FLASHBACK - A Week Ago.
~
Adrian's focus on his homework was broken by a soft voice above him. "Coffee?"
He looked up, surprised to see Gabrielle standing there, holding out a cup. "It's your favorite, Americano. Aren't you going to take it?" she added, a hint of playful impatience in her tone.
Adrian's gaze flickered from the plastic cup to her face. "What are you doing here?" he asked, a touch of suspicion in his voice.
Gabrielle sighed dramatically and pulled out the chair next to him, settling in with a casual air. "Just take it, what are you pretending for?" she said, then propped her feet up on the table.
"Hey!" Adrian swatted lightly at her leg, then quickly started gathering his things.
"Don't put your feet on the table, that's not right."
"Hah!" he heard her chuckle at his remark, and he rolled his eyes. "Go back to your class. Did you ditch again?"
Gabrielle covered her mouth and yawned widely. "It's Elizabeth's class. So boring. Her voice makes me sleepy every time." She picked up the Americano, took a big gulp, and mumbled, "You know how boring her class is."
Adrian watched her drink his coffee and frowned, pointing at the cup. "Didn't you give that to me?"
Gabrielle raised an eyebrow, the rim of the cup still at her lips. "Just a sip. Why are you so stingy?"
She pulled the cup away, her face contorted. "Ugh, so bitter! I wonder why you like this coffee so much." She held the cup up, inspecting it.
"It tastes like garbage! Or maybe you're the weird one," she said, looking pointedly at him.
"Tsk!" Adrian clicked his tongue in annoyance, deciding to ignore her and bury himself in his homework.
Gabrielle just chuckled, taking another sip of the coffee. Fine, let her drink it. Why would she buy me something anyway? This girl is definitely here to annoy me again, he thought.
Suddenly, a voice whispered right next to his ear. "Whose homework is that?"
Adrian jolted in surprise, dropping his pen. It rolled across the table and clattered to the floor.
Seeing his startled reaction, Gabrielle burst out laughing again. This girl really loves smiling, he thought, too bad it only irritates me.
Adrian quickly rubbed his now red ear. The warmth of her breath had tickled it. "Don't suddenly stick your face so close to me!" he scolded.
Gabrielle laughed again and playfully poked his right ear. Her finger lightly brushed the inside, then she gave it a soft pinch. "I always knew your ear was super sensitive. That's cute."
Adrian cut her off, glaring. "Gabe!"
"What?!" Gabrielle asked, feigning innocence.
"Tsk, if you're just going to keep bothering me, then go! I have work to do!" Adrian said, picking up his pen and returning to his writing.
Gabrielle's eyes landed on the stack of papers and a few math problems scattered across the table. She picked up one copy, flipping through the pages. It looked like some students had taken advantage of Adrian's kindness again, forcing him to do their homework.
Psh, this idiot, she thought.
"Oh, this?"
Suddenly, Adrian heard a rustling sound and looked up, shocked to see Gabrielle throwing his papers onto the floor.
In a panic, Adrian quickly snatched the remaining papers from her hand. "What are you doing?!"
"Trash." Gabrielle stated, tearing a piece from a paper, crumpling it into a ball, and kicking it away.
Adrian's eyes widened in shock, staring at her in disbelief. "Are you crazy?!"
He quickly got out of his chair and bent down to pick up the crumpled paper and the rest of the stack Gabrielle had tossed. "Tsk, you're really a brat!"
Gabrielle burst out laughing, clearly amused by his reaction. Adrian shot her a quick glare before continuing to gather his papers.
Once he had collected everything, he walked around the table and placed the papers far away from Gabrielle's reach.
"Pfftt. Where are you going?" Gabrielle asked, a smirk playing on her lips, as she watched Adrian drag his chair away, the legs scraping loudly across the floor.
Adrian stopped and gave her a sarcastic look. "Isn't it obvious? To stay away from you, you crazy woman!"
Gabrielle just laughed. Adrian, still frowning, carefully uncrumpled the paper. He let out a silent sigh of relief that it wasn't an important page. Otherwise, he'd be in serious trouble.
Just as Adrian thought he might finally get some peace, he heard the unmistakable sound of a chair being dragged beside him again.
What now?
Adrian paused his writing, closing his eyes, and took a slow, deep breath, trying to hold onto his patience. When he opened his eyes, he saw Gabrielle pulling a chair right next to him, a big smile plastered on her face.
Creeeeekkk... creeekkkkk... creeekk... creeekkk..
"...." Fuck.
After a few more loud drags, Gabrielle finally stopped and plopped down beside him, still grinning.
