More Than A Maid

Bella’s POV

As usual, we took our seats in the cafeteria, I acted as if everything was normal but looks like Francisca didn’t still believe me… while we were eating our meal, she kept staring at me suspiciously which made me feel uncomfortable.

I just had to break the silence by starting with an entirely different topic but Francisca interrupted me before I could even speak.

“Uhm… are you hiding anything from me Bella?” She asked me.

“Uhn, no. Why did you ask again?”

“Hmmm, never mind. I mean I’m just concerned; about being your only friend.” She said.

“You and Francis, yesterday… or wait is it this morning, it started. Tell me already” I urged her.

“I told you before Bella, I really don’t know. I mean I slept off last night” She said then she started into the space and said; “But hold on…”

“What is it?”

“After coaching him last night, he said he wanted to speak to me; that was when I napped off ”

“You don’t remember anything else?”

“I do not and Francis is not saying anything. Maybe he slept off too… Jeez, I missed a great opportunity with my crush” She said.

At this point, I wasn’t listening to her. I watched Peter and his friend settling down at their usual seat… He was looking at me too but for some unknown reason, I didn’t take my eyes off him.

“Here… The snacks of yesterday ” Francisca shoved some chocolates into my hand which I held carelessly… She noticed that I wasn’t paying attention to her, so she traced my gaze to who I was giving all my attention to.

“Peter again” She said… which made me sit upright and look away from Peter.

“Are you both quarreling?” She asked me.

“I don’t think so, I mean; no we not” I said slowly ripping off the chocolate wrap.

“Which one do you want me to believe. You don’t think so or you are not?” She questioned me.

“No, we are good”

“Then why were you staring at him and he is still staring at you”

“Is he?” I whispered, not looking at Peter.

And she nodded..”I thought we were supposed to be best friends but you are hiding a lot from me Bella” She said.

I felt sorry but still, I can’t tell her what the big issue is. It’s already late.

“Is it because we gathered at his place?” She guessed.

“What about it?” I blurted.

“I… I don’t know, or is it because of Monica? Come to think of it, I noticed that she has been on your neck for a while now and you are not doing anything about it… Uhm..”

“Uhm Francisca, you just won’t get it”

“Then tell me already, let me know yourself before anyone else does” She said; I bit my lips.. took a deep breathe first, then when I decided to speak..  she interrupted.

“Monica is not Peter’s girlfriend” She said.

“Wh.. what?

” Peter can not date a girl like Monica; they are just normal friends. I heard their parents are pretty much close too; so it’s a childhood intimacy..” Francisca explained to me and I nodded.

“But…” She pushed her head forward as she lowered her voice. “Monica really likes Peter”

“It’s pretty obvious” I said aloud then murmured to myself; “I wonder if he likes her too”

“I know what’s wrong with you Bella” Francisca said laughing dramatically.

“Huhhh… What?”

“You… You like Peter!”

“No”

“C’mon it’s not bad to like someone” She said.

“I don’t like Peter” I repeated.

“Okay” She said smirking.

I ate the chocolate quickly but nervously.

“Okay, Bella can you tell me already?” She asked me again.

The only reason why I wanted to manage and open up to her was because I didn’t want her to find out elsewhere, most especially from Monica. Francisca might even help me out since we are the only two different people.

Frank came over, Jeez why can’t I just bail myself out already… something or someone is always interrupting.

“Hi, Hi guys” He said to us.

“Hi” I said to him.

“Francis!” Francisca uttered in a shy manner

“Can we uhm.. like talk?” Francis asked Francisca.

“No problem” She responded.

“Remind me Bella, I have something to tell you when I return” Francisca said… I nodded and watched her leave…

I ate my food slowly; I didn’t look up until I noticed a figure, pulling the seat that was in front of me.

It was Peter.

Not today, Peter… I’m sorry.

I stood up and left the cafeteria immediately after he sat down in front of me. Good, he didn’t follow me this time.

At least, I’m doing this for a reason now… To save myself  from the mess I got into. Yeah, I’m avoiding him because Monica asked me to and that’s the only way, she’ll stop bothering me about revealing my secret.

***

They stood outside the cafeteria and spoke…

“Do you remember what I told you last night?” Francis asked her.

“No; not at all” Francisca shook her head.

