* * *
If Len had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have been angry at him.
When the coach asked him to join the team, Len politely refused.
“Why?” I asked as we walked back to the room.
“Because I don’t like sports.”
“But…you played pretty well out there.”
“Don’t you see why?” He turned to me, his eyes sparkling.
And then I got what he meant. He played it for me. He knew Edmond was also playing so he joined in to defeat him to make me feel better. What a good friend he was!
“Why would you think I feel happy about this? I hate being hurt but I never say I love hurting him either! I thought you just won him by accident but you actually did it on purpose!”
Len paused and looked hurt.
I knew I had said the wrong thing.
“Look,” I sighed and smiled. “I am glad you care about me but don’t ever bother to fight him next time. What I mean is that kind of people isn’t worth us sacrificing our sweat to hurt!”
A grin spread on Len’s face. So adorable and impressive. For almost years, I had never found someone so considerate and caring. Nobody was really interested in how I felt. No one stood up for me. And yet, this boy, whom I barely knew, had somehow become the most indispensable thing in my life.
I still felt pity for him. Even a girl like me could never have matched his appearance and potentials. He should be a star and only those beautiful artists could be qualified enough to hang around with him.
“Alice, why are you so sensitive to how I look?” I heard Len mumble next to me.
It was the last lesson of the day. I was counting the minutes left till the bell rang the end.
“Huh?” I scowled.
“Looks aren’t what matter.”
I got what he said. Even for Edmond, I wished he didn’t go out with me solely because of my looks. When one says he likes you only for your appearance, it hurts too much to realize he never tries to dig into your heart and sees how you truly are. Still, for me, Len looked as though he was as gorgeous on the inside as he was on the outside.
“Someday you will learn the truth.” He muttered.
I missed this one at that time. I only found it out later.
“Are we friends?” Len whispered at my ear.
Of course we were. I had never been that friendly to someone but I didn’t say it.
“Yes.”
“Good.” Len held back in relief. I didn’t get why. Why was he so desperate to have me as his friend? Was he like me- lonesome and lonely?
And then, the bell rang…