6
EVELYN
1 week later:
1 week had passed since my birthday. 1 whole week of having fun. 1 week of turning 17. And 1 whole damn week of seeing him, my bff brother, my crush, Kai, if you don't count our one accidental meeting. I've missed him since then. He was serious, very serious. Never smiled. Or maybe smiled sometimes, but only at Ava, his little sister. Not on us. I had received many gifts on my birthday. Many gifts, carefully written hand notes and a few beautiful simple things from my classmates.
Ava had gifted me a watch. A gold watch, to be precise. She was very rich. But because of Kai. But no matter how rich she was, she didn't flaunt her wealth.
She was extremely rich. Not "can buy a designer bag" kind of rich but "owns 3 houses and a driver" kind of rich. Kai worked very hard and earned a lot of money, but still neither one of them ever made fun of the others for being poor.
In fact, I had even seen them thousands of times giving poor people money. This was the best thing about them, and that's why I loved them both. Ava, as my friend, and Kai – well, you know.
I missed my family also. I was the only sibling but had a mom and dad. Mom was always ill.Always.And that's why Dad had to work hard. He worked all day and hardly got any leave from his work. It had been 1 year since I last saw them. I was 16 at that time. They can't come to my birthday either. On my birthday, Mom was more ill and could barely be awake, and that's why I didn't call her. While my dad was working and taking care of her, I didn't talk to him either.
Forget it; I will cry if I think about them. I missed them to an extent.
Right now, I was walking around the college thinking about... Kai. The way he had talked to me that day. The way he said happy birthday to me. He just had said two words, "happy birthday" and "bye, you too", but since then these words have been revolving in my mind on loop. I have been thinking about it since then. I had never been happier to listen to these words. That day many people had wished me happy birthday, but the one I liked the most was from Kai. It wasn't special, but it came from him. And he was special.
I know he never can be mine, but still I dream of him every time.I was so busy in my thoughts that I didn't feel someone coming till she touched me. Ava. She was here.
"Hi. "What are you thinking about?" She said, putting a hand on my shoulder.I wish I could tell her what I was thinking, but it was a secret, and no one can know it.
No one.
"Nothing special. "Where were you?" I was changing the topic, but the thing which was best among us was we never pressured each other to talk.
"Oh...changing the topic. Fine. I was in the canteen. Eating as usual." She said, smiling. Ugh, she always eats.
Always.
"I bet one day you will be as fat as an elephant."
"Shut up. But I know you were thinking about a guy. Who was it?"
"I wasn't."
"Uh huh… You get this creepy smile when you think about a guy."
"I don't have a creepy smile."
"Oh, you do."
"I hate you."
"I love you too."
I shook my head in disbelief, and then we both went to our next class. Mr Max's class. She hadn't told me till now how she and Mr Max know each other.We entered the class. It was very bright. His class was always so bright. He was standing in the middle of class with a chalk in hand while everyone entered and sat in their place. I also went and sat on my seat.
Mr Max was the most serious teacher. He taught us biology. He never smiled. And I mean never. No matter if someone told him a joke, he would be so serious, like he would get hurt if he laughed. He never even smiled, let alone had a big full laugh. He could make even a comedy show a funeral. If I said Kai was serious, Mr Max was more so. Kai sometimes would smile at Ava, but I don't think Mr Max ever even smiled at anyone. He was a young man and very handsome, yes, but my ideal type was Kai, not Mr Max. He and Ava had a secret. But I didn't know what, and I didn't ask. Maybe she doesn't want to talk about it
.I was sitting lost in deep thought about Kai.
Memory:
I was walking down the street when I got hit by someone, and my books all fell down. Honestly, it was my fault, but the guy didn't blame me, and in fact, he bent down and started picking up the things. I smiled and said sorry, and when I picked the book, my hands brushed against him. I looked up to see it was Kai. I blushed more and was stopped there, and we had our first eye contact. I blushed more, but he just looked at me and then looked down, giving me my books, and went away. But I felt at that time also that he was feeling something.
"Look towards the board, Ms Evelyn." Mr Max said sternly. I jerked and looked towards the board and nodded.
"Yes...yes, sir. Sorry." I said hurriedly while everyone started laughing.
"Silence!" Mr Max said, and everyone became quiet hurriedly. He started teaching us about plants, and we listened. It was so boring. Animals were still fine, but plants – they were so boring. Animals did everything. They hunt, they prey, they eat. But plants. They just sat there photosynthesising.
We all were trying to control our yawning, and then finally after a long hour the bell rang, and we started running outside.
But Mr Max again scolded us. "Walk, don't run." He said, shouting.
We stopped in our tracks and started walking slowly, more disciplined.
Finally the day finished after we attended all classes, and I and Ava started walking towards home.
"Ugh. I hate Mr Max. He is so bad. Always serious, like we will fine him for smiling."
"Hmm." Ava just hummed and walked.
"Ava. What are you thinking about? I don't want to be nosy, but still, you are so lost in thoughts. Like, what are you even thinking? I am worried about you."
"It's nothing." She said.
"Are you sure? I don't want something to happen to you. I am worried." I said worriedly.
She giggled and shook her head and said, "I am alright."
"You always giggle when you are nervous or scared."
"I don't"
I put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Just don't do anything stupid ok. If there is something and you don't want to tell me. Atkeast, tell Kai. Ok?"
She nodded, and we started walking while talking, and then we reached my apartment, and I went in. Her apartment was 2 streets away from me, so she also started going.
"Bye."We said goodbye to each other and went in different directions. I entered my room and then went towards the window. I glanced outside, looking at Ava.
She was standing there for some time but then went away. I looked at her till she disappeared. I thought of messaging Kai about Ava so someone could take care of her.I took my phone and wrote 'hi' but then quickly erased it and threw it on the bed because I didn't want Ava to be sad from me.
I looked outside from my window and saw Kai standing in the far distance, walking while talking with his personal assistant, Noah. He was, as always, looking handsome, talking and also walking. He always worked. Always.He had worn a black suit and tie with pants, the clothes he always wore. No matter what.
I stared at him secretly while he was out talking with Noah. He looked up at the sky but then caught me staring at him. I went and hid under the blanket.
Oh no. Oh no. What will he think? That I am such a creep. Uhhh.