7 THE BITCH INSIDE
She just finishes serving one of her customers when Thea noticed her field supervisor approaching her. With a look of curiosity on his face, he says, "This is the first time you asked for a leave. So I won't have any more reasons to deny that. I'm much happier you're having fun in life sometimes too."
Thea's mind seems to freeze for a while, and she doesn't remember filling up a leave form. Then she recalled York's words a few days ago. He definitely found a way so that Thea can go with them. She is more than hesitant to go, and she fears being out of place.
*****
A shrill sound of her phone ringing interrupts Thea as she's tied-up her school work. In haste, she stripped open her locker and reach out for the cellphone. Where it only sounds for a few important information from her only three contacts. The seldom moments that her phone ringing always manifests her feeling of excitement and trepidation.
Thea's cellphone blinks with some unknown number. As she's about to reach it, it stops and displays a missed call. Even a bit disconcerted, she lay her phone on the desk and carry on with her school work. Before long, her phone buzzes and displaying one "message received."
[Hi, RD tomorrow, right? I'll pick you up and shop for some stuff.]
Thea was rooted at the spot as she's flabbergasting over the received message, and it starts to rack her brain over.
[Who is this?]
[How did you learn my number?]
[Hey, who are you?]
She's been sending continued text messages with no reply. Thinking about it totally loses her appetite to carry on her school work. She stands up and leaves her desk with her unfinished school work scattered, undone. She lay down on top of her bed, musing over the received text.
*****
Thea wakes up early and starts her busy day by tidying up their room. However, she didn't bother tidying herself.
"Hey girl, you've got a visitor, and he's waiting downstairs," Jassy informed her with a smirk.
Dumbfounded, Thea starts speculating about the text messages. She never had a visitor in her dorm nor have much of a friend. The mysterious text message is the only possible reason for someone to visit her. But, her speculation failed to reach the perception of knowing who the sender could be. She was also awed by how the sender is knowledgeable enough about her contact number and even her place. Yet behind the curiosity, there's an uncertainty that somehow terrifies her.
In a dash, Thea brings herself downstairs to unveil the truth.
A wide and daffily charming smile of York greeted her, together with the sparkles of his eyes smiling as well. She's shocked and speechless, yet relieved. How can she skip the detail about York? Now, does she solved the puzzle about the mystery texter as well? Her eyes twinkled behind her black-rimmed glasses, charmed by his contagious smile. Yet, she became timid after she remembered how untidy she might look in front of her crush. She looks down on her dusty shirt, hands darkened with speckles of dust and dirt, and holding a feather duster. After she heard some chattering voices, he looked back up and caught the ladies' mocking and arrogant grin, her housemates. "OMG!" she mumbles, her eyes widened upon the realization. "P- Please give me a-a minute." she stammered with twice the shame.
Conveyed with her housemate's eyeing and jealous look, Thea's flustered appearance is unconcealed from York's observant eyes. "Just take it easy; don't let their reactions bother you."
***** Inside the car.
Thea, by chance, had swallowed her saliva by the increase of her heartbeat, the moment she felt York's hand over hers. He's driving in one hand and passing her a seldom glimpse.
"How can I get easy when I'm more skittery with you." She muttered low enough that she thought York couldn't overhear it. But,
"I heard it." York, with his imperceptible playful grin.
Thea covered her face with her palm, due to a bulk of embarrassment getting more obvious with the color of blood covered all over her face, worsen by the foolish and shameful watery eyes.
*****
Their first destination is the sporting goods department. They picked up the necessary things for camping. Since Thea didn't have any idea about that stuff, she's basically useless there. Even though he's asking for some suggestions about the colors that she deemed unnecessary, she still has not done much but tag along. It even makes her wonder if she will face the same situation at the camping.
They dropped by the grocery after, stuffing their cart with various junk foods and bottled drinks. York takes a gander at Thea being timid, standing a few steps away from him. "Hey, Thea, why don't you pick what you want for a snack. It's on me, remember? You don't have to pay for anything."
"I'm fine with some breadstick and --" She stops hesitated.
