Chapter 21 Get in

Happiness is a contentment and satisfaction into bliss. They say joy is stronger, because you'll achieve it selflessly to the point of personal sacrifice. The moments lingers into my mind.

I stopped crying but my heart was still beating. As I thought about what had happened it was beating faster and faster. I can feel the warmth of his skin into mine. He was so close to me and I could smell his perfume. It's very manly and I think it has faded into my clothes because of the tightness of his hug with me earlier.

We spent the rest of the time in a tranquility. Our silence was not deafening but it even gave me peace in my heart. It feels like thorns had been removed into my heart after my sudden outburst. The previously overflowing emotions in my heart have subsided.

Because of his fingers that are silently brushing mine, my heart thumped like little butterflies in a field that has freely escaped from lepidopterarium.

No one is trying to talk to us and he just seems to leave me in my own time and world. She gently fixes my hair which I'm sure is messed up with its braid. I also don't understand, I want to ask him questions, like where's Ate Celest? What do the things he told me earlier mean? But no one wants to come out of my mouth.

I just let ourselves, afraid to stop what was happening. The office door opened and Nana Celia spat with the same expression when she entered my room when I got sick. He put down a glass of water that Levi had called earlier and came out immediately even though he was left staring at the two of us.

From his knees, Levi stood up and thanked Nana Celia. My heart silently hoped that he would not leave in front of me and he would not let go of my hand but I just let out a deep breath as he disappeared in front of me.

His presence suffocates me, but I'm willing to be out of breath just to have him around. He pulled out a chair in front of the table and brought it in front of me. I sipped the glass of water that he gave me. I just tasted it and he handed it to me again, he slid his hands into mine again and the crazy butterflies in my heart revived.

What he told me earlier cannot be erased from my mind. He told me that Ate Celest is not her girlfriend. And I was never a sister to her. My heart pained a little realizing that maybe he's just way to good to be himself for treating me and Ate Celest special. From him who came even a brother he could not consider me. What else do I want?

He was still silently watching me. Suddenly I want to leave this place even if its replacement is not to be with him. I felt mixed emotions. I was ashamed of how I had behaved before and how I cried in his arms. What is he thinking now?

"I'll go my room now."

"Hmm."

I guess I don't want to.

"Do you have a class tomorrow?"

Somehow, his question made me feel at ease. I didn't expect him to ask as if nothing had happened. I expect him to bombard me with questions that I cannot answer. I nodded at what he said,

"I'm going in for clearance."

I couldn't help the coldness in my voice. He averted his eyes from me.

"I'm going to rest." I muttered.

He fell more silent and after a few seconds nodded as consent. I gasped my breath when he removed his hands again into mine. I went straight to the door and he followed me. The hallway was quiet and dark as I aimed my door.

"Good night."

I nodded while feeling the coldness of the door knob in my hands. It couldn't take the heat of his hand away before. I buried my face in the pillow imagining what had happened. I don't think I can sleep anymore. I suppressed a smile on my lips as I thought of her hug me as if she was so scared of losing me.

I can't help but to feel bad in the joy I feel every time I remember that Ate Celest isn't his girlfriend. At the same time, I can't think of anything else but the next morning, I'm eager to see him again even though it's only been a few hours since we met.

The morning came and I'm extremely hyped up, the amount of time I spent showering and facing the mirror. I touched my eyebrows down to my pale skin, suddenly I am nervous on how will I look today. I can't help but to remember my mom.

Her face and mine were like torn fruit. It's just that my mom's lips are way more plump that mine and she has these freckles under her eyes and around her nose. I brushed my straight pitch black hair and left it loose.

I like my mother's wavy hair but after a while I also liked my straight hair because it was only then that I remembered that I inherited something from my father. I also spent a few minutes in front of the mirror hoping that something would change in my appearance, but I, then realized that nothing seemed to happen other than I let my hair down and nothing had changed.

Wearing a high waist jeans and a button down top, I paired it with my only beige loafers. Ma'am Mira and Sir Constantine gave it to me on my birthday. I touched the ruffle-type collar of this polo until I feel like I'm good to go.

"How nice of you now Cy!"

"Thank you."

I can't help but to feel flattered about Oscar's compliment. This was probably the first time a classmate had told me before. I am also not used to hearing such words from them. I put back on my back the long hair that crossed my shoulder.

Leo kicked Oscar and nodded in Mariel's direction. Exactly following my gaze in his direction is that he stared at me. She parted his high ponytail and tightened it. Her cheeks are pink and her lips are red due to the product that she uses often.

I also see other classmates put it there whenever there is no teacher, I guess I'm the only one who doesn't know about such things. My skin is pale and my lips are not that pink but they are peachy and moist enough. I am satisfied. But there are times when I notice their boost of confidence every time they put that colourette on their skin, I can't help but think that it makes it more beautiful.

