Love Is Second Best — Chapter 21: SUGAR RUSH

Carmella’s POV

The car stopped in front of our house. When I get outside the car, I can see some of our neighbors checking who's in the car.

When they saw me, I got scared all of a sudden. I can see that they are whispering to each other. I think what made it worse is the time I arrived. I simply glanced at my wristwatch and I realized it is almost quarter to eight in the evening.

"Oh my! Look at Gina's daughter! I never knew she already had a boyfriend!"

"Yeah, I don't know it. Does her mother know already?"

Those words never escaped my hearing. I can't help but bite my lower lip because of disappointment. How can they judge me that easy when they don't know the real thing?

Adrian got off from his car and held my hand. He smiled sweetly as he gazed straight into my eyes. I want to melt at his sight.

"Thank you so much for the ride. Please take care in going home."

"Sure. I will. I'll just message you as soon as I get home."

"Yeah. I should go." I waved at him as his car went away.

"Carmella, is he your boyfriend? Your mom wants you to study first, right?"

"Mrs. Chua, he's just a friend. He just drove me home because it's getting late." I politely answered her despite wanting to burst out.

"Hmm, please don't break the trust of your mother, okay?"

"Don't worry, Mrs. Chua. I will never follow what your daughter did to you. By the way, you are invited to my graduation party next year as the top student." I said, not holding back anymore. I guess a little sarcasm would do for them to stop those gossips and talk behind people's backs.

I stomped my feet as I went inside our house. All the weary and unnecessary feelings are eventually fading away whenever I think about Adrian and what we had the whole afternoon.

I guess he's already used to going with me whenever he will shoot his vlogs and appearances whenever he will be invited to some restaurants. I can't believe that from his 18-year-old self, he can be this confident to be independent. He even shared how much he's getting from his sponsors and for being a taste tester alone. I smiled as I lay on my bed.

***flashback***

(Hours ago)

"Why me? Of all your friends? I am sure many of them are willing to be with you just to accompany you for this one."

He just smiled as a way of response. I can't help but to avoid his gaze because I guess his charm is way too much for me. He is effortlessly making my heart pound too much without him knowing it. I am being silly but it is true.

"Hmm...why you? I don't know. I guess I am just comfortable being with you. And I think I will beg to disagree when you say I had a lot of female friends."

"Oh, what do you mean?"

"I am only friends with Kara and my other girl cousins. It is my first time to be friends with a girl because I don't know how to do it."

I can't help but to chuckle. "So you mean, I will thank Kara because she's responsible for why we met?"

"Yeah, you should be. I mean, I am thankful the most. If not for her, I won't be able to meet someone sweet and nice like you."

"You even called me Princess Diana. You're silly, you know."

"Sorry. I can really see her in you, especially with the way you smile."

"Gosh, what you've said could make me feel like I am a royalty, you know." I flipped my hair on the side as I played the fork by twisting it in between the pasta bowl. It made the pasta form a big lump and it looked delicious for me to resist.

I ate it in one bite as I covered my mouth. I widened my eyes as Adrian took a picture of it. Oh my! How embarrassing!

"Oh, please stop it!" I said between munches. I can't help but laugh as I look at his amused reaction. He felt like laughing so hard, too.

"Please? Can I have this shot for myself?" He even stopped me before I even told him to delete the picture. I jokingly frowned as I pouted my lips.

"Don't worry, you're beautiful here. If ever an advertising page will get this picture, many people will be convinced that this pasta is so delicious."

"Whoah? You think so?"

He nodded as she cheerfully grinned. Gosh, please Adrian. Don't be like that! The more you show that kind of smile, the more you're making me feel that I am special somehow.

"Hmm, that's quite a convincing power. How can I even say no? Okay. You can keep it."

***end of flashback***

I hugged my pillow as I smiled. I even touched my chest. How did I ever get betrayed by my own heart? It is beating really fast even without my permission. How can it get crazy when he's only doing that for me? Is this the little crazy thing they called 'love'? Am I feeling it only for myself?

"Carmella..." Everything went back to reality when I heard the cold voice of my mom. Her voice even made my heart beat faster, this time because of fear.

Did our neighbor tell her already?

"Coming, mom." I went outside my room and walked to the other room slowly. I even swallowed hard because of her voice. It is always unpredictable.

I knocked at her door. I closed my eyes as I slowly leaned my ears on the door.

"Come in." I twisted the door slowly as I heard the clicking sound, I opened the door.

"Where have you been?"

"M-Mom, I told you. We still have our summer project in school."

"Your friend went here a while ago."

"Who?"

"Elise Hope."

I almost froze when my mom mentioned Hope. I almost forgot her!

"Now, tell me. Where did you go? Are you lying to me now, young girl?" I can sense a full sarcasm from her tone.

"No, mom. I'm sorry I haven't mentioned my other friends. I went with them. I never told Hope about it."

"Well, at least inform her where you're going. She's even lost in here while looking for you."

"Yes, mom. I will." I nodded and after I excused myself, I rushed into my room and searched for my pants. My cellphone is still inside my wallet. As soon as I found it, I turned it on. I saw two missed calls from Hope. Weird thing, though...she never left even a single message.

I typed a message for her. However, I deleted it when I realized that I cancelled her call a while ago. I admit I felt anxious right away. What will I tell her? I hope she'll not think that I am being rude or something like that.

It just so happened that we're in the middle of our dinner date with Adrian. I know answering her calls will lead her to asking a lot of questions. One of that is asking where I am at that moment. Of course, I never want to waste any time spending it on Adrian. I don't want to spoil a lovely moment with him, either.

I'm sorry, Hope.

I decided to put my phone on my bedside table and sighed. I guess I have to just meet her at our favorite spot in school since we still have to go back. We had a lot of ongoing clearances that we need to be early even if we don't want to.

I think I could explain everything and tell an alibi better in person rather than sending her a vague text message.

----

I woke up early and I arrived at the bus stop at exactly five in the morning. Even if school days are over, I think I can never change my morning routine anymore. Good thing the school library still opened its doors for the students at a scheduled time in summer. They're open at seven in the morning until four in the afternoon.

At least I still have time to have my early breakfast somewhere before I will go to the school library to study.

"Wow! You're also early!" Someone tapped my right shoulder while I was riding the bus. Before this one, the bus stopped somewhere and I felt that some passengers were going in. My heart almost skipped a beat when I heard his cheerful voice.

"Adrian!"

"I must say, it is not a coincidence anymore. I guess we should be bus buddies from now." He grinned.

"Yeah! I can't agree more!" I replied as I bit my inner lower lip as if stopping myself from smiling a lot. I noticed that he sat right next to me. It felt really awkward but I am learning to love his presence around me for always.

"Are you going to school this early?"

"Yeah, why?" I gave him a confused look because he kept on smiling at me. Gosh, Adrian can you please stop it? I am about to melt.

"Oh, good thing! I will be going there too!"

"What?"