CHAPTER 3.2: His Secret Love (Part 2)

WHO'S THAT GUY?

Since my mom is in a good mood after our agreement last night, she let me drive my Chevrolet Malibu instead of letting our driver drive me to school.

"This is freedom!" I screamed while enjoying my way through the gate and driving to the car park with the great feeling inside me.

My mother never allow me to drive on my own since she thinks I will be cutting my classes with Trixy which is what I was really planning to before. But not today. I will not let Trixy hop in here yet.

As I open the door for me to come out, some of the students noticed my brand new car as they pass wearing their surprised faces.

"Mga rich kid nga naman!" A random schoolmate of mine exclaimed as she walks pass by.

I just gave my genuine smile before flipping my hair in the air. This is why I love the attention of everyone. It boosts my confidence and it makes me feel even better.

"Cassidy." Halos mahulog ang puso ko sa sobrang pagkabigla nang may marinig akong malamig na baritonong boses sa kaliwang tenga ko.

I know who owns that cold voice so I did not ask myself and I just turn to face him. "U-uhm. Morning Chad."

Bigla ko tuloy naalala ang nangyari kahapon. His great madness, rage and his violent kiss. Now I do not know how am I going to talk to him because my confidence a while ago flew.

"Are you okay?" He asked in a very worried tone as he try to move closer to scan me even better.

"Y-yes of course! I'm really fine." I cannot help but to stammer out of trauma with what he did. Everything is still fresh in my mind.

Nakatingin lang s'ya sa akin ng mga ilang segundo bago siya lumapit at niyakap ako nang biglaan.

"I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday. I got really mad and jealous and I can't control myself." Hindi pa rin ako makapagsalita at nahiya ako bigla sa mga taong nakatingin sa amin. Hindi lang pala 'yong kotse ang agaw pansin.

"O-okay lang naman." I started to pat his back before he let go of me and then he suddenly hold both of my shoulders.

"Thank you for giving me a chance. I'll be a very good fiancé." Halos malunok ko na ang dila ko nang bigla n'yang sinabi ang salitang fiancé. I felt goosebumps and chills.

"Hehe! Fiancé~ What a word!" I said while faking a laugh that made him sad and disappointed. Bumagsak bigla ang mga balikat n'ya habang nakatingin nang marahan sa akin kaya't naawa naman ako.

"You see Chad, its not that I'm turning you down. I-I just want to know more about you. Hindi pa kasi kita lubos na kilala. Gusto ko munang malaman kung sino ba talaga si Chadler Trevoir."

His eyes are still gloomy but since he nodded slowly, I know that he understand what I was trying to point out.

"I'm still thankful for it. At least I'll have my chance to prove myself to you." I gave him my plain smile and so he smiled back before we decided to walk together to our classes.

"Hoy Cassidy Castillo! Ano itong nabalitaan ko ha?"

Nabigla naman ako kay Trixy dahil basta-basta na lamang itong nagtatanong nang pagalit habang busy ako sa pagsusulat.

"Ano na naman ba ang tsismis na nakalap mo?" Nakataas ang kaliwang kilay ko nang tanungin siya kaya't agad siyang naupo sa katabing upuan ko at ipinakita sa akin ang screen ng kanyang Iphone.

"Bakit kayo magkayakap ni Chadler Trevoir ha? Sa post ko pa talaga nalaman? Dapat ako na kaibigan mo ang unang nakakita nito!"

Hindi na ako nagtaka kung saan kami nakuhanan dahil alam ko kung kailan at saan ako niyakap ni Chad. But what caught my attention was the man standing at the back of my car.

Masyadong malabo ang mukha n'ya but he was wearing the Mendel High uniform for men. Naningkit ang mga mata ko dahil pilit kong kinikilatis ang pamilyar na bulto ng lalaki.

I think I really know this man but the he was blurred in the image.

Napagpasiyahan kong pumunta sa library para kumuha ng resources para sa research ko since gusto kong sundin ang advice ni Chad.

Hirap na hirap akong maghanap ng tamang libro para sa research ko dahil hindi ibinabalik sa tamang puwesto ang mga libro dito sa shelf.

Nag-aaral pero hindi educated! Hindi marunong magbalik sa pinagkuhanan! Kaya nahihirapan akong maghanap eh! Hinaluan pa ng mga fiction books ang educational kaya't ang sarap talagang itumba nitong bookshelf sa pagmumukha ng mga iresponsableng estudyante!

