Chapter 6: Player much?

I blinked a few time hoping my mind is playing tricks on me. Maybe this person just look like him, but I was fooling myself. The moment he spoke. By the sound and tremble of his voice. It was those manly, sort of boyish voice that makes my heart melt. We just freakin' met, why am I feeling this? Has cupid shot an arrow at me already? Have I already moved on? It can't be.

"Sorry, I'm late." Caleb apologizes to our gym teacher.

"I don't tolerate late students. You know that." He replied.

"Get a piece of paper inside here." He added, and Caleb randomly picked the small folded paper from the fishbowl and sauntered to the corner and sat. I gazed at him hoping this wasn't for real, but it really was from my angle I had a great view of him. I can't believe we're classmate in this subject. And also the fact he's my partner.

He sat beside the curly haired dude and he's probably asking what we're going to do. I propped my head onto my palms, I stared at him, and he laugh when the curly haired dude said something. His dimple appeared whenever he smile. It's completely cute and attractive.

When abruptly our eyes locked. He blinked a few times as if shocked to see me or he's shock that I'm staring at him. But needless to say he smiled at me, with a dimple on top. I forced a smile and quickly looked away and focus on our gym teacher. But my cheeks started burning in embarrassment when he caught me gazing at him.

Just when I thought my life would me normal my heart did a summersault again.

"You are so damn lucky my friend." She said, patting my back as if I did a great job.

"I know him!" I whispered to her.

"Everyone knows him," She said in a matter-of-fact, "I told you he's like the team captain of the lacrosse team. That makes him like the heart throb of this campus. Every girl in this school are obsessed to be his girlfriend. But he loves playing with girls around. So if I were you. You shouldn't trust him that much. He may appear kind, but I tell you, you're just part of his monopoly game." She said, animatedly.

I frown. "No you did not. You only said he's the team captain. But you never mentioned his name!" I don't know if I should hit my head on the wall because this is totally a slap in the face. I wasn't prepared for this unexpected scenarios. The guy the girl was kissing hours ago was freakin' damn him? My God.

"Yes I did..." She thought about it for a second, "Oh yeah I didn't, sorry." She giggles and gave me the peace sign.

"Ashley and the new girl." The teacher called. We both glanced up at him. "Do you have anything good stories to share?" he says. And all eyes riveted to us. Damn this. At the corner of my eye Caleb gazes at me. I didn't dare look back at him.

"None sir." Ashley said. The teacher squinted his eyes on us, then went back to his discussion.

Then I remembered. "What monopoly game?" I whispered and raised a brow. She glances at me.

"You know, like he'd buy all the property in the neighborhood and when he isn't making enough cash in that property, he'd try to sell the property to other players and buy another one that'll be much more worth it... if you know what I'm trying to say. Have you even played monopoly?!" She asked, gazing at me as if I'm ridiculous.

"Of course I have! and besides, why do you know so much about him?" I say even though I just met Caleb yesterday, but the fact that I don't play monopoly is quite hard to comprehend. And this piece of information has somehow intrigued me.

"I've been here since kinder. I see him around."

"Are you a stalker?" I jested and her eyes widen.

"Hell no!" She gently slaps my arm. I raise a finger in my mouth, telling her to quiet down. "I oftentimes notice him around, that's why okay? Besides I have my eyes on someone else."

I slightly giggled. "I was kidding, then who's this lucky guy of yours then?" I whispered.

"Let's talk about him later." She said, smiling.

"Okay, so where was I... oh yes..." She continues, "I used to see him play with this girl in the park. Not a single day he'd tease her and make fun of her and she'd chase him around the park. Well, I was with my friend Pete that time. We're playmates and always in the park wasting energy. So we'd always see Caleb with this girl. Then during, probably, fifth or sixth grade. He sat on the swing crying. Ever since then, he was always there. Day and night. His mom would drag him to come home and she'd hug him. Eventually he'd cry into his mom's shoulder. His mom then would carry him home. The girl probably died." She looked up at me and shrugged. "It's kind of sad and sweet story, don't you think?"

"A tragic story, to be exact. But probably she just left town." I say, shrugging. I glance to his direction and I found him intently listening to our teacher.

