by M.G. Marquez
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
MAGGIE
The gang has been so confused with the tension between the two of us since they arrived but I was too baffled to answer them. We’ve been too awkward with each other so we weren’t talking or even looking at each other.
That meant only one thing.
I have to face my nightmares all alone starting from now because there will be no more Guji to sleep beside me.
“Oh, I smell something fishy.” Via proclaimed. I avoided their eyes.
Klein asked to have coffee at his coffee shop after class. It’s a bit early for soccer practice so I thought hanging out at his place would be great.
“Guji, you going?” Klein asked. I turned to face Guji. If he comes along, then I won’t.
“SB said if I’ll go, she’ll go.” He said.
“Right – wait WHAT? When did I say that?!”
“Your eyes said so.” He grinned at me. Gosh, that’s cute. “And besides, you told me last time that you like me. So wherever I am, you should be there too.”
WHAT? Me? I told that to him? I told him that I like him? Screw all the liars in the world, misters. Get this one first!
“You like Guji, Janella?” Klein said, mystified. “You serious?”
“NO WAY! I DON’T LIKE –”
“Oh c’mon. Don’t deny it.” BD covered my mouth so I could not protest. “I accept your feelings wholly.” He then turned to my friends whose jaws have dropped. “Guys, don’t worry. I’m not a harsh heartbreaker. I’ll take care of her heart,”
He let me go and walked away from us, his hands tucked into his pockets. He turned around and gave me a wink that had sent my heart to Mars.
My friends were like, “Geez. You confessed that sudden? You did not even inform us. So unfair,”
“I don’t like him!” I walked out on them but Klein called me back. “WHAT?”
“Will come with us to the coffee shop?”
“NO.”
“Where will you go now?”
“HELL. Want to come along?”
“Uhm, we’re good. See’ya!”
I walked down the sidewalk – oh more like marched down the sidewalk – and have this flashback of BD telling them I confessed to him. What a jerk right?
“Maj!” I turned to the one who called me and snarled at him. “Whoa, you’re one –” he touched my forehead lightly, “hot-headed girl. What’s up?”
“Nothing.” Yvan walked with me, calmer this time.
“Guji told me that you confessed. Way to go, Maj – HEY!” He eyed me with pure surprise after I punched him in the face. “What’s that for?!”
“Why’s he telling everyone that I was the one who confessed?”
“Why? Didn’t you?”
“NO ONE CONFESSED, ALRIGHT?” See? I even saved BD a nice pain in the butt! “Whatever he’s saying, that’s not true.”
“Oh, good for me.” Then he messed my hair up.
Good for me? What’s that supposed to mean?
“Come. I’ll show you something,” he held my hand and took me somewhere. Then I secretly thanked the Lord because at last, I have a reason to skip my session today with Guji. I don’t want to see his face yet. I’m too irritated with him now.
He took me to a place I’ve never seen before.
“You guys… did this? For real?” Yvan nodded as we came closer to the old tree house. It’s kinda old but it felt like home.
“At first, there were just the two of us, Guji and me.” He said. “Eventually, we grew in number. There came Fred, then Klein, and then there came Jason.”
I looked at him when he said Jason’s name. They’re not in good terms, I know, but I didn’t bring that up. It’s their thing, not mine.
I saw him climb the ladder into the house and pushed back the door. Then he disappeared. I came in next.
I don’t know what to expect in a tree house full of boys but what I saw made me giggle for a bit. This place is full of them.
Soccer. Drawings. Dragons. Minions. Everything is so them.
My eyes stopped at a particular thing on the wall. I tried not to gasp in total fear. Seriously.
“You guys like darts?” I walked toward the board and pulled a dart out of it. I swallowed hard before turning back to him.
“Besides soccer, darts is pretty much our sport.” He proudly said.
“Really? Can you throw a dart for me?”
One, one two, two three beats.
“Your wish is my command,” he walked past me and pulled a dart on the board. He told me that I should step aside so he wouldn’t hurt me by accident.
I did. But only a little.
He smiled at me before he let go of the dart he’s holding. It went past me without grazing my skin. I heard a crisp thud behind me.
One, one two, two three beats.
That’s the same dart. Only slower.
“Hey Maj. Why are you so scared?” He walked to me and held my face. “You know so well that I wouldn’t throw that at you directly, right?”
“All of you do know how to throw a dart?” I asked nervously.
“Yes, we’re good at it. Why?”
One, one two, two three beats.
“Nothing!” I smiled my best and dragged him out of the house. “Isn’t your birthday today, Cantos? Let’s celebrate!”
“How did you know that?”
“I’m the Queen of Birthdays! C’mon! Let’s celebrate your 18th birthday!”
As I ran away from that house, I ran away with all the doubt I have for the gang. I can’t think about them like that. I can’t think that they can do that to me.
I don’t want to think that anyone of those four will kill me.
We are friends.
Best buddies.