"Yes?"
"Can we drink something hot in there?"
"Of course, I'm preparing some coffee. It's cold during the night; maybe our peers will have some liquors but do you drink?"
She shakes her head hesitantly before she opens up. " I don't drink those. Can we bring some native coffee, cocoa, milk, and oh! ginger powder too?"
"Sure, you mean that's your kind of drink, you mixed that?"
She smiled coyly, and her eyes sparkled when she says." Yes, I like the fusion of creamy, bittersweet, and lemony, pungent taste of ginger in it."
*****
The next stop offers a bundle of nerves for Thea. She's dining in a restaurant with York. She stiffens and can even barely make a spoon. It's the first time in her life eating in the midst of the crowd and in front of her only crush. She had only noticed in a second blink that York, holding a spoon near her mouth to feed her. Without any idea of how to respond properly, she opened her mouth and allowed it to happen.
She doesn't want to say it and even felt awkward to imagine it, yet she thoughtlessly mouthed. "Is this a date?" That action and the capability to act and say that way is alien to her.
"Yes!" She didn't expect such an answer from York, but she's glad she heard it.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because I like You?"
Thea feels like flopping down with such overwhelming emotion, yet she hadn't. Instead, she finds herself staring, put under a spell with York's face, just like in her dreams. She's about to coy and take aback, yet instead, she unwittingly kissed York on his lips. Her action is opposing her mind. The second they let go, Thea, in a rush, stands up and runs away, trying to find a place to hide. But York abruptly holds her in her wrist that she can't take another step.
"Where are you going?" York furrowed his brow in confusion.
"I'm sorry?" The only answer Thea can offer since she, too, is disoriented. She deliberates herself from York and dashes off.
*****
Not-minding the chatters and the Argus-eyes of her roommates and other borders, Thea goes straight to her room and turns off her phone. She's trying to avoid some text from York. She changes her pajamas and head to bed.
She closes her eyes, about to doze off when she heard a female voice sonorous and deep from nowhere, just like a speaker from inside her brain. "We almost made it. I'm almost free. hahaha!" with a large echoing guffaw. She instantly opens her eyes, wondering if it's a dream. The tiny skin hair all over her arms and nape pulls up, creating goosebumps.
*****
A speck of lights, a faded glare, and a will-built silhouette of a man is the first thing she caught a glimpse of, after several blinks. Then, her eyes open under the expressive blue eyes of York. She felt an instant vigor getting up. "York?! why are you here?"
"They let me in."
"No, I mean..?" Thea pressed her eyes closed, as her brained blackout.
"Yes, I know what you mean." Enunciating, He holds her in her waist, he carries her down from her bed, from the upper deck.
Her body stiffens again, the moment their body slightly brushes towards each other.
"You kissed me, and then without any excuse, you just left me there hanging... longing for more of your kiss." York continued, moving his face closer to Thea and almost rubs their noses.
"What the hell?!" Loud and proprietary, Jassy's voice boomed around the room., startled the two of them.
"I- I'm sorry, Jassy, he's about to go out." Thea bowed down her head to show respect and regret what happened. Slightly pushing York away from her.
"Thea, what are you doing?" York opposed her action.
"Please." Thea's eyes are pleading, scared, and embarrassed.
He then nodded and said. "I'll wait for you downstairs."
As York passed by Jassy at the doorway, she grabs his arms and whispers with a glare. "What a low disgusting taste, you got for a girl."
York, unamused, glare back at her and heads off.
Jassy followed York with her disdainful stare and turn to Thea afterward. With her provoking actions, she pushed Thea with her fingertip, made her pressed on the wall. " You know what? You look like an angel, but the truth is, your hiding the devil inside you. freaky bitch!"
Thea's closes her fearful eyes and, as she opened them again, showing is a red-rimmed, wicked, and scary eyeball. Then dark lines crawling in her face, facial nerves popping out from her skin. Jassy moved back, startled. Her mouth is gaping, both hands are shaking, and her voice was trapped. Not a single sound came out as she squeals. As if some invisible hands pressing her neck.
