Chapter 5

I told Dad that Gerard's not needed to take me to Argao, but he didn't want to listen to my whines. He pushed me to take the car when in fact, I could just ride a jeepney to University.

I leaned back and folded my arms. I also leaned my head on the headrest of the passenger seat and turned my gaze out the window. It was dawn.

"Miss, did you bring the one in the back?" Gerard asked.

I glanced at him for a moment before looking out the window again. "Yes. You have a problem with it?"

"Nothing, Miss." He cleared his throat. "I've noticed these past few days that you don't carry heavy loads to the University. It's just weird now."

My face was flushed. "You don't have to ask, okay?" I narrowed my eyes. "When I say it's my project, you won't ask?"

"Project of books, Miss?"

I took a deep breath and turned to him. "You tampered with my belongings? How dare you!"

"Not really, Miss. I just noticed the shape of gift wrap wrapped in books."

I blinked and crossed my arms. I didn't find a box in my room so I just wrapped it straight with gift wrapper. I wasn't informed that Papa's personal driver was a gossip. Why, we were not close for him to interfere with my belongings. I huffed and looked out the window again.

I saw the yellow cross line on the main road of Arbor. I took a deep breath.

It had been a few days since the rumored crime took place in Barangay Arbor. Someone allegedly killed and hid the victim. But the authorities found no evidence, and they also did not find the body of the victim even though they searched the area, even a hundred kilometers from the crime scene.

I shook my head. Why bother thinking about it? I had nothing to do with it, but ... it's scary sometimes.

The bloody road was on Arbor’s main road, and El Grande Lat was also on Arbor. This meant that the crime happened near to us.

I sighed as the car drove towards El Pardo. I thought, maybe the two people who testified were just having a good time.

They said they were from Baclayan and I heard that they were drunk when they saw the bloody road. Maybe... they just halucinated everything because of drunkenness.

Hmmp. I've probably had gossip syndrome and it was not good. But I heard that from Aling Pechay who was one of our gossip housemaids. They reasoned that safety was just a word in our place and justice was nowhere to be found.

Huh. I should stop thinking about it. I shook my head, sighed, and looked again at the rising sun in the east. It looked like it's half past five.

I noticed that the car was moving faster. After all, the traffic in Boljoon was not heavy.

We have almost no rival on the road, except for a few PUJs and large trucks delivering vegetables and fruits to other Municipalities. Fortunately, Gerard was driving a Wrangler Rubicon so it was not too dangerous to run on the side of large trucks because it was easy to see in the side mirror, though the road was four lanes.

Gerard and I stopped over at a fast food center in Alcoy. We just drove thru because it was close to six o'clock. We still had to go through Dalaguete before reaching Argao. I gasped as I bit into the burger.

I swallowed and turned to Gerard. "Have breakfast earlier next time. I'll be late because of you, eh."

"Miss, I waited an hour before I saw you come down the stairs. It's not my fault."

I sucked an air. "Are you still blaming me for being late?"

He nodded. I gasped. I narrowed my eyes at him before I bit hard on the burger again. That driver of Papa... he couldn't lie! Hmmp!

I WANTED TO slam the passenger door. "Thank you!" I sarcastically shouted at Gerard, and alas, he even managed to smile and to wave his hand at me.

I took another deep breath and stared at him. Then I hastily turned around.

I marched into the gate of CTU - Argao Campus. There were a lot of students inside the gate, and I saw again the three-story main building at the middle of the campus with the University logo engraved on it.

"You know, Gen, I don't have time for boyfriends."

My eyes narrowed as I saw two women approaching my direction. I folded my arms and stood in the path of the two. They stopped and looked at me. The woman who spoke earlier raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Gen, look who's here."

"I can see her clearly, Jam," said her companion.

I took a deep breath and smiled fakely at them. "Have you seen my latest books? I've got Ara's new sexy series."

Jamaica stood up nicely and smiled at me. "Do we look like we care, Larica? And..." She looked at me from head to toe. "You look pathetic in that cardigan and high-waist. Why don't you wear our uniform? That will do good to your looks." She even laughed before they continued walking ahead, passing by me.

I looked at the two and my eyes narrowed. I looked down at what I was wearing. There's no problem here, was there? Also, that was Levi's taste when it comes to girl's fashion. It's up to me if I would wear such thing or not.

"Rishell!" I looked at the man running towards me. He stopped in front of me with a sigh and smiled broadly. "How are you? When are June and Tiden coming back?"

It's Benji. Not my friend.

"Are you looking for them?" I asked.

He nodded.

"On YT. Find Vine," I said and passed by him.

I heard his complaint but I continued on to the main building. It's almost seven and I didn't want to be late for Prof Waye. He was a terror professor.

I waited an hour and a half before finishing the first examination test that day.

Since break time, I went straight to the locker room. There I put the paper bag that contained the four books I wrapped in the gift wrap. I was surprised when I closed the locker, I saw Benji's face. Again.

