CHAPTER 3

Good Old Days I unlocked our door and throw away my bag, slumped my whole body on the couch. I was so tired! We did so much laboratory since it’s already Friday and our professor won’t give some mercy to us. I sighed and brushed my hair violently. I will still need to wrap up my things to the luggage because tomorrow, is our tour. I still haven’t packed my things yet because I’m so focused in our activities. I don’t want any disturbance while we’re having so much fun there. Yeah, of course, I know will be having our life there. No sister that will bully me every time she wants. No parents that will give unreasonable orders to me. Just me and my friends. Our group’s chatting box keeps beeping because Clarix won’t stop reminding us of the time we should meet at the school so we can travel altogether. “Argh!” I shouted when I remember that I still need to go to grocery to buy some chips for us. Me and Clarix share the same room. “I’m so tired!” I tried so hard to pushed myself to get up. I will clean myself first then I will go to grocery then pack my things when I get home. Thinking of it all makes me want to sleep. “I’m home. But I still need to go to store before I’ll pack my luggage.” He studied very late. He’s still up when I got off from the school. I don’t know if he’s already asleep or still studying. They will be having a long, long quiz tomorrow and he don’t want to fail that subject. “Ok. You have Clarix with you?” Oh, he’s still up. “No, why are you still up? You should rest. It’s already dawn. Your hard work is nothing if you’re just going to sleep in your class.” “I won’t sleep.” “How sure you can be?” “I have you.” Damn this man and his ways! I told him I’ll just wash up and he should rest. I need to be quick because I will still need to cook rice before my parents got home. “I’m going. You really should rest.” The store is near to our house. About 15-20 minutes walking, so I’ll just walk. The streetlights are already opening one by one. It’s getting dark but it seems like the life of other people just have been starting. “Can I go with you though?” My forehead crumpled. “Why?” “I miss seeing grocery store in the Philippines.” I can’t believe this man! Isn’t he sleepy. If I were him, I might be snoring so loud right now. “Let me call you.” I stopped my step and can’t help but to smile. This is the first time we’re having calls since last month. There’s no big deal about it, but, I’m not used to it. I’m kind of shy- “Just voice call. I can feel your panic here lol.” I inhaled sharply at his arrogance. “Why would I. Then call.” Then my phone ring for his call. I kept my cool as I crossed the streets to reached to the grocery store. “Hmm?” I almost gasped on his first word. After long years of not seeing him, I couldn’t believe that I’m talking to him again. We are not close before he flew for Christ’s sake! I silently cleared my throat. “Yes? It’s very late.” “I still need to finish everything.” “Your class will start at 10. You have time.” “Yeah, but I need that time to talk to you, so you won’t sleep late.” “What?” “I know you will still be up until 12 midnight there, that’s 9 am here. So, before I go to school, I got to talk to you.” He chuckled. “Your tour is tomorrow, right? You’ll be very busy whole day tomorrow.” “Ah,” I don’t know if that laugh was nervous or giggle. I don’t want to guess which of which! Is this how he plays? Am I being played by him? This jerk really knows how to run girls to his finger. But I will not be like the others. Especially, we’re just talking and nothing else. Even if it’s for a month now! He’ll taste his own medicine in me. “So, you will use your free time before you go to school because I’ll be busy, and we won’t talk much tomorrow?” I picked a basket to roam around for my stuff. There’s a few shoppers and I like it that way. “Hmm, if that’s what you think of it.” I grinned. “And that’s why you called me today?” I heard his low laugh on the background. I had to face the chips so no one will notice my weird expressions. I had to clear the lump on my throat to retain my morality. I shouldn’t be like this. “What a player you are.” I accused him. He laughed again. “That’s pretty wrong. All these years, you still see me as a player?” “How did you know that?” “I just know. By the looks on your eyes before? You’re judging me every damn time you have.” I put some sweets too. “’Cause, you really are.” “Still brutal.” “Huh!” I chuckled as I passed an old man. “I’m kinder now. Unlike you” “Why? Did I pull some girl’s hair because she’s just annoying to me?” I snorted when I remember my old self. We are all in the field, waiting for dismissal when I pulled someone’s hair because they keep looking at us with irritation and envy, I don’t know. I got annoyed so I did it. They’ve all seen it, even my crush that time, and no one tried to stop me. We did not get caught by the guidance because they backed me up. “But you hurt my friend!” “I didn’t.” I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, of course you’ll deny yourself being a player.” “I don’t play feelings.” “Ah that’s why she hoped. Right.” I heard his heavy sigh. “Alright. I don’t know what she told you. But I really didn’t play her.” I pouted. “If you say so.” “Can we just-“ “Sorry.” I heard someone’s voice at my back. His baseball cap is the first thing I’ve seen because he kneels to get his things on the floor, so I helped him. But to my horror, it was Tavy. My overconfident classmate who thinks he’s the most special student in our class. “Ran?” I faked a smile and put his goods on his basket. He is actually hitting on me. But I don’t like him because of that, I just can’t get myself ok when he’s around. He always shows off himself up to other people and feel amazing to about himself. I immediately got up and was about to turn my back on him when he grabbed my arm to stop me from walking away. “Why are you avoiding me?” “Who’s that?” I heard