Chapter 3: Unrequited Affection

CHAPTER THREE

(Unrequited affection)

Chloe kept smiling and blushing as she walked towards her departmental building for the day's lecture. She felt on top of the world as she kept reliving her moments with Antonia.

"That's the girl." She heard some voices behind her. She turned and saw three ladies pointing to her.

"She is so lucky. Antonia extended a hand of friendship towards her right there in everyone's presence. Gosh! I really envy her" One of the girls said.

"I wish I was the one. Antonia is so sweet." Another said.

"I know right?" The third girl agreed.

Chloe blushed hard again as she walked into the class. The lecture was about to begin. Hurriedly, her eyes scanned the big lecture hall which was almost filled up with students.

Chloe was a sophomore in the department of arts. She was into creative arts.

"Hey!" A voice called out to her. It was her best friend, Kylie Candela, a tall and pretty looking blonde with violet eyes. On her face were not-so-visible speckles. She had a streak of toughness. She was a fighter and a bright spark.

Kylie can be so chatty at times too.

Chloe smiled as she walked towards Kylie.

Sitting beside her she said, "You won't believe what happened to me today." Chloe said in excitement, setting her school bag on her laps.

"Of course, I will believe." Kylie said humorously. "News about your meeting with Antonia is all over the school. I am happy that you have finally gotten a chance to be noticed by your idol. I will be at rest now. At least, I will be free from having to hear how beautiful and awesome she is everytime from you." Kylie said with a light smirk.

"I know right?" Chloe replied. "Thanks for listening to all my praises about her."

"You're welcome" Kylie replied as they both burst into laughter.

"Dylan needs to hear about this. I can't describe how I feel right now." Chloe said and lightly clasped her hand around her mouth as her body shook with giggles.

Kylie rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"Seriously? I don't get your obsession with Antonia. I know she is cool and all of that but..." She paused and dismissed the topic. She knew raising up the topic with Chloe would only lead to a series of arguments and passionate defense from her.

"Dylan texted me yesterday night." She informed Chloe.

Chloe's eyes widened. "Really? What did he say?"

Kylie shrugged. "Yeah, he didn't say anything much. It was just the usual pleasantries but he told me that he will be finalizing his projects soon."

Chloe nodded. "He told me too. Gosh! I can't wait for him to come home. I really miss him." She said with a sullen look and intertwined her fingers, absentmindedly. She looked up and saw Kylie gazing mischievously at her.

"What?" She asked with a scoff.

Kylie smiled cunningly and peered closer into her eyes.

"Are you sure you can't wait for him to come home because you miss him or is it because of Adriel?"

Chloe smirked and spoke with slight irritation.

"What has Adriel got to do with this conversation? Can't you be serious for once?" Chloe scolded her.

Kylie, who was not a bit concerned about Chloe's confrontation continued to tease her.

"Tell me Chloe, do you still have a crush on him?"

Chloe sighed and brought out her phone and decided to play a game to distract herself from Kylie's taunts.

"Young lady" Kylie said a little loudly, determined to taunt her friend. Chloe ignored her and continued to play her game.

"Come on, come on... Miss lover girl." Kylie continued.

Chloe, unable to put up with Kylie's continuous tease dropped her phone and sighed esperatedly. "What's your problem with me ma'am? Why are you bent on pissing me off? She demanded.

"Come on Chloe, do you still like that guy? I need to know. He hasn't called you neither did he reply your texts. I am sure he saw them and chose not to respond. He is such a jerk. I promise to remove two of his front teeth when he comes back. How dare he...". She felt a sharp pinch on her right cheek. Chloe had pinched her.

Kylie rubbed her cheeks in pain and faced her. "What did you do that for you wicked being?"

Chloe scoffed.

Kylie tried to retaliate but Chloe was fast enough to dodge.

"Oops!" Chloe said and stuck out her tongue mockingly.

Kylie stared at her and nodded her head. "Trust me, I am going to retaliate."

Chloe stuck out her tongue again. "In your dreams Miss."

Kylie was about to say something when a guy approached them.

He was a tall guy with a well-built body, making him to look like one who had spent all his days at the gym. He looked fascinating and charming. He had his spiky hair dyed in cream colour and it looked so good on him. He had a distinguishing sexy voice which had the ability to make people want to hear him speak. His mustache and beards were trimmed with great professionalism, adding to his already perfect good looks.

