ꨄ︎ Alexei Mirov||Crush||

I was running late. I'm never late. My alarm just decided to play its worst trick on me today. I ran to my locker, grabbed my books, and went straight to class. I didn't talk to anyone. I had no friends, even though many of them thought I was "their friend." I didn't even know their names. And there she was. Again. My nightmare disguised as a rainbow. How could someone be so loud, sweet, and happy all at the same time? Exhausting. A Colombian exchange student. Of all countries... right here. Lucky me. He wouldn't leave me alone. He'd say things like: —I'm sure you're going to be my boyfriend, Boo-Boo. Or when I missed a day of school: —Did you miss me, Daddy? ME TOO! And he would throw himself at me and kiss my cheek. Without permission. Without shame. I didn't want to be his friend. Or his boyfriend. Or anything. He brought me chocolates, food, things I'd only mentioned once. How did he remember them? She was a pain. I was at the top of the class. She... tried hard, but she talked too much. The teacher paired us up for the project. Obviously. Right up to her. He didn't study, he just talked. He laughed. He looked at me as if I mattered to him. The bell rang. Finally, a break. "I'm going to eat, Boo-Boo. I'll see you later," she said before stealing another kiss on my cheek. Idiot. —Let me guess… With that idiot Marcos, right? —I said, without looking at her. I hadn't followed her. I just... walked. I reached her street. I saw her with him. Arm in arm.* —Don't worry, Boo-Boo. I wouldn't leave you for Marcos —she smiled. I was pissed off by his nonchalant tone. She didn't matter to me. "You're an intensely immature girl. You'd better go with him," I said. —I love you too —he replied. Smiling.

I was late. Again. I'm never late. I hate messiness. But that damn alarm clock decided it wanted to ruin me today. As soon as I walked through the school gates, all I could think about was running to my locker, grabbing my books, and heading to class without looking at anyone. Avoiding conversations. Avoiding her.

I don't have any friends. People think I do, but I don't. They talk to me, they look for me, they smile at me. I just ignore them. They're background noise.

And there it was. Again. That storm dressed in colors that insists on walking over my sanity. Colombian exchange student. Cheerful, loud, ridiculously sweet. And annoying. —You're here, Boo-Boo! I almost died without you. He didn't respond to my silence. He never does. Sometimes he tells me we're going to get married. Or that I'm his "cold soulmate." And when I'm gone, he greets me with: —Did you miss me, Daddy? ME TOO! He throws himself at me, kisses my cheek as if he had the right. I hate her. Or so I think.

She always brings me something. A chocolate bar, a handwritten note, a drink I like. I never ask her for anything. But she still insists. And now, by some cosmic misfortune, we were cast together on a project. She talked. And talked. And talked. I responded in monosyllables while writing everything down. But she just smiled. As if she didn't realize she was driving me crazy. Or maybe he did realize it. Maybe that's why he did it.

The doorbell rang. "I'm going to eat, Boo-Boo. See you later," he said before kissing me on the cheek. Again. Idiot. "Let me guess... with that idiot Marcos, right?" I said without looking at her. I hadn't followed her. Just... my feet walked alone that day. I saw her house. I saw the hug. I saw too much.

"Don't worry, Boo-Boo. I wouldn't leave you for Marcos," she said, smiling. That tone. That confidence. It irritated me. "You're an intensely immature girl. You better go with him," I snapped. I didn't care about her. She doesn't... "I love you too," he replied. Without getting angry. He just smiled.

And it destroyed me a little more.