CHAPTER 2.1: The Planned Engagement (Part 1)

MISS DESPERATE

CASS

"I can't do this! I'd rather fail in class than doing this nonsense!"

My mind is being boggled too much with the thought of how am I going to start my introduction for my research title, "School Discipline and its Effect to Students' Academic Performance".  I know it sounds lame and it does not even sound like a good research but I really do not know what to do! Mahina ang utak ko pagdating sa mga school projects! Wala akong ibang kayang gawin kundi ang mahalin si Zeke angel ko.

Kung pagmamahal ata ang magiging basehan ng grading system ay magiging valedictorian of the class ako. Kaso hindi eh kaya't pilit kong idinuduko ang ulo ko malapit sa papel na nakapatong sa library table habang pinupukpok ang ball point ng ballpen which is a universal mannerism when someone is thinking deeply.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako nang malalim na pag-iisip nang biglang dumaan ang bulto ni Zeke sa harapan ng lamesa kaya't automatiko akong napatayo at sumigaw.

"Zeke!" Sa sobrang tuwa ay hindi ko na namalayang nasa loob ako ng silid-aklatan at sa paligid ko ay may mga nag-iisip rin ng kanilang research introduction o di kaya ay seryosong nagbabasa ng libro. Did I just shout inside the school library?!

"Is this your first time in a library?" Napakagat labi ako sa sobrang kahihiyan at nginitian ang mga nasa paligid bago nilingon si Zeke na napailing na lang din habang sapo ang noo.

"Hehe! Sorry! Alam mo namang na-eexcite ako kapag nakikita kita." He knows how my heart jumps out of happiness because of his presence. The only problem is, he always ignores me.

"If you're just planning to flirt me well, I don't have time for that. I still need to do my research introduction." Nanlaki bigla ang mga mata ko sa huling salitang sinabi niya. Tamang-tama lang pala na hihingi ako ng tulong ngayon dahil pareho lang kami nang gagawin.

He was about to turn and leave me again but before he could even step, I grab his left arm and did not waste any second to beg, "No please Zeke! I really need your help! I'm also doing my research introduction!" I pleaded while clutching his long and strong arms.

He turned to me and then frown before looking down on my hands clutching near his elbow, “Do it on your own. You passed your PR 1, right? If you did that then you can pass your PR 2." He then harshly removes my hands on his then he started walking out.

"Zeke please!" I called to him but still, he never turned so I had no choice but to follow him palabas ng library.

"Zeke wait up!"

"Will you stop tailing me?" Naiinis niyang sabi sa akin habang nagmamadaling maglakad palayo sa akin. Hindi ako nagpatinag at binilisan rin ang paglalakad habang nakabuntot  sa kanya.

"I really need your help this time Zeke! Pretty please?" I begged again while trying to gasp for air since I am starting to feel my lungs craving for a lot of oxygen.

"Get lost!" He said with his jaw tightened, trying to control not to burst out of madness. Why will I not learn?

***

At dahil hindi talaga ako natututo o natatauhan, panay pa rin ang pag-iisip ko kung mapaano ko mapapapayag si Zeke na tulungan ako. It is not that he is the only smart person here in Mendel because I have to admit that Chad is smarter than him. Pero gusto ko talagang siya ang tumulong sa akin eh! He is my hero ever since we are kids.

"Ano na Cass? May naitulong na ba ang anghel mo sa research mo?" Sarkastikong sabi ni Trixy sa akin habang nakaupo sa harap ko at nakapulupot ang mga braso. Nakataas ang mga kilay niya at nakangiting-aso habang nakatingin sa akin.

Pinandilatan ko na lamang siya at nanatiling tahimik bago bagsak ang balikat na napabuntong-hininga. Isa pa siya eh! Alam naman na nahihirapan ako tapos inaasar pa ako.

"Well, based on your expression, wala pa. Tsk tsk tsk. Wag na nga kasi si Zeke eh! Ang kulit talaga ng lahi mo!" A triumphant smile draws in her face before sipping her cold beverage.

Hindi ko na lamang siya inintindi. Napasubo na lang ako ng spaghetti sa sobrang inis dahil alam kong talo ako sa usapang ito. She knows my weakness and she use it to hurt myself even more.

"Speaking of Zeke, he's over there." My whole body reacted actively at agad-agad akong napalingon sa itinuro niyang direksyon.

