Chapter 8

Clench's Perspective 

*** WEEK LATER**

(YLISHA'S BIRTHDAY)

 We were here in class, our teacher was busily explaining our lecture while my mentality was not on her. My toes were tapping the floor as my blood rapidly flew inside my body in warmth, thinking what would be Ylisha's reaction when I surprise her since her father couldn't throw a party for her. I was too eager that I couldn't even wait for school dismissal any longer.

"Clench," a voice kept calling my name, I ignored it yet he was still calling me, it was annoying.

"What?" I asked, curving up my eyebrows as I faced Harold.

He covered his half-face, "Look in front of you," he whispered pointing the direction with his eyes, so, I instantly faced in front and ended up embarrassing as I saw my teacher glaring at me like a lion.

"It's like your daydreaming Mr. Clench Jimenez! You're smiling so much, do you have something in your mind that you can't even hear that I'm calling your name many times?" I can't even speak nor moved my head with nervousness and embarrassment.

"I'm sorry ma'am," I said with a forced grin. Then she just glared at me and continues to teach.

  That's embarrassing, then I heard Harold chuckling beside me that made me feel more embarrassed. I just bowed down my head as I keep scolding myself

***

 "Hey, wanna hang out today?" Harold asked me while adjusting his bag ready to drift away from this school.

"I'm sorry, I'm not available now, I have a plan for today, maybe next time," I said.

 "Okay, next time, keep that promise," he said and left smirking while waving as a sign of goodbye. He was nice, well, since the class was over I was going to check on Ylisha.

 I walked to looked for Ylisha and I found her talking to a man at the cafe near her room. Well, it was not a big deal. That maybe her schoolmate. So, I just ignored it and waited for them to finish their dialogues.

 But my heart sinks when I saw her laughing merrily with that guy and what even worst is that she was too near to him.

"Who is that? I asked myself curiously like I was afraid to know the relationship she has with that guy. I didn't meet him before but they looked like they were closed to each other so much. I just kept watching them, then suddenly he grabbed Ylisha's hand forming a heart shape on the window's condensation. I couldn't bear it anymore. I entered the cafe and went straight to where they are.

  I called her name and she got shocked as she looked at me. I didn't know but I got irritated. What reaction was that?

"Looks like you've seen a ghost," I coldly and hardly said. Then she laughed and it annoyed me even more. What's funny? I just looked at her seriously.

"It's not like that, by the way, meet Neil, my new classmate, Neil this is Clench, my best friend," she was introducing us to each other. I just smiled at this guy and he did the same.

"They just met but they are so close to each other, they look like they're about to kiss each other, grrrrrr," I murmured.

"What?" they both said, haiist.

"Nothing, "I responded and grabbed Ylisha's hand quickly.

 "I'm sorry bro, but I wanna barrow her today, by the way, nice meeting you," I said as I pulled Ylisha to the exit. He looked curious as he followed us with his eyes, I chuckled.

Ylisha removed my hand, "Hey, you're annoying, where are we going?" 

"Just stay quiet and relax okay?" I said and grabbed her again she looked confused that made her cute even more. The way she changed mood, made my heart thumped. I just couldn't stop grinning.

  ***

Ylisha's Perspective 

  We arrived here at Clench's house and I was catching my breath because, gosh, he pulled me from school to this place, this stupid guy.

"Why are we here for?”

He grinned at me, "Just wait," then he left me for a while. When he came back, my heart fluttered as he held me a cake.

 "Happy birthday Ylisha," he said in a delicate voice and his eyes shome like twinkling stars. I couldn't even let out a word. My thumping heart was echoing inside my head. He looked simple with his uniform, but in my eyes, he looked so cool right at the moment.

"Are you shocked? I just want to make your birthday memorable," he grinned.

"You don't have to do this," I said.

"Well, you're the special girl for me, that's why I want to do this," he responded that made me blush. Special girl? what did he mean? But no, no, no, don't overreact Ylisha, you're his best friend, that might be the reason. It's no good to assume things.

" Thank you, " I said.

" What are you waiting, let's go inside and blow your candle," he said as he walked inside and I followed after him.

"Blow the candle and make a wish," I space out for a minute, I couldn't still believe this.

"C'mon," he said twice... I sighed as I closed my eyes and made a wish.

“Lord, If there's one wish I want to ask you, that is to make Clench accept me for who I am, the true me. That when I already have the courage to confess to him what's my true identity, he will stay the same and stay with me. Amen.”

I couldn't stop smiling as I opened my eyes. I never expected this on my birthday since my dad never did this to me. He just focused on his work.

“What did you wish?” he asked.

“That's a secret,” I giggled

“Aww, I wonder what is it? hmmm?” he said while he put his finger on his chin as he looked upward.

“Anyway, happy birthday again,”

  I faced at him directly into his eyes and I said "Thank You" with so much appreciation and I wad not sure or I wasust assuming, but it looked like he just blushed. But I don't wanna assume things, So I put some icing on my fingers and started to wipe it on his face that startled him. Oh my! He's cute, I giggled.

"Hey, you wanna start playing hah," he winked. I was bout to say something but he wiped an icing on my face also, we did it many times. And we didn't stop laughing. I run to escape but he was chasing me over and over again.

 "Hey, stop," I said then I accidentally slipped and bumped into him. Then he grabbed my waist to balance me, and our eyes attached.

I was in a panic, "Oh no Ylisha,” I can't even change positions, this is awkward. I can feel my cheeks burning up. But I remembered it's my birthday and I'd never felt so much happiness like this before.

Since we're too close, I cuddled him as I leaned my head on his shoulders, "Clench, thank you for today, I appreciate your effort. You made me happy, a lot. I'm so blessed I met you," I said in a very low tone. I didn't know what was his facial expression right now, but all I knew was, I was happy and I wanted to thank him.

I didn't wanna lose a friend like him. But I felt like I wanted him by my side more than a friend but I couldn't ask for more. Him, right here beside me was enough. I didn't wanna ruin our friendship just because of this one-sided love of mine, I sighed.