"Probably?" She nodded.

"Wait Ash, Why did the teacher asked him to get a paper from the fish bowl?" I asked confused.

"Ladies, please get your partner, and discuss the type of dance which your other partner has already chosen that you'd be doing for your finals, by the way, you all have to wear the appropriate attire that's assigned to you." He announced.

"There he said it. Anyway good-luck, Livie." She impishly grinned at me and moseyed to where her partner is, and apparently it's the curly haired dude who Caleb was talking to earlier. Everyone was finding theirs, while I stood here frozen on my feet. Surprisingly, he came up to me.

"I don't know if this is fate? Or it's a mere coincidence that I, or we keep bumping into each other." He grins, reading my mind.

I shrugged. "It's a mere coincidence, I guess." I said smiling. The fact that all these information about him being a playboy isn't syncing in my brain.

"Shall we begin then?" He asked, smilingly.

"How'd you know we're partners?" I asked, incredulously.

"Hmmm...maybe because you're the only one who doesn't have a partner."

I slowly nodded my head turned as my eyes roamed around. Everyone already found their partners. Eventually we both sat down on the wooden floor. One small movement our knees would touch.

"What dance are we going to perform?" I asked and glances up at him.

"I haven't check yet...let's find out." He grins and starts unfolding the small paper in his fingers. We both stared, and the black ink made a word 'waltz'. We both sigh in relief and our eyes locks ones again. His electrifying chestnut eyes captivated me to come closer. I immediately looked away from his gaze because any second longer I might go insane. I'm seriously attracted to him. No wonder why in the hell girls are so dead over heals over this dude. Although. I'm definitely not going to fall for his tricks, never.

"Good thing you've picked the easiest one." I said, while I twirl my hair with my finger.

"Yeah, so this means we aren't going to practice this anymore, right? Or are we?"

"No need."

"Then I guess were done with the discussion?"

"I believe so, but why you never mentioned you'd be studying here?" he asked, astonished.

He propped his elbow on top of his leg and rested his head on his palm. He leaned in closer and stares at me with twinkling eyes. I slowly backed away from him, hoping he wouldn't notice. He's definitely invading my personal space which makes me feel uncomfortable.

"You never asked, and besides. You also didn't mention you have a girlfriend." I blurted. My eyes widens for a split second when I realized what I've just said. I punched myself in my mind.

He blanch. "You saw that?" His eyes widens as if he wasn't expecting that from me. And I reluctantly nodded in response. He continued. "Well, that? She's well..." He stammered. "Definitely, not my girlfriend." He leaned back and looked away.

"I didn't mean to pry. Never-mind. Sorry."

"Nah, its fine. I'm sorry, you shouldn't have seen that. I look like a jerk don't I?" He asked and stared intently into my eyes.

"Well, to be honest, it's more of a douchebag I was astounded you're a campus hot shot here."

He snorted, and shook his head. He then leaned back and sigh. "I'm just trying to forget about someone." He confessed.

"Forget someone?"

He nodded, glumly. "My friends keeps telling me to hook up with some girls, just too forget about someone." He said not directly looking at me, but over my shoulder.

So he had a girlfriend. I undertsand that it takes a lot of will power to move on, from someone you thought would stay until the end. Though I wonder what she looks like, but the shimmer and the liveliness in his eyes transformed into a clear glass.

"If its meant to be, your path will always collide." I smiled, hoping to cheer him up, even just a bit.

He looked at me and half smiled. Abruptly he stood up. I glanced up at him.

"Where are you going? Classes just started." I said in bewilderment.

"I'll just go to the comfort room. I'll be back." He forced a smile and left me dumbfounded.

֍֍֍

After our P.E. class, which somehow gave me this weird feeling, because Caleb never came back. Was I too talkative? Have I done something to upset him?

Averting the thought, Ashley and I munched down my favorite sushi we bought near the store, while she showed me around campus.

"So tell me, how did it go with Caleb?" Ashley jovially asked. I glumly glance at her, not uttering a single word. "I'm getting this feeling, it was a disaster?" She says and I nodded, while I chew. She heavily sigh.

"The typical Caleb." She murmured. I looked at her confused, I gulped down the sushi in my mouth.