“You don’t remember at all?” He asked her.

“Uhmm.. but I do remember one thing” She said.

“Oh, you do!”

“Yeah, you told me that you wanted to talk to me”

“Oh..; you didn’t really hear any of what I said” He muttered to himself but Francisca heard him…

“Yeah I didn’t, what did you say?” She asked him…

“Err….” He scratched his head…

Bella suddenly passed by…

“Where are you going bella?” She asked her.

“To the class..” Bella responded.

“Catch ya’ in class” She said then left.

Then Francisca faced Francis again…

“So what did you say last night?” She asked him again.

“Forget it” He said nervously.

She was silent for a while, then she said..”Hmmn, Okay, so what do you wanna tell me now?”

“Huh…”

“Uhm?”

“It’s ermmm…. related to yesterday but since you don’t remember. It’s fine, just forget it” He said in a somewhat scared manner.

Francisca nodded slowly and disappointedly. She was blaming herself for not waiting to hear what he wanted to tell her yesterday before she slept off.

“Can I leave now?” She asked him.

“Err? Yeah… yeah” Francis stuttered.

Immediately after she took a few steps away from him, he said…

“We barely interact Francisca, I don’t want it to continue that way..” He said, Francisca stopped walking.

“I… I don’t know why we are avoiding each other but let’s fix whatever it is..” He continued.

“Okay” Francisca nodded smiling, he smiled too.

“Let’s do this. I’m not the type that snubs” She told him.

“I am not that kind of person also. Let’s just be good friends” He said.

“It’s fine by me” She said, came closer, and stretched her hands for a handshake which he received happily.

“I’ll be in class now” Francisca told him, then she left but wouldn’t stop blushing secretly.

“Yes!” Francis jumped up happily.

***

During the closing hour, I didn’t know what to do because Peter and I were not on good terms…

“See you tomorrow in school Bella” She told me…

“I… I am taking the long bus with you” I said to her.

“You want..”

“Err yeah? My.. ermm driver can’t make it today” I lied.

“What sort of driver is that? When it’s not like he is getting paid for his Job” Francisca remarked.

“He… he’s ill?¿” I lied again.

“Ohhh” she mouthed… “Well let’s go, and oh my God! I have a lot to discuss with you” She said holding my hands. I gestured to Monica to show her that I was doing exactly what she told me to do, then I carried my bag then left the class with Francisca. Peter wanted to stop me but Monica obstructed him… I didn’t get to hear what she said to him…

The bus stop is not far from school, so we got to the bus stop in a jiffy and waited for the arrival of the bus…

“Oh My God, I should have bided Francis” She suddenly said… “I forgot” She frowned, and I chuckled.

“Since when are you concerned about him?” I asked her.

“Since I had a crush on him, but I showed my concern secretly” She said…

“Oh… I see”

“Francis and I are cool now” She jumped up happily.

“Wow, I’m happy for you..” I said when she jumped into my arms.

“Our love story is gonna be gradual one… From strangers to classmates that do not interact with each other to friends and.. and finally lovers” She added.

I smiled…” At least, your feelings might not be one-sided anymore” I told her; “You are so lucky” My smiling face switched to a frown.

“You are not happy for me?” She asked me.

“Of course I am, I just said that”

“Oh I can see that you now have a one-sided crush” She said pointing at me.

“No Francisca, I never mentioned that” I rolled my eyes.

“Oh! And that reminds me Flora, are you in any related to Peter?” She asked me.

“I said I don’t have a crush on Peter!” I almost yelled.. and she stared at me as if I’m not normal”

“That’s not what I said” She said..” I asked if you and Peter are in any way related?”

“No” I blurted…

“Okay ” She said… Then we remained awkwardly silent.

“Do your driver wear a blue Mask? I saw him for the first last week, he was wearing a mask when he came to drop you in school” She broke the silence.

“Uh.. yeah, why… why did you ask?”

“Then why are you always lying to me Bella?” She asked.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“I am not” I told her. She wouldn’t just believe whatever I say.

“I found that same blue Mask in Peter’s car” She said.

“What?”

“Tell me; what’s that suppose to mean? you are not related to Peter then do you live in his house ?… God! I don’t even understand” She said, waiting for me to respond.

*******

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