I drew a breathe. "Are you going to look for June and Tiden again?"

"Rishell, I like to be friends with them, but since they became members of the band, I haven't been able to contact them. Tell me where I can find them."

"I said where to find them, didn't I? On YT."

His forehead furrowed. "No, Rishell. I want them to have a drink with me sometime. Personally. It's not just the on net."

"Why are you asking me for them?" I blinked and folded my arms. "Do I look like lost and found?"

"Rishell. I'm a fanboy!"

I pursed my lip. "Why me?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "You're a die hard fan, so it's impossible for you not to have contact with them. One more thing, Tiden is in love with you. He can't stand to be away from you so he'll contact you."

"Oh, really?" My forehead furrowed. "I really don't know where to find them. Okay? It's forbidden to disclose their location because their fans will chase after them and it's stated in the contract. Another thing, I only have a number. So I'll just give you their numbers. Are you okay with that? "

I quickly took a piece of paper from the notebook and wrote down Tiden's number. I remembered it perfectly especially with my previous number, he was always texting and calling me. “Here,” I said and gave him the piece of paper.

He accepted it. "But ... I thought Vine is your close company?"

"Who said that?" I swallowed the lump in  my throat. "Tiden only gives me a VIP ticket when there's a concert. Besides, I can't even go to the dressing room to take a picture with them because of the big bouncers. Levi doesn't even know me..." My voice choked at the last word.

He cleared his throat. "Levi doesn't know you? Isn't that the vocalist of the band? Then who used to be our schoolmate?"

"He is." I faintly smiled. "So, are we okay now? Because, you know, I want to go to the canteen?"

"Wait, Rishell. I'm just wondering. Tiden and June know you and are friends with you, but why didn't they introduce you to their bandmates? Then they can excuse you to the bouncers because they already know you."

I frowned and folded my arms. "Because you don't know. June invited me to join the band but I turned him down. Then, I found out that Levi became a vocalist, and it was shocking because he didn't like being in a band. So I tried to audition again but the manager refused because they had Nicole already, so I just became a fan.

I don't want to be an opportunist, using my friendship of the two members just to get closer to Levi and the whole Vine. I wanted to stay low and just support them behind the curtain."

He nodded and even held his chin as if thinking. "That's right. You should maintain your dignity. But I think the real reason why you don't want to use Tiden and June was your own shame. You turned down the offer of being an idol and you don't want to receive their condemnation. Am I right?" He smiled and left without a word.

My lips were pressed together and I turned around to go to the canteen but I was shocked to see Jamaica and Generica talking happily on the bench near the lockers of Education. They were holding milkshakes in their left hand while a pile of notes rested on their thighs. Wow. They still have time to gossip in that status.

I went to the canteen alone. I quickly ate my ordered Binggo and gulped C2 before going on to the next subject.

It was tiring and a headache. My brain was already burning with information overload, at the same time, it was throbbing because of being drained by the examination. I was overwhelmed by the thought.

IT WAS AS if ten fists had struck my brain as I sat in a chair. The school bell was currently ringing --- a signal that the examination test was over that day. I let out three consecutive sighs and drunkenly smiled at the white board.

'Men, I'm still alive! Yes!'

One more day and my calvary will be over. Good! I could finally relax as well. I took a deep breath and smiled again.

"Rishell Joy Larica."

I gasped and looked around. There's no one in my sight, but when I looked to the front, I saw Prof Ginan standing behind the professor’s desk. Her forehead was furrowed. "Don't you have any plans to go out, Miss?"

I was dazed. "I-I have a plan, Prof. I'm sorry." I quickly grabbed the shoulder bag and ran out of the classroom.

I smiled as I walked straight down the hallway where the lockers were. I opened mine and picked up the paper bag where the books were, closed and locked it.

I sang as I walked out of the building. I could still see Generica and Jamaica in the distance, and they were whispering to each other.

I immediately pulled out my phone and called Gerard. I told him not to pick me up because I'll be going to the city.

He objected at first but I merge Dad's call and asked for his permission. So Gerard did not object since he knew that my venture to the Port was consented by Dad.

So everything was set. And at that moment, I was sitting on the bus with the headset plugged into my ear and leaning my head against the headrest. I smiled softly. That was what they called freedom.

I woke up at the South Bus Terminal. I immediately got off and looked for a Jeep to take me to the CTU Main Campus. I'll just walk to Pier 1 from there. But honestly, I could just walk to CTU from here but I was lazy specially when I had just woke up from deep slumber in the bus.

I stood in the waiting shed and waited for a passing Jeep. But the passing Jeeps were full, there were no vacant seats. So I waited for more minutes until a black car pulled up in front of me.

The glass window of the car came down and I saw Engineer Lyndon's face.

My eyes blinked when I saw his face again.

He reached for the passenger seat lock and opened it from the driver seat. "Hop in," he said to me and his usual grin was missing from his lips.

Uhuh.