What if?

Chapter 54: Awkward Silence

Nick

Michael was crazy a while ago. Doing such things was not his style but I don’t know why he did that. I even pushed him away from me. I am now inside the classroom and already seated but Michael is still not inside. “What was wrong with him?” I asked myself as I looked at the door waiting for him to come. After a few seconds, Jake came inside the classroom. He did not look at me but he stared at my guitar. My guitar is with me and I am still standing. I sat on my seat and left the guitar on the floor. Jake changed his attention to his seat and also sat on his seat. 

“Do I have to go to him and tell him that I got a guitar?” I asked myself. I really want to tell him that I have my own guitar so I can learn the piano using my own. I think it is better if I have my own guitar because at least I get to practice at home. “Okay, my decision is finished.” I said as I went in his direction. “Jake…” I said and could not add more as I saw him turned to look at me. “Yeah?” Jake replied. “Uh...hmm… Good morning! By the way, I just want to tell you that my parents bought me a guitar yesterday and I think I can use this when we practice.” I said to Jake with a shy voice. I am really shy. 

“Good for you.” Jake said and turned his head to look at his phone. “Hmm… Thanks! I will be going back to my seat now.” I said to Jake. “What the hell was that? GOOD FOR YOU? Ugh! Why did I even have to tell him.” I said to myself while walking away from him. “Nick!...” Someone shouted. I turned to look at the person who called my name. It was Jake. “Let’s go, we need to go and clean our area.” Jake said and he stood up on his seat. “Hmm…” I said and walked first. 

“Ouch!” I exclaimed when someone bumped into me. It was heavy and strong. I thought my head was about to c***k. “Are you okay?” Jake asked while looking at my head. “I think so?” I answered. Even though I really feel so much pain, I could not say it since I don’t want the person who bumped into me to feel bad. “You should watch where you are going.” Jake said to me. “I know.” I replied to Jake. “Oh by the way, I am sorry.” I turned to look at the person who bumped at me and said. “Michael… Hey, where were you going?” I said as I saw that it was actually Michael who bumped at me. Michael is still cupping his head. I felt bad seeing him. “Are you okay?” I asked Michael as I massaged his head. I think I'm heavier than him. 

“I thought I bumped into a big rock. How could you have such a head?” Michael asked in pain. He was not joking and I know that although what he said was insulting, it was actually a fact. “Sorry. But I think it was not just my fault, it is also yours.” I said to Michael even though I am feeling guilty of what happened. “Yeah, I know.” Michael said as he turned to look at us finally. Michael turned his eyes on Jake. “Where are you going?” Michael asked me a question. His voice was in a serious tone. It was not like the normal one. He doesn’t seem to be mad at me, his voice was just blank. 

“We are going to our area and clean.” I answered Michael in a cheerful tone of voice. I was hoping that it would change his mood. “Hmm… I see.” Michael said and he then sat on his chair. I really really don’t know how to respond with that. A while ago we were talking to each other normally and in a blink of an eye the atmosphere changed into something gray. “I’ll go outside.” I said to Michael. I could not find any words to say so I just ended it like that. There was an awkward silence between the both of us. “Hm…” Michael replied shortly. 

After hearing his response I continued to walk. “Oh, I almost forgot. We need to bring the things for cleaning.” I said to Jake as I turned to him. “Wait here, I will get them.” Jake replied to me. He then immediately went to get the things. I could not take it so I looked at Michael’s direction again. He was scrolling something on his phone. “Here.” Jake said while handing over the broom to me. I was still looking at Michael’s direction when Jake gave it to me. “Let’s go.” Jake said to me and he walked first out of the classroom. Before leaving the classroom, I saw Michael standing on his seat and was on his way to clean the inside of the classroom. All my classmates started to clean their area too. Actually, we still have a couple of minutes before we start cleaning but since Jake has made the first move already, our classmates started to do the same thing. In this school, you don’t have to tell your classmates to clean. The students clean with their own free will. 

I remember that when I was in my previous school, my classmates would usually call names and shout inside the classroom so that we will clean. The teachers were also having a tough time telling all the students to clean. Some come to their area and sit or do not clean, they just go to their area so the teachers will not be mad. The teachers thought that the students were really cleaning but weren’t. Old times were really different from what I am experiencing right now. This school just has responsible and all around students. Sometimes, I think that I don’t fit in this school and class. 

“Are you good?” Jake asked me. “Yeah.” I replied to Jake. “I see. A while ago you were just standing and looking at the ground for a long time.” Jake said to me and then he continued to sweep the leaves. “s**t! So embarrassing.” I said to myself after realizing that I was actually zoning out of reality. “Uhm… still the both of us huh?” I said to Jake trying to change the topic. “I guess yeah. There are more girls in our group so maybe they are still doing something and we were here earlier than the said time to clean though.” Jake replied without looking at me. 

That was something, did Jake just talk to me in detail? I think we are getting closer. “s**t” I exclaimed. “What?” Jake said after hearing me. “Oh now, did I just say it out loud?” I said to myself while trying to calm down. “Hmm? Nothing!” I said to Jake. What is wrong with me? Why did I even think about us getting close to each other? I don’t even think he wants to befriend people. 

Jake did not reply, instead he continued to sweep the leaves. The atmosphere became clear after I said my last reply to Jake. I was about to say something to lighten the mood but our other group mates came. “Hi, sorry we were late.” Nicole said as soon as she stepped on the area that we were cleaning. We are now a complete group cleaning the area. 

“She’s doing it again.” My other group mate said. I looked at where they were looking. “Nicole…” I said as I saw what she was doing with Jake. She is so close with Jake even though Jake is doing all the job she seemed like flirting. Does she like or really need something really important from Jake? Not a good thing to do by a girl like her. 

“I really can’t believe her. I hope she wakes up from what she is doing.” The other said as they stopped looking at Nicole and continued to sweep the leaves on the ground. I immediately finished my area and the others did so too except Nicole. She is not doing a lot of effort because she is busy with Jake.

“Ouch!” I heard Nicole exclaim. When I turned to see what happened, I saw Nicole on the ground. She might have slipped. “Nicole! Could you please stop doing that? Everyone here is doing their task and yet you are here but keep on staring close at me. That is not helping. I hope you refrain yourself from doing that. Look at the others here. You should reflect.” Jake said out of nowhere. Jake then walked away after saying it. Nicole could not move to her place. I think she was surprised. I was even surprised that he literally shouted her name. Jake could have that unwanted feeling the first time she has been doing it. She could have been an eyesore to Jake that is why. She was not doing much effort and was acting around Jake so that could have been the cause why Jake did that.