Dice’s voice. “I’m not avoiding you,” His eyes fell on my earbuds. “You are.” I scratch my neck and smiled. “No. Of course, no.” “Am I annoying to you? I mean,” I cut him down. “Uh, sorry but, I need to go now. ‘Cause you know,” I smiled. “My parents will get mad at me if I’m still not home.” He sighed. “You really are avoiding me.” I cheerfully smiled at him. “We’re groupmates, right? You’ll see tomorrow. I’m not avoiding you, duh!” “You want me to walk you home?” “No, no. We’re just in the corner.” He nod and curiously looking at me. I waved to him and passed him when he called my name again. “Ran.” I turned to him. “Yes?” “Take care.” he showed a little smile. “Who’s that?” he asked as soon as I stepped outside the store. “Just a classmate.” “Why are you avoiding him?” “Did you see it?” “No, but-“ “Then, I don’t.” “Is he bothering you at school?” “No.” “An admirer?” he teased. I beamed. “Can you just sleep?” Then he laughed again. Gahd, it’s really fascinating! I don’t know. It feels illegal but soft. Like touching me in a way I can’t explain but putting me in a safe place. It sounds.. safe. We talked until I got home, and he finally said he needs to sleep. I let him go and do my other things to do. While packing my clothes, I got a private message from Tavy. “Please don’t stay away from me. I won’t be too much for you, this time. I promise.” I closed my eyes and feel guilty. He’s fine but I just can’t get myself close to him for minutes. He doesn’t bother me, but his presence makes me uncomfortable. We were just freshies when he started to court me. It started because of our classmates’ and professors’ teases because we are always paired for the department’s promotional photoshoot. We also won the title in a pageant in our campus. We also got featured in our school magazine as the “Power Couple”. He became my partner in all of that, and I have no recollection of him pissing me off. I typed my reply. “I told you I’m not avoiding you. I just need to come home quickly.” “Then can I fetch you tomorrow?” My eyes widened. I got up from sitting on the floor and sat on my bed. “There’s no need!” I sighed and here I am again. Getting irritated at him. “See?” “My parents will ask about it!” “Then I will introduce myself.” I brushed my hair fiercely. “Gosh! I just can’t with this guy!” I calmed myself and tried to lighten up my mood. “Ok. I know your point. But please understand, my parents are strict, and I don’t want to cause any trouble this week.” “They might pull me out on our tour!” I tapped the sent icon with so much force. “Ok, then can I just help you with your luggage?” I don’t want but I think this will help to comfort him. Besides my luggage is bigger than me. “Fine.” I rolled my eyes and throw my phone on the bed. I will just shower and sleep. The heat of the sun is hitting my face insanely. We were waiting for Clarix. She’s 10 minutes late! What a hard face woman! I was fanning myself so hard and murdering Clarix on my mind when Tavy stepped to my side. He politely smiled at me and extended his arms. He fanned me with his mini electric fan. I grinned. “You’re ready.” “Of course. I know you’ll need this.” I pursued my lips and looked down at his other hand. He’s holding my bag while he dropped his own things at the ground. “You can put it down. We’re still waiting for Clang,” He also looked at it and put it down, but he used his foot to prevent it from hitting the ground. I looked at him with confusion and amazement at the same time. He then looked at me, but I looked away immediately. My heart is fluttering. I shook my head and looked around to see Clarix’s shadow on the streets. That b***h! “I’m sorry!” We all gazed at her direction. I boredly look at her and her luggages! “What is that?” I asked while pointing her five big luggages! Jace, Ynah and Tavy laughed. We are five people in the group, and I am ashamed for my friend. She’s late for minutes and here she is bringing their whole house! “Are we going to live there?” Jace fired while laughing. My beloved friend rolled her eyes and not even bit bothered by it. “Let’s go.” We all go and the two boys, even me, helped Clarix to her bags. “You really have the guts to keep reminding us about the time last night, huh?” She said her parents just won’t let her go. They keep asking her if she’s going to be ok, which I envy so much. We commuted! Yes, we used public transportation with our luggages, oh my gosh! We settled ourselves even if it’s very hard because it was almost full packed, but the dispatcher said that it was still spacious! Damn it. I’m getting irritated because of the heat, and I felt suffocated in the crowdedness in the bus. I got to sit beside Tavy because it is the last seat that is available. The bus roared its engine. “Do you want to change our seat?” He noticed that I’m looking at the window side where his seat is located. I shook my head. “No. I’m fine.” He sighed and got up. He urges me to move to his seat and I can’t do anything but to obey him because he is standing and it’s getting attention. He smiled and gave me his mini fan again. “Hold it. Use it for a while.” “It’s ok. The bus is airconditioned.” He grabbed my hand and opened my palm. “Hold it.” Then he adjusted himself, crossing his arms and closed his eyes. I sighed and opened his mini fan and then closed it. I looked at him again. He has this long and thick eyelash that compliment his double eyelid and almond shape eyes. His nose is fleshy, and his jaw shaped really well. His adam’s apple is also protruding. He is also tanned and 5’9 feet tall. He is actually good looking and has many suitors in campus. He reminds me of Dice’s features, but Dice is thinner and whiter than him. But they are very different when it’s about attitude. He’s a little snobbish to girls while Dice is a gentleman in his own way. “Don’t stare at me like that. I might ask Clarix too to change our rooms.” he shamelessly said while still closing his eyes.