Chapter 32

Monday came and it was another day to go to school. It feels different today, I don't know that there is nothing strange when I go to school, and for all I know students hate Monday but why me? Why does it feels so unique?
I can't get out of my mind what Zarius told me that night, after half an hour he took me to the front of our house. He didn't clarify what he wanted to convey but I'm not that dumb to understand what he said that night. My heart beats so loud that I couldn't control.
It was my first time to felt this way, so surreal.
"You look different today, darling." I bit my lip at what Dad said when I went down to the dining room to eat I caught them with Mommy who was already sitting.
"I agree hon, there seems to be something strange in the smile. I've been feeling it before." Mommy's fuel so I blushed even more. Am I that obvious?
My gosh! Laraya! You're so obvious!
"I-Its nothing please!" Then I sat down next to them. By the way, Ivan can't deliver me, so it's just older brother Maru.
"Defensive?" Mommy is still pissed.
"Mommy too!"
"Just kidding honey, you know your priority and also your limitations right?" I nodded with a smile.
"Your mommy's right, so don't keep a secret to us ah?" I also nodded to Dad. I know that, I won't lose it. And I also have a promise to them that I will finish my studies before the relationship.
After eating, they left first because Dad still had an urgent meeting, I gave them a kiss before they finally left.
I gave a glance in the mirror before I finally went downstairs and out to enter the school. My body curve was just right for my uniform wearing, I just let my pretty curly hair down and pinned both to both of my ears. I took my sling bag from the sofa and went out.
When we arrived at school, many students entered the entrance. I said goodbye to brother Maru to enter.
The students could not help but glance at the saken and most of them were male.
I just turned around and walked towards the hallway. I saw the group of Zarius once again on the side of the hallway. All of them are laughing, I can also see Zarius' face from here that is already smiling. One of them was holding a guitar again, and I heard him strum.
Before Zarius could look at me, I continued walking. Why am I ashamed?
Will he come in?
Hays why am I worried? I just took a deep breath and walked to my first class. I was just quiet when I went in and sat in my old chair.
That's what I still do when I don't have a professor, I look out the window and listen to music.
"Ahm miss, is anyone sitting here?" I looked at the speaker, he was pointing to the chair beside me that Zarius often sits on.
"Ahm ---" I couldn't continue what I was about to say when a temperamental person suddenly sat down.
I saw him glaring at the guy who was standing infront of us. I caught the guy shook away and seemed hesitant.
"A-ahh s-I said that." The guy said then turn his back to find a seat.
I looked at Zarius who was just seriously staring at the emptiness.
He's really going to come in now.
Good.
I gave him a look first, 'cause he can't even look at me! Fine! No attention! I will study for you your ass! God Laraya, you're cursing!
I blinked and just put both my earphones back in my ears. And look out the window. He's acting like he didn't know me.
But I was surprised when he grabbed one of my earphones and plugged it into his ear.
I stared at him in amazement, while he still didn't care.
"What are you doing?" Whispering but I asked emphatically, he aroused me again with a dark look.
"Tsk." He just said and looked away.
Until the prof came and the whole class passed, he just frowned, he didn't pay attention to me. Even when I asked if he had any notes from the last meeting for the quiz to be done.
"You have notes?" I asked because Sir was reviewing us about our topic in the past, because we had a quiz. And he was absent then.
He didn't answer and just twisted the ballpen around with his finger.
"You were absent from the last meeting right? I can lend you my notes." At the same time, I handed him my binder, he didn't even look at it and didn't reach for my binder. I was not answered either.
Annoyed, I returned my binder to my desk and continued to review, even though the truth is that no one enters my brain because of him.
What's wrong with him ?!
The class ended and I don't know if my answers are correct, I saw him just this cool answering while I was struggling to think why he treated me like that! Annoying!
I hurriedly arranged my belongings when the class was dismissed. He was still not removed from his seat. I don't care if he's watching what I'm doing!
When I finished, I was about to walk when I saw one of his feet blocking my path and hanging on a chair in front of him.
"Excuse me." I said coldly, but he didn't seem to hear anything and adjusted his foot on the chair.
