Chapter 4
Errol and I were tucked away in the back corner of the classroom.
He was taking his time with the breakfast I'd bought for Eric.
"Thanks for helping me out," I said.
He took a bite of the veggie sandwich, his charming eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, are you trying to win over Eric, Halle Dickinson?"
I blurted out, "Wait, how do you know my name?
"Have you been secretly keeping tabs on me?"
I watched him warily, thinking if he was my love rival.
He replied, "That's not important.
"Eric is a tough nut to crack. He's got a sharp tongue and acts all cold and distant. Honestly, you're just not his type.
"The biggest issue is, he's still hung up on his online crush.
"His heart's still occupied. How could he ever fall for you?"
I couldn't help but snap back, "Well, he's definitely not into you either. He's straight as an arrow, so give it up, dude. Stop dreaming!"
I was surprised that I just spoke my mind out loud.
Errol's eyes went wide, like he'd just been hit by a truck.
He clutched his chest dramatically, then quietly leaned his head on my shoulder.
He protested, "I'm not into guys. I like sweet, soft girls. I'm straight, girl.
"You can't think of me like that. It'll break my heart."
I guessed I was being a bit narrow-minded.
I knew that Eric would never hang out with a gay guy.
He straightened up, putting on a serious face.
He said, "What I was trying to say is...
"Maybe you should consider pursuing someone else.
"Like me, for instance.
"I'm a piece of cake to win over. Don't believe me? Try it and see."
As he finished, he looked at me with those bright, puppy-dog eyes, like he was begging for attention.
If I didn't know he was just messing with me, I might've actually believed him.
I rolled my eyes. "Get lost."
He laughed again, those cute dimples showing up on his handsome face.
He said, "Just kidding.
"Hey, can I get your contact info? I could be your strategist and help you win him over."
Errol flashed his WhatsApp QR code, like he'd been plotting this all along.
Instinctively, I glanced at Eric and ended up locking eyes with him.
There was something I couldn't quite read swirling in his gaze. His lips pressed tightly together. He looked a little upset.
But the moment our eyes met, he turned away, his expression icy and distant.
I wondered if he had been watching us the whole time.
"Hey, Halle?" Errol called.
"Yeah, okay," I replied.
I shook myself out of it and scanned his code.
With Eric's roommate feeding me updates on him, I felt that landing him should be a breeze.
After morning classes, I shoved my pen and books into my bag any which way, then rushed straight toward Eric.
I was getting closer to him.
I reached out and tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Where are you headed?"
"Bathroom. Coming with me?" Eric glanced down at me.
I was caught off guard.
I couldn't believe that the cold heartthrob of our school could say that.
I gritted my teeth. "Alright, let's go then!"
Eric just raised an eyebrow, stayed silent, and made no move to stop me.
It was probably lunchtime, so there weren't many people around the building.
If there had been more people, I wouldn't have had the guts to say that.
He stepped into the bathroom, glancing back at me with a teasing smirk. "Coming in?"
That faint smile on his handsome face made me a little dizzy.
By the time I snapped out of it, I was already standing inside the men's room.
He yanked me into a stall, getting so close I could feel his breath. "You like me that much, huh?"
His sharp, refined features loomed right in front of me, and my gaze slid down to his thin lips, inch by inch.
I couldn't help but swallow hard.
I said, "Yes.
"It was love at first sight for me."
He wrapped his right arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him, his head burying itself in the crook of my neck.
Eric asked, "Have you ever dated anyone?"
I wondered if online dating could count as one.
I shook my head. "Never."
Eric froze for a moment, the smile slipping from his face as his eyes clouded with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher.
"Then how about trying it with me now?" he murmured.
He grabbed my chin, his grip a bit rough.
I felt that it was not appropriate to do it in the men's room.
My heart was racing. I grabbed his collar tightly, shut my eyes, and waited for him to do something.
It felt like forever.
After a long time, when I finally opened my eyes, he was staring at me, totally emotionless.
My heart sank.
When I looked up again, my eyes were already rimmed with tears.
I grabbed his collar, pulling him down toward me, hoping to steal a kiss.
But he caught on to what I was about to do and slapped his hand over my mouth before I could even try.
Eric said, "Halle, you gotta realize things don't always go the way you want.
"Once you get something, you should cherish it, not treat it like a game. You get what I mean?"
He went through all this just to give me a lecture. He was also being so mean.
He was basically telling me not to just assume things.
I thought that if I pursued him, he would definitely end up with me.
However, I didn't know what he meant by that last sentence.
Since I didn't respond for a long time, Eric scoffed and walked out, not even bothering to look back.