SEVEN
Monday morning came with a blast! i didn't know we were going to have lots of exams. and unfortunately, i haven't studied that much coz i spent my weekend with Ivan. by now, word got around school that i was going out with the captain of the 'Wolves'. some people were amazed, but others considered me a traitor too, for going out with the 'enemy'. but i didn't mind this. if they were too immature to get it, then that's fine by me. besides, i was enjoying spending time with Ivan. i was eating lunch alone at the canteen when suddenly, James sat in front of me.
"Hi Ann! how are you doing?" he asked as he gave me that familiar, warm smile.
"Um...i'm fine. what about you? i haven't seen you around lately and i thought you were mad at me." i replied honestly. James shrugged as if our fight never happened.
"For a while, yeah, i admit, i was upset with you. i mean, you never spoke that way to me before. and you always had time for me, no matter how nonsense our conversations were. so when you told me you were too busy for me that night, i got mad. and i didn't know how to handle it, this new version of you." i nodded and touched his hand on the table.
"I tried to apologize to you after that, but you didn't give me a chance. and James, don't ever think i'm too busy for you, coz that's not true. you're my best friend, and i always will be. that night when we fought, it was a mistake. i'm sorry if i hurt you." James grinned and held my hand in return.
"I'm sorry for hurting you too, Ann. to tell you the truth, ever since our fight, everyone around me kept telling me i wasn't myself. it was awful, not talking to you. and i realized that i'm not good at anything when we're fighting. it's coz you're my best friend, and you're important to me...without you...well, i'm not me." my heart melted with his admission. and i realized i feel the same way he does. life just doesn't seem fun when he's not in it.
"James, let's not fight again, okay? we're best friends, and best friends should stick together." James agreed and asked,
"Promise?" i gave him a smile as i answered back,
"Yup, dude! that's a promise." James smiled. then, after a few minutes we walked to class together.
After classes that day James and i walked home. and we talked about the things we did since our fight. i was delighted to know that their team 'Wildcats' are already at the semifinals. i was so proud of him. it was obvious to James that he was also glad that we were friends again. but then i remembered something,
"James, can i ask you something?"
"Shoot!"
"Well, lately...uh...there's this guy that i'm dating...he's the captain of the Wolves...you might recognize him...anyway, we bumped into Bret a couple of times and during those times, he was such a snob and just plain rude. does Bret hate Ivan that much?" i noticed James took his time replying. i was getting worried that he didn't like this topic of conversation. finally, he said,
"I don't know about that Ann. but if it means a lot to you, i'll ask Bret about it."
"That would be great James! and thanks. i hope Bret isn't mad or anything, but if he is, what's his reason? i haven't told Fretzie about this, well, she's also busy so it's fitting that i don't bother her..." wow, i was babbling again. is it my imagination or is James upset? he was so quiet and wasn't as jolly as before.
"James, you okay?" He looked at me and gave me that usual smile again.
"Oh, of course. why wouldn't i be? hey Ann, i need to go. talk to you later okay?" i felt that something was wrong, but i didn't want to press the issue. maybe he was just tired.
"Okay, bye!" he didn't seem to hear me for he rushed to another direction. what happened? was it something i said? something i did? i pondered about our earlier conversation but i couldn't seem to find what was amiss. finally, i reached home. after clearing away the dishes that night, i rested on our couch. i didn't find a good movie on the tube and i didn't have someone to talk to, mom was out with her pals, while Fretzie was on a date with Bret, again. Ivan was still at their basketball practice and James was, i don't know exactly about James' whereabouts but he still didn't call me. so, left with nothing to do, i slept. an hour later i got up, did my laundry. then i stayed outside in our backyard and sat on the swing. i was thinking about Ivan, and surprisingly, i was also thinking about James and comparing them to each other. they're both special to me, both a part of me. but of course, different in a way. James is my best friend, while Ivan is my, soon to be boyfriend? i don't know. but one thing's for sure, i couldn't stand to face another day in this world without the both of them.
"Hi Ann! how are you doing?" he asked as he gave me that familiar, warm smile.
"Um...i'm fine. what about you? i haven't seen you around lately and i thought you were mad at me." i replied honestly. James shrugged as if our fight never happened.
"For a while, yeah, i admit, i was upset with you. i mean, you never spoke that way to me before. and you always had time for me, no matter how nonsense our conversations were. so when you told me you were too busy for me that night, i got mad. and i didn't know how to handle it, this new version of you." i nodded and touched his hand on the table.
"I tried to apologize to you after that, but you didn't give me a chance. and James, don't ever think i'm too busy for you, coz that's not true. you're my best friend, and i always will be. that night when we fought, it was a mistake. i'm sorry if i hurt you." James grinned and held my hand in return.
"I'm sorry for hurting you too, Ann. to tell you the truth, ever since our fight, everyone around me kept telling me i wasn't myself. it was awful, not talking to you. and i realized that i'm not good at anything when we're fighting. it's coz you're my best friend, and you're important to me...without you...well, i'm not me." my heart melted with his admission. and i realized i feel the same way he does. life just doesn't seem fun when he's not in it.
"James, let's not fight again, okay? we're best friends, and best friends should stick together." James agreed and asked,
"Promise?" i gave him a smile as i answered back,
"Yup, dude! that's a promise." James smiled. then, after a few minutes we walked to class together.
After classes that day James and i walked home. and we talked about the things we did since our fight. i was delighted to know that their team 'Wildcats' are already at the semifinals. i was so proud of him. it was obvious to James that he was also glad that we were friends again. but then i remembered something,
"James, can i ask you something?"
"Shoot!"
"Well, lately...uh...there's this guy that i'm dating...he's the captain of the Wolves...you might recognize him...anyway, we bumped into Bret a couple of times and during those times, he was such a snob and just plain rude. does Bret hate Ivan that much?" i noticed James took his time replying. i was getting worried that he didn't like this topic of conversation. finally, he said,
"I don't know about that Ann. but if it means a lot to you, i'll ask Bret about it."
"That would be great James! and thanks. i hope Bret isn't mad or anything, but if he is, what's his reason? i haven't told Fretzie about this, well, she's also busy so it's fitting that i don't bother her..." wow, i was babbling again. is it my imagination or is James upset? he was so quiet and wasn't as jolly as before.
"James, you okay?" He looked at me and gave me that usual smile again.
"Oh, of course. why wouldn't i be? hey Ann, i need to go. talk to you later okay?" i felt that something was wrong, but i didn't want to press the issue. maybe he was just tired.
"Okay, bye!" he didn't seem to hear me for he rushed to another direction. what happened? was it something i said? something i did? i pondered about our earlier conversation but i couldn't seem to find what was amiss. finally, i reached home. after clearing away the dishes that night, i rested on our couch. i didn't find a good movie on the tube and i didn't have someone to talk to, mom was out with her pals, while Fretzie was on a date with Bret, again. Ivan was still at their basketball practice and James was, i don't know exactly about James' whereabouts but he still didn't call me. so, left with nothing to do, i slept. an hour later i got up, did my laundry. then i stayed outside in our backyard and sat on the swing. i was thinking about Ivan, and surprisingly, i was also thinking about James and comparing them to each other. they're both special to me, both a part of me. but of course, different in a way. James is my best friend, while Ivan is my, soon to be boyfriend? i don't know. but one thing's for sure, i couldn't stand to face another day in this world without the both of them.
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