VI.
"Silence means yes." 

it's already 2AM and classes will resume tomorrow yet I'm still awake. My own words uttered in my mind-- I just can't believe I said it. Does it mean that I am permitting him to contradict my decisions and ? No!

Maybe I agreed because I really need help in my life. I can't blame him if I look hopeless in his eyes; that's how I see myself, too.

By past 7 I woke up and got myself ready for school. I sense a different day today, since I'll have to set boundaries for myself and such. I just feel that something is going to control me from now on. I don't know. Maybe I am just overreacting.

As I reached school and attended classes, the day seems normal. I told you, I am just overreacting.

Dismissal came. I am getting books from my lockers since there'll be a bunch of quizzes tomorrow. I was about to make my way home when I hear known heavy footsteps coming.

"Hey," a familiar voice tapped my shoulder and I realized who he is.

I turned around with a smile.

"You free today?" he asked me with a smile. How his cheekbones formed; it was just flawless. "Yeah," I said while nodding. I lied. I actually have a lot of things to do.

But this opportinity is once in a lifetime. He doesn't normally ask me out in a regular day and we often meet only when he is crying about Aril. Yeah. But I guess I should take this opportunity. My life is a stress so will be this day, so I guess I should spend time with Jackson first more than anything. I am used to staying up late, Maybe I'll just do these projects 'til 3AM.

He looked at his arms and loosened it a little as if he was asking me to cling on it. I smiled at him and clinged on it as we walked our way outside the school.

He brought me to a Playground with a sunday. We sat on a see-saw as we watched the sunset from above.

I just love him and his ideas.

"Pretty, right?" I looked at him as he spoke with a smile, still looking up in the sky.
"But sad." I added.

"So I assume I can compare you to a sunset?" he looked at me and locked his eyes into mine, creating a soothing, relaxing eye contact. I didn't respond fast, so I just smiled in the end. I can't believe this guy knows me well.

"I told you you deserve someone better," he said as he held the chain of the see saw I am sitting onto. It's going down until it reached my hand. He touched it for a while.
"But you're my best," I insisted. He just gave me a painful smile and held my hand. It feels like a friendly one though. At least he did.

When the dark came, we decided to go home. I stopped at a conveniece store to buy midnight snack tonight when I saw BamBam in between one of the stalls. 

"You've spent the day with him, right?" he calmly asked.
"Yeah?" I answered as I realized that I welcomed him to my life. He'll probably scold me after this.
He heavily exhaled before speaking, "As long as you're happy. But don't forget that I am here for you always." he looked at me before leaving.

I can't believe he cares for me that much.

***

When I went outside the convenience store, I found him outside. I assume he's waiting for me.

"What?" I asked.

"Stay the night." I raised a brow.

He chuckled, "C'mon, a friendly date." I gave him an hesitated look, and he contradicted it with a hopeful one. Well he doesn't ask too much from me, so maybe I'll do him a favor this time.

"Okay," I gave him my hand as he reached for it. He gave me a cheeky smile.

How can he have a very beautiful smile despite of me declining him a million of times?

***

"And yeah, she still . No, I mean she's so obsessed that it doesn't look good anymore. The only thing she hasn't done is giving her ity to that guy. She needs to learn." he said in between the movies. "Too much isn't really good." he added before eating a slice of pizza we just order. It's already 1AM in the morning and good thing it was announced awhile ago that there'll just be events tomorrow (and you're not listening).

"Seriously, stop judging her. Maybe she's too in love with the guy." I ate a slice of pizza.

"Stop it, Chelle. Don't be biased on my story."

"I'm just saying what I feel about your story about that girl. You know, empathy." I raised both of my hands: palm facing upward.

"Was that really empathy, or you can see yourself in her?" he asked in a serious tone.

I didn't answer.