"Since when did you learn to read books?" Napalingon ako bigla at nakita si Zeke na kumukuha rin ng libro sa kabilang dulo ng shelf.

Half of my heart was really happy seeing him pero pinipilit kong kontrolin ang sarili ko na hindi ma-tuksong kausapin sya. I want to keep my promise that I will stick to Chad no matter what.

I mindlessly took different books to divert my attention although my hands are trembling because of great nervousness.

"Do you think that 15 books you got will help? I thought your family is rich enough to have internet connection? Pinahihirapan mo ang sarili mo diyan eh pwede namang makakuha ng resources sa isang pindot lang."

When I realized what he said added by the heavy weight I am feeling in my arms, I suddenly realized that I was taking books without even checking. May mga nahalo pa ngang fiction books na hindi ko naman kailangan.

"You really took some nonsense stuff?"

Minadali kong ibalik ang mga librong hindi ko naman kailangan liban sa mga nakuha ko na kanina at isang Statistic book. Kailangan ko ng guide para sa bwisit na calculations.

"Your books are still too many." Zeke said with his usual monotonous voice but I did not bother to turn and look at him.

Nahihiwagaan ako ngayon sa kanya dahil kahit kailan sa buhay ko ay hindi nya pa ako kinausap. Hinding-hindi siya nagsasalita hangga't hindi ako nauuna.

Gusto ko man na magsalita rinkaya lang ay hindi na puwede. Mas mabuti na itong hindi na kami magkibuan para hindi na ako mahirapan.

Aalis na sana ako nang bigla akong nakaramdam na may nakaharang sa paa ko kaya't natisod ako't nahulog ang mga libro.

"Woah!" Buti na lang at naibalanse ko ang sarili ko kaya't hindi ako natumba at nadapa sa sahig kasama ng mga libro.

Nahiya ako bigla dahil sa harap pa talaga ni Zeke ako natisod kaya't dali-dali kong pinulot ang mga libro dahil ayoko nang magtagal pa. Masyadong awkward para sa akin na magtagal pa kasama si Zeke.

"You forgot this one." Halos magsitayuan ang balahibo ko nang marinig ang baritono niyang boses malapit sa akin.

Napatingin na lamang ako sa libro na inaabot niya mula sa likuran. Parang hindi ko natatandaan na meron akong kinuhang libro na Guidelines for a Good Research. Gustuhin ko man na sabihin iyon ay wala na akong nagawa kundi kunin ang libro dahil ayaw ko nang kausapin pa siya.

I hurriedly walk away to leave him there without even throwing a glance. Lalo akong mahihirapan magtiis kapag magtama ang mga mata namin.

I tried to find a table where I can read quietly and when I am already sitting comfortably on a suitable place, napatingin ko doon sa librong pinulot ni Zeke.

I felt so happy when he handed it because he never handed things gently to me. Madalas ay ibinabagsak niya na lang sa ang ipapaabot niya eh.

Nasasabik kong binuksan ang libro ngunit agad na bumungad sa akin ang isang pink na sticky note na may dalawang katagang nakasulat.

I'm sorry.

I snorted and rolled my eyes when I saw it. Pati mga libro sa library ay ginagamit sa kalandian.

"Tama na Zeke! Pagod na ako!"

After reading tons of books and trying to study about how to make my research better, Chad invited me to play with him in the Basketball court before his training starts.

I do not even know why I agreed to come even though I have really no idea on how to play it. Puro lang naman ako panonood kay---well, nevermind.

"Bakit? May problema ba?" I asked him when I noticed that he was looking at me with this undescribable stare. Hindi mo maipinta ang mukha ni Chad habang hinihingal.

"You called me Zeke."

Now I just realized what I just said. I can see in his eyes how awkward and how offended he was.

"I'm sorry. I'm just really tired." Napaupo na lang ako sa viewer's seat dahil pagod na talaga ako kaka-block at habol kay Chad.

Puro na lang ako harang kaso madali niyang naaagaw ang bola sa akin kapag magshu-shoot na ako.

Agad naman siyang sumunod sa akin at naupo sa tabi ko pagkatapos ay kumuha ng isang bottled mineral water at iniabot ito sa akin.

