Chapter 3 Gaze

Keath Gray Galvez Today is the second day of school, as I walked through the hallways towards our building there are some students going to their rooms. When I arrived at the classroom I saw Ladwick and the others. I walked towards my seat, I saw Beatrice talking to Nerdy. Ugh, she is a total eyesore. I took my seat and our teacher arrived. It was a good thing I didn’t get late, she discuss our lesson for today and give us a quiz. “Gray,” I heard Lad whispered, I looked at him as I raised my eyebrow. “What’s your answer for number one?” he whispered. I glanced at my paper. Geez, didn’t he listen to what our teacher discussed? “D,” I whispered back and he replied me with a grinned. Time passed by slowly, I was glad when lunchtime came. I’m fixing my things in my bag. I brushed my hair using my fingers, my hair seems to grow long. “Let’s have lunch at the resto again,” Ladwick announced. “Sure,” Daryl agreed. “They have discount there, it doesn’t hurts my wallet that bad,” he added. “Their food also taste great,” Ladwick said while looking at us. I stood up and grabbed my back. Maith also stood up and put his bag on his shoulder. “Let’s go,” Ladwick said. “Hurry up,” he added while pushing us to the door. “It’s so obvious that you’re dead hungry,” I commented as we walked through the hallway. “Well, I’m not gonna argue with you,” Ladwick replied. “I’m really hungry, Dude,” he added. I sighed when I heard girls giggle when we passed by classrooms. I hate hearing them, it irritates me. Even the girls we passed by who are standing by the hallways, ugh. “Tsk.” “Gray, you should get used to it,” Maith whispered as he tapped my shoulder. I’m used to it but it still irritates me, I hate that kind of attention. We went out of the school and headed to the resto. When we arrived there, it wasn’t crowded like yesterday. Well, we’re a bit early than yesterday. We looked for a vacant table and occupied it. The kid who took our orders yesterday greeted us, she’s getting our orders just like yesterday. “You’re so cute, baby girl,” Daryl said in a voice full of adminration. “Thank you,” the girl smiled. “I’ll give your orders to the kitchen,” she said and left the table, she also took our IDs. I looked around and I noticed that the surroundings slowly became crowded. I frowned when I saw Nerdy sitting at one of the tables at the corner. When did she arrived here? I didn’t noticed her left the classroom. “Oh, look, Nerdy is here,” Ladwick said while looking at Nerdy’s direction. “Should we invite her here?” Daryl asked. “She looked so lonely,” he added. I was about to object his idea when three students approached her and occupied the seats on the table where she is sitting. It’s look like the girls are from Montenegro National High School, judging from the uniform. “Whoa, her friends look beautiful,” Lad commented. “Why is she the only who’s ugly?” he added while looking at Nerdy’s direction. “Well, she doesn’t fix herself properly,” Daryl answered as he shrugged. “Stop looking at them, will you?” I complained and the both of them looked at me. “We’re just looking at them, Dude,” Ladwick answered. “Stop wasting your time, tss,” I replied. Our orders arrived and we started eating our lunch. Before leaving we went to the counter to pay and retrieve our IDs. When we arrived at the classroom, I noticed our classmates went silent when they saw us. Did something happened? “What’s up?” Maith asked while placing his bag on his desk. “Well…” I saw one of our classmates gulped. “Layla was here a while ago,” one of them said while looking at me. “She was looking for you just like the usual,” she added. “Layla?!” Ladwick asked while looking at our classmate. Shit. Why is she here?! What does she wants?! “Where did she went?” I asked while looking at them. “Uh, she said she’ll come back here later,” another one answered. “You’re dead, Dude,” Ladwick said while gesturing his hand, as if slicing his neck. “Shut up, you’re not helping,” I said in an irritated tone. “It’s almost our first subject for the afternoon period,” Daryl commented while looking at the wall clock at back of the room. We looked at each other when we someone shouting from the hallway, I bit my lower lip as I recognized the voice. I heard Daryl shouted that it was Layla. I run towards the second door of our room, I hide behind it. I gulped as I closed my eyes when I heard her voice. Damn it. “Oh, Hi, Maith! Daryl!” I heard her greeted my friends. “Hello, Ladwick! Wait, where is Gray?” she asked, just by her voice, I’m already irritated as hell. Tsk. “He said he’s going to grab a few books at the