SHADE

I was screaming inside my head as soon as I went inside my room. Okay, what was that? I mean, my mind was still loading and felt like I was going to explode. I even slapped myself to feel the heat of my palm and know that I am not dreaming.

I’m thrilled.

Gray and I are already a couple. People might think it is too soon, but I am not the kind of person who believes in courting. I do believe that if both of you like each other, you should try and make it work. Well, you will never know a person until you start being with him.

It took me an hour lying, rolling on the bed, daydreaming, still couldn’t believe the fact that the guy I just used to talk to is now my boyfriend. I have a lot of things to do, yet here I am, doing nothing, imagining Gray’s face.

I stopped fantasizing when I heard my phone. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself before answering his call.

“Hi, babe!” He greeted me on the other line. My lips widened. I looked like a fool rolling around the bed. Lyuna might get mad at me, seeing me, although I know that she would really be happy and would even jump for joy.

“Are you home?” I asked.

“Not yet, babe. Still stuck in traffic.”

“Aww. That’s okay. Take care!”

“You too. Is Lyuna already home?” He asked, concerned.

Lyuna and I have lived together since we rented an apartment near the university. We both came from the province and had no one to live with here in the city. Good thing, we know each other so we both decided to rent an apartment. She’s probably on a date with Dio. They saw each other and felt like it’s not enough. Well, maybe, that’s really love. I couldn’t even get enough of Gray.

“I’ll come back there so we can do something,” He grinned on the other side and he might be thinking of some silly things again.

“What are we going to do?” I thought and somehow felt butterflies in my stomach again. Is what I am feeling, right? I mean, I’ve read that if I felt this kind of love, I should run away because it’s already a red flag. Love should be calm and peaceful.

What’s this? Am I just overwhelmed with him? I should take note of this.

"I'm fine. Oh hey, I need to do something!” I bid my farewell. “Call you later, okay?”

“Yes, babe. I’ll take care of myself for you.”

I smiled and hung up. I got up and took a bath. After that, I started finishing our paperworks while checking the time until Lyuna came home. Finally, I have someone to talk to. Like I said, she screamed and was so happy. I told her all the details and even asked me about how I felt and she told me that’s also how she felt when she was with Dio, as Dio was her ultimate crush.

I should get used to the butterflies in my stomach whenever Gray is around because that is also how he feels when Dio is around, though now she’s already calm and she knows how to be with Dio without fangirling.

Maybe, that’s it. I should just trust destiny and everything that is happening around us. This is the path that was given to me by the universe and I should trust the universe. Whatever happens, happens. At least, I get to see Gray and even be with him, which at first, I thought would never happen.

Honestly, I can’t help but be cynical about everything because that is how the world taught me, too. I mean, I may be a writer who loves happy endings for my characters, yet in reality, I know there is no such thing. That is why we kept on reading fiction because we want to escape the reality that strikes when we are alone. Not all love stories are perfect. Nothing is perfect. Even so, it would really be nice to spend my very first love story with Gray.

I just need to enjoy the day with Gray and be grateful for everything. I really do hope that we can make this work. That the like we feel at each other, will grow into something much deeper.

We don’t usually see each other because we are both busy and we just spend a lot of time calling or texting each other when we are free. We decided to spend time during weekdays, so we won’t disturb each other and we are free to have some time alone. For me, that’s great. Even though I always want to see Gray, I respect that we both have some time alone.

“Miss, why are you smiling like that? Does that mean we don’t have a quiz because you are so happy?”

I glared at my student. “I am happy, so you have a quiz.”

They all whined as I laughed. I told them to keep everything away as I facilitated the quiz. It took another one before they could all finish. They went out one by one until I was the only one inside. After picking up all my things, I went out.

I was really surprised upon seeing Dave, my childhood best friend, waiting outside.

“Oh my gosh!” I ran to give him a hug. It’s been years since I last saw him and I didn’t even know that he would be here right now. He didn’t even call me so that I can welcome him at the airport.

“Hey! Gosh! Why didn’t you call me?”

“Well, I want to surprise you!”

My students were looking at us and started giggling and even teasing us. I rolled my eyes, gave them seconds of my attention before shoving them away, as I focused my attention on Dave. I decided then to talk to him inside the faculty to have some privacy from the students.

"Surprise!” He smiled at me. “But, I think I was the one surprised because you haven’t told me about Gray.” He pouted.

“Oh, that!” I scratched the back of my head. “Sorry, I've been very busy.”