"Ugghh!" Adrian threw his head back tiredly, finally raising his hands in defeat. "Fine! Do whatever you want! But don't do anything stupid again! Or else I'll be in trouble! You're not so heartless that you'd want to see me get into trouble, right?!"
Gabrielle's lips pressed together for a moment. Then, looking directly at him with an intense gaze, she said, "Don't let those people bully you."
Adrian shot her a cold look. "You're the one who's always bullying me!"
A faint smile touched Gabrielle's lips. "Yeah," she admitted.
Adrian snorted at her proud answer and went back to his writing, lost in his own world. He didn't notice when Gabrielle leaned closer, propped her elbow on the table, and rested her face in her palm, watching him with a thoughtful, deep look.
"Adrian."
Adrian clicked his tongue in irritation. "What?"
"Is it possible for a fish to fall in love with a swan?"
Adrian paused, her strange question stopping his hand halfway. He glanced at the half-solved math problem on the paper in front of him, realizing this was the third time he'd stopped writing.
He put his pen down and turned to face Gabrielle, surprised to find her leaning so close. Quickly hiding his shock, he asked, "What kind of stupid question is that?"
Gabrielle paused, her eyes shifting away. "Well..." As she thought, her arm casually slipped onto the table, and she rested her head on it. "Do you think it's possible for a... a gay guy like you... to fall for a woman...?"
Gabrielle's voice grew softer as she spoke. She buried half her face, waiting for Adrian's answer, not daring to look at him.
Adrian was stunned by her question. He stared at his friend with a complicated expression for a moment before suddenly letting out a short laugh. "What's with that question? Haha."
Gabrielle groaned in annoyance and lightly kicked his foot under the table. "Argh, shut up. Just answer it."
"Ow! Tsk!"
Just like Gabrielle, Adrian also propped his head on his arm, facing her. "Hm... I don't know," he mumbled.
"You don't know?" Gabrielle leaned in closer, almost without realizing it.
"Uhm... probably not."
"Why?!" Gabrielle pressed, her face now just inches from his.
Adrian awkwardly looked away. Her pretty, frowning face so close. "I think it depends on the guy," he explained, "like if he's actually straight or if he still finds girls attractive. Some guys aren't naturally gay, and they do like girls, while other gay guys are truly only into men."
"How about you," Gabrielle suddenly asked, her voice softer, "are you sure you're into guys?"
Adrian was caught off guard, suddenly speechless. They stared at each other for a moment, both waiting for an answer, until Adrian finally broke the quiet.
"Of course I am!" Adrian lifted his head, his voice firm. "I've known my sexuality since middle school. In my heart, I'm always attracted to men."
Then, a mischievous idea sparked in Adrian's mind. He glanced at Gabrielle, then leaned in even closer, his face near hers.
"Why'd you ask? Are you, like, secretly crushing on me?" he teased with a grin.
A heavy silence stretched between them. Adrian waited a few seconds, but Gabrielle just stared at him blankly, not saying a word. Just as Adrian started to feel awkward from their intense stare, Gabrielle finally spoke.
"Are you tired of living?"
Hearing her sharp reply, it was Adrian's turn to burst out laughing. He clutched his stomach, roaring with laughter.
"I'm just kidding," he managed between giggles. "I know you'll never fall for me."
"How about you?" Gabrielle suddenly asked.
"Hmm?"
Gabrielle blinked, her gaze unwavering. "Could you ever fall for me?"
Now it was Adrian who was speechless. What's gotten into this woman? Why is she acting so strange lately?
"Pfft! What the heck is wrong with you?" Adrian scoffed, trying to laugh it off. "Why even ask that? Of course I won't fall for you. I'm gay! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Gabrielle only stared at his smiling face for a moment before looking down, her thoughts hidden.
"Hey, aren't you hitting the club tonight?" Adrian changed the subject, oblivious to her quietness. "Take your boyfriend, what's his name again? Is it Matt? Bring him along! He's pretty loaded. I can sell him a lot of drinks and make some cash. Come on! You should be nice to your friend, just this once."
"No. We already broke up..." Gabrielle murmured, her voice barely a whisper.
Adrian's mouth dropped open in shock.
"What?! How many times have you dumped boyfriends now?" Adrian exclaimed, picking up his pen and getting ready to write again.
"Tsk, seriously Gabe, you have to stop being such a player..."
Gabrielle only watched Adrian silently, who was speaking without a care if she was listening or not. Below the table, in her lap, she clenched her hands into tight fists, trying to hold back the pain and turmoil in her heart.
Are you really stupid or just pretending to be stupid? It's because I'm in love with you, idiot. Gabrielle thought to herself. Can you like me too?