The question haunted Ren till the very next day. Dinner the night before had been eaten in content silence, with Ren pondering if it really was true that she didn't like him.
But then…what was it that he felt she felt when they had gone out for a meal and then a movie? Any ordinary person would have pointed out that she liked him and vice versa.
He decided to gather up some courage and ask her. Yes, he would set this thing straight once and for all, and find out the truth, bitter or not it may be.
"Yo, Ren!" she greeted with a cheerful smile, instantly brightening up the classroom. Ren gave a small smile. Okay, she greeted him with a beam – good sign number 1. "Hey, Pirika…" he started, but was cut off by the teacher demanding a proper good morning from his students. She cocked her head sideways, held up a hand to signify "wait", then after the entire class mumbled "Good morning" like a bunch of resurrected zombies, sat down and faced him. "Yup?"
Ren could feel his perspiration begin to gather on his forehead. 'Snap out of it!' he chided himself mentally. 'just say what you really feel.' "Uh… Pirika… are we – are we just friends?"
Pirika froze. Her smile morphed into a thin line as she carefully considered this question. She had to listen to her heart this time and not her head.
Did Ren have any feelings for her? Should she say no, wouldn't she be humiliated if he didn't feel for her what she thought she did for him?
Yes. She was beginning to crush on him. The once- detested Tao Ren.
It would be easier to lie… or to just say…"I don't know."
Immediately she could sense the disappointment radiating from him as he nodded. "Thanks for clarifying that," he muttered, and turned to face the front.
She pursed her lips, unsure of what to do next. Then she knew what her heart had wanted her to say all along.
"I meant," she said softly so that only Ren could hear, " that I don't know if I can stand being just friends with you."
DONE!