Page 24

Then

There was only one time that Seth could remember Nina liking someone else that wasn’t him.

Or at least, rumours of such floated around.

Yet, one certain whisper seemed to slither its way into Seth’s ears, and rewire everything in his brain.

It was during lunch-time. Seth was engaged in a game of soccer with another group of boys from across different classes. He was sweaty, heated, and in need of rehydration. He made his way toward his water bottle, strewn carelessly on the pavement, and sat down.

That’s when, across the field, just past the soccer game, he spotted them.

Nina and Ethan, a boy from her elective art class, walking side-by-side across the grass. They weren’t holding hands or anything. Just talking. But they were smiling, and clearly happy to be in each other’s company.

“Did you hear?”

A group of girls from his cohort were seated behind him. His ears perked up, as their voices rose in that gossiping manner.

“That Nina and Ethan, I think they like each other!”

Dawn, a friend of Nina's, spoke.

“I hope so, they look so cute together.”

That was Kaley, a girl from Nina’s art class, he believed.

“They better be. Ethan’s so much better than Seth, ugh.”

“Oh my gosh Dawn, be quiet, he’s right there.”

“Whatever. After how he treats her, what he said about her, I don’t care if he hears.”

Seth grew rigid at the comments, but stayed in place, sipping at his water bottle, as though he couldn’t hear them.

“But you’re right, Ethan is so much better than Seth. Nina deserves so much better.”

“Way better. She’s too good for Seth, and always has been.”

At that, Seth stood up, dropping his water bottle onto the grass this time, and ran back onto the field.

He continued with the game, but he didn’t play as well as before.

He kept missing the goals. He told himself, back then, that it was nothing.

He was just tired, and the sun was much too bright that day. The heat was muddling his brain.

Yet, he couldn’t stop glancing over at Nina and Ethan, who were sitting under a tree, talking.

As the term passed, nothing ever eventuated from Nina and Ethan.

Seth remembered feeling glad about it.

Her heart is still mine.