Love At First Sight? Maybe, Not! (Part 4)

“Exams are over. So cool right?” “I know, maybe we should go out.” “Haven’t you watched that movie?” “Can I borrow your CD?” “Wanna come over to my house tonight for a sleepover?”

The whole class was buzzing with people discussing about their plans after the exams. Ken, Aden, Serina, Yvonne, Denis and I were all sitting at my table and just joking. “I got an idea! We’ll change our name from GASY to GAKSYD. What do you think?” I asked. Ken and Denis had asked to join our little group which already consisted of Gina = G, Aden = A, Serina = S, and Yvonne = Y, hence GASY. So we were all laughing and kidding around towards the end of standard 4. We were now 10 years old and involved in extracurricular activities. We had already started learning science and were indeed more mature than we were in standard 3.

As we were just smiling and talking about random stuff, I noticed Ken staring at me as usual. And when I looked back at him, he just turned away. I just smiled as I knew what he was up to. Then I had a thought. Why don’t I just tell him I like him? He doesn’t have to like me back but at least I’d get this burden off my chest. So I told him to meet me in class after recess.

During recess, my little heart was pounding really fast as I was nervous, REALLY NERVOUS! I had never told a guy I liked him before. Although Ken’s reaction didn’t matter to me, some part of me wanted him to like me too and not reject me. I was pacing around in the canteen when I saw him. He just smiled back and said, “I’ll be there.” Then suddenly, the school bell rang. It was time…

I ran back to class hoping to be early only to find almost half the class already there. Great! Now how will I get to tell him? Since the exams were over, everybody brought cards and board games to play in school. Everyone was walking around and chattering that it was beginning to get to me. I just waited for Ken at the back door, hoping he’d come soon. Finally, he walked in with a stunning smile that always mesmerized me. “Hey, Gina! What was it you wanted to talk about?” he asked. “Well, Ken. I’ve been wanting to tell you something for awhile now. Let’s sit down and talk.”

Once we sat down, “Ken, well, you’re really an awesome friend but I haven’t told you something. The truth is….” But before I could finish, “Gina! Ken! Wanna join us? We’re playing cards.” “No, thanks!” Oh boy, it was noisy in class. Everytime I was about to tell him, someone either knocks into us, or shouts something out at us, or asks us to join them in their game. I was really getting annoyed by then so I just got up and said, “Sorry, Ken but I don’t think we can talk in this condition!” and began to march off when he suddenly stopped me. “It’s ok. I really wanna know. Please…,” he began to beg.

So then I held his arm and pulled him out of class to the corridor outside. I probably looked like a big bully at that time because I sort of began to roar at those who were teasing us. “We’re trying to talk! Just back off for awhile!” Once we were out, I calmed down by breathing in and out. Ken just giggled at me as he hopped onto a table outside and sat on it. “Woah! What’s up with that? Hehe. Calm down and tell me what it is,” he said. I looked around for any other teasing friends, then hopped onto the table and sat beside him. “Well, here goes nothing. I like you, Ken…. as more than a friend. I always have. That’s why I didn’t like people teasing us, because I was afraid you’d know but now, I want you to know so there you go. But don’t worry, I don’t want a reply. I don’t want you to like me back or anything. I just wanted to tell you and now I have. Hopefully we can still be friends like usual and you won’t avoid me or anything.” All I saw was his smile turning into a frown and then into confusion. He just looked at me as I poured my heart out. So when I didn’t get a reaction, I just shrugged and walked away hoping he won’t hate me.

Suddenly I felt my hand being held back, stopping me from walking away. I turned to find Ken holding my arm. “Wait! You didn’t allow me to speak,” he said. “I don’t expect a reply. As long as you don’t hate me, I’m happy,” I said. “But I like you too…as more than a friend,” he said with that mesmerizing smile again. I nearly melted at that point. “WHAT?! You’re serious? Oh My Gosh! Okay… What now?” I asked. “I guess we just like each other then,” he giggled. So we walked back into class all the while looking at each other and smiling. That’s it! It was done. Ken and I had finally told each other how we felt without any commitments. We were not in a relationship or anything but at least we knew we liked each other.

So when we entered class, there were only too many questions to be answered to our friends. “Where did you go?” “Did you tell him?” “What was his response?” “REALLY???” It was indeed really an awkward situation. Now I KNEW he liked me. ME!!! All that was running in my head was, “YES!!! He likes me!!! He likes me!!! I was right all along. In your face other girls who like him.” Well, what do you expect?! I was only 10. As we answered all these questions, Ken and I glanced at each other and he winked. And that indeed was one of the most memorable moments of my life. So do we stay together forever? Will we be there for each other throughout our lives? Will the problems in future bring us closer together or tear us further apart? Tune in to ‘Love At First Sight? Maybe, Not!’. Part 5 coming soon….