CHAPTER 3.1: His Secret Love (Part 1)

ZEKE'S ANGEL

ZEKE

"Zeke oh. Para sayo." 

I was only thirteen when she started courting me after her love confession when we were in Grade 6. I already turned her down when she said she liked me but here she is right now. She is really real bar-headed woman but ironically, I loved it.

"Do I look like gay for you to give me flowers?" I boringly said to her even if I want to grab it already. 

She never gave me flowers before and it looks really fresh. I declined not because I think its gay because I have been tempted to accept whatever she gives. I want to take her gifts but I just cannot do it.

All of my thoughts faded when I heard the loud ring of the school bell. My jaw is still painful and my abdomen is still feeling pressed hard after the mess Chad and I made. Now here I am in the clinic putting my strength back together so that I could go back to my class since I was already excused in my 2 subjects.

"Stay ka muna dito Mr. Trevoir at dumudugo pa ang labi mo." The school nurse told me while holding the clinic records and standing infront of me but I did not mind her. I slowly sit up in the clinic bed then I wear my school schoes.

"I need to go back to my class." I plainly said before standing and finally walking out of the room. 

I cannot help myself from groaning since my body still hurts but I choose to ignored it. I need to check on Cassidy if she is back in her class because I have no idea where the hell did Chad took her.

***

After the class, I immediately tried to walk through Cassidy's room to check if she is already there but in a way that she will not notice it. 

I am very worried even before I was sent to the clinic. If something happens to her, I will kill Chad without second thoughts.

"Cass, besh sandali!" I was already on their doorway when Cassidy started walking out and her friend followed her while calling. 

Agad na nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Cassidy but before I could even avert my eyes, she already turned back to avoid me.

"Besh---" 

"Tara na Trixy." She said plainly before grabbing Trixy's right arm and clutch it before walking away from me.

CASS

Parang tumatakbong mga paa ng kabayo na handang sumugod sa gera ang pintig ng puso ko at halos manginig ako sa pagpipigil sa sariling tapunan ng atensyon si Zeke at itanong kung ayos na ba sya. 

Nangangati akong hawakan ang pisngi n'yang may pasa at ang labi n'yang may sugat. Napahawak ako bigla sa dibdib ko habang naglalakad palayo kay Zeke habang hawak sa kabilang kamay si Trixy.

"Ang galing mo besh ha! Talagang nilampasan mo lang si Zeke! Dati, hindi nakukumpleto ang araw mo hangga't hindi sinisigaw ang pangalan n'ya! Ang bilis naman ata masyado." 

Pabulong niyang sabi na halatang manghang-mangha sa ginawa ko. Baka marinig kami ni Zeke kaya't nanatili kaming maingat sa pagsasalita. 

Oh well, bakit nga ba ako nababahala kung marinig nya kami? Wala naman pala syang pakialam.

"Hindi 'yon madali Trixy. But I'll keep on trying until I get used to it." 

***

ZEKE

As I walk inside my room and sit on the cold bed, thoughts about Cassidy filled all of the spaces of my mind. 

Being ignored by her is the worst feeling ever. I have never seen her walk away from me because I am used to her attention. 

Now that she did not even approach nor greet, it feels so bad and its driving me crazy. What the hell did that bastard do to Cass for her to treat me like this?

"Hey there bastard." I glanced at the devil who disrespectfully barge into my room while showing me his stupid monstrous face just like how everyday happens. 

I did not even realized that I have been patiently living with him for 18 years. Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na natagalan ko ang isang hayop na tulad n'ya.

"What do you want?" I asked him with my usual monotonous voice and just let myself think about Cassidy.

His stupid evil smile makes me want to punch that ugly face until it looks like a crushed watermelon.

"I want you dead." I immediately turn to see because he might be carrying a knife to kill me but thankfully, he has no weapon.

Oh believe me you doofus, I feel the same way. Lets just see who will die first.

"Thats nice. You look exactly like a grim reaper for me." I tried to give my insult but he just chuckled sarcastically before leaning in my study table then he crossed his arms.

"I came here to ask." His pun intended insult is now out of the topic andI feel like his question is something I am not interested to know based on his boring tone.

"You really don't like her do you?" I thought he was going to ask for a favor just like what he used to. 

He made me do his projects, take the things I worked hard to get and he even asked me to help him get inside the varsity. I never thought that he will be asking me about my feelings to Cassidy.

"It is none of your business." I want to tell him to go to hell. I will never let him know my business with Cassidy.

"I want you to spill it bastard." The way his eyes squeezed and converging eyebrows form, I know he is trying to test me. He wants me to get pissed off.

"What makes you ask that stupid question huh? Why do you even care?" I said coldly while returning the same glare he gave. 

"I asked that because I have to. We're engaged now." A triumphant smile started drawing on his face after his announcement. I tried to scan his face to know if he is lying but he seems so happy like it is going to happen tomorrow.

"That's a stupid news." 

They cannot do that to her. They cannot just arrange her to Chad since everyone in this very house know that I am Cassidy's type. I know she will not agree to it.

"You don't believe it do you? Then ask mom. Or ask even tita Margaret to confirm it. They both decided that we will get married as soon as possible." 

My jaw immediately hardened and I cannot help but to ready my fist. I will never let Cassidy get married to this asshole. I have sacrificed too much for her and I do not want it to end up with nothing.

