NEVER NOT

BY: ESTELLE

I can't explain how much this guy matters to me. Like, I never not think about him all the
time, because I always do. The way I could easily make my mouth curve, just by the sight of
his smile to me. Everytime we walk past each other, even though we're not really that close.

But this time it was different, we got to converse with just the two. It was our school batch
reunion. And he happened to sit at the last seat, where it wasn't taken, all other seats were
full, so it was only him at that time. He was exclaiming offering his seat to me, and I of
course accepted it. How can I waste such an opportunity? So, yeah we sat by each other.

It was awkward at first, no one dared to speak any words. But it soon faltered, when my
extroverted/introverted self decided to speak up. "Hi" it was just a simple greeting, and he
reciprocated, which relieves me big time. "Hello, you're Carmi right?" He asked me, as I just
raised my brows at him and nodded. "Well, it's good to see you, we usually meet in the
hallways." He commented. Does he remember me? My delusional self just twisted in such
delight right now.

"I didn't get to know your name though," I lied at that point, I already knew his name, but I
wanted to make the conversation longer. Yet just as I expected he just smiled and happily
told his name. "I'm sorry, I sound so creepy earlier, you don't even know my name so soon.
I'm Hans." He apologized so cutely, making me giggle for a sec. He looked at me, confused
at my reaction, as I apologized at my sudden outburst of such behavior. " I'm sorry, you're
just too cute." I cover my mouth with my hands. Did I just say that to him so shamelessly?

That's where I stopped. I'm doomed, I just got out of my boundary so easily at him. His face
got more confused when I suddenly just stopped and looked at the window awkwardly.

"Are you okay?" He warily queried, as I shyly glanced at him. "Yeah, I'm alright, just
remembered something." I nervously chuckle and divert back.

We arrived finally, that was sure so tiring waiting and sitting for hours at that damn chair. I
stretched my arms back, holding my favorite backpack tightly; I already saw my friends at
the corner with fans in their hands.
"Indigo! Trixie!" I shouted, as I excitedly walked through them. "Carmi!" Indigo greeted me,
while waving to me so cutely. "Why are you guys so drained?" I asked them both. Trixie
rolled her eyes, while fanning herself so aggressively. "How can we not? It's been so hot for
hours and we've been waiting here forever. Look at their services so dumb!" Trixie still
hasn't changed— still the badass as ever. "Yeah, I could totally agree. Wished I never really
attended this reunion, I was about to study for my upcoming exam next week." Indigo
sulked, with her brows furrowed.

"Well, this girl right here decided to attend just because she thought he was gonna attend
too." Trixie sassily spoke with such exaggeration. "You already know who it is girlie, no need
for validation." She shrugged at me with such sassiness.

"Okay everyone! May I speak to you all?!" A voice behind us just started announcing at the
microphone as we all faced them.

It was the SSG officers as usual. They were preparing for the event they planned. Great.

I didn't get to listen to the whole announcement, as I was focused on some faces on the
other side of the camp. It was him with his friends. He was so smiley, while speaking to
them, which already caught my eyes. "I see you're looking at the lover boy." Indigo suddenly
whispered through my ear. "Wahh-you startled me!" I gasped.

She laughed at me, while giving me a pat. "It's okay to drool, just be careful with your stare,
you're going to point holes in his face." She shook her head.

" I wasn't looking at him, I was looking behind him. " I tried to deny. But I know this girl
won't get fooled so easily when it comes to this stuff." Yeah, same thing, you were looking
where—there's a part of him" she emphasized.

" You know what guys! let's just go, I'm quite hungry." Trixie cut our argument and just
decided to get something to eat.

" You both have been arguing about that guy over there, when you both already know she
won't have a chance of him. " I know she was just joking but that statement made me shriek
in offense. "How dare you? " I gasped at her dramatically. "Don't be like that Trix, don't
make her feel bad about herself." Indigo pointed at me apologetically.

I just rolled my eyes at both of them. They don't really want me to live in peace.

