When I Turned the Television On

When I Turned The Television On.

| Alice Midorikawa |

I carry my messenger bag over my shoulder then glance at the mirror for the last time.

My reflection did look terrifying.

I scowl and grab a brush on my desk and start combing out the knots.
My hair finally goes back to normal as I put aside the brush.
Yesterday scenes suddenly flash back into my mind.
I shake my head, trying to erase all of it away.

Time to move on, Alice!

I put on a determined expression, ready to arrive at school with a smile on my face.

"Alright!"

--

As I slide the classroom door open, excited laughter and squealing giggles swarm into the corridor, making me take a step backward.

Whoa.
What's with the uber happy aura?

I walk towards my seat, my head bent down as usual.

"Alice!"

I look up to see Renn looking at me with an excited smile stretched across her face.
I sigh heavily and start ranting to her.

"I know what you're going to ask me."
"So how did it go?"
"Ugh... don't even remind me."

I slump on my chair wearily and turn to Renn.

"You look so... worn out, Alice."
"Nooo, I don't."
"Are you being sarcastic with me?"

Renn puts on a suspicious face and studies me with her curious eyes.

"Did Seth do something to you again?"

Renn wears an angry frown replacing her once mischievous smirk.

"It's okay, Renn. I'm perfectly fine. Nothing's wrong with me. Don't concern yourself with him."
"If you say so..."

Renn takes hold of her pen and starts playing with it between her fingers when Aiden walks in.

"Hey, Alice!"

He flashes his killer smile at me, making me blush a little.
I smile back at him.
He takes a seat and faces me with a grin on his face.

"What's up, Aiden?"
"Nothing much, I guess."

He turns to look at Renn.
Renn feels Aiden's stare and looks back at him.

"What?"
"Eh, nothing. I just remembered our session."
"Oh, haha."

I see Renn's mouth curve into a small smile.
Aiden faces me again and wears a mad frown on his face.
Just at that moment, Seth enters the classroom with a blank expression.
He turns his head to my direction, his gray eyes looking straight into mines.
I ignore him and look back at Aiden.

"Why do you look so gloomy, Alice?"
"What do you mean?"

What is he talking about?
He sounds so worried.

I look down, feeling my face redden.

"Alice?"

Without expecting it at all, Aiden places a strand of my hair behind my left ear.
I blush so red that I immediately stood up.
Seth, who has been watching us the whole time, enters the picture and slams his hand down on Aiden's table.
All eyes stare at the four of us, the room becoming silent at once.

"Who told you to touch her like that?"
"And who are you to tell me not to touch her?"

I look at Seth and Aiden, their faces glowering at each other.

Oh no.
Not now.

I hear Seth murmur something under his breath when he calms down a bit.

"Look here, you..."

Seth draws in a deep breath.

"What do you feel towards Alice?"

I look at Seth in surprise, unexpected with his sudden query.
Aiden looks down and replies.

"I... I like her."

I hear my scream ring around within me.
Seth chuckles quietly and releases his grip on Aiden's table.
He walks out of the room, carrying with him his laptop bag.

I turn my head to face Aiden in total awkwardness.

"I'm so sorry, Alice, I shouldn't have..."

I nod my head absentmindedly and try to gather everything of what had just happened.

"What do you feel towards Alice?"

I twitch at the thought of Seth asking such a question.
Suddenly, a thought came across my mind; a thought so entirely impossible that I wouldn't have believed it if the answer was yes.

Does Seth like me too?