"I said excuse me." I turned around and saw that only a few students were leaving.
I don't want to be alone with him if he's just like that!
He also glanced at me coldly and lazily adjusted his legs even more. My blood was boiling and I wanted to hit him, but I remembered that I didn't want trouble so I just calmed down my feelings.
"What?" He asked lazily.
"Your foot, I'll pass."
"You pass." He gave an authoritative answer but still did not remove his feet. Seriously ?!
I closed my eyes firmly, and I am trying to calm my anger towards him alright ?!
I just turned around and moved my chair back so that I could pass by. I managed to get out, I didn't bother to look at him when I came out.
Fine! This is what you want! Dont ever talk to me again, you idiot!
I first went through the bulletin board to see what kind of event there is this August. If there is a club that I can join and I will join so that apart from school I will have other worries.
There were only a few people in front of it so I had a chance to peek at it. I saw there would be intrams, really? Is there anything here? And august?
There are many sports that can be joined, such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, baseball, amazing race and there are also Filipino games that can be joined. But I found an interesting game that Dad and I often played.
Chess.
You have to go to the faculty to sign and join if you want to join. Just for elimination, but will I join? I feel like I don't know enough to play chess, Daddy is the only one I can fight, yes I can beat him but that's not the basis for me to join the gloves.
Apart from the activities listed there, I have no other interest but chess.
I will think about it.
I turned around to start walking to my favorite tambayan. I have a bag of cupcakes and delights so I won't go to the cafeteria.
As I was walking towards the garden, I heard someone shouting.
Out of curiosity, I turned to the origin of the voices behind a building. I hid on the side when I saw men gathering.
"Listen to this, arrogance! Go ahead and fight! You're so good at picking up a girl!" I heard the guy said while punching the guy's face leaning against the wall. My eyes narrowed as I recognized who it was.
Z-zarius?
Why? Stealing? Girlfriend?
I tightened my grip on my bag and continued to hide to hear more conversation. She is alone and is surrounded by men.
I saw him smile as he looked dark at them. Don't laugh! You may be beaten even more! I also saw his bleeding lip near his mole and his eyebrow which was also bloody.
I must be angry with him but I feel sorry for his situation. I could do nothing to help him.
"Wow tangina boss! Still able to laugh!" One of them hit, the so -called boss got even angrier and punched Zarius again. I close my eyes and cover my mouth because from what I saw, my knees are already shaking. I want to run, but my knees are too weak and I don't want to move my legs.
"Don't blame me if your girlfriend hit me, she's totally a whore that's why ----" Zarius didn't continue talking when he hit her again. God Zarius! Why don't you just shut up ?! Why don't you fight back ?!
"Shut up! You're really confused!" Still shouting, I couldn't stand watching anymore and I'd better close my eyes. I was so bitten on the lip by the twing that I could hear a kick, kick and whatnot. I was also afraid that they might be carrying knives.
It took a few more minutes, before I heard silence. I slowly opened my eyes. My eyes widen! H-how did he do that ?! All his opponents before are already lying on the floor! While he was still standing but there were traces of his weakness.
He said something and then they got ahead of us and ran away. To their horror they did not notice me.
When they disappeared and I looked at Zarius who was sitting down so I quickly ran with him. It was only a matter of minutes before I left him in the room!
He looked up at me when he saw me kneel in front of him.
"A-what are you doing here?" He asked coldly. Blood was running down his face.
"You have wounds." I turned around, I needed first aid!
"W-wait! I'll just look for first aid there!" I was about to get up when he stopped me so I looked at him.
"I told you to stay away from me, didn't I?"
I can't leave him like that!
"No! You need help!"
"I dont need your fucking help! I dont need anyone's help!" He shouted back. I gasped at his response to me. Why is he like that?
He just looked at me coldly and eventually looked away.
No, Laraya, don't be silenced by what she has to say! For once!
I still couldn't stand up and just faced him, in this situation he needed something to lean on. What we talked about that morning suddenly came to my mind.
"Please, Zarius even just now. Let me help you. Promise, when it's over. I-I w-wont bother you a-anymore." He looked even darker but eventually he did nothing but nod so I was relieved.