" I don't know but, he's been eyeing you for a while now. " Indigo nudged me, as she looked
behind me. " How can you know he's looking at me? " I emphasized trying to conceal the
butterflies. " Of course, he's been looking at your back for like forever, he's digging holes on your
back illegally, that's rude. " She scoffs, " you both should really talk. " She said to me.

" I don't have time for that, but yeah we quite talked during the ride earlier. It was
awkwardly good, " I quietly said at the last part, but these gossipers knew they heard me
loud and clear. As it comes in their eardrums they both shriek and exclaim. " So... I knew it!
you both talked. '' Trixie teasingly arch her brows together, while smirking at me. " Well, he
was the only one that had a free seat. " I gave them a duh expression, continuing my meal.

"Oh come on, I know, we know he saved that seat for you." Indigo groaned. "How can you
know?"

"I saw him of course, he rejected a girl giving his seat to her, he even clutched his bag like a
tiny boy." She laughs at the memory. "Tested and proven babes, no more lies." She gave me
a "I know babes" expression in a sassy manner.

Making me fit in a chuckle at her statement. They wouldn't leave my dramatic self in regret.
They always try to comfort my ass, when I can even handle it myself.

As they were all busy, talking about things to her guy. Someone from the other seat was
glimpsing their talks far away. Looking at her, standing while explaining her point to her
friend. He's been glancing at her talking freely with her friends in a secret manner.

He wondered why they stopped talking, when he was so close to confessing his feelings for
her. It hurt him, seeing her just pass through his figure like a ghost or something to be
avoided.

Even heard, she has someone else that was making her happy without him—without
needing his attention.

"Hey! Ruka, you've been facing that table for a while now, are you okay?" His friend asked
him, as it cuts his trance. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just remembered something." He reasoned, as
they got back to their original conversation.

"I heard there's gonna be a karaoke later." He heard her voice talking just behind them, it
immediately sent his body to freeze. Eyes wide, while trying to conceal his butterflies. "Yeah,
they will. Let's go and have some fun sometime." Her friend agreed. "That should do." She
giggled, making his heart melt just by her voice and laughter.

He might not have known, but someone just from their circle noticed his sudden behavior,
by suddenly seeing her friend passing by their table.
Its mouth curves in a suspicious manner, suspecting a tension on its eyes.

So he decided to follow the game. "Should we join the other girls, say there would be a
karaoke later, is anyone here in?" He smugly said, didn't forget to catch his target's eyes.

"Well, sure. There's no more works to do, so I'm down." Gaten raised his hand in agreement.
"Game." His friends exclaimed as he smirked in triumph.

It was six in the evening, the girls were now wrapped up in a circle in a karaoke room. They
were wearing their best dresses for this celebration. They're looking very gorgeous.

As they were talking, busy looking at a song to start, when the door opened happens to enter
Hans with his friends. Jean was shocked to see him, mostly in the Junior's section.

"Why's he here?" She whispered to Indigo, as she just sent a confused look. "I don't know,
you should ask him." She sarcastically responded.

"Well, it's the opportunity that just happened babes, let him show your beauty." She smirked
at Jean in a teasing manner.

"You're so disgusting." Jean groaned, while Indigo just sheepishly laughed. "Okay, this song
should start the spot." Trixie spoke out, happily typing the numbers.

The instrumental started, as Trixie and Indigo sang with their heart out, while Jean was just
watching them both, while also eyeing at the Senior's section.

They're still talking, yet she immediately diverted her gaze, when he kind of noticed a stare.

At least minutes later, another group of guys entered the place. It was Gaten and his friends.
Indigo enthusiastically greeted her soulmate. "Gaten! What a nice surprise." She happily
said, giving out their favorite handshake.

"Yeah, my friends and I heard you guys are going here to sing karaoke, why not let us join
you guys!" He explained that it made Indigo nod and agree. "Sure, that's great news, come
on!" She tilted her head to them and invited them to sit down.

"Be comfortable, we don't bite. By the way, these are my friends; Jean, and Trixie." She
pointed out.

" Nice to meet you." They softly muttered.

Everyone was singing and dancing to the music, unknowing two guys are specifically staring
at two women that are enjoying with their hearts out.

