After school that same day, I went behind the soccer field to meet up with the gardening club.
"Hey, Ar you made it!" Lu says, holding out her hand to me. I shake it and give her a big smile.
"Yeah, I can't wait," I say.
Then she calls out someone's name, and of course, it had to be...
"Sl, what's up?" she says.
My heart drops. Why? Why him, of all the people she could've called out to?
I turn my head to the right and see him.
"Oh, I didn't know you were interested in gardening," he says with a smirk, looking directly at me and ignoring Lu.
Lu interrupts, "I didn't know you were going to join, Sl," she says, her tone joyful.
"I didn't know I was joining either," he says, eyes still on me. "But I think I'll give it a try."
"Glad you're here," I say, trying to sound cheerful, but it comes out completely fake.
We all walk toward the others. I walk ahead of him, and I can feel his eyes on me the whole time.
For the rest of the hour, his eyes never left me. I kept pretending not to notice, but every time I bent down, I could feel his stare. I think Lu noticed and sent me to fill some water buckets.
"Hey, why don't you get the buckets over there and fill them up with water for the plants?" she says.
I walk toward the buckets and glance back for a second, just in time to see her walking toward Sl. They start talking, and then I accidentally make eye contact with him. I turn and keep walking.
It takes a minute to fill them up, but once I'm done, I turn to see Sl walking toward me. Before he can get to me, I grab the buckets and rush back to Lu.
"Where do you want this, Lu?" I ask.
"Over there," she says, pointing at some plants.
I set the buckets down and catch Sl glancing at me.
I assumed earlier that he was just going to try and help me, but there was no need. I mean, sure, he was tall like me, but much stronger. Still, I didn't need his help. I also didn't feel like talking to him—besides, I doubt he had anything important to say other than "You know I like you, right?" like he hasn't reminded me enough for the past ten years—since we were seven!!!
After an hour of the sun burning the back of my neck and constantly feeling his eyes on me, I was exhausted and ready to go home. I only joined to get close to her, but so far, nothing has happened, and honestly, I don't give a rat's ass about plants. It's the first day, and I already feel like giving up. And to make it worse, I can already feel that farmer's tan coming.
"My God, I'm not made for this shit," I say, letting out a big sigh. There has to be a better way.
"Wow, love the farmer's tan line," Lu says, pulling down the collar of my shirt.
"Are you serious!?" I say, looking down my shirt in a panic.
"No, you can barely see it," Sl interrupts, chuckling.
"Really?!" I say, but before he can respond, Lu suggests we both put some garden hoses in the shed.
"It would be a big help before we head home. I'll wait for y'all," she says.
We both agree and head to the shed. It's just the two of us, so I can't help myself and ask, "How did you know about the gardening club?" I say, grabbing the first hose.
"I heard Lu talking about it. It seemed interesting," he says, taking the other hose.
"Right... You lying?" I ask, walking to the shed. He follows, carrying two hoses.
"Yeah," he says.
I drop the hose in the corner inside the shed. He does the same.
He continues, "I had lunch with Mr , and he told me you were joining."
Of course it was Mr . He loves to be nosy and tell people my business. And of all the people he could have told, he told Sl. Really, Marcos? I would've been happier with anyone else. The cafeteria lady would have been a better option—but no, you had to go and tell him. Next time, I keep it to myself.
"Seriously, whose side is he on?" I say, sighing.
"That's what I asked him. He just said 'both,'" Sl continues. "It's not his fault. I forced it out of him."
"I know damn well he just straight up told you."
"Yeah," Sl says, chuckling. Then he adds, "He just likes helping me sometimes."
Well, what about me? Come on, Mr you're supposed to be my wingman. Ride or die. He'll be hearing from me tomorrow. Not letting this go, Mr You hear me?!
"What else was I supposed to do?" Sl says, walking back to grab another gardening hose. I follow.
"I barely see you these days," he says, picking up a hose.
"Yeah, I know. But seriously, did you really have to do all this?" I ask, picking up the last garden hose and walking back to the shed.
"Yeah. Because you know I've liked you for a long time now. And I can't help but look for you every day," he says, dropping the hose, then turning back to look at me.
I walk past him, putting the hose in the corner of the shed.
"You know what? I assume Mr told you who I'm interested in," I say, turning to face him.
"Yeah, he did," he says.
"Then can't you just back off?" I ask, my frustration building.
"I can't," he says, looking at me with unsettling eyes. "How can I give up on someone I haven't even had a chance to go out with?"
I was about to respond—but that's when I see Lu standing there, not saying anything. Sl turns his head and looks at her.
"Sorry if we were taking too long," Sl says.
"No, you're fine. I was just checking if everything was okay," she says with an awkward smile. "But I can see you guys are talking about something important, so continue. Don't mind me."
"No, we were just done talking," I say, starting to walk toward her.
"No, we weren't," Sl says.
I turn to him and whisper in a rude tone, "Will you shut up?"
"No, you haven't given me a response." Sl replies.
"Come on!" I say, frustrated.
"Will you just give me a chance?" he says.
I snap, forgetting Lu is still there. "I can't. I was going to ask Lu out."
Then I realize—she's still standing there.
Embarrassed, I say, "Sorry. I wanted to ask you in a better way."
"You want to go out with me?" she asks.
"Yeah... if you want?" I say.
"Oh, sorry. Can't," she says with a smile.
"What?" I say.
"I just can't do that to my friend," she says, walking toward Sl.
"I'm sorry—what?" I ask, still confused.
"You can't go after your friend's crush. It's just not right," she says.
"I'm sorry, but when did you guys become buddy-buddy?" I ask.
Sl says, "I've known her since sophomore year."
Then Lu adds, "Yeah, Sl's a pretty good friend of mine. I could never go for a guy he likes."
At this point, I can't even believe what's happening. Is this girl code or something? He's not even a gir—whatever.
"Is there any way I can change your mind?" I ask.
"Nope," she says.
Sl interrupts, "That means you can go out with me."
"What!? No! Her rejecting me doesn't mean I have to go out with you now."
"Come on, just give me a chance," Sl says.
Then Lu jumps in, "Yeah, just give him a chance."
Seriously? Is no one on my side? Seems like everyone wants me to go out with this asshole.
"Look, hear me out. You should go out with Sl," Lu says in a bossy tone.
I interrupt. "No. No way."
Then she continues, "Just listen. If you go out with Sl. Let's say five dates—that's enough, right?" she asks Sl.
He replies, "Yeah. Perfect."
"Okay, good. If you go out with Sl five times and still feel the exact same way, then Sl will give me the green light to go out with you. Sounds fair?" she says, looking at both of us.
I can't believe this. Am I really going to have to go out with this guy five times just to get a chance to go out with Lu?
I look at Sl, then at Lu.
It's this or nothing.
If I say no, I don't get to go out with Lu at all.
But if I say yes, then I'll have to go out with Sl five times.
But as long as I don't fall for him, I'll get that date with Lu. So it'll be worth it in the end.
And what can he possibly do to make me fall for him?
"Fine. I'll go out with you. But I'm not falling for you."
"Oh, I promise you, five days is all I need," he says with a smirk.
"Great! Glad we sorted that out. I'm ready to go home," Lu says with a smile, walking toward the gates.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," I say, letting out a big sigh.
As I walk toward the gate, I glance at Sl—he has the biggest smile on his face. I just know he thinks he's already won.
But this war has just begun.
(Hey, that rhymes.)