“Sometimes I am,” she replied. The subtle defeat in her voice had Seth’s chest aching. “But sometimes I think it’s worth it.”
“Really?Him?Nina, you could truly be with whoever you wanted.”
“Oh, I don’t think so B -”
“You areso beautiful,Nina, and other than that, you’re hella smart too.”
A sigh resonated.
“But youknowwho I want.”
Seth’s heart stumbled on her words.
It was Bianca’s turn to sigh.
“If you like him, then just ask him out? It’s time forhimto fall foryou. You’ve got to at least try Nina. You’ve pined for this boy long enough,” Bianca encouraged.
That’s when Seth heard their footsteps. He scrambled upward, tripping a little on the steps, before composing himself. They ended up going in the opposite direction, away from Seth.
With a deep breath, he paused on the steps.
Thing is, Nina didn’t even need to try. His heart was drawn to hers too. Always.
Nina still likes me.
After five years, Nina still had feelings forhim.
Seth wished he hadn’t heard the conversation between Nina and Bianca under the stairs. It’s all he could think about now, a silent tide, crashing against him.
For the next couple of days, he could hardly focus.
In English, he didn’t pay attention to the Shakespeare techniques and metaphors and whatever of it all.
During Math, he fumbled a little on the practice test (though he still got 80%).
It wasn’t until Wednesday afternoon, after lunch, when Seth and Joshua were on their way to their free study period classroom, that things escalated.
They crossed the main courtyard of picnic benches where most students hung out for lunch.
That’s when he spotted Nina; her hair was in braids today - a camera in one hand and a microphone in the other.
She seemed to be approaching different groups of students, interviewing them for something. The sight of her enthralled Seth.
She was so focused, so confident. The way she held stance, the furrow in her eyebrows.
Beside him, Joshua scoffed. This caught Seth’s attention, and he flickered his gaze toward him.
“She’s so weird, man,” Joshua murmured, shaking her head.
“Who, Nina?”
It’d been a while since Joshua mentioned Nina. Or teased him about her.
Joshua and Nina hardly ever spoke much, except for brief exchanges in class, so why was he alwayssoantagonistic toward her? Dennis glanced on from next to Joshua, his brows furrowing in concern. He never disagreed with Joshua, but Seth sensed that he didn’t like how Joshua acted either.
Joshua groaned loudly.
“Yeah, and like, her little camera crew.”