Though, the truth is I actually forgot to tell him about it. Okay, I’ve been very busy with Gray and my emotions. Ugh! I know what he feels since most of the time he knew everything about me and yeah it’s one of the most important things in my life that I had failed to tell him.

“I will tell you about him,” I assured him. “You just arrived first. And, Lyuna, of course,” I rolled my eyes. “Already told you about it.”

“Well, she didn’t mean to. I asked what you are up to and she slipped when she said you have a date with Gray. Who’s Gray?” He acted hurt, though somehow I know it was somehow true. That he felt pain because truth be told, he once tried to court me, but you know, I believed that there are really people that just meant for us to be our friend. He belonged to those people I want to cherish as friends, forever.

“There is only one Gray in my life,” I confirmed and automatically felt the butterflies in my stomach as I remembered Gray again.

I went to my table as Dave checked on my belongings. I started to put away my things and fixed my table as it was already time to go in minutes.

“And, I envy him,” he sulked and eventually laughed. “Well, it’s not like I can stay mad at you, right?”

I smiled. “I know, right. I am your best friend.”

“I’d like to hear the word boyfriend instead, although yeah,” he shrugged as sadness filled his eyes. “Gray.”

I sighed and decided to change the topic. Just then, Rayne came in.

“Oh,” she reacted. She’s also one of my colleagues. She was surprised to see Dave and even stopped to look at him, realizing that he’s my best friend, from photographs I’ve shown on them. “You know a lot of handsome men. You should introduce them to me,” she giggled, so I introduced her to Dave. She’s single, so is Dave, so why not?

“By the way, someone is also waiting for you outside.”

“Really?” My eyes widened as I took my stuff. I stopped myself from being too excited because I don’t want it to be obvious.

“I want to see that Gray,” Dave told me.

“I’ll introduce you to him,” I replied.

We went out of the faculty. I looked for Gray, but he wasn't around, so I texted him while we walked. A group of students were actually circling in the hallway when we passed by them. They were shouting, giggling, like they saw an idol. We ignored them as I called Gray.

It was only on the first ring when he answered and I got confused when he said, “Are you going to leave me for that guy you are with right now?”

“What?” I turned around and was surprised to see Gray in the middle of the students. He grinned and slowly walked towards me while still talking to the phone.

“You are making me jealous on our first week as a couple? That’s not nice.”

I laughed and shrugged. “You are making me jealous, too,” I said, referring to the girls that looked at him, stared at him, admired him from head to toe. If only they could kiss Gray, they would probably have done it by now.

“Sorry, I can't do anything about it. I’m handsome. You know?”

“I know.” I dropped the call when he reached me. He stared at Dave from head to toe. Dave did the same.

Before something happens, I interrupted. “Gray, this is Dave, my childhood best friend. Dave, this is Gray, and you know him.”

Dave nodded, but he didn’t offer his hand. Gray just smiled as they stared at each other. I stood in the middle of them and prevented them from actually harming each other through words. I know Dave, he can really be hurtful at times especially when he wants to protect me.

“Don’t ever hurt her,” Dave warned. “You know what I’ll do if you hurt her.”

Gray nodded. “I will not do that.”

“Yeah. We’re clear about that.” Dave looked at me. “I’ll go ahead. I’ll see you some other time, okay?” He brushed my hair and smiled. “Take care.”

He walked ahead of us while Gray followed him with his gaze.

“Why are you looking at him?”

“He loves you,” he stated.

“Yeah. He is my best friend.”

“No,” Gray shrugged. “He loves you more than best friends.”

I was speechless. Maybe, it was really obvious that even Gray felt it. I was also the reason why Dave went to another country because he wants to forget his feelings for me. We stayed friends, yet there are times when I get sad knowing that I hurt him. He still stays, despite that, and I will always be grateful to him.

“Did he court you?”

“He confessed.”

“Why didn’t you--”

“It was because Gray exists,” I directly answered, which made him stop. “Come on, let’s go on a date,” I offered.

“Yeah,” he held my hand and we stopped as he looked up at the sky. “Ugh. It’ll rain,” he said as the sky started to turn gray. “I hate the color of the sky.”

“Why? It’s your name?”

“My name is so dull,” he replied.

“You know what,” I told him as I looked at his face. I will never get tired of those eyes. “Gray is a dull color, but it always reminds me of someone who made my life colorful.”

And, it was him. No matter what happens, Gray is a colorful shade in my life.