"Where?" I tried to wander my gaze everywhere but when I heard a muffle trying to hold her laugh, I finally understand that she is lying.

"Haha! Cassidy naman! Ganyan ka talaga kabaliw pagdating sa kanya ano?" She said teasingly while laughing her ass out and holding her tummy.

"I just hope I can choke you to death." I seriously said while giving her my death glare but instead of being mad, she just laughs at me again.

"Hindi madaling mamatay ang masamang damo Cass." I responded with my rolling eyes before sipping the coconut water in a white plastic cup annoyingly. Minsan talaga napapaisip na lang ako kung bakit ko sya naging kaibigan eh!

"Oh, my Cass! He's really here! Zeke is over the pizza stall!" Halos itulak na niya ang lamesa na para bang gusto akong papaniwalain na nandiyan nga si Zeke.

Instead of looking, I just rolled my eyes again then I continue sipping my drink. This time, I learned my lesson.

"Cass! He's standing there!" Pangungulit nya sa akin but I just ignored it. But to be honest, I really want to turn around and check badly but I also do not want that annoying laugh of her penetrating in my ears.

"Bahala ka nga Cass! Paalis na sya!" Looks like she gave up already then just sip her drink again. Napakagat-labi na lang ako dahil hindi ko na talaga kaya pang pigilan ang sarili ko. Looks like I will really never learn my lesson.

Agad akong lumingon at nakita nga ang bulto ni Zeke na nakatayo sa harap ng pizza stall. I immediately stand and push the chair backwards so that I can walk through him pero biglang natisod ang paa ko sa paa ng upuan kaya't nawalan ako ng balanse at tumumba sa sahig.

***

After my embarrassing moment on the cafeteria, I started feeling so ashamed. Masyado na ata akong desperada. Siguro ay ‘wag ko na nga talagang pilitin si Zeke dahil hindi nya naman ako tutulungan kahit anong pilit ko. Pero sino naman ang lalapitan ko?

"Cass." Agad akong natigilan sa pag-iisip at nilingon si Trixy na nakatayo sa likod ng arm chair ko at may kakaibang ekspresyon sa mukha.

"What?" She looks like she is about to say some terrible news since her face is blank.

"Zeke is waiting outside the door. He wants to give you something."

"Ako? Seryoso?" I was so surprised about her news that I immediately stand up and glance at the door.

It was the very first time it happened. Zeke never wants to see me so it is a miracle so I will not be turning this opportunity down. I started walking through the door wearing a very wide smile on my face as I look at Zeke leaning on the doorway with his usual bored look.

"How may I help you Zeke angel?" I even tried a pose in front of him to look cute but he like I was doing a major idiocy.

"Just give this trash to your mom." Nagulat na lang ako nang ibato nya ang isang paper bag kaya't hindi ko ito nasalo at nahulog sa sahig. Agad akong gumalaw at pinulot ang mga ito ngunit nang tingalain ko na si Zeke ay Nakita kong naglalakad na ito palayo.

He was already a bit far but then he stopped walking, "And one more thing." Lumingon ito habang nakapamulsa at walang ganang tiningnan ako.

"I know that you know we will be having our game next week. I don't want you watching do you understand? And I don't want to see you on our training." After that, he turns back again and then finally leave me.

"Again Cass? How many times do you have to consider that jerk's attitude on you? You don't deserve it! You're a Castillo!" Nilingon ko si Trixy na ngayon ay may bahid ng awa ang mga mata pero ang tono ng pananalita ay pagalit.

Even though I'm a daughter of a noble family, I am still just a woman in love. And a woman in love would do anything for her man.

***

After the tiring class I had and the embarrassing events, I am now walking out of the campus building and waiting for my personal driver to come and pick me up.

As I walk solely through the cemented floor outside the school, a familiar car stopped in front of me then the window opens up at the shotgun seat. I saw Chad holding the steering wheel of the car then call out, "Cass, get in."

Chad open the door of the shotgun seat so I have no choice but to accept the offer. Looks like I just have to call mommy-bear that I have my own service now. I comfortably sat at the leather chair before closing the door before the car moved.

"How's your day?" He uttered out of the blue while still focused on the way as he operates the vehicle.

I do not want to tell him that it is the usual me chasing his brother and him running away scheme. I am sure it will offend him.

"Plain fine." He slowly nodded while still looking straight to the road.

"No problems? “My eyebrows raised since I know I have plenty but I just let out a fake laugh.

"Me? No! I will never have a problem!"

