girls. The girls on my study session. They looked at me with judging eyes.
“Angelo?” I called out. Surely he was here to save me like he always had. But he didn’t move. A girl twirled her hair as he hung on Angelo’s chest. Oliver saw them. He grinned and ran towards them. Another girl embraced him.
Then in an instant they turned their back towards me. “Wait where are you guys going? Don’t leave me here.”
But the black of the outline disappeared to the bright light. I clutched my bag tightly. A tear rolled down my cheek as I peered into the light.
***
The sun hit my eye as I realized I was just dreaming. Psychology states that dreams are a reflection of our subconscious – both our desires and the fears we have bottled deep inside of us. What could my dream mean?
But I got more things to worry about. It was the weekend before finals week and I had a lot of studying left to do. Good thing the parentals were still away on vacation.
I got up and stretched. Angelo had already left, most probably to the gym or running across the block. The weekend was rather uneventful, except that Angelo was acting a little bit distant. I mean while I cracked a book after book he seemed to be doing an exorbitant amount of pushups, sit-ups, coupled with shadow boxing. It felt like he was preparing for war.
He was edgier than usual. And the beef! And the milk! It seemed he had an urge to consume as much beef and milk as he could get his hand on. We literally had to make several visit to the grocery loading basketful of meat to satisfy him. I asked him about it and he only responded that he had a strong ‘craving’ right now. Funny thing was that he kept looking over our shoulders, like he was trying catch someone. He had the overall effect of being protective, which was saying a lot to how he normally is.
When we got to that parking lot, he looked to the distance as if trying to stalk an unknown entity. He was sort of forceful the way he grabbed me close to him when we were out in public. I suspected he was still disturbed by his encounter with Angelo. We really didn’t talk about it, so I dropped it.
My finals were getting dangerously close and I had been blasting away for studying for my finals. Angelo was already done with his thanks to the schools policy of waiving finals for athletes. Cramming late at night in the downstairs kitchen while Angelo napped, I felt my eye-lids getting heavy. Instinctively, I reached out to get some of the rocktarts. Their sugary goodness is what I depended on to stay away. But my wandering fingers only reached the crumbs at the bottom of the box.
Damn it. I was out. And I really need to get this chapter done. Instead of waking up Angelo, I decided to drive myself to the nearest convenience store.
The roads felt so desolate when I realized that it was already close to midnight. I gave the change to the cashier and clutched a brown bag full of dockyards. When I walked to the car I saw somebody that I didn’t expect.
Oliver smile and beamed a warming smile.
“Well hello there. I didn’t think I’d find someone as cute as you this late at night.” He said as he inched close to me.
“Yeah. Hello to you too Oliver.” I responded.
“How’s your mate brother doing?” He chuckled.
“He’s not my mate. I mean who uses that anyway? Neither is he my brother.” I said as the car beeped with press of the unlock button.
“Oh” he said. “That’s not what I heard. Not brother. And not mate either.”
I nodded. Opening the door and placing the brown bag down on the seat.
“Well I’m sure he’s got someone else. And that leaves you where exactly?”
“Excuse me?” I said raising an eyebrow.
“Hey all I’m saying is that I would like to give you a chance to go out with me.” He said with a grin on his face.
“A chance?” I said. It was happening all so quickly. His forwardness