Chapter 3: III

"LAIA," SOMEONE WHISPERED FROM BEHIND HER. "Do you have an extra pen? Can I borrow?"

Why do students even go to school if they forget their pens?

Laia smiles instead and takes an extra pen from her pencil case. Her classmate thanks her and continues on with his work.

The days went on like usual. Laia arriving at school, Laia spending her time in the library and reading all the advanced study materials that she could, and of course, listening to Brie talk about how her relationship with her boyfriend is absolutely amazing.

To be honest, Laia had never felt the need for a significant someone. Sure she had a crush on a few people throughout her life, but they never last due to Laia's lack of long-term interest. She had always been an introvert, but due to her school somehow making her their representative in every competition near and far, she had to always step outside of her comfort zone and converse with other people.

It's probably one of the reasons why she started creating a mask. A mask to hide her true self, a mask to conceal her true feelings about various things.

A mask that stopped her from being herself.

Laia sighs deeply as she closed the Science book she was reading. No more Science for today since my heart hurts, the girl thinks as glares at the innocent book beside her.

Her eyes drifted to a group of students hanging out and talking loudly in a nearby table, obviously just there to connect to the library's WiFi. If only they knew how slow the WiFi can be especially during this hour.

Not that it's Laia's problem. She could not care less about those students.

The girl stands up from her seat and makes her way to the bookshelves. She thought for a while about which subject should she study next and decided on Math. She can never go wrong with it, as she always did loved the subject ever since she was still a child.

She stopped near a bookshelf that had different books regarding the same topic. She was about to take one of the thicker books when a hand was suddenly on top of hers.

Laia immediately turned around and bumped into someone's chin. The girl yelped and lost her footing, falling to the ground.

"Ugh, my head," She complains, her hand rubbing the spot that would probably bruise later. She can only hope that the person's chin would bruise as well.

The girl raised her head only for her brown eyes to meet familiar blue ones. She could not help herself from scowling openly and it made the boy grin wide.

"I'll be taking this then," Samuel said, taking the book out of the shelf and walked away, even humming a tune.

What a real asshole, Laia thinks.

She slowly stood up from her position, grabbing onto one of the bookshelves for support. She could only wish her ankle was not twisted or anything.

Fortunately, it wasn't. But her forehead did indeed bruise. Looks like the asshole didn't just have a huge head, he had thick skin as well. Fits his ugly personality, the girl notes to herself.

Seeing that the book she was about to borrow earlier did not have another copy, she left the library and went straight to a nearby coffee shop to drink coffee. The coffee shop, Brewing, was particularly liked by Laia for it had a collection of books customers can read while waiting for their order and she also had a small crush on the barista that had a shift this day.

The girl smiled at the thought of seeing the barista, whose name was Niel. He always greeted her whenever she came and would even recommend her a good book to read when there are only a couple of customers inside.

She felt giddy and excited.

The walk to the coffee shop lasted for about ten minutes and Laia finally arrived. Right on her calculations, Niel was indeed the barista during this hour. The girl pushes the door and when the barista's eyes saw her, he waves at her and smiles brightly.

I wish I can see his smile every day, Laia thinks. She wonders which school does the boy goes to since he looked around her age or maybe older by a year or two.

She walked towards the counter was about to order when someone once again interrupted her peace. A very familiar someone.

"Lopez?"

Laurie. Laia rolls her eyes so hard she thought her eyeballs would fall off. How in actual hell did they even end up in the same coffee shop when there are about five other coffee shops near their university?

Niel looked at the two of them, obviously curious about their relationship. The look on his eyes was definitely curiosity and partly mischief. Could this day get even worse?

"Laurie," Laia answers, smiling instead of flipping him the bird. If only she could.

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Samuel shakes his head, already used to the girl's attitude. The boy turned to the barista in front of him and ordered two cappuccinos and a pumpkin latte.

Laia knew only one person who liked pumpkins during summer. It was Brie.

"Laia!" A familiar voice yelled from one of the tables, making everyone turn to the girl and glare at her.

Brie immediately shut her mouth and blushed. Her boyfriend, Laia forgot his name, chuckled at his girlfriend's actions.

Not that Laia was being bitter or anything but she thought they would break up a few weeks back due to a fight. She's actually happy they are still together.

But she's not happy that she has to sit NEXT to the asshole as right after the asshat entered the coffee shop more of their schoolmates followed him and soon the rest of the tables became full and left Laia no choice but to sit with the only people she knew in the place.

However, the girl was still very happy as she remembered how Niel told her a copy of a book she requested would arrive next week and even said he will reserve a copy for her. She had been waiting to borrow that book for months!

She could buy it but she knew if she did her allowance would not be enough for another two months. So rather than buying it, she could just borrow it, and while reading she could stare at the boy on the counter as well.

"Laia, what are you daydreaming about? You haven't eaten anything!" Brie reprimands her and pushes a plate of brownies to the girl.

Laia reluctantly took a brownie and ate it. She knew that Brie would scold her again if she refuses and she would rather not have everyone's attention on them once again if Brie throws a tantrum.

She could feel the asshat's eyes on her as she ate the brownie. Did she look funny? Her mother did always tease her when she's eating, saying that her cheeks would look like a chipmunk's.

The girl frowns at those thoughts. Why does she even care if what the asshat thinks?

At Niel's arrival bringing their beverages, Laia and he shared a small smile. Laia sips from her coffee and gleefully thanks the boy. "This coffee is really good, Niel,"

The barista smiles shyly. "Despite drinking that every time you go here you still say that Laia,"

This makes the girl flush. Brie noticed her friend's discomfort and she speaks up. "It's probably because your coffee is really good, um, Niel?" Niel nods, smiling. "My friend over here just really likes your coffee. Don't you want to hear her constantly say how good your coffee is?"

Niel flushes at this but retains his smile. He turns to Laia. "I apologize. I did not mean to offend you. I'm thankful for your continued visits,"

Laia stands up abruptly and shakes her head. "No, no! Don't worry about it, it's my fault--"

The bell on the counter rings. Niel turned in its direction and immediately ran to it as his coworker looked pissed. He obviously needed help with all the customers piling up.

Silence enveloped the four for a few minutes before Brie grins maliciously. "You like him!" She whispers excitedly, clapping like a seal.

Laia shushes her with her hand, looking around for anyone who might hear. Unfortunately, the person she should be worried about is currently sitting next to her, and Laia knows it.

"How long have you been visiting this coffee shop to see him?!"

"I," Laia looked at both the boys, obviously feeling awkward. Brie noticed it and made both the boys promise not to say a word to anyone.

"It's funny how you happened to like him out of all people," Samuel suddenly said after finishing his cappuccino.

Brie turns to him in confusion as Laia started to feel the anger inside her rumbling again. What does he even care about who Laia likes-

"Well," Samuel looked at Laia and at the boy currently at the counter attending to the customers.

"Well what, Sammy?" Brie asks. Laia raised an eyebrow at what her friend called the asshat but said nothing else. Brie turned to her boyfriend, tugging his shirt's sleeve. "Do you know what he's hiding, Jake?"

Brie's boyfriend, Jake, Laia will remember his name this time, smiled nervously but said nothing.

The asshat stole a glance at Niel one more time and looked directly at Laia's eyes as if excited to see how she will react.. "He's gay."

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