This is a Story by Krizza Razon

Rebel Hearts

A silent hum escaped her lips as she read the book in front of her, oblivious to the fact that a thousand or so students were milling around her. Well, they are just swirls of blue and white to her, anyway. It didn't matter, really.

A single leaf fell to the ground beside her feet from the strong protecting tree that shaded her from the hot afternoon sun. It is lunchtime. She looked at her watch. 12:45. 15 more minutes until Chemistry. She buried her head back again. 

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At the far corner of the school grounds, hearty laughter could be heard from a small bunch. The popular bunch. They are composed of the most beautiful, most handsome, in short, most sought after in school. Among them is James. James, the incredible basketball player, the amazing guitarist, the talented math wiz, the dedicated one to the girl he's courting, the perfect guy.

He looked around as his friends joked about how easy the exams had been. That's it. That's the reason why many have a crush on them. It’s because they got both good looks and brains. Not like the others who only have brains because in this school, there are no "only looks" persons, everyone has brains. After all, it's a science high school. What do you expect?

He spotted her sitting under a tree across the Quad. She is alone. He looked at his friends again and excused himself. He has to ask now. The timing is perfect.

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"Hi."

She looked up. And her breath caught up in her throat. It's James.

"Hi," she said and smiled a little. She is one who can keep herself sane when talking to the guy she's loved for two straight years who never loved her back as far as she knows. "Why?"

"I'd get straight to the point, Aeiriss."

Dub-dub. Dub-dub.

"Is the rumor true?"

She blinked. She knew it. How did she ever think that he wouldn’t ask? Of course he have already heard the crazy rumor that she, Aeiriss, likes him, James. Well, it's not true. For she, Aeiriss, does not like James, but loves him. Her expression took that one of a puzzled, as if she doesn't know what he's talking about. "Rumor? What rumor?"

He smiled. "That you like me." Trust him to be calm. He's dealt with more crazed girls chasing after him before, she thought.

"Oh that!" She laughed and hoped it didn't sound so hollow, since that is exactly how she felt right now. Hollow. Like her insides have been taken out by force using a scrapper. "Don't tell me you believe Mike! You're not exactly taking him seriously, are you?"

He laughed too. "Of course not! I was just curious. I mean I won't be surprised if it was. Lots of girls do find me very attractive. I think that's what they call inborn. I guess I'm just born charming," he said smiling. She almost stood up and brushed away his hair from his eyes when a gentle wind blew. But she refrained herself from doing so for that would be doing exactly the opposite of what she just told him. "So, it's not really true? Not even a tiny speck of admiration because c'mon! It's not really true?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Well, the answer is a very flat 'no,' because c'mon! How can I like someone whose head is the size of a swollen tire?" she joked too, imitating him.

And they laughed together.

Then silence.

The bell rang somewhere in the distance and she stood up. Thanking all the gods that there may who helped the time go faster. It was bad enough that she's been denying that to everyone who's been curious. But to lie to his face about something that can't be anymore true than how the sky is blue.

No.

She just had to deny it. He just asked it out of curiosity. It's not like he'd court her if she admitted it to be true. By all the force in the world he's been in love with someone among his crowd shortly after she, her self loved him. It's just not right.

Yes, she loves him. But she just can't admit that to his face.

No. She can't.

And she walked away.

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He watched her back as she turned to go inside the lab. But he didn't move. He'd be late. He knows that. It doesn't matter. It doesn't really matter when your heart's just been torn to little pieces over the last 15 minutes.

He shouldn't have asked her. He shouldn't have. But he thought she did. That she did like him. The way she'd look at him when he'd joke about something. The way she smiles when he talks to her. The way.

A tear fell down his cheeks. He thought, he only thought of things his way. Maybe that's what's wrong with him. But he was so sure.

Another tear.

He just joked about it when she said it wasn't true. What else is there to do? If he hadn't, he might have gone to his knees there and there and confessed that if she doesn't, then he does with all his heart. It's all my fault.

Another one.

If only I hadn't courted Leihan too early. But I can't back down now.

Tears. What now? Should he corner her again and tell her? And have his pride be stomped this time? No! He can't. But he loved her too much.

Last tear.

I'd just leave her in silence. Love her in silence.

 
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