Chapter 9: Avoiding

Sophomore, High school :

Waiting for Macky to come out to the Detention Room together with Hannah, they decided to wait for him outside to find out what would be their friend's punishment after getting into trouble because Mackie hit Britney Tully in the face and almost balded her hair. Well, they can't blame Mackie, Britney is such a vicious war freak bitch who loves making fun of others. She called Mackie a freakin' pathetic homosexual so, in return, Mackie gave her a lesson she could never forget by wrecking her face and balding the bitch hair. They were almost an hour waiting for him to come out in the detention room while seating on one of the chairs at the balcony outside that door and they couldn't just leave Mackie like that without supporting their friend.

Out of boredom, she decided to stand up in her seat and walk forward. She decided to lean on the steel grills of the balcony and looked underneath where she could glance almost half of the school's property. Her eyes automatically went to the group of students at the Science Park because her attention was caught by a special person who is a part of that specific group of students. The only person who always makes her heart skip a bit, the only person who can catch her attention without even doing anything, and the only person she was trying hard to forget these past few months.

"Thyago..." She couldn't help herself to mumble.

It's as if he heard her mumble his name because his look suddenly went through her direction so their eyes met. For a moment, it feels like their eyes communicate for a while. He smiled and waved at her, with that, she felt her heart suddenly fluttered. In different instances, she might have been very glad if she never made up her mind in avoiding and forgetting him. When she realized that, her eyes jerked away from him and carelessly turned around leaving him knots in the forehead. She sighed and shook her head to calm her heart not knowing Hanna is closely watching her actions. 

"You still have feelings for him, don't you?" Hannah asked. She had a feeling that it is more of a statement than a question.

She answered her with a smile, a smile that never reached her eyes. She appreciates Hannah's concern as a friend and she knew she only cares for her but honestly, she doesn't wanna talk about it. Thinking about him made her feel sad.

"I can't seem to get over this attraction towards him even though I was avoiding him for months now. I still have a crush on him. I couldn't just get rid of this pesky feelings." She honestly stated out of frustration. She was caught off guard so there's no sense in denying it.

"He likes Elena, Blessie...." Sympathy tinged in Hannah's voice.

"I know... And I know that I should stop this craziness." She said in outrage as she felt her eyes watered with tears.

With that, Hannah suddenly come near her and embraced her. Her friend got alarmed seeing her starting to get emotional and about to cry.

"Hey, don't you cry okay? You know Mackie and I will always stand by your side. What's the sense of us being your best friends if we're not here to help you, Bea? We'll help you divert your attention in some worthwhile stuff so you'll get over him soon okay?" Hannah stated in a cheerful tone. She never doubts the care and supports her friends are willing to give her. She knew she can always count on them.

"Thanks..." She sighed as she forced a smile.

If only she can command her heart to stop thinking about him and forbid her heart from reacting every time she accidentally meets him. If only she could easily forget him so these pesky feelings she has for him will immediately vanish, she could have done that a long time ago.

"Come on Bea, we're so young. This is just a mere infatuation that we will laugh at when we grow." Hannah cheered her up.

"I know..." She tried to fake a laugh but deep inside her, she knew its easy to say those words but hard to do on her part.

"So stop thinking about him. He's not worth it. You deserve someone better, someone, who'll love you back." Hannah added. How she wished her friend was right but a part of her saying she can't easily forget Thyago because what she feels for him was not just a mere infatuation.

"Am I missing something here?" Their attention got caught by Mackie's voice who just got out from the detention room.

"Oh nothing,  we're just having some drama here," Hannah told Mackie. She felt her wiped her tears using her palm then gave her an understanding smile that was full of concerns.

"Care to join?" She told Mackie.

"I would love to!" They both pulled Mackie into a tight hug when he came near them as they laughed together. Mackie then embraced them back so tight that made her wince a bit then laugh in the end.

Friends, they are quite angels indeed who lift us to our feet when our wings forget how to fly and lift our spirits when our lips have trouble remembering how to smile. A happy smile drew her lips at the thought of it.

"What happened between you and Britney at the Detention Office?" Hannah asked Mackie. With that, she suddenly remembered the reason why they're here outside the Detention room waiting for him.

"She got punished of course! Everyone knows she's a bully. She'll clean the girl's CR for the whole month. She was also warned that if she ever gets into trouble again, she might get kick out in the school." Mackie explained.

"How 'bout you? Don't tell me you got saved for punishment because that's nearly impossible? You almost balded Britney's hair." She immediately asks him cocking one brow.

"I'll be helping in tree planting for the developing of the Urban Garden for the whole week ahead," Mackie answered frowning that made her and Hannah laughed hard.

Mackie will surely get sick of helping planting at the Urban Garden for he hates attending such activities like that. It's not like Mackie was against it but their friend is just a lazy person who dislikes doing such activities like tree planting, cleaning and most especially he hates being exposed under the sun and getting sweaty. It was surely a punishment for him. They left that place laughing at Mackie for his punishment.

*   *   *

"You're sad, what are you thinking?" Mackie asked that caught her attention from her deep thoughts.

They were currently at the Waiting Shed outside the school and they're waiting for Mackie's driver. They decided to go home after Mackie treats them for waiting for him outside the Detention Room. They had a snack for a while at the school's canteen before they went home.  Mackie always offers her a lift almost every day so she doesn't have to ride a bus when she goes home. Her eyes went to him as she gave him a forced smile for being preoccupied. The truth is her thoughts were on Thyago. She couldn't help to think of him after they met gazes and after he waved on her a while ago.  

"What are you saying? What you mean I'm sad? What's there to be sad about?" She stated and jerked her eyes away.

For the past few months of avoiding Thyago, it was like hell. She still missed him and she could still feel the sadness inside whenever she thinks of him. She must be stupid, she thought. This is supposed to be just a mere crush that she knew she will outgrow soon but why does it hurt so bad avoiding him? And every time their paths cross, she has to pretend that she was not hurting but she badly misses him even more. If it was just a mere crush that soon she will outgrow just like what Hannah said, then why does it feels like it's more deeper than that?

"I'm sorry it was my fault. I shouldn't advise you to get closer to Thyago. You shouldn't be hurting this way if I never persuade and insisted that you should do that. I'm really sorry, Bea..." Mackie said apologetically.

"It was not your fault. I chose to do that. I did this myself, might as well accept the consequences." She replied bitterly then smiled at him.

"You'll soon outgrow your infatuation with him."

"But what if I didn't?" She asked unsurely.

"She likes someone else, Bea..."

"I know but the more I try the more it hurts..." She sadly stated.

"You'll soon forget him..."

She was about to answer Mackie but her attention was caught when an unfamiliar car stopped right in front of them. Mackie gave her an alarming and meaningful stare while she gave him a questioning look who might it be because she knew it wasn't Mackie's family car. When the windshield of the car descended, Thyago's face peeped on it. She suddenly felt her heart jerked as her eyes widen in surprise not expecting to see him at the very moment. Seeing his face once again brought sadness and pain in her chest.

"You guys need a lift?" Thyago asked while flashing his pearly whites.