3 P A R T 2

P A R T – T W O

The school bell rang for our last subject. I need to hurry home because I still need to help my dad to unpack. It’s not like we have so many things either. I was ready to leave when someone grabbed my wrist.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Home.” I said as I pull my hands from his grip.

“Why?” He asked again. He’s a nosy one huh?

“Unpack” I simply said and turn around, ready to go.

“I’ll take you home then” He said, flashing his smile again. And now it’s my turn to ask. “Why?”

“No reason” He said. I let him be. I know Muay Thai so I can defend myself if in case if he’s some kind of – “I’m not” I turned to face him because of what he said. “It’s written all over your face. You think I’m some sort of a maniac. I’m not. You’re my friend so I wanted to make sure your home safe. And it’s your first day here. I can also tour you around if you want.”

I really don’t get this guy. He’s in between too nosy, and too friendly. I don’t even know where he stands.

We were about to go down stairs when someone called him. “Warren!” We turned around and saw a girl with glasses walking towards us. “Do you know Charisse Lee? I’m looking for her” She says, Warren and I looked at each other.

“Why? What do you want from her?” Warren asked the girl. I don’t even know anyone here yet.

“Mrs. Cortez says she is now your tutor. We have club activities tomorrow so I have to tell her that she has to attend.” Warren turns his gaze on me.

“You will tutor me in English Lit.?” He says with all smiles. That made the girl looked confused.

“Why are you so happy? You hate English Literature. You gave me a head ache last time when I was your tutor!” Warren didn’t mind the girl because his eyes were too focused on me.

“You’re Charisse Lee?” The girl spoke again as I face her. “Yes” I said. She grabs my hand and shake it.

“I’m Joey Ann Luna, also a member of helping hand club. Nice to meet you” She says as she happily introduced herself.

One, two, three “I’m Charisse Lee. I just became a member” I said, returning a genuine smile. I know one when I see one. And I can say that she is giving me a warm smile.

I always count one to three before I do anything. People say that I’m timid, well in fact, I’m just cautious. I don’t want to act without thinking. Yes, I calculate everything. And counting one to three is a good habit. Believe me. My father thought me that. And he is never wrong.

“Great! I’ll fetch you here in your class tomorrow so we can go to the club together! Bye!” She says as she waved her hands and started walking away. I counted one to three again before I waved my hand.

I turned the other way and started walking when someone grab me by my arm.

“Are you a goldfish? Or you’re just forgetful” He says and I got confused. “You forgot that you were with me?! Seriously, Charisse? Is my presence that little for you not to notice?” He said, acting like a child that is having a tantrum.

“Sorry. I thought your still having your moment since you’re smile never disappeared when she mentioned that I’ll be your tutor” I lied. I’m not forgetful. I’m just not attentive to my surroundings. I really need to lose this habit.

“You know you’re not a great liar, right?” What he said made me stop from walking. I’m I really that transparent? Can he really see through me?

He smiled as he faced me and says “I know one when I see one” He said and we started walking next to each other again.

“Are you a liar?” I asked. My dad always say that you’ll know what kind of person is when you are also like that. When you have the same trait. That’s when you use the term “I know one when I see one – Because I’m like that too”. This is one quotation in a book written by my mom.

“Just secretive” He answered. Most people associate telling lies to being secretive. While in fact, they are not synonymous to each other.

Our 15 minutes’ walk to my house was like a tour. He pointed out a lot of places and things.

“Here’s my house. Thanks for taking me home” I said. He was about to say something when my dad called me. “Charlie!” I turned around and I saw dad carrying these boxes full of books. I hurriedly walk towards him. But I guess Warren is faster than me. He has long legs after all.

“Let me help you with this, sir” He said to my dad. “Sure! You can help us unpack as well” my dad suggested as he gave the box to Warren.

“Dad! What do you think you’re doing?” I don’t want to give any bad impressions to Warren. He maybe nosy but he helped me a lot today.

“He offered help. Who am I to decline?” He said with a smile. Now I know why he’s familiar. He’s like my dad. They smile like there’s no tomorrow.

Dad was right. We finished unpacking in just an hour and a half thanks to Warren.

“Have dinner here, Warren. I cook great noodles!” My dad announced proudly.

“Maybe next time uncle. It’s getting late anyway. I gave to be home before 7 PM” He declined politely. They both came up with their nicknames. And now, Warren calls my dad, uncle.

“Alright then. You can come here anytime” Says my dad as Warren and I walk out of the house.

One, two, three “Thank you” I said after counting.

“Why do you always hesitate to talk? It’s like you’re counting one to three” he asked and I was surprised with what he said.

“are you really counting from one to three before talking?!” He sounds surprised. I didn’t answer him. How can he read through me? Seriously? This guy is really something.

“Wow, you’re really a transparent one huh? I can literally read your reactions” He said.

“Why do you keep on reading them?” Now it’s my turn to ask

“Nothing. It’s fun to see your reactions” He said.

“And that’s why you get bored easily” What I said caught him off guard.

“What?” He asked.

“You get bored easily right? It’s because you already know before you ask. You’re like reading a book backwards. You already know the ending before you even read the first part. It’s no fun” I said. Not breaking our gaze.

“Are you saying that I’m boring?” He said with a smirk on his face. I really don’t get this guy. Sometime he looks too friendly, and sometimes, he looks playful. A lot of times he’s nosy. And now, I just can’t see through him. It’s like he has his walls up. And even if he tries to be friendly, he’s still cautious not to get attached.

“No” I answered him.

“Then what is it Charisse Lee? I can’t really read you now.” He said.

“I’m saying is to loosen up. Not everyone around you is going to hurt you” I said. That’s when his smile disappears. He looks empty. It’s like I hit the spot.

“You don’t know me well, Charisse.” He sounded like he’s so sure about that. Well, he really is. I don’t really know who Warren is. All I know is that he’s my nosy seatmate who I treated lunch just because he thinks he saved me from our teachers monologue about me and my parents.

“I know one when I see one” I told him. And he smiled just like before.

“Do you want to play chess?” He asked. Where did he even get the idea?

“I don’t play chess” I answered him.

“Your dad didn’t teach you?” He didn’t sound confused at all. He sounded surprised actually. And I was too.

“How did you know my dad plays chess?” We didn’t even have a chess set. So, I have no idea how did he know that. He just smiled.

“I’ll see you tomorrow Charisse Lee” He didn’t answer and just started walking away.

“Warren! How did you know?” I got his attention because he turned around to face me. And to my surprise. He’s smiling again. But this time, it’s an assertive kind of smile.

“I know one when I see one. I’m like your dad, right?” He said, and then turn around and started walking away.

What the-? How did he know that? He’s like my dad? How? That made me confused. Who are you Warren Gage?