Chapter 7

After the match Cindy look over at Russeli who was gathering his things, she knew he had always been the winner of the match in school and losing today wouldn't make him happy. She walked over to him. "Hey, Russeli you did well out there." She pointed at the field.

Russeli smiled when he saw her, he was always happy to see her, but not as a loser. "But, we didn't win." He put his things in his bag and lift them to his shoulder.

"You still tried your best." Cindy smile in other to cheer him up, it was not even a world championship, well, many people are not glad if they lose.

"It still wasn't good enough." He smiles as he looks at her beautiful face. "Well, thank you for the comfort." He gently taps her shoulder and walked away, Cindy watched him till he disappeared pit of sight, she turned around just in time to see Suzy approach Jeffery.

"Hi." Suzy moves close to Jeffery with a cute smile on her lips. "I admire your football skills, just in fifteen minutes your team scored four goals."

Jeffery scratches his hair for a while with a smile on his lips and Cindy who was watching him look sad, sure he might fall in love with Suzy, she couldn't watch this anymore so she walked away. "Thanks."

"I am Suzy Dee." Suzy introduced herself, her eyes speaking how happy she was to be right here speaking to him, this was what they call taking a bold step in love.

"Nice to know you Suzy, you can call me Jeffery." He pulls his bag over his shoulder.

"Nice to also know you, Jeffery," Suzy said softly and Jeffery stare into her eyes for a long time, then he smiles and walked away. Suzy looked back at her friends with joy. "Did you both just saw that interaction just now?"

"Yes." Bella and Vera nod. "How did you do that?" Vera asked her. "I saw him stare at you with an admiring gaze.

"That's because I am pretty." Suzy wink at them and she walked out of the field with a smile spread across her lips.

Chad leans close to the wall in the restroom where the boys were changing into their uniforms after washing up. "Jeffery, it seems you admire our school fairy princess." Chad has seen him talking to her in the field after the match and he had watched them for a while.

Jeffery put his uniform top on and look at Chad. "You mean Suzy Dee?" Chad nod. "She's pretty." Jeffery smile and picked up his jacket. "Don't you think so?" He leans with his hand on the wall.

"Yes she is, I think you have been caught in her beauty and charms." Chad gave him the you-are-in-love gaze.

"I am not caught on any of that, she is just pretty and you should just cut the crab!" Jeffery picked up his bag and left the restroom.

Chad and D'mally chuckled as they watch him leave. "Cut the crab!" D'mally mimics his tune and turns to Chad. "I see it in his eyes already, he has fallen in love." They both smile and turn to get dressed before their next class.

Cindy White POV

I went in search of Russeli, I know he must be brooding about losing the game, I had looked at him while in class and he hasn't been concentrating, I wonder if it was only the loss of the game that bother him.

I found him outside the field, he was just staring at the goal post, sure enough, that must be a case, I sat next to him and he looks at me with a small smile on his lips. "What is bothering you, my friend?" I asked him.

To my surprise, Russeli shot me lightly on my forehead with his finger. "Who is your friend?" He asked me playfully.

"Ouch! That hurts." I rub my palm on my forehead, pretending to be hurt, meanwhile, it was just a light shot and I was perfectly okay.

"Let me see." He insisted and I let him, he brought his face close to mine. "It's red." He said, well that is a disadvantage of having fair skin. "I will blow it for you." He blew air to my forehead.

I look up at his lips and pressed my lips together, I don't even know why but the closeness was getting awkward, Russeli paused and look down at my eyes and I know he must have felt the way I was feeling so he backed off.

It was going to be more awkward if one of us doesn't speak, I had to break the silence by touching my forehead again. "Thie is all your fault."

"What is?" I pointed at my forehead and he smiles. "I try to blow it, but you were staring at my lips." He curled his lips for me to see.

"What are you say?" I looked away immediately, I and Russeli have been friends since I got into this school and we were always open to each other. I look at him again after remembering why I was here at first. "What is bothering you? Was it the match?"

He leans back, putting his hand on the soft grass to support himself. "Cindy, I am not a child anymore." His words made me smile.

"I am glad, I can remember vividly, you would hit your leg on every nearby can to relieve your anger each time you lose a game."

He rolled his eyes at me. "Well, thank you for being there for me to ease my anger, now I can play well, thanks to you." He looks at me with a smile, I was glad I had brought a smile again to his face, what are friends for.

In the past, any time he loses a match I will always tell him to count to three, whenever he does he calm down, then I will tell him it is not only by winning, that one needs to lose to improve. "You're welcome."

I turn to look away but Russeli immediately plant a kiss on my lips, I was stunned and immediately got up from the field, I was honestly not expecting him to do that like we are friends not anything else, but now it seems I was the one who saw him as a friend. "Emm..I..umm." I try to say a word but couldn't find any.

"You have to see your friends," Russeli told me like he was helping me look for an excuse to run, how silly.

"Ah! Yes." I fold and open my palm, then without a second glance at him, I ran out, all I could hear behind me was the happiness in Russell's voice as he said we both just kiss, perhaps he was dancing merrily too, but I didn't look back.

"What did I just do now, did I just let Russeli kiss me." I was in thought and mistakenly bumped right into someone. "Ouch!" I held my forehead and looked down, I could see textbooks on the floor, which must belong to the person who I just bump into.

I squat to gather the books. "I am sorry, I am so sorry." I picked up the books and stood up, as I hand the book to the person looking up to his face, I recognize him immediately. "Jeffery." I gasped.

Oh not again! I scream in my head, I might be remembered as a bumper and whereas I didn't want to run into him again, not after saying I will forget about him.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he took the books from me.

Like he cares? I said in my mind. "Yes." I flashed a quick smile and was about to leave.

"Oh...I know you." His words made me halt, I look up curiously, have he finally remembered me, had he recognised me as Cindy White now that he was staring closely at my face

I beam. "Yes Jeffery, I am Cindy," I said in my head, wanting him to say my name out on his own, now that he has recognised me, let him say he miss me and call my name.

"From the cafeteria yesterday." I heard him said and it busts all my bubbles.

What the heck! I screamed in my head. "Ah...yes." I nod. Finally, I have been remembered as a bumper, not Cindy White.

"I am sorry for then and now also." He apologies and I look up at his sincere eyes, the eyes that reminded me of the joyful young boy I love in my childhood.

Oh no! I have to stop my self now. I looked away. "I have to go." I turn around to leave.

"Wait!" He said and I halt. "What is your name? I am Jeffery." He introduced himself.

I closed my eyes gently as the pain that had filled my heart spread again like a wildfire. I turn to face him wondering why I should tell him my name when he doesn't recognise me when he pushed me away from his memory, what then does he need my name for.

"I can't tell you my name, excuse me," I said and left, this time not even turning around to look at him, how dare he ask me such a question.

In the past, he had been the one always calling my name, he was always following me around and my name never left his lips. How could he not even remember me, I hate him! I shouted in my head as I walked away.