Chapter 4: Nosy

Chapter 4

"DO I NEED to change myself for him to notice me ?!" That was immediately Airin's introduction to the newcomer Gail.

"Huh?" clueless na anito.

Airin looked at his face in the pocket mirror. She knew she wasn't ugly. But she felt lacking. Les doesn't seem to notice him when he doesn't change.

He voiced what was on his mind.

"Crazy. You don't have to change just for the guy. Isn't it better to feel when the person you like likes you for what you are? It's okay to act cute and to impress him but not to the point where you change your whole being you, "Gail litany as if just a little bit, she will be teased.

Airin sighed. "All right. You have a point. It's just, how can he notice me that I don't look cheap?"

It's been more than a week since Les and Heidi broke up and until now, he still doesn't know how he can show Les his existence. Airin almost made a banner that read, "Notice me, Senpai."

He can't just kiss her suddenly, can he? Airin's face was not that thick yet.

"Stop him one time."

He snorted. "You're useless, bestie."

Gail smiled. "Why don't you ask Skye?"

Airin's snout grew longer. "It's even more useless. It's against the worms in my love life, eh."

"Excuse me, you have no love life."

"Buwisit."

Airin was surprised when Gail suddenly handed him a book. "Oh, read on. Maybe you can get that idea."

"Thank you, ha, bestie."

"Then maybe you should buy wonderbra too," Gail teased.

"Wow. All right, what else?" he said sarcastically. Before Gail could answer, Airin's stomach tightened. "Oh, wait. I haven't eaten yet. I'll just buy food."

"Okay. You bought me a waffle too. Thanks."

Airin scolded the friend. "After you insulted me? Excuse me!"

Gail just laughed. Airin was about to be near the university cafeteria when he saw the figure of Les and Cloud. When he saw the two going to the university gym, he did not follow them on his own. He simply looked around. He looks like a stalker. But this is just research!

He is not a stalker. He just wanted to see Les up close to find out how he was doing. He just wanted to know if it affected him and Heidi's break-up.

"How dare her! Argh!"

That's Les's voice! And it comes from the gym. He looked for a place where he could peek inside. He saw a window that he could reach.

Only Les and Cloud were inside the gym. The basketball club probably has no practice today. The two sat side by side on the bench. They both wore tennis uniforms. Obviously, they just came from their practice game Les because they are still holding their respective rackets.

"It looks like you're really being rewarded, Les," Cloud said.

"Yeah. She dumped me to be with Charlie? Argh! Annoying!" The anger in Les's voice was obvious, especially since it was released so cheaply that even those hanging around the corner would be embarrassed. But unfairness, it's socially cheap. In English yet.

Airin stopped looking at Les. It was hard and they caught him. Tell him more stalker. Or he may feel the heat of it. He sat on the floor and remained listening to the two.

"'Don't say you're affected because you love me?"

"That's not the issue, Cloud. She dumped me! She dumped me then what? She will suddenly answer Charlie? My mortal enemy? If not by accident!"

So it is true that the SVU rumor that Heidi broke up with Les. And it 's also true that Heidi has already answered Charlie — which was kinda fishy because this is Les' mortanl nemesis. As far as she knows (based on her research), the dispute between Les and Charlie has been going on for a long time. It's not a secret on campus but no one knows the reason why. But Airin's prediction, Charlie might be insecure with Les. Why, who is not insecure? Les is very perfect.

"Why not get even?" Airin spoke weakly as if talking to and facing Les.

"Why not get even?" said Cloud to Les.

Wow! It looks like Cloud heard me, ah? Nice one, Cloud! he said in his mind.

"How?"

"Show you're not affected! Find a new girlfriend too!" Airin said softly without speaking inside. He's really weird, it's like they can hear him Les, right?

Airin was glad to know that Les did not really love Heidi. Why, which creature is in the right frame of mind to take revenge on the person he loves, right? And one more thing, he noticed based on the conversation between the two that Les was even more concerned about Heidi answering Charlie than the break-up of the two.

"I don't know," Airin heard Cloud answer.

Oh, fool! You simply can't think of it, he said again in his mind.

"What are you doing there, Miss?"

"Oops," Airin whispered softly then looked at the speaker.

The serious face of tennis club captain-slash-coach Lawrenzo Guttierez opened up to him. With so many people who can catch his eavesdrop, why is this terror? Why is this Enzo who is scary and looks like a human eater? Airin was dead, truly.

