chapter 4

Our driver arrived, but mommy and daddy were not with him.

I didn't ask anymore because I knew they were still at work. When they don't come home early, they just send me to the driver.

The whole flight home I just looked out the window. When the driver dropped me off, he immediately left to maybe wait for daddy.

I changed clothes and went down to the living room to wait for them.

I was sitting on the sofa and reading when my cellphone rang, maybe it was my classmates' group chat.

I put down the book and took out my cellphone. My eyes gradually widened when I saw who was chatting.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez sent you a message.

I removed the hair that was covering my face and opened his chat.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active now.

Klyde: You're not really going to call him?

I feel like I want to laugh because we've been friends on Facebook for so long that he just chatted just to ask that question.

I shook my head and wrote a reply for him.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active now.

Klyde: You're not really going to call him?

Me: Nope. We were just playing a while ago

I stopped typing and frowned. Couldn't he be weirded out by me? Maybe he can see that I like him because of my chat.

I shook my head again and changed my chat.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active now.

Klyde: You're not really going to call him?

Not me. Also, you deleted it, didn't you?

That's my reply. I didn't really take my eyes off the cellphone, and when he replied, it seemed like my chest would explode with the force of his beating.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active now.

Klyde: You really didn't call him?

Not me. Also, you deleted it, didn't you?

Klyde: maybe because you memorized it.

Me: No, ah. Why should I memorize his number?

Klyde: Maybe because you like him.

I frowned at his reply. I sneered and typed a reply.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active now.

Klyde: Maybe because you like him.

Me: I don't like him.

Klyde: You gave him the paper earlier, I saw.

I just stared at his reply and didn't know what to answer. I don't understand why that was his reply, what's the connection with my liking Aldrin?

'he's like a child'

I smiled at the thought and it grew wider when he chatted again.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active now.

Klyde: Maybe because you like him.

Me: I don't like him.

Klyde: You gave him the paper earlier, I saw.

Klyde: Eat that?

"Who are you talking to, Claire?!"

"Oh, daddy! Did you eat?!" I screamed in shock.

My eyes widened and daddy frowned. To my surprise, I hid my cellphone.

"What the hell, Claire. We've just arrived, how are we going to eat?" said mommy.

That's when I realized what I said. I hesitated to laugh, because that was Klyde's last reply, so that's what I said.

"Ah, I-I thought it was because you had dinner at the r-restaurant," I reasoned.

"I'm asking you, Claire Angelica. Who are you chatting with?" daddy asked seriously.

"I-I'm just a classmate..." I answered weakly.

"Stop that and we'll eat. I'll get Manang Belinda ready," mommy said.

"Yes..." I bowed and answered.

After eating, I immediately went up to my room. Mommy and daddy didn't even ask, maybe they were too tired from work.

I landed on my bed and immediately opened my cell phone, I was so excited that Ewan. This is how you really like each other, even a simple conversation will thrill you.

The pounding in my chest grew stronger when Klyde's name appeared one after another on the cellphone screen.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active now.

6:11 p.m

Klyde: Eat that?

Klyde: What are you doing?

Klyde: Are you studying?

Klyde: Hey, still there?

6:15 p.m

Klyde: Are you studying? Am I disturbing you?

Klyde: You don't talk to anyone?

6:36 p.m

Klyde: Are you talking to someone on the phone?

Klyde: You didn't call him, did you?

6:54 p.m

Clyde: Claire...

I stared at my cellphone screen. Shall I reply? His last chat was two minutes ago, eh. Could it be that he is doing something now?

I sighed and typed a reply.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active now.

Klyde: You didn't call him, did you?

6:54 p.m

Clyde: Claire...

Me: Sorry, Kuma|

I stopped again and thought. What if he doesn't reply? That's not embarrassing! Come what may!

Klyde Aldirx Martinez

Active now.

Klyde: You didn't call him, did you?

6:54 p.m

Clyde: Claire...

6:56 p.m

Me: Sorry, I just ate.

I closed my eyes when it was sent. I let go of the cellphone and lay down on the bed. When my cell phone rang, I immediately reached down and picked it up.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active now.

6:54 p.m

Clyde: Claire...

6:56 p.m

Me: Sorry, I just ate.

Clyde: Okay. Do you have something to do?

Me: Just reading notes.

Clyde: Mm. Right now?

Me: Later.

I hope it's now, but since I'm still talking to him, it can be later.

The whole time we talked, the smile never left my lips.

When it was 8pm, I said goodbye to him that I was going to read my notes, because I was used to reading before going to bed.

Until I read it, I was smiling, because I couldn't help it.

The next day I woke up with a smile on my face. I immediately went to the bathroom and did what I had to do.

I was arranging my things on the study table, when I saw my cellphone there.

My eyes gradually widened as I remembered something. I dropped the book I was holding and opened my messenger.

Klyde Aldrix Martinez

Active 7hrs ago.

9:10 p.m

Klyde: Is that over?

9:45 p.m

Klyde: Are you going to sleep?

10:16 p.m

Clyde: Goodnight.

Shocks! By the way, I said I would just read for a while! I slept with him! Isn't that angry?

"Claire, you're not coming down yet?!" mommy's voice

"There it is!" my answer.

I put all my things in the bag and hurried downstairs.