I don't know how I forced him to go to the garden with me, I waited for him there while I bought cotton, alcohol, petroleum and bandaid.
When I came back I saw him just sitting in my favorite chair under the tree while looking at the emptiness.
I was sad when I thought that when it was over we would never talk again.
This is what he wants, so I should respect it as a promise as well.
He looked up when I was in front of him, I sat next to him because he was taller so I just knelt down. I could see that his uniform was still open and I could see his black underwear. If I had seen it in others, I would have said dugyot but when I came to him, he just looked like a model in my eyes.
I took out what I bought outside of school, I saw a pharmacy. He also doesn't want me to take him to the clinic.
I first put the alcohol on the flower. He was already facing me, I was trembling and I even touched his chin so that the cotton could be placed on the side of his lip.
I was taken aback because of his stare while I was doing that.
He doesn't smile at the twing, I'll throw the cotton with alcohol but I notice his grin. When I put petroleum on his lip, I followed the one on his eyebrow.
He was quiet and just watching what I was doing.
"Done." I said when I finished applying the bandaid, we looked at each other for a while but I immediately averted my eyes.

"Thank you ..." Weak but enough for me to hear. I'm putting away the ones I used with him.
I didn't speak anymore, I didn't want to either. Maybe I can say more and get my promise not to bother him anymore. Maybe that's better, we don't interact with each other.
While it was still early I was able to prevent myself from falling for him. He is not what I deserve.
"A-I'm leaving." I even bit my lip. I was about to stand up when he pulled me back and made me sit down again.
"B-why?"
"Don't go anywhere yet. S-join me first." He said softly. There is still time so I can still be with him.
I could do nothing but nod and stand beside him.
I can't even look at him properly.
I can not do it.
"You're not going to ask me what happened?" He asked later, I looked at him but he just looked straight ahead.
"No longer." I just said that even if it's true, it's hard for me to ask him to find out if the accusation against him that he will seize is true.
How he also coped with a group before. I had many questions for him, and most of all why he treated me like that.
But I'd better not ask, after all, everything is gone. It's a pity then, I'm sure I won't be able to sleep with the troubling questions in my mind again.
"Okay." He just said.
If he really wants to tell, he will tell even if I don't ask.
"So its a goodbye for us?" I tried to be calm with my question but it actually hurt for me to ask that.
Why?
I felt him look at me.
"It's better this way for both of us, Yslavien." He whispered. I simply bit my lip, to hold back the tiny tears. God! Why am I crying? Is it because I hope?
"G-is that so? S-okay if that's what g-you want." Then I bowed. I couldn't hold back my tears anymore so I hurried to get up.
"I-I need to go now, t-thanks btw." I didn't let him speak anymore and ran fast.
Even though I could still hear him calling my name, I would have preferred not to look back at his behavior.
First heartbreak. How can I tell my parents this? If I was just beginning to talk about love, it would quickly disappear.
Even in the beginning I knew I would not be blessed.
God Laraya! What did you do ?!
Why do I feel that way? I shouldn't feel this way! He was right when he said that it would be good but why do I seem to not want to?
But I felt a hold on my arm to stop running.
With thin eyes, he hugged me in his arms, and there I couldn't stop crying.
"Ssshhh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry baby." Pag alo nya. Suddenly I felt the calm of my whole body.
"L-let me go. This is what you want right?" I cry question. I heard him laughed.
"Yes, but you changed it. Fuck!" He hugged me even tighter.
"B-let me go!"
"Fucking no! Never!" He shouted, we hugged for a few more minutes and later he turned to me. He wiped the tears from my cheeks while I was still sniffing.
He laughed at the way I looked and I couldn't help but punch him in the chest.
"Do you want to be with me, then?" I nodded quickly.
"Yslavien, I already told you I'm not ---"
"I don't care, Zarius! I don't care who you are or what you are! I-I just felt this now and I don't want you to disappear next to me ..."
"Alright, so do I baby." He said then embraced me again. I hugged him tightly too.
I don"t even know what else the result will be after that.
What is going on between me now.
I thought, does he like me too?
I don't want to rush into my decision, but my heart says differently when I'm with him
Very different.