I mean there's nothing wrong with that, girls who put make up and not are both the pride of themselves, not of their man or anyone else.

Alicia laughed mockingly at Mariel's actions. Unlike Mariel who obviously had something put on her face there was less on Alicia but you can still see it in her.

"You know what makes you more beautiful?"

Alicia's eyes twinkled as she rummaged through her shoulder bag. I was surprised by his question. In his hands I saw something I often see in them.

She crouched a bit into my place and touched my chin and touched that thing. My eyes are on her half-opened mouth while full attention is placed on what is on my lips.

"There! Isn't it? So you don't look sick."

She winked and returned her belongings to the bag. I was still shocked by what he did, even with their eyes looking at me. Oscar showed his thumbs and smiled at me.

"You look nice."

Jomar whispered next to me. I shifted on my seat and just smiled back at them.

"Where'e Ms. Rodriguez? What tooking her so long? I want to go now."

Leo's complaint. Earlier we sat here outside the faculty to sign our clearance with him and pass our project. This is just the last signature we've been waiting for and we're all done.

"Stop complaining. You haven't even contributed much to our project!"

"Wow! Wow! Hey Alicia, I took care of the cut outs ah!"

"Ah? Was that the cuts that Jomar and I have to repeat?"

Leo and Alicia looked around at the answer they were making.

"That was only once! Oscar and I also took care of printing the magazine!"

Oscar nodded at his side as he allegedly looked at Alicia.

"You're still proud of that, you're always scrambling to get home early!"

Alicia threw her notebook to Leo and he caught it. Leo opened his mouth but no words have left into him.

"Shut up you two. Don't worry and you won't see each other again." smiling Mariel said.

"I'm not going to dance with you at the prom!" Leo stared at him and turned away from us. Alicia's hand was quick and pinched him on his side and he immediately stood up squirming.

"Who told you I wanted to dance with you? You're disgusting!"

Alicia could barely see the black in her eyes when she stared at Leo. Leo prayed that he would hit Alicia but he didn't continue and just caressed the side that Alicia pinched.

"You're still fighting, Cy also has a contribution. If it wasn't for her our project wouldn't be complete."

I didn't expect him to suddenly enter that. I smiled rawly at him and he smiled at me too. I was embarrassed by the sudden silence that passed through our group.

"Thank you Cy!"

Oscar said in a jolly tone. Her eyes narrowed and her fat cheeks were more defined. My heart rejoiced at the way he looked. T.

he two who were fighting sneezed and avoided each other's direction as if the first one who turned to them would be defeated.

Getting Lourd Vidalio's signature has not been that easy. I even had to receive a strong breeze and a pound of annoyance. I also have to eat my ego for that piece of signature. More than the two of them and Levi, I'm sure his older brother's signature is more important. I don't know why he's still making fun of me.

"Yes Cy, thank you."

Mariel's expectations surprised me even more. He smiled a lot at me and I couldn't seem to believe what he said.

"Jomar told me what happened at the center."

The wide grin on her face is present and one of her perfectly shade eyebrows is in a raise.

"Huh?"

"What happened?"

"Happened?"

They asked questions and Jomar took care of them and Alicia looked disgusted as they turned away again. Jomar made a loud sigh next to me as my eyes trembled staring at Mariel, not knowing what to answer. That guy has so much on his plate already, the thought of the press last time pestering him with questions passed on my mind for a second. I'm sure it would be another disaster for him if I told them what really happened.

"U-hm ..."

"There's ma'am."

My heart felt like a stray animal when Alicia quickly stood up and greeted Ms. Rodriguez. We all stood up but I could still feel Mariel's big grin on me that she still wouldn't let go. I just forced my eyes not to go to him. It also took a few minutes when we passed the project with a few more questions because Ms. gave us. Rodriguez. He also signed our clearances afterwards.

"I will pass your clearance."

Alicia collects pieces of paper to pass on to the principal of Mar De Vena High. He was tempted to do that and he left us without taking on Leo's role.

"Hey! It's mine!"

Leo waved the paper even as Alicia turned to leave.

"Pass it alone!"

"Tsk! Hey!"

He chased after Alicia and confused Leo followed. We quietly followed them with our gaze as they created noise outside the faculty. They narrowed our sight and then we woke up.

"I'll go first."

I smiled a little bidding my goodbye to Mariel and Jomar.

"All right." even Mariel. "I'll take you home, Cy."

"Huh?"

Mariel raised an eyebrow and Jomar looked at her. They were standing in front of me and I didn't know what I would look like to the two of them.

He stared at Jomar and when he stepped to leave, he hit my shoulder. My eyes widened at what he did but Jomar immediately grabbed my attention. He held my shoulders and turned me in the opposite direction to Mariel.