"I see. So, the research sounds a piece of cake for you. Keep up the good work."

Bigla naman akong natigilan nang maalala ko ulit ang research. Darn that project. Since when did that became a freaking piece of cake?

"Hehe. Yeah."

"Anyway Cass, our training will start tomorrow.”

Napalingon ako bigla kay Chad habang nakakunot ang noo out of curiosity. "Training? For what?" I asked while my eyebrows and forehead raised.

Tumingin naman siya sa akin na nakakunot rin ang noo na para bang nagtataka siyang hindi ko alam. "Did you forget?" he looked at me with his eyebrows also raised but he immediately returned his gaze on the road.

I squeezed my eyes even more to show him that I really do not have any idea of what he was trying to talk about.

"I'm a member of Tigers now so our training starts tomorrow." Naalala ko naman bigla ang family dinner namin na ini-announce ni Titopapa ang pagiging official member ni Chad sa Mendel Tigers.

"Oh yah! Haha! Sorry! I forgot."

"It’s okay. I just hope you'll be watching our training maybe?" He asked me with his tone a bit pleading for a positive response.

Naalala ko bigla si Zeke saying his words a while ago. He will be mad at me kapag nakita niya ako sa training nila. Well anyway, alam niya namang pasaway ako so he it will no longer surprise if I come.

"Okay. I'll check you guys out."

***

"Cass sweety, you need to sleep."

It is already 9 in the evening and yet I'm still hitting my head with my ballpen since I am not really getting any idea for my research introduction.

"Yeah, yeah. Night mom." I just said but I did not go to bed. Panay pa rin ang isip ko kung paano ko sisimulan ang introduction ko.

"Kung pwede lang kitang gawing research angel ko! Bwisit kasi eh!" I said to myself, still thinking about Zeke amid of forcing my self to come up of something useful for my paper.

If Zeke will be the research, I maybe had written 10,000 words for my introduction with my eyes closed.

I am in the middle of trying to control my head not to explode when my phone ring that caught my full attention. I immediately pick it up since the phone is just beside the paper then pressed the answer button. Would call me in this time of evening?

"Hello?"

["Its Chad if you were to ask whom."]

Actually, he does not need to tell his name. All he needs to do is to speak because his cold baritone voice is so recognizable. I think he is the only one who possess that kind of voice.

"Ahh. Yes Chad? How can I help you?"

["Actually, I think it’s you who needs help. Trixy talked to me and she told me that you’re having a hard time on your research paper."]

My jaw immediately dropped after what Chad confessed. I will kill Trixy! How could she do this to me?!

"No! Trixy is just kidding! I don't really have a p-problem!"

I don't even know what is the point of denying it to him. A minute ago, I was asking for help. Now, I am just giving up the opportunity. Crazy right?

["Are you sure you don't have a problem? Or are you saying that because you don't want my help?"]

Lalo akong nabigla nang diretsuhin ako ni Chad. Mukhang nahahalata na nga niya na talagang umiiwas pa rin ako.

"I-I'm...."

["It’s okay to refuse Cassidy. Its more offending if you're lying."]

I feel so embarrassed since I am acting like a crazy fool again. Lagi ko talagang binabalewala si Chad and I think I am being too rude. I do not even know why I do it even he did not even do anything wrong.

"I-I'm sorry Chad."

["Hearing your sorry only makes me feel worse."]

Now I am so guilty. Why would it have to come this way? I am being so unreasonable to him.

["Well anyway, if you don't want any assistance then maybe I should sleep now. It’s a pretty tiring day."]

He really sounds tired but I can feel a bit of disappointment on his voice. I smiled bitterly even he can't see me personally.

"Yeah. I think so."

["Goodnight Cass."]

I bid my goodnight then the line got cut. Now I'm left with this research again but I blamed myself because of my stupid pride.

"This pisses me off." I told myself. I stared at the paper then I just realized I really cannot do this. I glance back to my phone while trying to come up with a decision. "Think Cass! Think!” I have no reason to decline another chance anymore.

I took my phone and dialed the number I thought of to finally break this insensitive personality. I put my phone in my ear while trying to wait for a response.

"Pick up please.” It only took some seconds before I heard the other line open up.

["Yes Cass?"]

"I...." Huwag ka ng pabebe Cassidy! You’re a desperate woman now! Hindi mo na pwedeng pairalin ang lintik na pride mo!

"I need your help Chad."

***