Chapter 32: Luis' POV

Luis’ POV ... *He liks a girl, he likes a girl, he likes a girl, he likes a girl.*

*I'm not a girl. I'm not a girl. I'm not a girl. I'm not a...girl.*

He has a girlfriend.

He had a fucking girlfriend, yet he made me…

From the moment she came in and he started looking at her, I knew something was up. She was the one in the video, the reason he made that call to end things.

Garber had never been one to commit, so seeing this made me wonder. Did I disgust him?

So much that he got a girlfriend just to push me away?

Up until the moment he hugged me this morning, I was sure I wanted nothing more to do with him, yet the breakdown happened.

Getting a girlfriend and going as far as to kiss her just to spite me…

I wasn’t feeling good.

My legs felt heavy as I continued to move forward even though I didn’t know where exactly I wanted to go.

“Hey, you bumped into me,” a voice said, a bit agitated.

“Oh. Sorry,” I bowed and continued to walk. I didn't feel anything despite the contact.

The kiss made me feel numb and paralyzed in my senses.

“Luis?” The person called out again.

“I said I’m sorry! What do you want?” I burst out as I turned around, only to be pulled into a solid chest.

“Let me go,” I tried to wrestle.

“Hey, it's me. Rolland,” the person I bumped into said, and my rage cooled.

“Rolland?” I looked up from where my face rested on his chest.

“Yes, let's get out of here so you can tell me what happened,” he said.

I nodded, feeling the wetness on my cheeks.

“There, there,” he said softly and wiped my tears with his thumb.

“Come with me,” he held my hand and led the way.

My head was muddled, but there was a calmness that radiated from him, cooling the emotions bubbling inside me.

Rolland led us up to his car, opened the door, and helped me sit before entering through the other side of the passenger seat.

"It's about the Yarros boy, isn't it?" he asked as he handed me a hanky. I nodded and blew into it.

“I’ve seen you cry over this guy twice just today,” he held my hand in his and brushed the back of my palm with his thumb.

It was soothing and calming.

“H…he kissed a girl in front of me. It hurts,” I admitted in between hiccups.

“Wait, what?” Rolland’s exclamation was full of shock, but not once did he let go of my hands.

I nodded. “And they are official. Everything we did means nothing to him. Do you think he did it out of spite? Was he so mad at me for not following him out?” I asked the questions nonstop.

“Don’t overthink it, Luis. It's not your fault,” he pulled me in so I rested my head on his shoulder.

“Then h…how? Did he hate me so much? Garber doesn't do relationships, yet after I provoked him, he…”

“If anyone is to blame, it's him for messing so bad with your emotions.”

I was sobbing in his arms, soaking his shirt with my tears, but he didn’t seem to mind.

“If he cared at all, he wouldn’t hurt you. You’re the only one who cares, and that’s why you're hurting so bad.”

“Maybe…”

“No, Luis. Look at me,” he said as he cupped my chin. I could see the slight smile on his face through the tears in my eyes.

I hiccuped when our eyes met.

“You're not the only one hurting here. I know we were barely friends, but everything that we've shared has drawn us closer. Seeing you cry this hard while getting your heart toyed with breaks my heart,” he said, and I doubted not a single word of his.

In that moment, when he comforted me, he didn't realize it then, but it meant a lot.

He created a moment I'll never forget.

“So please stay strong. For the both of us, alright?”

I nodded as a set of fresh tears poured out of my eyes.

This time, not because of Garber, but because my heart was full of gratitude for this friend that I had.

“Thank you so much. I'll try,” I sobbed hard into his chest as I wrapped my arms around him, squeezing him tight for all the comfort he could offer.

“I'm always here if you need anything,” he said, and I didn't doubt it as I poured out my heart to him.

But if I had known that it would bring him trouble, maybe I'd have just let myself break down on my own.

That’s because a few hours later, there were pictures of the both of us.

The angles were taken to blow the situation up. And by the end of the day, the rumors had spread through the whole school.

Rumors of us dating.

And it would have been a whole lot better if that was all there was to it.

However, these rumors were spread with so much spite targeted at me, the teacher seducer.

Every gaze that was sent my way was filled with curiosity, resentment, and hatred. None of the messages that had the picture tagged spoke up for me.

It felt like they had all been waiting for a moment like this and couldn’t wait to pour out their hatred for the "boy who didn't know his place."

For the grade 13 student who just wanted to sleep with teachers for grades.

It was frustrating and overwhelming.

Rolland said I could come to him anytime I felt burdened about anything, but I wasn't sure he’d be able to give me that comfort if I was the reason why he became popular on his first day at work.

To top it off, it was not for any good reasons.