"I'm asking you a question, Miss," Enzo whispered in his silence.

"A-ah ... Uhm ... Err ..." What to say? What to do?

"Haven't you thought about it yet, Cloud?" Les's voice soared. The two may not have heard Enzo's arrival so they are still talking. After all, his place is far from them.

"You're eavesdropping." It was not a question from Enzo but a statement.

"No!" Airin refused accompanied by a total shake. As if he will admit it. What is he, tange? "I was just passing by and then—"

"Passing by? And yet, you're sitting on the floor," he raised an eyebrow at what he was saying, or rather, at his alibi. He could not read any emotion on Enzo's face.

"Ah, because ... Eh ..." Airin just scratched his neck and looked awkwardly in front. He sighed when he noticed that it was obvious that those in front of him would not believe him no matter what he said. "Okay, fine. I'm sorry. I don't want to listen. I was just looking for something and then I heard them talking so I stopped here ... and listened."

Enzo looked at him intently. To Airin's surprise, he suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her upright. "Don't apologize to me. To them."

"Huh?"

Airin almost froze when Enzo suddenly lifted him up like a sack of rice. He knew she was a small woman compared to Enzo but she was probably not that easy to carry without difficulty!

"Sir, promise! I will not repeat what I did! Just don't present me to Les. I feel sorry for you. I'm not ready yet!" Airin pleads with Enzo to walk straight into the gym.

"I can feel that you like Les so this is your chance. Grab it."

"What? Come again?"

"Nothing."

"But—"

"Alessandro, I found a kitten outside."

He immediately stiffened when he heard Enzo say that. Because he was too focused to stop Enzo, he did not realize that they had entered the gym. Shet. Les is here! And this is how he looks! What will it think ?!

"What's that trend, Enzo?" he heard Cloud ask.

Enzo still doesn't let Airin down so the joke is, he still turned his back on Les and Cloud. Really, isn't this one a burden on him?

"Kitten? When I was older, Coach, that man," Les said.

Oh, my God! I am not ready to face Les yet. My face is thick but when it comes to him, I fold! Shocks! What will I do? Airin talked to himself.

Once Enzo let you go, run! language of the other side of his brain.

Those are players! They will chase and chase me and Les will be even more suspicious when I run! his other brain said.

Then think of a good excuse.

Why was she having a debate inside her mind ?!

"Argh!" he could not stop ejaculating.

Airin just felt Enzo drop him on the floor. He immediately bowed because he could not look directly at Les. He was still embarrassed then maybe what it would think about him. Add that both her cheeks are red because of the fullness.

"He passed by the side of the gym because he was looking for something and he overheard the two of you talking," Enzo explained when he probably noticed the look on Les and Cloud's face.

Airin stared at Enzo in surprise. Does it cover him with Les and Cloud or does he just believe in his alibi ?! Whatever it was, she was glad.

"Awtsu. Deads ka, p're. Someone heard your secret," Cloud said laughing as he looked at it.

"He has a suggestion for you, Les," Enzo whispered.

Airin's eyes widened as he looked at Enzo. He, has a suggestion? Nothing — oh. Yes, there is. Enzo must have heard what he "whispered" earlier. The find-another-girlfriend thing.

"Really, Miss? Do you have any suggestions for me?" Les' yon.

Airin turned his gaze to Les and immediately felt frustrated to see that he did not recognize him. What else is he expecting? It was just a short encounter three months ago. Of course he would not remember her.

Airin immediately adjusted the expression on his face and smiled at Les. "I don't want to listen but because ..."

LES WAS getting pissed off. She was not hurt when she found out that Charlie was Heidi's new boyfriend. He wasn't in denial. He was telling the truth. When he heard the news about Heidi and Charlie, Les almost broke his tennis racket. Keyword: almost. His racket is still more important, of course.

Les does not believe this is just a coincidence. He believed Charlie was the person behind this. It wants to outdo him. It wants to embarrass him all over SVU. Because honestly, with so many men at SVU, what is the percent chance that Charlie, his mortal nemesis, will be Heidi's next boyfriend, right?

This was planned and Les could not help but feel agitated towards those two.

Les knew it was either Heidi or Charlie who planned this. Maybe the two are working together. This is probably Heidi's way of retaliating and at the same time Charlie is helping her to overthrow her.

As if he would let this ruin him. Hah!

