Chapter 7 : With You

It is the day, the day of the competition of each Strand for the Foundation Month. 

And it is also the last day of the Foundation Month and after this everything will go back to the way it was. Morning rush, assignments, deadlines and sleepless nights. 

After this everything will be normal again, the campus will not be as loud as it is everyday because of the dance troupe who are practicing from morning to night.

It’s already 7am in the morning but I don't need to rush because of today’s events. As is the final day, the Main event will start at 4pm but there are events in the morning. 

A singing contest at 10am and the special performance of the Teachers at 12pm. 

The weather today is not so hot, not so cold but moderate. But despite that I can't help but smile at myself while looking in the mirror. 

“You are really crazy, Ian.” I smiled, as I said that to myself. 

I can’t help myself but smile as I think about what happened yesterday, yesterday night to be exact. 

I can’t help but smile as I think about the way she smiled, the way she laughed and when she talked to me. I can’t help but think about those moments. 

Especially the one that really kept me up at night. 

FLASHBACK 

“Really? Aren’t you going home yet? It’s already 10pm though.” “Oh yeah, I'm going home now, are you going home too?” 

Nice Ian, you did not stutter asking her that. Why am I so nervous? I see her everyday at school. 

“Yeah, I am.” Pauleen said 

Should I ask her? Should I ask her if it’s okay with her if we go together? Ahh no, no, I don't think I should.

Should I? Should I not? Should I? Should I not? 

“Do you want to go together?” and my world suddenly stopped when I heard that. Did I hear that right? Does she want us to go together? 

“Hey? Ian, are you still with me?" She said as she tapped my shoulder. " Huh? yeah? sure why not?” 

I said yes, I agreed but waited. Isn't it really the goal that’s why I waited for her? I waited for her because I wanted to make sure that she would go home safe. 

“I mean, if it’s okay with you." I said as she smiled at me. Damn that smile, why does she smile so beautifully?

It makes my heart flutter, it leaves butterflies in my stomach. 

"Of course, that would be great. It’s already late.” She’s right, it's already late and I should be with her. I should make sure that she's safe. 

As we walked through the field, the wind brushed our skin and it felt so cold. 

But despite that I felt so hot and nervous now that I am with her. I still feel the butterflies in my stomach. Now that I am with her, I feel so reassured that she will be home safe. 

“By the way, where do you live?” Pauleen asked as we kept on walking on the way out of the gate. 

"Oh.. oh.. I am from.. s-shanv-ville.” Gosh why am I stuttering, I am so nervous. 

Stop Ian, act normal. She will think that you are weird. 

I hear a laugh, she laughs at the way that I stutter when I answer. She was laughing cutely with her beautiful sharped eyes. 

"Are you okay? Are you cold? Why are you stuttering?” she said why, still laughing. "But Shanville, hmm that was kinda far from me. I am OakVille.” 

Oakville, oh I heard that one. That was not near to me but that was not so far though. It’s just that OakVille comes before Shanville. 

We keep on talking and walking and talking and walking that we don't even realize that we are so close to OakVille. 

We didn’t even realize it was 11pm. We walked for almost an hour since there are no cars anymore at this hour. 

“Hey, we’re here.” Pauleen said and I looked at the place. We are at OakVille already. 

It’s already been an hour but the time feels so short when I am walking with her. It’s like we are just walking for 5mins but now we are here. 

I just don’t wanna leave yet but it’s already late, she needs to rest for the competition tomorrow. 

“Yeah, we're here…” A hint of disappointment mixed with my voice. A disappointment that i need to leave already but also a felt of relief she got to go home safely. 

But at least I saw her, I got to know and I got to be with her for the time being. “Thank you so much, it’s already late. I think you should go." 

" Yeah, I gotta go. Thank you, Bye.” I said as I waved goodbye to her. It was only a short time but I felt so happy with her. 

I feel so happy. 

I feel so content. 

A different feeling washed over me. It was a new but a reassuring feeling every time I saw her. 

I guess this is really it, the feeling of being in love. 

FLASHBACK ENDS 

“Bro, you’re finally here!" Cedrix said to come to me “I thought you’re not coming, it’s already 9am." 

“It’s only 9am, the event starts at 10am. Are you guys waiting for me?“ I asked as I looked at them and they were looking at me too. 

They are looking at me with e suspicious eyes. 

They are looking at me as if I did something wrong. 

"What time did you go home huh?“ “Yeah, you didn’t even bother to message us in the Chat group." “Where did you go last night?" 

They bombarded me with a lot of questions because I didn't go home with them. 

Hillary, Lei, Angela and Cedrix. They keep on asking me where I went last night and why I didn't go home with them. 

“I did nothing okay? I just stayed for a little bit since it was too early to go home last night." 

They looked at me as if I was not telling the truth. Should I tell them that I did go home with Pauleen? 

Do they think that it is weird? Will they ask if I liked her? Or is there something going on between us? 

"Okay.” Hillary said that made me look at her. Is that it? aren’t they gonna ask more questions? 

Aren’t they gonna interrogate me? If I go with someone? Alone? 

“That’s it?" I bluntly asked them. “Why? you said just stayed a little bit longer. It’s like you’re meeting someone." 

Well that was, that was new. 

Before if i didn't reply as fast i could they would bombard me with questions on what i do, but today there was nothing. 

I guess it was fine. Much better than many more questions. 

I stopped thinking about it when Pauleen suddenly came up in my mind. 

I suddenly remember, they have to be at school by 8am. They are gonna have their final practice. 

While lost in my own thoughts again, I hear Jane calling someone. She was shouting someone's name and it was, Pauleen. 

“Pauleen!" Jane shouted as Pauleen looked at our way. 

She was walking towards us with that smile, again. 

The smile that makes me lose my mind. 

The smile that sends butterflies in my stomach. 

And the smile that makes me feel so

calm whenever I see her or I am with her. 

The smile that made me realize that whenever I am with her, everything will be alright.