*flashback* 

"What are you drawing?" 

At the age of 7, I never know how love works. They said that its just puppy love and its only merely playing with a playmate. But I don't mind at what people say because all I want is to keep on being with the most beautiful kid I have ever laid my eyes on.

"My angel." I simply answered to my dim-witted step brother who only knows how to bully me and nothing more. 

I hate his existence although I should be the one who does not deserve to live. I am my father's bastard.

"Angel only lives in heaven." He annoyingly said before senselessly grabbing my artwork even if I am still halfway done. With that, I got pissed so I stand up and tried to take back my work.

"Give me back my Cassidy!" I yelled at him angrily but instead of returning my drawing book, he pushed me to the ground before tearing up the paper violently.

"Cassidy's mine!" He roared claiming Cassidy as if she's his own.

With that, anger consumed me and the hatred I always felt towards him increased. I stand up and pushed him harder that made him fall to the ground.

"Cassidy is my angel!" I angrily scream before I placed myself on top of Chad.

"Chadler baby!" I was about to punch his face when I heard Devina's voice calling out for her son. I watched her as she help out her son to stand.

"Mommy! Zeke is taking Cassidy! No! I want her mine!" He started crying to his mum so Devina gave him a hug but I didn't felt any sympathy.

I do not like it when he proclaimed Cassidy as his own. He had everything that I want and everything that I own now he still wants my love? It is so unfair! Why does he keep on having everything he wants even he does not even deserve it yet he still wants Cassidy?

I was about to strangle his neck when I receive a hard slap on the face before I could even step near him.

"How dare you hurt your stepbrother! You can never touch him like that again! And you can never be with Cassidy! If you ever tried to come near her, I'll kick you out of this house!" 

I want to fight back and tell her that Cassidy should be the exemption of their greediness. 

At least just let me have my Cassidy. But as a kid with a family who never cares for me, where would I go if they send me away?

*end of flashback* 

"Cassidy will never agree. We both know who she loves the most." I said with full of determination knowing that it is me. No one had ever stand out in her heart but me. I am her only angel.

"But you hate her right? Maybe you could push her away harder this time so she'd be able to marry me willingly." 

As if they do not know why. I am forbidden to be with her so I have no choice but to obey. For now. I still have plans and I will make sure that in the end, Cassidy will be mine.

"She's not in the right age to get married." I should be speaking in a way that they will think they are still holding my neck. But wait until I bust out of this chains and they will see the monster they built.

"Nah. I know it would be too soon so I will still give her some time. We don't need to rush. We just have to prepare." 

Let us see if you prepared with a great result Chadler. We will know who cries in the end.

"You better watch your back then, stepbrother." 

This is it. This is the start of the real war. Now I need to move my ass and start with my first attack.

***

CASS

"Sugarbum? Can we talk?" 

I was in the middle of crying my heart out loud silently when I heard the knock on the door and my mom asking for a conversation with me. 

Maybe I really need it because I am in pain right now. All I could do is cry loudly while I cover a pillow in my face.

"Come in mom." When my nose feels runny, I sniffed before the door opened. 

As mommy-bear walks inside my room, she is looking at me seriously but her eyes are as warm as the summer breeze. I have this feeling that I know what we are about to talk.

"Did you cry my baby?" I immediately felt nervous because she noticed it. My eyes are still heavy and I think my cheeks are still wet.

"No mom. I think its cold." I even sniffed again to make it believable but she gave me a dubious look. After a second, she just sighed maybe because she does not want to argue with me anymore. 

"You know what baby, I really missed babysitting you. I missed our times together watching barbie movies, eating a lot of ice-cream, and doing girl stuffs. Now look at you my babybear. You're a lady now." 

She sat beside me then she started running her fingers in my long hair. I tried to remember those times and realized that time really runs fast.

"Don't worry mommybear. I still love you." 

Nothing will change. Even if I grow old, she's still my mother. I gave her my warm smile as she look at me with her very caring eyes while still brushing my hair with her hand.

"Baby, I know that you're still too young to get attached to a guy but, I think Chad deserves--"

"I'll give Chad a chance mom." 

She got shocked when I cut her off. I am really indeed right about the topic we are going to talk about. I know she will convince me to be with Chadler.

"But on one condition." She moved closer to me to show her eagerness to listen.

"What is it baby? Chadler is willing to do everything just for you to give him a chance." Is he? It looks like she is the one who will do everything to make me marry Chad.

I still have trauma of what he did to me at school but I am clearly sure that he didn't hurt me. He probably did it out of frustration, madness and dissapointment.

"I don't want to hear anyone of you ranting about weddings and strings attached. I want to know Chad first before I decide if I am willing to marry him." 

I hate it when tita Devin and her teases me. I want to vommit with their thoughts about me and Chad. They even told me that they want us to have 10 kids for goodness sake!

"Well, you leave me no choice baby. Okay. We won't talk about you getting married to Chad yet. But I want you to stick with Chad only. Not with any other guy. Nor even Zeke." I want to yell no but I just remembered that I am actually ignoring Zeke. 

I want to set him free. I want him to have a fair life that he never had before. I want him to feel safe and peace. Even if I have to offer myself to someone else.

"Okay. I'll only stick to Chad." 

***