I arranged to sit here under the tree with my legs still crossed while holding the book I just bought last week. A strong wind blew as other students passed by and whispered to me. I tucked another strand of hair that was hitting my face behind my ear. At least no one comes up to me and wants to talk. Well, I don't care if they don't want to, I won't force them to talk to me because if they don't want to, it's up to them. I have friends like Mint and Magen.

It's only been a few months since Tito Seran was imprisoned for stealing money from the townspeople. I have no one to blame if my classmates or anyone else who knows me distanced themselves from me because of that. Sometimes I wonder why? Tito Seran is to blame but why is it like me? As long as I didn't spend anything or ask anything from Tito and as long as I didn't do anything bad, I would live in peace.

"Kaela, Shall we have a group meeting later?" asked a familiar voice.

I immediately stopped turning the page and looked up at Reil who spoke. I smiled and nodded "Yes, over there in the bleachers," I pointed to the bleachers. "I'm not sure what exact time but Sindy said earlier that we will start around 5 or 6 but you can ask her because I'm not sure," I explained.

He scratched the back of his neck and glanced at what I was reading. I thought he was going to leave but he sat next to me. "What is that?" he asked curiously.

I immediately lifted the book I was holding and showed him the title. "The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines," I read in the title.

He kept looking at the book I was holding. "You like books like that? I have a cousin who studied law and there are piles of books like that in their house but I know they're going to throw them away. Do you want me to give them to you? "

I winced at what he said. "It's no longer Reil, it's fine with me, and I don't want to accept anything from other people," I answered while shaking my head.

It's one of my habits that I don't accept help or donations from other people besides Mama who supports me. I don't want to get to the point where I will be criticized and I also don't want to be indebted to other people. Do not accept from others so that there is no one to criticize. It's not that I'm saying he's going to blame me, but we still don't really know what could happen.

"Are you sure? It's a shame," he snorted.

I closed the book I was reading and faced him with a smile. "It's fine, Reil." I said smiling. "But thank you," I said back.

He suddenly blushed because I immediately grabbed his shoulder to pat him. It was as if he was burned by my hand that landed on his hand.

"I hope Reil is all!" someone shouted so I laughed and shook my head.

"Reil is very arrogant! A big one!" shouted another voice.

Snorting and frowning, I turned to Reil. "Do you have a crush on me?" I asked without hesitation because Mama didn't conceive me under anesthesia so I wouldn't feel it.

His eyes immediately widened and his face completely reddened before he couldn't stand up. From the act he showed, I already knew the answer.

"Ah," he scratched the back of his neck. "Yes?" not sure he will come back to me.

I immediately laughed "That's normal," I grinned. "But if you think I'm going to lose my way, I'm sorry to say but it's not possible yet, Reil. I still need to focus on my studies to graduate," I explained.

He sighed and sat next to me. I can still feel his skin touching my arm. "It's okay, it's just infatuation," he said calmly.

He smiled bitterly at me before looking away. I sighed before fixing my long hair that went with the wind.

He even laughed when a few strands hit his face. "Sorry!" I said laughing while fixing my hair.

He immediately helped me fix my hair because it was a little thick so my two palms couldn't handle it. I took my ponytail from my pocket and tied it to my hair.

"But due to respect, I won't leave you, Reil. I'm really sorry, but I can only offer you friends. If you don't want us to be friends, I will respect your decision."

He nodded, looking into space as if thinking of something to say. I really want to study first before thinking about these loves.

"If Kuya Rapha confesses to you, will you give him a chance?"

I stopped opening the book. I looked up at him who immediately looked away as if he regretted his sudden question.

What if he is? When it comes to him, I always lose, no matter what I do, I build a big barrier so he can't break through. Just one look from him melts all my hard work. Why can I protect myself from pain from others? Why not when it comes to him? Why do I always give up when it comes to him?

"I don't know," was my only answer.

