chapter 7

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.