Chapter 9

BENJAMIN Monticello was Caroline’s childhood ultimate crush during high school days. He was the campus heartthrob and the prom king. Benjamin is the epitome of perfection—in Caroline’s eyes. They were both in their first year when she first saw Benjamin, who was in the first section back then, while Caroline being a late enrollee, was put in the last class.

Like any public school in Manila, the last section was composed of all kinds of students that you may find in a school. Still, for Caroline, her class section was full of bullies that made her high school life a little harder. Still, the teenage Caroline managed to survive the first year to be on top section in the second year and be part of the campus cheering squad. Caroline knew by that time that Benjamin was within her reach.

But, Caroline never got a chance to know Benjamin. He was always surrounded by his classmates and was continuously occupied even during lunch breaks. That’s when she decided to divert her infatuation for Benjamin to other guys.

In their fourth year, she met Paul.

“Caroline, that guy wants to get your landline number,” her classmate Skye told her. She pointed to the guy a few meters away from their direction. He was also sitting at the same line of bleachers they were in. “He’s a varsity player, cute and looks yummy!”

Caroline looked at the boy’s direction, he waved and winked at her. Caroline felt a sudden chill in her nape. “I know him,” she said with a smirk. “And, he had my number already.”

Skye’s eye widened. “Really? Does it mean you were already dating him?”

Caroline chuckled. “Sort of.”

“I hate you!” Skye jokingly pulled her hair. “How did you meet him?”

Caroline shrugged her shoulders. “Well, it just happened that we shared the same habit.”

Skye nodded her head. “So you met him at ‘Biglang Liko’?” she asked, pertaining to the place where students with bad habits and fraternity members gathered.

“Yeah, he was a member of a fraternity,” she said, when her friend’s face frowned, she continued. “But don’t worry, I won’t join them.”

Skye heaved a sigh of relief. “Good to know. By the way, I should get going. It’s Mom’s birthday. Do you wanna come with me? Dad cooked garlic pasta, and Ate Aya baked Biko for Mom.”

Caroline shook her head, her chest suddenly tightened upon hearing Skye’s invitation. Her friend’s family hates her because of her personality. “No thanks, I don’t wanna ruin your Mom’s special day. Tell her that I wish her the happiest birthday today and—bring some Biko for me tomorrow.”

When Skye left, Paul dashed in her direction. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. He smelled pot smoke, but Caroline wasn’t bothered by it.

“Hey, sweetie…” he cooed. “Do you want some honey?”

Caroline giggled. “You don’t have classes?” she asked. “Or, you cut classes again?”

“Are you my mother?” Paul asked sarcastically. “My mom used to feed me…” Paul’s gaze lingered on her neck down to the spaces between the buttons of her blouse.

Caroline stiffened when Paul’s hand grasped tightly on her waist. “Paul… let me go.”

“Why? You don’t like it?” Paul whispered near her ear. His hand crawled up on the side of her breast.

Caroline gasped when his other hand caressed the underside of her breast on top of her thin blouse. He was hugging her now, his lips touched her neck. “Paul… don’t do this.”

Paul just smirked. He smelled her hair. “I’ve been waiting to touch you… to feel your soft skin against my palm…” His hand slipped under her blouse and cupped her breast. “I hate women wearing layered clothing,” he grunted and worked for his hand inside her brassiere.

Caroline squealed as soon as his palm touched her skin. Tears started to stream down her cheeks. “Paul… p-please stop this,” she pleaded, but Paul continued to grope her breast.

“I wasn’t wrong, you have full tits,” Paul whispered, his voice was throaty. He breathed hoarsely as his hand continued to move under her blouse.

She looked around the bleachers. Unfortunately, they were alone in that school dome. It was late in the afternoon, and most of the students were going home. Caroline regretted that she let Skye leave her alone to do their squad’s pom-poms.

“I want to suckle on your big soft tits,” Paul whispered as his fingers pinching her nipple. “Remove your blouse.”

Caroline refused. “No… don’t do this,” she tried to push him away, but he’s incredibly strong. “Help—!”

Paul covered her mouth with his free hand. “You bitch, don’t act like an innocent virgin. I know you want me to touch you like this.” He pushed her to lie down, get on top of her and ripped her blouse. His hand recklessly groped her breasts. “Beautiful…”

Caroline wished that somebody would enter that dome and help her. She pushed him and tried to kick his groin. “Get off me—!” She screamed. “Help me—!”

Paul held both her hands and placed them on top of her head. His eyes leered on her exposed breast, and using his free hand, he touched her protruded nipple. “Pinkish tip, how does it feel in my tongue?”

Caroline shut her eyes when his thumb circled her crown. “No! Please! Help me!” she shrieked.

Paul grabbed her breast and squeezed it until she flinched in pain. “Bitch, no one can hear you—”

Strong hands dragged Paul away from her. Caroline sit up and arranged her blouse immediately. She watched in awe as the boy who dragged Paul, threw punches at him. His blows hit Paul in the face, and the impact caused cuts on his face. The boy was on his back, and Caroline can’t see who he was.

With the last punch, Paul fell on the ground. It took seconds before he managed to stand up. “I’ll see you outside—”

“I’ll see you in court,” the boy countered. “Go away before I call the guards to take you.”

Caroline froze in her seat. That voice… When Paul strode outside the dome, the boy turned around and face her, Caroline covered her face quickly when she saw the familiar painstakingly handsome face of Benjamin Monticello.

“Are you okay?” He walked towards her, but she stepped back. Caroline saw that he got his lips cut. It will bruise tomorrow, Benjamin got hurt because of her.

“No…” she said while clutching both ends of her blouse to close and trying to cover her face with poms-poms. “Don’t come near me…” her voice was shaking. “Please…”

“I won’t hurt you, Miss,” he said in a soothing voice that calms her nerves. “I heard your scream—”

“Please don’t tell this to anyone,” she said, trying her best to avoid his eyes. She can’t take to meet his gaze in this embarrassing situation.

“Don’t you want to file a case against him—”

Caroline shook her head. “No… t-this is embarrassing. Please, promise me that you won’t tell this to anyone.”

It took moments before Benjamin replied, and the tense that Caroline felt increases. “I promised I won’t, but take my shirt to cover yourself,” he finally said. He took out from his bag the P.E T-shirt and gave it to her.

Caroline’s hand trembled as she gets the shirt from Benjamin’s hand. “Thanks…” she murmured and walked towards the exit. She felt so ashamed of herself, dirty and immoral. She heard Benjamin called her, but she ignored him.

***