What if?

Chapter 38: Nicole ll

Michael

John and I are in the same group of cleaners and when I looked for Nick’s name, I found out that he will be together with the other new students, Jake and Nicole. Nicole is a little strange for me but I don't know if she will also act strange with Nick. I hope not. But I am quite sure that she will be acting strange with Jake. Knowing that Jake is a handsome guy and with charm. I think there are many girls in this room that like Jake but they can’t afford to speak out because of Jake’s personality. 

My group cleaners are designated to clean the classroom. Luckily, we don’t have to do a lot of work because my classmates are very organized and clean so that you can’t see trash inside the classroom. All we have to do is sweep the floor and dust the glass windows. 

However, in Nick’s case it is different. They are designated outside the classroom and it is at the back. Their area is the worst area to clean with. There are many tree branches outside most especially at the back so dried leaves are expected to be many. 

Just  a while after Nick and his group mates went out to clean, I was surprised that Nick came back after a minute. I also noticed that Jake was holding his hand. I can see that Nick didn’t like what Jake was doing with him. I was actually about to butt in when Jake let go of his hand. I felt relieved. They had some talkings but I was not able to hear what they were talking about. Besides, it is not my attitude to listen to people’s conversations. 

Jake then gave broom sticks to Nick. “Maybe they forgot to bring their tools.” I said as I saw them walking outside the classroom. 

Now, my classmates are one by one entering the classroom and going to their respective seats. Upon entering Nick's group, I saw Nicole tailing Jake. “Guess I am right.” I said as soon as I saw Nicole’s scheme. “What do you mean?” Asked my John who is beside me. “Look, Nicole is acting that way again.” I said and pointed at Nicole using glances. John was able to understand my actions and immediately looked at where I glanced. 

“Whaa!!! She is really amazing. I wonder what her future will be if she continues to be like that.” John gave his opinion. “I wonder too.” I said while nodding my head. “She likes everyone that she thinks is a potential. I remember last time she confessed that she likes you and after a week she confessed to me. Her audacity is in another level.” John said which made me laugh. “You know what is exciting? I want to see her confessing on Jake and let us see what will he get from him.” I turned and said to John. “Whaa!! Yeah! That would be a great moment.” John said with excitement. 

John and I are not bad generally speaking. But we have some bad sides, just like this. “Knowing Jake’s characteristics. It would really be an amazing moment to see.” I replied to John. “They are coming near.” John said and acted as if he was writing some notes. Behind Jake, Nicole and my other two classmates was Nick. “Why does he look like that?” I asked myself as I saw Nick’s expression. He looks different.

“Is Nick okay?” John said while staring at Nick walking. “I don’t know.” I replied to John. “He looks like he is thinking a lot.” John said which made me worried. “I wonder what he is thinking. Don’t worry, I am going to ask him after our class with Teacher Krystal.” I replied to John. “If something is wrong with him, you should.” John replied while writing in his notebook. 

Jake and Nicole finally came to their seats and Jake was the last one to sit. They all first out the things they used for cleaning in their areas. Why do I feel like they did something bad to Nick? If they did, I will not let this slip. 

When Nick finally was near me I looked at him and grabbed his hand. “Hey, are you okay?” I asked Nick. At first he was startled, maybe because somebody suddenly grabbed his hand so I understood him. “Yeah.” Nick said and took my hand off his hand. After taking off my hand, he then continued to walk to his seat. 

Even though Nick passed me already, I still looked at him. He  seemed to feel that I was looking at him because he just sat on his seat and took his notebook and pen outside his back and sat properly.

After a few minutes, Teacher Krystal positioned herself in front of us and started teaching. I was not paying attention to what she was talking about at all. Since I was busy thinking about Nick. What Nick answered me was not enough for me. He said he was okay but he seemed not. He smiled but it wasn’t his smile at all. I hope that Teacher Krystal’s class ends soon. 

After fifty minutes

“Any questions gals?” Teacher Krystal asked jokingly. “None Teacher!” My classmates shouted loudly. “Okay then, thank you for this class students! See you tomorrow morning.” Teacher Krystal said and bid her goodbye because we will not be able to see her today. Not unless we get to eat at the same place. But that is so impossible since teachers have their own canteens. In this school we have a teacher's move. It is where students stay inside the classroom and just let the teachers walk around and go to each section’s classrooms. 