Les did not like the word revenge. But this time, he was determined to get even. He wants to show Charlie and Heidi that they are fighting the wrong person. His pride and ego depend on it. Why, he is almost the talk of the town today at SVU because of Heidi and Charlie. The SVU students seemed to feel sorry for him. What the fuck?

That is why he is ready to listen to the suggestion of the woman in front.

Come to think of it, the girl in front of Les was familiar. He just could not place where he had seen her. Of course he knew she was a student here at SVU but it wasn't all that. Just, it was familiar to him.

Maybe he encountered it once. With so many students at SVU, will he remember it? But when she saw the frustration on her face, Les felt as if something had suddenly happened in her heart.

Weird.

"I don't want to listen but because ..."

Something clicked inside Les's mind when he heard her voice. He remembered her. This is the woman he bumped into before. This is what he took to the clinic and treated.

"I remember you. You're Airin, right? Your woman is afraid of alcohol?"

Airin's face lit up but later he also frowned. "Yeah. Not a good first impression, huh?"

"Yeah. The girl who's afraid of alcohol. The girl who became a tiger because of rubbing alcohol," Les laughed because of Airin's red cheek — which he found cute.

Weird again.

"Les, the chat will be later. Listen to the child's suggestion first," Cloud interjected. Enzo, on the other hand, just silently shifted his gaze to Airin.

Les did not like the glint he caught in Enzo's eyes.

"I'm not a child anymore!" Airin whispered to Cloud.

The three of them were shocked by its growl at Cloud.

"Okay, not a child. It's just Nene," Cloud said with a smile.

"Ikaw naman totoy!" Airin replied. Obviously the allergy feels gone.

"Children!" Enzo's stiff middle then whistled.

"It's him, eh," Airin complained like a child then folded his arms.

Les covered his palm with his mouth to cover the smile.

"You have to be patient with Cloud. He just lacked a bath. Anyway, let's hear your suggestion," Enzo said.

Airin bent down and stared at his hands as if he had something interesting to see there. Les enjoys looking at it because it looks like a child when it acts.

"I heard that Heidi traded you for your mortal enemy. And I thought that you should get even," Airin began.

Les looked at Cloud because that was also his suggestion earlier.

"How? I mean, how can I get revenge on Heidi and Charlie?"

"Show him that you are not affected even if they are Charlie, that way."

"I'm not affected," he said defensively.

"What I mean is ... Uhh ... How can I explain this? Show that you are not affected by having a new girlfriend. That if Heidi did, you can too, right?"

"Hey! I like that! Heidi's world will definitely shake when you find out you have a girlfriend, Les. And Charlie, ha! I can already imagine what she looks like," Cloud said and turned to Airin. "Nice suggestion, Nene!"

Airin's narrowed eyes narrowed and then stared at Cloud. Les, on the other hand, thought. Airin's suggestion is good. But who can he pretend to be his girlfriend? Right, pretend girlfriend. He does not want to cheat on a woman just to get revenge.

"I don't want to flirt just for the sake of revenge," he said.

"Hire a pretend girlfriend," Enzo whispered in shock. Enzo also knows something like this.

"Who can I pretend to be my girlfriend? Maybe when I take it lightly, it will suddenly be taken seriously. Or, tell Heidi and Charlie."

"I nominate Airin!" Cloud shouted and raised his hand like a child.

"What ?!" he and Airin spoke at the same time.

"Oh, why? You'll get to know each other, right? Then Airin knows your situation so he can understand you. And look at this Les, Heidi's world will be more shaken when he sees and finds Airin your new girlfriend," Cloud's long explanation.

"Is that an insult, sotoy ?!" Airin growled at Cloud.

Cloud raised both hands to prevent the other Airin from saying anything. "Let me explain first, okay? You are very different from those who became Les's girlfriends or ex-girlfriends. Heidi and Charlie will think that Les really loves you so much that he courted you. That's it! "

"For the first time, I agree with Cloud," Enzo said.

Les looked at Airin who was staring blankly at Cloud. The woman seemed shocked at Cloud's suggestion. He could not blame her because he was also surprised. But Cloud has a point. Heidi will definitely smile when she sees Airin. Not that Airin wasn't beautiful. In fact, she was pretty. Innocent beauty. Your nice not boring look. Refreshing.

And from the short period of time Les was able to talk to Airin, he knew she was a good girl.

"Will you be my girlfriend, Airin?" Les's pleading language was accompanied by kneeling for an effect.

They were all shocked when she suddenly fainted.