothes.
“Babe…” he whispered.
“I know it is not luxurious like…” she was cut short by Aiden who pulled her into a hug.
“What is wrong? Don’t tell me you pity me, please,” she mumbled.
“You are… So so strong,” he whispered.
“I’ve heard that a lot,” Tiffany chuckled.
“Babe…” Aiden sighed.
How could she joke when he’s being emotional?
God, he really wished her condition change for the better.
This girl would refuse his help adamantly.
“Let’s go out,” Aiden broke the hug.
“Why?” she creased her brow.
“Let’s go eat something. Your stomach growled earlier.”
“I’m fine. I’ll eat tomorrow. You should get going,” Tiffany smiled.
“No, let’s go eat. I’ll bring you back here.”
“Gosh, you’re so stubborn,” Tiffany rubbed her temples.
“I learned from the best.”
==
One day later=Friday.
Western high school.
“Everyone is so eager to see Aiden play. Well, I understand, it’s been a while since he hasn’t,” Zoey shrugged her shoulder, her arm locked with Tiffany’s.
“I’ve never seen him play,” Tiffany shook her head.
“You will see him play today. I can’t imagine the excitement growing in you,” Zoey nudged her.
“Why? Because Aiden wants to play racket?” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“Yes. Aiden has been winning the best racket player award for the past four years. Consecutively. He’s our MVP!”
“Oh, I see.”
“And… Declan is one of the best swimmers in New York. Tsk, I heard Aiden and Declan have been refusing to join the national teams. If they had, you might have never met Aiden,” Zoey said.
“That’s a huge opportunity, why would they decline?” Tiffany frowned.
“Well, those two gave the same answer during their interview. They said they were only having fun with what they are doing. They see no reason in taking it further by joining the national teams to follow rules that would inconvenience them. Even the interviewers were shocked.”
“Woah, I have no idea,” Tiffany shook her head.
“Speaking of which, I will tell Declan how I feel about him for the second time today,” Zoey said with a serious expression.
“W… What?! You will tell him? Why? I mean, you should stall till you’re aware of him feeling for you. I don’t want you to get rejected,” Tiffany stopped walking which made Zoey to also halted.
“I have to get rejected to move on. I’m growing on him badly and it is affecting my mental state,” Zoey sighed.
“What if he likes you too?” Tiffany asked.
“There’s no way Declan likes me. He had made it clear from the start that he has no interest in me as a lady. He said I’m not even his type. That wouldn’t change overnight, would it?”
“I know it won’t. But it is very possible that…”
“Don’t get my hopes high. I’ll tell him today,” Zoey said and resumed walking, pulling Tiffany along.
**
By the time Tiffany and Zoey arrived the court where Aiden was playing, the match had started and people had gathered to watch. They managed to find their way to the front and sat on the empty chairs in the first row.
“Who are those?” Tiffany creased her brows as she stared at the group of girls that were wearing the same outfit and dancing.
“They are cheerleaders,” Zoey answered.
“Oh.”
“Your boyfriend looks so hot right there, don’t you think?” Zoey giggled as she nudged her.
“Stop lusting over my boyfriend,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“Oh, sorry,” she teased and they both laughed.
..
After the third round which Aiden was leading 2-1, he walked towards his bag, grabbed his water bottle and walked towards Tiffany and Zoey.
¶¶
“Gosh, he’s so hot!”
“Aiden! I love you!”
“I wish I am the water bottle!”
“Aiden, look at me!”
¶¶
“Baby,” a huge smile plastered across his face.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m having fun! I kept these row for you guys. I anticipated you were going to come,” Aiden grinned.
“Thank you!” Zoey interfered with a wave.
“It’s my pleasure.”
“You’re sweating so much,” Tiffany frowned her face.
“Right? I know. Hold my water with you. I have a few more rounds to go. Don’t miss me, huh,” he smiled and then ran back to his post.
“Hmm,” Zoey cleared her throat.
“What?!”
“Don’t miss me too much, huh,” she teased and they laughed.
After the match… in the courtroom.
“I looked very sexy back there, right?” Aiden pulled Tiffany’s closer to him with her waist.