"But guess what. He told me about his childhood friend." I said and her eyes widen.

"He what now?" she asked.

"He told me."

"I know what you meant, but how?! What did you asked?" she asked in disbelief.

Eventually, I told her what happened a few hours ago and she stared at me in astonishment.

"You know, he never tells anyone his personal problems to anyone he just met, so yeah know. The fact that he never had a 'REAL' girlfriend before. Although I thought he's a monopoly player...keep your guards up."

"What's with you with monopoly games?" I asked.

She glanced at me and gulped down her sushi before she replied. "To be honest, I tremendously hate the game. I keep losing. In fact I curse that game." I laughed at her. No wonder.

I then noticed her staring at my last sushi, I extended the container to her.

"Do you want the last one? I'm bloated." I say.

Her lips curved in to a broad grin, and nodded. She then poke the sushi with her fork. "Arigatou gosaimasu," she said, bowing.

I grinned. "You're welcome."

We were in the schools' field and it was undeniably superb, the grass was so greenly healthy like young fresh meadow that you could lie down and stare at the sky. Ashley and I sat on the bleachers.

In the field, lacrosse players were practicing. While on the corner, rugby players huddle. It reminded me of Dylan. I shook my head averting the thought of him. I focused my attention instead to the lacrosse players practicing. My eyes suddenly landed on a player. He was fast, well built. And I had this assumption that it was Caleb. He dodged the player in front of him swiftly, then the other, no wonder why he's the team captain. He's undeniably good.

When he took off his helmet. He messes up his silky hair and it was indeed him.

"You never told me why you moved here." She suddenly asked.

My heart clenched at the thought. She stared at me while patiently waiting for my reply. I gulped my saliva before explaining.

"My parent's... had an accident and didn't survived, so now I'm staying with my grandparents." I thought my words carefully not saying the word dead. I just can't, especially when it's about my parents. I hate saying it just by saying it, something in me breaks. A tear formed in the corner of my eye. I wiped it off before she could notice.

"I'm sorry," she glumly said.

"Nah, its fine. It's life." I replied forcing a smile.

"Yeah, Life." She heavily sigh and propped her elbow on top of her lap and rested her head on her palm.

"Those unexpected goodbyes, hurts; when they're gone. A piece of your heart feels like it forcefully ripping itself apart."

I glanced at her and she stared at the players, as if lost in her own thoughts.

"You lost someone?" I asked carefully. She riveted to me and blinked a few times.

"Yeah, my best friend, but life goes on right?" she forces a smile.

"Yes, it does. Like a broken heart slowly picking up its pieces."

"Are you broken hearted?" She blurted out and beams at me.

"What? Nooo...never had a boyfriend before." I lied.

"Are you sure? Because I'm good at detecting liars." She grins, and it appears like she was giving me a chance to take back the words I've said.

"Okay fine, you caught me. I used to have a boyfriend. Okay." I averted my gaze.

She snort. "You know, I was kidding." She laughed harder this time.

I gently slapped her arm and frowned. She wiped her tears in the corner of her eye.

"I'm sorry." She smiled, "We're still too young to understand love anyway, although, you'll know when he's the one. He may not be perfect, but he'll definitely be perfect for you." She said.

"Let's go?" I ask Ashley who seems so mesmerized watching the players.

"Yep, our next class start less than five minutes." She said without glancing at me.

֍֍֍

As soon as classes were finish, I said goodbye to Ashley and I decided to head straight home. Along the road, I thought of how my first day went. I met Ashley who's undeniably friendly and somehow we both have this weird connection. Also the sudden revelation of Caleb being a playboy. The first time I met him I knew he was. But he seems so nice, the fact that he saved me earlier. I know he isn't what Ashley thinks about him. I know there's more something about him. My guts told me so. But all in all, it was like a haunted room, full of hidden surprises that is awaiting to scare the shit out of me.

The moment I arrive home, I parked the car in front of granny's house. And killed the engine. It was already around seven in the evening.

Stay strong baby girl. My dad's voice lingered in my thoughts, I need to keep that promise. Even if it's killing me inside. I have too. But to be honest, it's so hard to fake a smile especially when you know, you're breaking inside.

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