"Let's go, Cy."

"You don't have to take me. I'll go to the Coffee Shop and-"

"Theni will take you there."

I still wanted to follow what I had to say but he was already looking straight at the road and seemed to have no plans to listen to what I had to say. Just go out the gate and I will convince him again.

"I think Mariel is mad at me."

"That's not it. She's just like that." He smiled.

There were only a few people in the quadrangle when we went through there to the gate. The students are not in uniform. I'm not used to seeing Mar De Vena High like that. The whole area was noisy because of the groups of friends stationed everywhere. I can't believe that in a few weeks I'll be leaving this place already. How here I started all my dreams. It seems like it's only recently that Oli and Mom have been with me to enroll in this school.

Now that I've mention my mom, I can't help but to whisper in my mind and ask her from above. Mom. I'm not yet sure of my future but I hope you're proud of me. All of this is for them. Sometimes, when you have no motivation enough, you'll realize that you're no longer doing that for yourself. You just choose to hold unto things and people in order for you to move on. Yours, not even for me. Even just for them. That's joy. I'm not happy but I'm not sad either. I lost my mom and dad and I was left all alone, I don't know what reason to think para continue but in the end I choose to hold on, to sacrifice myself even though these things will not make me happy. At least, I know someone is doing that for me.

"Are you going to the prom, Cy?"

I was falling into my own sentiments when Jomar broke in.

"I'm not sure yet Jomar."

Apart from the fact that I still don't really have anything to wear, I haven't asked Oli about it. Maybe when I had the chance to visit them I would. I'll just take him and ask.

"I hope you can be with me."

"I'll ask Oli more, because I don't have anyone there."

He hissed on what I said. I gasped as he put his arm around my shoulder.

"I'll be there, Cy. I'll be your escort."

I was isolated from him and had nothing to answer. I don't know if he's this friendly or ...

"Levi?"

My heart beat went wild when I saw a familiar man standing outside the gate leaning on a familiar white car. He's looking so out place in there standing, wearing his casual polo shirt and a simple dark jeans. I don't know. What he was wearing was very typical but he didn't seem to be able to get dirty while standing there.

"Huh?"

Jomar removed his arm from my shoulder as I stopped walking and as I mentioned that name.

His eyes are dangerously looking at me, that look again, as if the magnitude of the sin I have committed against him. He was a few meters away from us and when I continued walking it was as if I wanted to back off. Why? Nothing else runs through my mind but amazement because why not? He picked me up!

I held my breath as I approached him. He's playing his phone with his one hand while his other hand is on his pocket. He doesn't take his eyes off me until I get closer. He shifted and stood properly when I got close to him. He looked at me from head to toe and he returned it to my eyes. I smiled looking so amused and obviously happy that he's here can't hide the meager joy in my heart.

No! I'm so happy! His gaze stopped in my eye and he moved it next to me as well. He raised an eyebrow and when I turned to look at him I woke up. Jomar is still here!

"Who is he Cy?"

"U-uhm .." I can't find any words to answer. What should I say? Visitors?Driver? B-brother?

"Are you done with your requirements Ava? Get in the car."

He muttered in a deep voice and opened the passenger seat door. I left my mouth open in astonishment at Jomar, I can't give him answers because I don't know! What do I do when this is what a Levi Vidalio wants to happen? Of course is to follow him! There's no choice in the first place.

"B-bye, Jomar."

I could do nothing but enter his door. I couldn't get past the smell of her perfume reminding me of what happened last night. The door banged and I followed his gaze as he turned the car toward the driver's seat. His jaw are protruding while his eyes with a dark aura are roaming around the place before reaching the door. I immediately straightened my gaze to the front when he opened the door. I held my breath as I inhaled the smell of him all over the car. Without a word he made it work and that's where I woke up.

"W-wait! I have a duty in coffee shop."

I turned to him in shock when I realized that I had come home with him, i have a job.

"I dropped by in the coffee shop before coming here. You're good."

Help he said. I saw his wrinkled forehead and his dark look ahead. I tried to process his statement but I failed. Now that I can see him more closely I feel like I have lost myself. His side view gives a very different impression. If before he didn't seem to be in the place where he stands now it seems like he is the only one who has the right to this place.

The muscles on his arms are well defined especially in the tight sleeve on his arm. I crawled my gaze from that arm to his hand that gripped the steering wheel tightly. He's wearing a different watch this time, it's a black watch compared to the one he always wore in steel. One of his elbows rested on the side of the driver's seat while his hand there caressed his lip.

I gulped. He probably didn't know what effect he had on me. I'm all okay this morning, I'm overly okay now that he's here. My emotions were overflowing and I didn't know where to pour it.