“Omg, how did you know what I was going to say?” Tiffany covered her mouth with her palm with a smiling face.
“You know I can see through you, right?” Aiden grinned and then kissed the corner of her lips.
“Hey, you know I’m right here,” Zoey groaned.
“Oh, we’re sorry,” Aiden chucked.
“How are we going to settle things when you guys are busy swimming and playing racket? I mean, we have a group, did you forget?” Zoey folded her hands across her chest.
“I thought you said we’ll meet up every Sunday to rehearse,” Aiden raised his brows, not letting go of Tiffany.
“Yeah, I thought you guys forgot.”
“We didn’t.”
“I’ve submitted our group info to the dean. Since you two are bent on making my eyes sore, I’ll leave you two and go attend to my business,” Zoey stood from the chair.
“Where are you going?” Tiffany asked.
“I’ll just walk around, and then go find Declan before going home. You might not see me today again. Bye babe,” Zoey waved her hand and then began to walk away.
“Bye, Aiden!”
“Bye, Zoey.”
“Is she okay?” Aiden asked Tiffany after Zoey had left.
“Well… Yes,” Tiffany nodded her head.
“Are you sure? She look…”
“She’s fine,” Tiffany interrupted him and then kissed his lips.
“Wait here for me, I’ll go freshen up. Okay?”
“Where? Is there a bathroom here?” Tiffany looked around.
“Yes. I’m very uncomfortable sweating like this,” Aiden answered.
“Alright, I’ll wait for you. Be fast, or I’ll leave you alone,” Tiffany pulled away.
“I’ll be veryy fast!” Aiden grinned.
==
Few minutes to closing hour~~
“I’ve been looking for you all over the school, where have you been?” Declan inhaled and then exhaled as he stopped in front of Zoey.
“I was just here and there,” she forced a smile.
” Are you okay?” Declan took his lower lips in between his teeth.
“Sure. I have something to tell you though.”
“Y… you have something to discuss with me?” Declan raised his brows.
She sounds so serious at the moment that he was getting scared.
“Declan, I…”
“Let’s leave here. There are so many people around,” Declan interrupted.
“Okay,” she nods her head.
*
“Tell me,” Declan pressed his lips together anxiously.
Walking from the second floor to the rooftop didn’t ease his anxiety one bit.
“I… I think we should end this thing. I mean, this fake relationship,” Zoey sucked her lower lips.
“W… why? Did I do anything wrong?” Declan shook his head, and began to walk towards her slowly.
“I am tired,” Zoey blurted, and then took a step back.
“Huh?”
“I am tired of pretending to be your girlfriend. It is so annoying that it is messing with my mental state. I… I can’t continue with this,” She declared.
“B… But…”
“I know I promised to do this, buy I’m sorry, I can’t continue any longer. It is… It is… Crazy. Very crazy!”
“Zoey… Lauren is still out there watching us. If we end this thing, she…”
Of course, how could she think the guy might have developed feelings for her?
He was only doing this shît to shut Lauren.
She meant nothing to him!
“Let’s end this,” she sniffed, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to fall.
“Zoey, we can’t. I…”
“The feelings I have for you is growing so much and it is messing with me!”
“Zoey…”
“I’ve tried to stop my self from liking you. My heart wouldn’t heed. I…” she hiccuped and the bell that indicated that it was closing hour rang.
“I love you, Declan. I love you that I don’t want to pretend to be in this shît with you anymore. I think I would be able to move on knowing that I’ve been rejected once again. I…”
“Listen…”
“You don’t need to spell it out. I know what your answer is,” she nodded her head.
“You don’t know,” Declan shook his head.
“I’ll get going,” Zoey nodded her head and then turned to leave.
“Wait, I…”
“Don’t say anything, and please… Don’t follow me. Please…” she said as a drop of tears fell from her eyes and she exited the rooftop in an hurry.
“I… I wasn’t going to reject her,” Declan whispered and then sighed.
Even though he wasn’t sure of his feelings for her, he wouldn’t reject her.
Huh, this wasn’t good.
*