library,” Maith lied. “Oh, okay, thank you!” I heard her footsteps left the room. “Layla’s gone,” one of our classmates said. I went out of my hiding place. I took a deep breath. Why is that she always looks for me when she’s here? Damn it. “Ladwick—“ My eyes widened because of the voice, it was Layla! I immediately run out of the classroom. I don’t know where I should hide. I just found myself standing at the rooftop of our building. I sighed as a cold breeze passed by. I should stay here for a bit, it’s still second day, being absent won’t hurt that bad. I walked towards my favorite spot, I took off my blazer and unbuttoned three buttons of my polo, and I loosened my necktie too. I put my bag at the edge of the rooftop and lied down, it’s also safe here because there’s a wire fence that will prevent anything from falling. I closed my eyes, I’ll just take a nap. When I opened my eyes the sky’s color is changing, what time is it? I looked at my watch and it was already dismissal. Damn, because of Layla I skipped the whole afternoon period. My nap was good too but still, tss. I stood up and went downstairs. When I arrived at the room, I saw Ladwick, Daryl, and Maith waiting for me. They’re the ones left in here. “Where have you been?” Maith asked when he saw me. “Rooftop,” I answered. “You know what, Layla is so irritating,” Ladwick said while showing an irritated face. “You said it,” Daryl agreed. “That girl is so head over heels for you,” he said while looking at me. “Let’s just go home,” I told them. As we walked downstairs, Ladwick and Daryl are still teasing me about Layla. I just remained silent and ignored them. Tss. “I won’t be surprised if she’ll visit you later,” Maith said as we approached the gates. “For sure, that girl will go to your house later,” Ladwick said. “Her love for you is unreachable,” he added while grinning. “Let’s sleep over at Ladwick’s place for tonight,” I suggested. I sighed when the three of them laughed at me. Tsk. “You know its Tuesday, Mom will not allow me,” Maith said as he shook his head. “Yeah, it’s Tuesday, Mom will not allow it, Dude,” Ladwick said. “Friendly advice,” I looked at Daryl. “Eat dinner early and stock some food at your room, incase Layla will visit you,” he said as he tapped my shoulder. “Daryl has a point,” Lad agreed. When we arrived by the gates, I saw our family car. Maith and the others are also fetch by their own cars. When I arrived at home, I saw Kelly watching movies at the living room, while Mom is cooking dinner at the kitchen. I went straight up to my room and change clothes before laying down on my bed. I’m still sleepy, I grabbed my phone and played some music. I closed my eyes as I listen to the lyrics of the song playing. I heard a knock from my door. I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock at my bed side table. It’s already 7pm, damn, I dozed off. I stood up and opened the door. I saw Kierra standing and giving me a sharp look. “What?” I asked her. “You have a visitor downstairs,” she answered. I silently hope that it wasn’t Layla but my prayer wasn’t heard. “Layla,” she answered. “I’m not going downstairs,” I firmly said. “Gray, Dad will be mad if he’ll found out that you ignored Layla again,” she reminded me. “Is he here?” I asked. “He’s still at work,” she answered. “I don’t want to go down, I don’t give a damn, send her home,” I was about to close the door but she stopped me. “She’s having dinner here with us, Gray,” she gave me another sharp look. I told Kierra I’ll change into presentable clothes as an excuse to leave me alone. I shut the door and sighed. They damn predicted that Layla will come here. Kierra warned me that she’ll kill me if I won’t follow her downstairs after a minute. Tsk. Why is she following me even at our house?! Goodness. What if I’ll die? Don’t tell me she’ll follow me to the afterlife? The hell. It seems like I’m the only guy she sees in her eyes, it’s irritating. I changed into my pedal shorts and black t-shirt. I grabbed my black hoodie and wear it. I grabbed my wallet and phone. I silently opened my window. It’s a long way down if I’ll fall from here. I quietly went out of my room through the window. I slowly closed the window. It was a good thing that there’s a big and steady branch here near my window. I slowly climb my way out of the house. The big tree we have here reaches the boundaries outside of our gate. I bit my lower lip as I climbed down from the wall of the gates. I was able to go outside without getting caught. I wear my hoodie properly and grabbed my bike. I leave it here for emergencies like this. It’s a good thing