Pretty tiring since the buildings here are high with floors. I think they are doing well though. I heard that the teachers actually voted for this and it won unanimously. See? It is not our fault, it is theirs. Never heard a teacher complain though. 

Teacher Krystal went out of the classroom after she bid her goodbye. She always gives us 10 minutes before another class as a rest for all of us. I hope all teachers are like her. Our butt feels so hot every time we have our classes. Since we don’t move and just sit all throughout the classes. Luckily we have teacher Krystal who is very caring to her students. She is our classroom adviser. 

I went to Nick’s direction as soon as I saw that teacher Krystal was not visible. “What are you doing here?” Nick asked as soon as he saw me. I sat on the free seat beside him. “Are you really okay?” I asked Nick without answering his question. “I am, what is the fuss all about?” Nick asked. I know that he might be curious now but I am curious as to what happened to him in those 15 minutes. I want to know if he was bullied or what. 

“I want to know what happened to you in those 15 minutes. Why did you look so down after cleaning your area? Did something wrong happen? Did someone bully you? Tell me.” I said to Nick while holding his hands tightly. “Nothing happened to me really. Stop asking me a lot of questions and go back to your seat.” Nick said while trying to take his hands off my hands that are holding his tightly. “Stop and answer me. I am worried, okay?” I said, trying to lower my voice because I don’t want to get my classmates' attention. 

Nick is so annoying. Why won’t he just say it. We don’t have that much time to talk about more things so I am doing this to him. “There is nothing to talk about.” Nick answered while looking down. He is trying to look away. “I hate it when you are lying. I know you, just say it, if not, I am not going to sit in my seat until you say it to me.” I said to Nick trying to threaten him. I know that in this way he will definitely give the answer to my question. 

“Are you serious? I told you that there is nothing to talk about, why are you forcing that there is?” Nick said while looking at me closely. “Okay then, I will stay here.” I said to Nick softly and sat on the chair comfortably. I also took my hands off his hands so that I could sit properly. Our seats are all set. If the students are not sitting on their seats, they will be tagged as absent. I know Nick knows that already since teacher Krystal mentioned it a while ago in her discussion.

“Fine I will say it.” Nick said and held my right hand. “The thing is, come closer.”Nick instructed. I think he feels shy to say it or it is something controversial that he doesn’t want anyone to just listen. I moved myself closer to him as per instructed. “So… what was it about?” I asked softly to Nick. “The thing is that while we were cleaning our area… uh… I don’t know if this is okay to say but... I heard two of my group mates talking about Nicole. They said that Nicole is flirtatious and that she is hunting boys here in the class that are potential. I also heard that she tried to, you know… like to do things for you to like her but she also did that to John.” Nick explained. He was shy while telling me what happened. 

“And? Why are you like this?” I asked Nick. “I don’t know, maybe you like her.” Nick said that made me laugh. “Hey, why are you laughing?” Nick asked while covering my mouth. “I don’t like her, not even a single percent. I would even confidently say that it is a total negative that I will come to like her, the same with John. I think she is trying to lure Jake but I am a hundred percent sure that John won’t like her back.” I explained to Nick so he will not feel bad. I believe that Nick was just thinking about me, it is like what if I like a bad person like Nicole? It is like this. Nick is such a sweet in his own way. I know he cares about me a lot. 

“Really? I think so too. At first I thought she was a good person but it was all fake. I was totally surprised when I heard her schemes.” Nick said while closely looking at me. “Time is up. I need to go back to my seat. Just don’t worry okay? And listen to the next teacher. He is a terror.” I said to Nick and left the seat beside him and immediately went back to my seat. 

“So what was it about?” John said as soon as I sat on my chair. “Nick heard Nicole’s schemes so he was worried about the two of us. I told him not to worry because we don’t see Nicole as someone that we can learn to like.” I said to John. “Really? You said that? Whoa! You are amazing.” John said while shaking me. “Shut up! The teacher is coming.” I said to John which made him stoned. The next teacher is really a terror. We have heard a lot about him since first grade.