Love Is Second Best — Chapter 30: LAST YEAR'S CHANCE

Carmella's POV

"So, when do you plan to tell everything to her?"

I looked at the reaction of Kara's face. She seemed worried about what she intended to tell me.

"Huh? Tell what?" I replied. Somehow, I got what she meant. I saw her swallowed as she met my gaze.

"Tell Elise about Adrian." I faked a laugh and it made her look annoyed. "Look, I am not joking, okay." She added. I sighed as I smiled.

"Why do I need to tell her?"

"Do you want to be the bad guy here? Let me remind you, Carmella...she's honest, like freaking honest I couldn't help but to feel guilty." She responded, even avoided my gaze.

"I am thinking about how to do it. However, I can't help but worry too much."

"Worry about what?"

"Well, I am thinking that if I tell her about Adrian, then it's like admitting I have a boyfriend or something like that."

"What? Oh my goodness how did you come up with that, all of a sudden?"

"Well, it's been a long time since we started going out. If she finds out that I am keeping all these stuff to her, I feel like everything will be messed up."

"Messed up with what? With whom? I always know you'll never think about that."

"She's not malicious, that's a fact. I don't want her to think that something is happening between the two of us."

"Whoah, Carmella, you know what? You're a more advanced thinker than I thought. I am liking it." Kara said as she chuckled. I glared at her because of her funny response.

"Nope. That would not happen, never."

"But you just admitted to me that you liked him,right? Don't tell me it will never go somewhere, like in a deeper lane?"

"You're crazy," I shook my head but I felt my cheeks flustered.

"Hey, you're blushing!"

"No, I am not!" Too late, too bad, Kara knew me more than anyone. I just covered my face because I looked like a red tomato about to burst out.

"Hello, Kaka!" My heart almost jumped when someone greeted behind us. It is Hope. I hope she didn't hear what we're talking about just now.

"Kaka?" Kara and I almost chorused. It made her laugh so much. We were scratching our heads and laughed with her since hers is really contagious.

"Carmella and Kara." She said between chuckles. We replied a long, amazed 'ohhs' as our response.

"I just think that it will be cool to call you that since both of your names have similar first syllables when pronounced."

"I really like this girl. Where did you get her?" Kara referred to me. She puts her left arm on Hope's shoulders, pulling her close as she stands beside her.

"She found me, okay? It's like a gem is finding her owner on her own." We laughed altogether.

I looked at Hope and she looked really charming and innocent. Kara is right. I am starting to feel guilty. All these months of friendship with her, she never failed to share every little detail of her life to me. She's always honest. The truth is, she's too good for me. I haven't even remembered getting angry at her because she'll be the first to say sorry if she thinks things are not happening her way.

Her good heart is always admirable. She's really kind. If you're her best friend, there's never a way you will try to hurt her in any way.

We went inside our room. Everyone gets too focused on listening to our professor because it's the last year before we go to college. We have to stay focused or else we will lose track of our goal.

Yeah, I almost forgot. That goal. My goal to be number one, as always. I glanced at Hope who was smiling as she listened to our professor.

How could she get so relaxed in everything? I can't deny the fact that I envy her too much. Her father loves her so much that she doesn't need to prove herself. I sighed and scribbled some notes. Kara gasped with amazement on how organized my notes were.

"Oh my, that's effortless for you. Gosh, I wish I could do that, too."

"Miss Kara..."

I could hear most of my classmates chuckle because of what our professor did. Kara sat straight and focused on her notes as well.

"Everyone, I need you to stay focused and treat everything with confidence and perseverance."

I could hear some murmurs coming from my classmates as they mentioned my name and Hope, too.

This is the part where I hate the most. I have to admit it. We are being compared.

"Imagine, a newcomer beating Carmella? That would be really exciting!"

"That's not impossible. Hope only gave Carmella a chance last school year. Hope should be the first if not for her kindness."

My two gossiping classmates were the worst. How could they even talk when they know that I would hear it?

"I know, right? That's why we have to observe them closely. That's really fun." Thelma secretly did a high-five with Denise under the table as they smirked.

I sighed as I began to feel anxious. If only looks can kill, those two were already dead by now.

I glanced at Kara who looked at them as she closed her fists. I shook my head from left to right as I gazed at her. She shifted her attention at them and glared at the two. When they realized that Kara is looking at them as if warning them,they stopped talking and comparing Hope and me, for now. However, I know they will never stop until they will see me at number two.

Our English class is done without me even feeling it. I saw Hope coming towards us. Her sweet smile brightened everyone. She's giving us the lighter aura like that of an angel.

"Whoah, if I am a guy, I would court you right now." I chuckled because Kara almost say my thoughts out loud, it's amazing.

"Kara, stop harassing Elise Hope, will you?" I said between chuckles. I can see Hope covered her mouth as she chuckled, too. She put her arms around Kara's shoulders so that it made her blush.

"Why would you even think about that?"

"Well, aside from you looking exactly like Gal Gadot, I am really a fan of beautiful girls." She said while raising her eyebrows up and down while grinning.

"That's why we became the best of friends." I answered that it made Kara laugh. Hope is really cool because she nodded as if agreeing with me.

"Right. I will not agree more." Hope replied, enjoying what she's seeing right now. I noticed that most of our classmates seem to judge the three of us from head to foot. From the look of their eyes, I noticed that they are not in favor of us, Hope,being best of friends. Well, who would want rivals to become friends, right?

As Hope looked at me, I could see how genuine she is that I couldn't help but to avoid my gaze. She's literally killing me with kindness that it hurts me so bad. It is making me feel really guilty even for no reason at all.

"If I am a guy, she's my crush for a lifetime." I added which made Kara snort out. She's really outrageous when she laughs. It is causing too much attention.

"Oh boy...you gals are amazing. I regret not studying more for this section."

"You're not too late, dear. You still belong because it is like saving the best for last."

"Thanks Elise and Carmella. Thank you both for welcoming me."

"Welcome to the club, babe." I even wink at my first best friend before Hope. If I have a lot of bashers, they are both enough to keep me going. My thoughts were disturbed when my phone rang.

When I looked at the call register, I realized that it was Adrian. Hope and Kara gave me a confused look.

"Why won't you answer?" I gently swallowed after Hope said those words. She even smiled that it made me nervous all of a sudden.

"Guys, please wait, I'll just answer this call." I stepped almost four meters away from them before I answered my phone.

"H-Hello?" I even put my hand on the lower part of the phone as I answered. I heard a cute, chuckling voice on the other line.

"Hey, you sounded like you just finished a sprint. What happened?"

Gosh, Adrian why are you being like this? I just kept the thoughts to myself as I bit my lower lip.

"Uhm, nothing. Sorry, I ran outside the room to answer your call."

"I miss you. Let's eat after school please? Wait, let me go there to fetch you."

A rush of panic swept through me as I looked around. Carmella and Hope are also looking at my direction. When Kara slowly got my point, she tried to talk to Hope to distract her.

I sighed with relief before I answered back. "Yes, of course."