He was wearing a white t-shirt with denim trousers and loosely hanging from his shoulder was a jacket, giving him a bad boy look. His beautiful, pink lips looked so tempting and might make one's mouth salivate at the mere look of it.

He is Raymond Bob. He was the number one playboy in the whole school. Many of the girls had a crush on him and they would do anything to make him theirs. He had totally blinded them with his boyish charms.

"Hi ladies" Raymond Roy said jovially and gave Kylie a slapping handshake.

"What's up dude?" Kylie said, standing up.

"Hi Chloe." Ray waved at Chloe and offered her a handshake, smiling.

Chloe ignored his hand and continued with her game.

"Hi" She replied, not sparing him a glance.

If Ray was embarrassed, he did a great job of hiding it. "I guess you are busy." He tried to pick a conversation with her but he got ignored again.

Kylie cleared her throat and placed a hand on Raymond's shoulder. "Let her be, Raymond. She is having a mood swing. You know... girls stuff" She covered up for Chloe's behavior.

Ray laughed dryly and looked at Chloe again with a kind of mysterious glint in his eyes. "Oh! I get you. I just wanted to ask you ladies if I can have lunch with you next Tuesday."

Kylie shrugged carelessly. "No problem. It's fine by me."

"Really?" He said, his Adam's apple bubbling up and down. He wanted to hear Chloe speak but he was disappointed to see that she wasn't interested in the discussion.

He turned to face Kylie and cast a quick glance at his wristwatch "I'll catch up with you later. Probably during lunchtime. I've got somewhere to be." He said walking away.

"Won't you attend the lecture?" Kylie called out to him.

Ray waved his hands in the air in reply. "Nope, I'll skip classes today."

"Alright, take care of yourself." Kylie replied him and stared at his retreating figure, folding her arms.

Ray's baritone could be heard at the other end of the hall, giggling and talking with some students.

"Such a hot guy!" Kylie said with a chuckle and nodded

Kylie walked towards Chloe and sat beside her. "What was that?" She asked her with a frown.

Chloe raised her head and raised her eyebrows. "What was what?"

Kylie scoffed. "Don't act like you don't know what I am talking about. You acted so cold to Raymond. That wasn't cool of you. "

"Was I supposed to jump on him like a hungry puppy?" Chloe said sarcastically.

Kylie sighed and roved her hands into her hair. "Don't make this difficult Chloe. Your reply to him was embarrassing. The last time I checked, you never had issues with him so why the snobbish behavior?" Kylie said with a serious expression.

Chloe heaved a sigh and raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay... I'm sorry. I just didn't want to talk to him."

Kylie stared at her without a word, making Chloe slightly uncomfortable

Chloe blinked her eyes and smiled. "Fine, I am sorry."

"Whatever" Kylie rolled her eyes.

Knowing that Kylie wasn't happy with her, she tried to appease her.

"Since he said that he will like to have lunch with us next Tuesday, I accept it."

"Really?" Kylie said with a pout.

"Yeah" Chloe nodded.

"Now you are being a good girl" Kylie patted her hair playfully.

"You can say that again" Chloe said with a giggle.

Chloe suddenly paused for a while. "The truth is....Ray reminds me of him. They kind of...look alike" She confessed.

Kylie looked confused. "Him?" Then she realized. "You mean Adriel?" She asked with raised eyebrows.

Chloe slowly nodded.

Kylie clapped her hands in amusement. "What on earth is wrong with you Chloe? I am surprised that you haven't given up on that guy. Someone that you haven't seen in four years."

Chole almost teared up. "What can I do Kylie? What can I do?" She beat her chest. "My stupid heart won't just stop thinking of him."

Kylie looked at her friend in pity. "That's why you should give other guys a chance in your heart. You will easily forget about him that way and I think you're right. Now that I think about it, it seems Ray and Adriel do really look alike"

"Right!" Chloe responded and snapped her fingers.

"Whatever, just take that guy out of your life you silly girl" Kylie said and pinched Chloe's cheek.

"Retaliation successful." She laughed with glee while Chloe glared at her.

At that moment, the lecturer walked into the hall, demanding decorum from the students. Everyone brought out their laptops and jotters, ready for the day's lecture.