Within a minute the canteen is already occupied. Luckily we have a spot to eat, Tala did run for it, I can even see her sweat through her uniform.

Everyone are still looking at us. Based from their looks I know that they are thinking a wrong idea.

“You look troubled?” Asked Tala.

Of course, Tala does not have any idea. About my past and my relationship with Catarina.

Aside from being rejected. I’m afraid that she does not remember me at all.

“Ye-yeah I’m fine. Don’t worry about” I answered without looking at her eyes.

Tala didn’t say anything anymore.

“What do you like for lunch?” I asked while pointing my finger with the different options.

“I know it’s lunch but I prefer strawberry cake” Tala said then giggles.

Without hesitation I stood up and prepare my wallet. I counted my money and it’s all good. I can afford it.

As I fall in line people are staring at Tala. I won’t lie though she’s quite beautiful but Catarina’s beauty is just something else.

I loved her ever since.

Anyway, I pointed the strawberry cake that Tala wanted and the guy in charge inside the cafeteria gave it to me. I’m about to walk back when he grab my uniform gentle.

“Hey bud! Is that your girlfriend?” He asked.

I can actually tell him that that is not his business but I’m not that kind of guy. I want to be gentle as possible because I don’t want to hurt other people’s feelings.

Unless-

“No bud. We’re just in the same class” said I then give him a smile even though I’m not comfortable smiling.

I actually don’t know how to smile. Other people can be so natural when they’re smiling but in my case, it was like dealing with a kinder garden without knowledge.

Every time I’m trying to smile, I always cringe. I also look like a maniac.

“Hey darling! What’s your name?!” A loud voice that echoed from the whole cafeteria.

It’s Rafael Cruz, a heartthrob student here despite of his manners. The bad boy of this school. The untouchable group.

“Don’t you hear me? Or should I come closer to you?” Rafael asked while waving his black and white hair with his right hand. I can see his face close to Tala’s ears.

The students inside the cafeteria started talking.

I can barely see Tala’s blonde hair turning into black. The moment I saw it, I know something bad might happen. I can’t let anyone see that Tala’s side especially this is her first day. I need to protect her.

Rafael put his feet on the top of our table like he is securing Tala and started to touching her hair. As I look at everyone nobody is willing to help her. They just love seeing someone being treated like shit until it happen to them.

I force myself to enter Rafael’s boundary because his friends are surrounding Tala. I know I can feel my body shaking because I’m not actually used into a fight. But-

I can’t stand still while watching someone suffer.

As I arrived, I removed Rafael’s foot and look straight through his eyes. And in that moment, I knew something bad might happen. I can feel my blood boiling.

Rafael’s is actually huge. He have this muscular body and even though Rafael’s face is scary I wont doubt that he has a handsome point. Especially his perfect jaw line.

“Don’t you know who I am?” He asked.

I didn’t answer. His friends tried to come forward to attack me but Rafael gave them a signal by raising his left hand.

“Get the hell out of my way”

“Make me if you can”

I can feel Tala’s soft hand hold mine. In a second I was surprised. As I look at her, I see her innocent golden eyes. Like she was telling me not to fight.

Like she knows my past.

I get back looking at Rafael and with a glimpse at the back. I can see Catarina looking at me. She looks so worried. I can see through her eyes. Her every emotions are based on Catarina’s eyes.

And with that. I remember the past I don’t want to remember. So I suddenly froze.

Without knowing it. Rafael punched me already in the face. I can feel the impact already. He repeatedly hit my face.

I can hear Tala’s voice, shouting. I see her stopping Rafael but the thing that concerns me is Tala’s hair. It slowly changing into color black. I can’t let that happen so I did my best to grab her hand even though I already fell from the ground.

I can feel my blood dripping through my face. My eye glasses is already broken. I cant see anything anymore clear.

She looks at me with a concern face.

“Do-don’t” is the last thing I said before I blackout.

—

I slowly opened my painful eyes. I saw a girl’s silhouette. It’s a familiar girl’s silhouette.

“Catarina?” I asked then suddenly I can feel something painful through my nose. She pinched my nose.

“It’s Tala dummy!” She teased.

I was about to laugh but it’s too painful so I ended up smiling. Despite of having a blurred vision I still can see Tala’s fake smile. She’s worried.

I was about to say something when she suddenly stood up.

“I’m going to have a fresh air for a bit! Sorry!” Tala said then left.

As I look around I figured that it’s already afternoon. Based from the window I’m looking right now.

Not a long moment later, there is a sound of a door opening.

“Back alre-“ I was about to tease Tala but it ended up being someone else.

“Can I sit beside you?” Catarina asked.

I didn’t say a word, just nodded. She quietly sat beside me. I can see her being so worried.

I was about to move my right hand when I realized Catarina is holding it. I can feel my cheeks actually being hot.

Then suddenly. Something drops.

Tears.

Catarina’s tears.

I can feel her hand shaking. So despite of being injured I forcedly put my hand through her cheeks with her hands still holding it.

“I‘m so worried” she said while wiping her tears.

“I’m so worried that I might lose you again” she murmured.

I was about to say something when Tala suddenly appeared.

“Hey about the strawberry ca-“ Innocently appeared.

“Ops. Sorry. Am I interrupting something?” She continue.

I sighed.