I really don't know, I don't care what others think of me because I lived full of self-love that I am before others. It's selfish to think about it, but that's what I've longed for, but when Rapha is gone, I start to care.

He tasted "You don't know," he repeated. "There is still doubt and the answer may be no or yes," he said with a hint of pain.

I suddenly felt guilty. Should I have said no right away? Shouldn't I have said I didn't know? But I don't want to lie to him. 'Besides, I don't want to lie just to ease his heart. It is better to be hurt by the truth than to be happy with a lie.

"I really don't know how to answer your question. It's unlikely that Rapha will flirt with me," I said frustrated because he is Rapha.

The guy I'm unlikely to focus on. The man who would rather drive me away. The man who won't choose me.

"No, it's fine," he chuckled."Don't be sorry, it's not your fault that I like you," I smiled because of what he said.

"Hey, these kids here really thought about fighting. Don't you have school yet? Maybe you're cutting each other just to go on a date. That's bad,"

Reil and I both looked at Aica who spoke. Little by little, my annoyance is building up because he is once again interfering with other people's lives. Why didn't he just talk to Rapha all night?

"We're not dating," I reasoned.

He blinked before grinning. I looked at the man who was supporting him while sitting on the other tree. I stared at them both. I have to admit that they are beautiful to watch as if they were heroes in a book with sweet movements. My neck almost broke when Rapha suddenly looked away from us. His eyes are full of glare and irritation. I am not doing anything! I don't really care about them but why does he seem angry again?! Aica was suddenly caught up in the conversation.

"You are both young, it's not good that you're dating right away. Don't you have any class?" full of his authoritative questions.

I turned to him, our eyes didn't meet because he was looking at Reil who now seemed to be carelessly fighting Rapha's gaze. Rapha turned to me before his jaw moved, he slightly crossed his arms before raising an eyebrow at me.

"We're not dating," I answered nervously.

I'm nervous because I know she and Magen are friends and maybe if she tells Magen that I'm with a guy and says that we're dating, Magen will report me to Mama. I even heard his slight grin as if he didn't believe what I was saying. I looked up at him who shook his head before turning his attention to Aica.

"Nako, nako! Kaela, you're still too young but we already know things like that," he pointed to Reil and me. "You guys are cutting, aren't you? Hey, these kids are really cutting themselves just to get in trouble," he said shaking his head before smiling at Rapha who was staring at me seriously.

I can't stop the pain. It's annoying because if he can talk it's like he already knows what's going on. Why is it easy for him to say that we are cutting? Can't it be vacant time? Do I look like I got a haircut just to go on a date? Even if I wanted to keep quiet, I couldn't because I was really irritated with him, he was so rude!

"What part of what I said didn't you understand? I said we weren't dating. Why are you interfering? If we're cutting you don't care, we're not interfering with you!" I grinned back at him.

I gritted my teeth and glared at her. I don't care about them! So why is he talking like he knows what we're doing? We did not do anything wrong!

"Watch your word," Rapha reprimanded calmly but with traces of irritation.

What watch my words? Shouldn't he tell his girlfriend that? He is the sabat of sabat, not me! Aica held him by the arm as if she was saying that it's okay because I'm just a child. I stared at Rapha who shook her head as if she was disappointed in my answer to the girl with her. I really don't want to answer her but she keeps on pressing my button!

"Let it go, it's just sad that there is a boy like that who no longer respects his seniors," Aica said pretending to be sad.

He sighed before looking at me while shaking his head. Disrespectful? What are your mercy effects? I hope you think I will respect you if you are respectable.

I blinked "As if I care," I cursed.

I immediately felt Reil's palm on my arm and shook my head. It's as if he's telling me not to say the other things I want to say.

"Don't hit me," he said, so I slammed the book I was holding.

"As if you care?" Rapha came back to me. "I said watch your words because we are your seniors," he said calmly but authoritatively.

He stood up and nodded before raising an eyebrow at us. I felt a sudden nervousness. I blinked before sighing. Seniors, yes.

