CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ODELIA-INTERMEDIATE, MICHELLE-WINNER
Michael sat staring at Odelia.
"Michael" she called out softly. His voice was surprisingly calm.
"Huh!" He couldn't help answering. The tone was so unlike her.
"Why...um...do you always stare at me like that? I'm not a dummy," she said, rubbing her neck.
Michael didn't reply. He just tilted his head to the corner.
"And...why is your voice so unusually calm today?"
He collected his drink on the table and took a sip.
"You know what, Odelia" Michael began to say, dropping the drink on the table. "I want to ask, why do you like me?"
"Why, I like you?" Odelia blinked rapidly.
"Yeah!" He nodded.
"It's...simple. I just fell for you from the first time you entered our class. You looked so pure and had a very sincere look on your face. I don't know if it's your good looks or something more than that. But you're a very nice person and you've helped me once. I just find you so amazing. You even gave me a cold drink one time during sports" she was squirming in her seat. She even had her head down while she spoke.
"I did?" Michael was surprised. He can't remember if that happened.
"Yeah!" Odelia smiled shyly with her head down while playing with the tip of her long honey-brown hair.
Michael furrowed his brows at that. To himself, he said,
"Overdramatic Odelia can be shy? Unbelievable!"
He always had nothing against Odelia. But he knew she was a very desperate type, and she was willing to do anything to have his attention.
Michael smiled at her. She smiled back.
"But... Michael" she began again.
"Yeah!"
"Why can't you admit it?" She was staring directly at him. He didn't reply. After a few seconds, she asked,
"Is it that hard?" She sighs. "Why are you resisting it?" She leans forward on the table. "I can help you. Is it family ties? My parents are rich but I know you're rich also. Family background can't be the barrier, right?" She asked.
"No" Michael smiled again. "I don't think my dad will be against that except for extreme cases, though".
"Let go...or else!" It was Michelle's voice. She was at the entrance. Everyone in the canteen looked up. Raymond was holding Michelle's hand and was trying to take her out of the canteen.
Michael looked at the bag and phone she was holding. It was his own. Sighing, he got up and walked up to them.
"Michelle!" He totally ignored Raymond who loosened his grip on Michelle when he saw Michael.
"Why do you always appear anytime I get free time with her. Who are you to her?" Raymond asked, visibly angry.
"Mmh! I've told you before, haven't I?" He held Michelle's hand. "She's my girlfriend. Besides, I've warned you about hurting her, right?"
Raymond didn't reply, he just stood there and watched Michael walk out with Michelle. Odelia, who was following behind Michael, gave him a shoulder jab when she walked past him.
"Spoilers!" She'd muttered.
When they were outside, a little bit farther from the canteen, Michael turned to Michelle.
"Hope you're okay?"
"Yeah! I'm fine" she said, a little bit shy. She also knew that Odelia was also very close by.
"Hope that guy didn't hurt you..."
"Oh! Michael. I already told you I'm fine" she said and looked up. Their eyes met and held. It was Odelia's cough that brought Michelle back to reality and she looked away but not Michael.
"I'm sorry. I was just...concerned about you" he said. "Did something happen? You brought my bag and my phone with you"
Michelle looked at Odelia who stood by the side. Michael understood and turned to her.
"Odelia, can you wait inside for me. I'll join you very soon" he told her.
Odelia gave him a quick hug and walked away but not without scowling at Michelle.
"So," Michael asked her.
"Your phone was ringing so much in class. While I was bringing it to you, a text popped in" she explained, handing the phone to him.
"Thanks" he collected it and checked his messaging app. He read and re-read it. Then he smiled and looked at Michelle who had her gaze on him.
"I know you're curious about it, right?" He asked.
"Yeah," she nodded.
"My doctor was the one who texted. He's talking about my medical schedule. He also said my time for surgery might be extended and given an exact date but that's being deliberated on for now. Maybe when I get home, Dad will give me the full details" he explained to her.
"Mmh!" She nodded gently. Her hair, which was neatly tied in a ponytail style when she came to school, was already flying in different directions as the gentle breeze caressed it.
"I wish it would be extended. I'm really scared. Who knows what may happen to me during surgery," Michael said soberly.
"It's alright, Michael. You're gonna go through it and come out successfully. We'll be cheering you on from here, you know" she said and smiled. Michael smiled back.
"You always remind me of my late mom. Almost every time" Michael told her.
"Do I?" Michelle said.
"That reminds me. You're always talking about your aunt, what about your mom? Or...is that a question I'm not supposed to ask?"
"Oh! No! My mom's late too"
"Ow! I'm sorry. I...didn't know"
"It's fine. It's been a long time, okay"
"Okay," he nods and looks at her hair. "Your hair?"
"What about my hair?" She asked about it.
"Kelvin told me he went with you to the hair salon last week, how come it's scattered?" Michael really seemed bothered.
"It gets messy when I have so much to do," she said, trying to fix it by rubbing her hands on it.
"That won't do. How about this? Give me the bag." he collected the bag and took out a comb from the smaller sections.
He handed it to her after he'd helped her untie the ribbon that held her hair. He watched her run the comb through her long hair.
"Wow! You have beautiful hair"
"Thanks" she couldn't hide her smile. When she was through with combing, he handed her the ribbon and watched her tie her hair to the back again.
"Mmh! You look so beautiful, Michelle," Michael said, holding her palm in his own. "Let's go back to class"
Michelle nodded as she walked out, hand-in-hand with Michael.
"Wait!" She made them stop. "What about Odelia?" She asked when she turned around and saw Odelia looking at them with envy boldly written on her face.
"She was not the first in the first place," Michael said and smiled at her as they resumed walking.
Odelia called Michael's name up to five times but got no reply.
She was angry as she watched them walk back to class hand-in-hand. Students who also passed by looked at them as they walked.
"Don't worry, Delia. He will come back to you. Remember, you're the one he likes," Pamela said, standing beside Odelia.
"I hate that girl so much," she said with irritation as she walked away, leaving Pamela to stare after her.