Both wondering when or how to make a move with them. "How can I ask her to talk about
something... About—us?" They thought inside their very minds.

"Ruka! Sing!" His friend Sky told him, holding out a mic to him. "No, I don't sing." He
declined, shaking his head." That's a bummer, we should be enjoying ourselves." Indigo
booed, getting quite droopy from draining her energy to that song.

" You know what girl, you didn't even drink any alcohol, yet you look like you're going to pass
out from drunkenness. Trixie joked out. But Indigo just responded with a duh look and rolled
her eyes.

"Proceed the party shall we now?" Indigo cutted Trixie off, and began to sing. They
continued to sing, when the door suddenly opened there went a head seeking. It was Ana M.
The girls hoard in delight. "Ana!" As Indigo, who was singing, stopped and greeted her
friend at the door. "Why are you so late?" They asked her, she was sheepishly giving them a
smile. "I got in by a traffic and was helping my aunt at home; forgot to tell you guys I'll be
going a bit late." She shyly scratched the back of her neck.

"Then that's good, because we'll be partying." Trixie held her hand and made her sit. "Are
you gonna sing?" Trixie added, Ana shook her head in reply. They were busy entertaining
their girlfriend, while the boys were just there...staring at them.

Gaten cleared his throat, earning their attention. "Are you guys gonna proceed?" He kindly
asked them. "Yeah-yeah we're gonna, let's just Indigo do it first." Jasmine said, pushing her
close to the karaoke tv.

Indigo was confused but just shrugged as she was still not finished. On the other hand, Ruka
was staring at her intently, while she was singing and dancing to the song.

He was waiting for the right time to approach for about an hour now. The only thing is that
his courage couldn't meet his expectations right now.

Later that night.

"Guys, I'll just go to the comfort room for a sec." She asked, as they only nodded at her.
As those doors closed, Ruka excused himself. "I'll be back for a while." He said to his friends
already knowing what he meant as they smirked at him, coming up to his senses and
approaching the gal.
Indigo was deeply sighing, rubbing her stomach from the mixed foods she ate. "This sucks."
She hissed.

She was about to go back, when perfectly in time Ruka saw her, as their eyes met together for a
second, before Indigo could even escape he held her hand and said "let's talk."

“I knew you would say that, but no-never i don’t want to.” she pulled her hand from his hold.
“Even just for a short while, please?” he begged to make her stay. “Ruka, I know you badly
wanted to explain the whole truth, but I just can’t.” she apologetically caressed his hand before
letting go, going back inside.

He was broken or wasting such a time, yet he can’t seem to just let her go that fast.-

“I can help you with her.” someone said behind him. It was Gaten, “did you hear it all?”
“All of it.” Gaten responded.

“I can clearly understand her, well i knew her first than you. But just be strong, she clearly had a
reason for her to close her heart out to you.” he patted Ruka’s shoulder to console before he left
also.

“Jean, are you okay?” indigo asked her friend. Seeing she was a bit tad. “I think they really made
you drink that bad, look what it led you to.” she scolded, trying to lift her friend. “I’m never
gonna allow you to drink again,wait- where’s Trixie, jasmine and Ana?” she cut herself realizing
her other friends.

“They were walking together with their friends of yours, and said they were going to find some
dates.” Jean’s said crush but in. “oh, is that it? Those girls are really gonna taste some of their
medicine when they get back.” Indigo screeched her teeth together about the news.

“Can i?” Hans asked me to pass my friend over to him.

“What are you trying to-
“Just want to help you lift, bet she’s a bit heavy.” he reasoned to me, i wasn’t gonna agree but
doesn’t have a choice because he clearly does have a point. So she carefully passes Jean to his
arms.
“Be careful, hold her gently or you’ll break her.” she sternly pointed at him. “I will.”
As they were now walking away without them knowing someone was going to help her, but
someone beat him to it. Seeing her talking to someone else, made him feel such an urge to steal
her away from that other person. But what can he do about it? He had the chance yet he wasted
it big time. “Ohh, yeah i heard about it.” she exclaimed while walking with that guy so normally,
while he's beaten deeply in his heart.

“What can I do to earn you back again?”