"Let's just leave here," said Reil.

It was good and he extended his hand to help me stand, which I immediately accepted. I swallow one after the other because I can feel my knee softening.

"Where are you going?!" he asked like a thunder.

I stopped shaking my ass. I don't know if I will look at him again. I looked at Reil who was watching me stop what I was doing. What does he care? When he's with Aica, he's becoming a care-taker too? I shook my head and continued shaking. I can still feel my hand shaking.

"Those people will probably continue with their mischief. They will find another place where no one will see their fight," Aica said with a frown.

I clenched my fist and angrily turned to them. I just want to leave quietly, but why does he seem to be taking my patience for granted? Is he talented to annoy? Because if that's her talent then she's very talented! He's good at teasing.

"You know, just shut up," was my only answer.

"Oh!" he taught me. "To answer is disrespectful!" he shouted as he poked me.

I turned around and motioned to Reil for us to leave. I don't want to fight with them anymore. Because I have nothing to gain from answering what Aica says. He is the older one but why does he seem to be the younger one?

"Where are you going?" he asked again.

Even though my knees were getting soft, I forced myself to face him again. I don't want to be rude to him. He's still the Rapha Jireh Lejano that I admire the most. His eyes were serious looking at me as if he was also thinking about whatever nonsense Aica said. He crossed his arms before stepping closer to me. I even heard the girl with him giggle. With every step he took, I could see the dry leaves on the ground that he was stepping on, making a little noise. I looked up at him but immediately pulled back because the irritation in his eyes was obvious. I looked at Reil who was supporting me from behind. I smiled at him sparingly.

"That's it," I pointed to the bleachers.

He stared at me even more as if he was trying to figure out if I was lying or not. Do I look like a liar? What does it look like?

"Hey! Don't worry, Rapha, she'll probably find someone to move around in order to tease her! You know that Kaela is beautiful and it's not unlikely that she'll entertain the boys," Aica replied.

"Can you? Just shut up? You want to be respected but you are the rude one yourself. You're not the one talking to, right?"

"Hey!" Rapha weaned. "She's still older than you so don't talk to her like that!" his defense.

I bit my lip because his scream seemed to echo around. A few others were curious about us. After all, Rapha is that guy who only once yelled and talked to someone like me. We will probably grab their attention. My grip on the book I was carrying tightened.

I sighed before facing him. Even though his eyes were burning, I was still able to fight because I had to. "We're not doing anything!" Reil and I are specific. "That's Aica the sabat of the sabat. She keeps pressing my button! She's taking my patience for granted. What are you saying... what? Lampungan? Excuse me, you're wrong!" I reasoned annoyed.

"Don't shout, we're still older than you," Rapha scolded me again before turning around.

Why didn't you scold that girl? Why me again? Why does it seem like I'm really the one to blame?

"He's the one to blame for why I acted this way towards him!" I shouted again and pointed at Aica's behavior.

I looked at Aica who was bowing down and seemed embarrassed because of what I said. My chest is heaving because of so much anger. I was able to clench my fist. I was so irritated that I felt like tears were about to fall. Annoying! I feel the feeling that I'm about to explode because of anger but I can't do it so the only thing I can do is cry but I'm still very grateful because I didn't cry in front of them.

"I said don't shout older--"

"It's not because you're older that I don't have the right to say my opinion!" I turned to Aica in annoyance. "Please, you're done!" I shouted before turning around.

I didn't hear anything more from Aica when I turned around. I immediately felt myself sobbing. Annoying! So annoying! It's so annoying to the point where I just want to disappear!

"Hey!" Rapha shouted.

I didn't even look at him because besides feeling weak, I was disgusted with him. Why does he make me look guilty? He can clearly see who is disrespecting us and his girlfriend! After all, that's his girlfriend.

Not because she is older than me she's the one who deserves more respect if in the first place she's wrong! Even though I was young I was also deserving of respect.

My feelings must also be respected.