Page 54 of Follow My Voice
He nods. “I told you I like to be original. So, how was your weekend? It must’ve been a good one—you look refreshed, relaxed.”
It’s nice to have people other than Andy or Kamila ask me about my life. “Yeah, it was great. I slept a lot.”
“Would someone mind telling me what I missed?” Perla interrupts. She doesn’t sound angry, just shocked and confused. “Last week you refused to speak to this dude and now you’re telling him about your weekend? Did something happen the day of the storm, after I left?”
You have no idea, Perla.
Diego clears his throat and puts on a serious expression. “The truth, Perla, is that, after you left, Klara declared her burning feelings of unrequited love for me.”
“Diego!” I protest.
Perla laughs. “Yeah, sure, right.”
“You don’t believe me?” Diego gives her a wounded look.
“Nope.”
I smile as I watch them argue jokingly, when I suddenly feel someone watching us and look up to see who it is. It’s the girl with glasses who’s always reading. She seems… sad? She can’t take her eyes off Diego.
Oh, I get it!
I look back at Diego; he’s very handsome. The red hair, freckles,and his charismatic personality and self-confidence attract people to him. I understand why he would be popular with the girls.
Diego pauses his conversation with Perla and looks at me. “What?”
“Nothing, I just like watching you two argue.”
Perla grunts and makes a face. “Well, we should be talking about the presentation. How come I have to be the one presenting from the two of us?” she directs at me.
“You’re the chosen one.” Diego winks at her. “Plus, Klara told me she worked really hard on the PowerPoint. All you have to do is get up there and read it.”
Diego is lying, of course; I never told him such a thing.
“Right, because talking about the high rates of STIs and STDs on campus is so much fun.” Perla rolls her eyes.
“I added pictures,” I say with a smile, grateful that she agreed to present in front of the class. Regardless of how much progress I’ve made, I’m still not quite there yet.
Perla grimaces.
“I hate you, guys. I do.”
After class, Perla and I go into the cafeteria to pass the time before Kamila can pick me up. I’m not that hungry, so I settle on a small turkey sandwich before we choose a table facing the entrance. My heart skips a beat when I see Kang enter wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, followed by Erick and a bunch of guys wearing soccer team sweatshirts. Kang looks so cute laughing at something Erick has said. How could a guy like him be interested in me? It seems so illogical.
Stop it, Klara. What have we said about thoughts that belittle you? You are worth as much as anyone else. I’m practicing positive thinking.
Kang’s eyes dance over the crowd in the cafeteria, and whenthey land on me, the whole room seems to fade away and it feels as if it’s just us two, alone, with no one else around. He smiles and starts walking toward me, but then he sees Perla and stops. I furrow my brow in confusion as he goes to sit with his teammates. Okay, that was really weird. What could have happened between these two for them to avoid each other like that? I hear a text notification and I take a bite of my sandwich, then look at my phone.
Kang:Hey, gorgeous. Can I see you after lunch? I have some time before my next class.
I feel butterflies in my stomach and grin widely.
Me:Yes. Auditorium hallway?
Kang:Is that your favorite hiding place?
Me:Do you have somewhere else in mind?
Kang:No. See you there.