"Thanks." I said and smile at him before opening the cap to drink.

As I let the water slide down to my throat, nakaramdam ako nang kaunting ginhawa pagkatapos nang nakakapagod na laro. It was not even a serious game but it was really pretty tiring.

I was in the middle of drinking when I felt a soft silk wandering my shoulders.

"You're covered in sweat."

I felt a little awkward knowing that Chad was the one doing it pero hinayaan ko na lang na punasan niya ang katawan ko. Dapat ay masanay na ako sa ganito since my goal is to be close to him.

"Hey Chadler! Mukhang kasama mo ang girlfriend mo ah!" Napatingala ako nang may narinig na tumawag kay Chad.

Agad na bumungad ang mga members ng Mendel tigers including Zeke who's looking seriously at us. Agad kong inalis ang mga mata ko sa kanya at tiningnan si Chad na ngiting-ngiti.

"Not yet Chen! Not yet!" He said but I can see in his smile that he likes it. He even gave me a wink while still wiping my sweat out.

"You came too early."

Pinilit kong hindi lingunin si Zeke na ngayon ay nakatayo na malapit sa akin. I want my eyes to focus to Chad since I might get stuck with Zeke's handsome face again.

"You'll fall in love with me Cass. Be careful." Chad immediately said out of the blue while looking at me with his naughty expression.

Natawa ako bigla dahil halata sa ngiti nitong nakakaloko na inaasar nya ako kaya't sinampal ko sya nang dahan-dahan.

"Stop teasing!" I said and giggle at him while he is still busy with my shoulders.

"Okay. I guess I'm just a wind here and no one dares to answer me." You can hear the sarcastic tone from Zeke's voice as he let out a soft breath.

"Why don't you just go there huh? You should be training since you came late." Halata sa boses ni Chad na naiinis ito habang tiim-bagang na nakatingin sa kapatid nya.

Mukhang ayaw ni Chad na istorbohin siya ng kapatid kaya't nainis na ito at gusto nang paalisin si Zeke.

"I actually didn't came late. I came in the right time. Unlike you who came here early just to flirt with this woman. Good for you Cass."

Hindi ko alam kung masyado lang akong assuming or what pero parang nasasaktan si Zeke. Parang masyado itong naiinis dahil sa ginagawa ko for I do not know what reason.

"Hay~ Pagod~" When I reached the parking lot, I mindlessly walk through my car and was about to get in nang bigla kong makita sa repleksyon ng salamin ng driver's seat na may nakatayong tao sa gilid ko. Nang lumingon ako ay halos malaglag ang puso ko nang makita ko si Zeke.

"Oh sh---What the hell Zeke?" Muntik na akong mapamura sa gulat at agad na napahawak sa dibdib.

I was about to say something again nang bigla kong maalala na hindi ko nga pala sya dapat kausapin.

Agad akong pumasok sa kotse at isinara ang pinto kahit pa alam kong hindi pa siya umaalis. Hindi ko na siya inintindi pa at ipinasak na ang car key pero bago ko pa mapaandar ang makina ay may biglang kumatok sya sa bintana.

I want to ignore him pero hindi ito tumitigil sa pagkatok kaya't nainis na ako. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang buksan ang bintana at tiningnan siya nang matalim kahit pa naghuhuramentado na ang puso ko habang tinitingnan ang nakakaakit niyang mukha.

"What do you want?" Iritado kong tanong kahit na gusto ko na talagang lamunin ng lupa.

"Do you really wanna play basketball?"

I thought he was going to say his usual hurtful words but then I frowned when my guess turned out different.

"What made you ask?"

Ako pa rin ba ang nagsasalita? Parang feeling ko nawala na ang dating ako na grabe ang pagkabaliw dito sa anghel na to!

"If you really want to, then come tomorrow at the court after your class."

But the question that bothers me the most is, am I really talking to the real Zeke Trevoir? Hindi naman siya ganito dati ah.

Personally, I am very thrilled about it. This is my dream and today, it will finally come true. But on the other hand, I made my promise. I cannot break it knowing the possible cost.

"Thanks for the invitation but I'm not interested. Busy ako sa research ngayon. I need to fulfill my requirements since graduating students na tayo. You should too."

Wherever I got this confidence and bravery, I should be thankful because without it, I'll be walking out of the car and hug him really tight when he talked to me. I should be proud of myself.