that nobody stole it. I ride my bike and drive away. I don’t know where I should go, I just want to stay away from the house. I don’t want Layla to catch me, because if she’ll me, I have no escape. She’s irritating as hell. As I pedal away from the house, I felt hunger crawling into my system. I passed by some eateries but I don’t feel like their food is well sanitize or what. I stopped in front of the resto. I parked my bike and went inside the resto. They only have a few customers here at the moment, also the café. I sit at one of the vacant tables. They placed the menu at the table, I opened it to choose my dinner for tonight. I realized they served different food around this time of the day. Hmmm. Would fried chicken and some pork be good for tonight? Damn, I really want to eat Mom’s food for tonight, if it wasn’t for Layla, tsk. “Good evening, Sir, I’ll take your order,” I heard a girl’s voice from my side said. My eyes widened when I saw the person standing by my side. I blinked twice to see if I wasn’t hallucinating. I saw how her eyes widened, she’s surprised to see me as well. “Nerdy?” I called. I saw her raised her eyebrow at me. She’s wearing a blue dress and a white apron, it seems like a uniform here. She’s holding a notepad and pen, her hair is tied into a high ponytail. She’s not wearing her eyeglasses! Wait, is she wearing her make-up? “I wasn’t inform that my name became nerdy,” she commented. “Anyway, what’s your order?” she added. “Are you working here?” I asked back. “Part-time,” she replied. I slowly nodded. “Your order,” she reminded. “Uh… uh, I’ll take dinner meal set A,” I replied as I looked at her. “Alright,” as she wrote it on her notepad. “Wait for a few minutes,” and she left. I bit my lower lip as I remember what Ladwick and the others saying about Nerdy. She’s beautiful if she’ll dress up properly. Wait, why am I thinking about her? Nothing changed, she’s still ugly, and she’s not pretty at all! Tss. I felt my phone vibrated, I took it out to see who texted. From: Ate Kierra Where the hell are you?! As if her text will scare me. Instead of replying her, I composed a text and send it to Mom. To: Mom Mom, I’m at the newly opened resto near our school. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. Please don’t tell Layla. After sending it, an incoming call from Ladwick. I pressed the answer button and placed the phone near my ear. “Hello?” I asked. “How are you, Gray?!” he asked and laughed. “I bet Layla is at your place! Hurry up and be online!” he added. “I’m not at home, Dude,” I replied as I looked outside. “Huh?!” I can imagine his confused look. “Where—“ “Bye,” I cut him off and ended the call. He will ask where I am right now, and he will ask a lot of follow up questions. After a few moments, I heard somebody talked from my side. I turned my head to see who it is, it was Nerdy. I gulped when I met her gaze. Damn, why is she intimidating right now?! What’s wrong with me?! “Here’s your order, Mister Galvez,” she said as she put placed my order in front of me. “Thank you,” I said while avoiding her gaze. “No problem,” she replied. “Just call me if you need anything,” she was about to leave. I want to punch myself when I said something unexpected. Damn. “You’re pretty if you’ll dress properly,” I said. I avoided her gaze when she looked at me, I am regretting what I just said. Damn. I hope she won’t say anything— “If I’ll look like this every day, I’ll melt because of your stare, Galvez,” I heard said. I gulped and secretly looked at her walked away. What the hell did she just said?! She’ll melt because of my stare?! Does she think she’s that beautiful?! She wasn’t like that back at school. She’s quiet and aloof at school, when did her confidence rise up?! Tss. I shook my head as I took a bite from my meal. I finished my meal and went to the counter to pay. I saw their wall clock saying that it’s already 9pm. I hope Layla left the house already. I looked at the door where authorized personnel are allowed. Did she went home already? “Are you looking for Nathalie?’ I coughed because of the cashier’s question. That’s when I realized her face is familiar, she was one Nerdy’s friends, the one from MNHS. “W-what?” I asked. “No, I’m not. Thanks for the meal,” I said as I turned my back and headed out of the resto. I really hope Layla is not at our house anymore. I took a deep breath and ride my bike. I pedaled my bike my way home in a slow pace so I can make sure that Layla left. I was about to pass by a corner of a street when five men blocked my way, making me grabbed the brakes of my bike. Damn it, I smell trouble.