I walked into the class and sat alone at the back. I looked up at Devon sitting in the next row. He looked back at me and was grinning from ear to ear. "We meet again," he said. I giggled. We started talking about the school and stuff. I liked his company and I had a hunch then that we would be close friends. As I pulled up a chair beside him and continued chatting, my eyes caught hold of a sight outside the class. A familiar figure walking into one of the classes downstairs. I brushed the chair aside and walked closer to the door to ensure that my eyes didn't deceive me.
It was him. The one person I never wanted to see again. The one person I hoped would never get a place in this school. My nose flared up in anger. Why did he have to come back to haunt me? Why couldn't I have started all over without meeting him again. I was angry but I reassured myself that it would be alright. "What's the matter?" Devon asked, puzzled with my expression. "Nothing. Just saw Ken. I guess he got a place here after all," I said with the fakest smile plastered on my face. I told Devon all about what happened between Ken and me. He just smiled and said, "That's the past."
Ken and I avoided eye contact with each other. We just ignored each other altogether. I spent my time with Yasmine and Devon. Serina, my best friend and I couldn't spend much time with each other because we were from different classes. Nevertheless, I tried to call her often and make sure we stayed best friends which I'm really thankful I did today. Yasmine and I once hated each other in primary school but seeing her being all alone in the class made me feel pitiful and so, I started hanging out with her and we became close friends. Devon, Yasmine and I spent recess often talking and playing around. But it only took Devon a few weeks to tell me what he felt."I like you, Gina..." he said. "What?!" I responded really shocked. "I have liked you from last year. And now I want an answer," he continued. "What kind of answer?" I asked. "Do you like me and would you be my girlfriend?" he finally asked. I didn't know how to react to that. But before I could answer, he added "I've asked you and Tina. If she says yes, good. But if she doesn't, you MUST say yes." "WHAT??!!!" But he totally ignored my reaction, smiled politely and walked away. Suddenly he turned back and said, "You have until Monday."
That weekend was Sport's Day. I was sitting alone on the bench, watching the others run and cheer. Many new friends joined me and I got to know many of them but all the while, my eyes were on Devon. He was busy trying to convince Tina to say yes. I didn't know why, but I felt some kind of burning sensation in the pit of my stomach. I felt like I should go up and knock some sense into him. But why should I? It's not my place to do so. Why did I feel weird and angry? Why did I feel...feel... jealous?? Yet I didn't say a word to him. I tried to enjoy my day with my new friends. Finally, he sat down beside me and we were silent for a few minutes. I pretended not to see him. "You have until tomorrow," he said. The nerve he had! I was furious. I stared at him, nose flared up, one eyebrow raised. But all he did was smile and leave.That Monday arrived and before I could do anything else in school, Devon was in front of me. He looked rather upset so I asked him if he had any problems. "She said no," he frowned. I felt sad for him but on the inside, I was kinda happy. I didn't know why but I was completely joyful that this girl rejected him because now, he wouldn't be spending too much time with her. But obviously I didn't want to tell him that. I mean, I was like his second choice! So i was about to comfort him when he said, "So now, you MUST say YES!" He grinned from ear to ear and walked away. I chased after him and hit him on the back. "NO! My answer is NO!" I said. "Gina, you don't have a choice. You MUST say yes," he replied calmly. "What?? No way!!! No WAY!!!" I started yelling. And before I knew it, we were having a silly argument that did not end.
Eventually we stopped talking about it and he didn't force me to say yes but he had his own way with things. He would make me listen to songs that asked me for an answer. Whatever he did had it's own sense of humour in it, but one thing's for sure. He definitely did not like Tina as much as he liked me. I could see that in his behaviour and his eyes. Yet, something stopped me from saying yes but I thought about it often.
"Hey! Stop daydreaming," Devon said as he shook my shoulders. We were now sitting at the canteen and chatting. I looked across the table and just admired the guts this guy had in asking me about my feelings. He raised his eyebrows in an asking way as I shook my head to deny my personal observation of him. "I'll get you something else," he said and walked to buy me something to eat. I rested my chin on my palm as I watched him walking by. Is he the one for me? Will he be with me forever? Will I finally say yes? Well, it's too early to tell. Tune in to La Mia Storia. Love And War (Part 2) coming soon...
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