6 P A R T 5
P A R T – F I V E
… Senior Year …
“Charisse! Congratulations!” Joey said as she run towards me and hugged me. I hugged her back
“Congrats, Cha! We already knew that you’ll win but still --- ouch!” I laughed because Joey smacked Calvin’s head as an indication that he’s being too talkative again.
“Where’s Warren?” I asked. I’ve been wondering where he is since the start of the competition. This is actually the second time that I won the Inter-high Calligraphy and Photo Competition.
Yes, Leon Alvaro and I won the competition last year. It was my first time to compete but I was the only one to receive the award during the ceremony at the last year’s school foundation week. I asked the teachers of Leon’s whereabouts but they did not have any idea. Maybe because he’s not really from our school.
I lost contact with him, or rather, I did not hear anything from him after we took the photos in El Nido from last year’s competition.
Instead of looking around, I saw my friends’ faces that tells me, Warren is not around. He didn’t even come in my awarding ceremony.
“We don’t have any idea where he is. Calvin has been trying to contact him from the start but we didn’t receive any response from him.” Joey said
“Let’s not wait for him anymore. He’s been missing in action ever since the start of our senior year” Calvin added.
It is true. Ever since we became seniors, Warren has been MIA. It’s either he’s absent or, he’ll take a half day from school. He’s not even active to Helping Hands Club now a days. And, we don’t even go home together anymore.
“Let’s just enjoy the foundation week. This is our last year here at St. Therese!” Calvin said. He was actually trying to lighten up the mood. I smiled at him as we walked our way out of the auditorium.
“Hey! How are you guys?” We bumped into Arabella. She’s the former president of our club and she’s one year ahead of us.
“Bella! How are you? What are you doing here?!” Joey and I gave Bella a hug. We missed her so much!
“I’m good. I’m with Caleb and he’s going to play at St. Dominic. Some of the alumni are there to play as well.” She says as she gave Calvin a high-five. “Where’s Warren?” She asked the same question that we all been asking for almost a year now.
“He’s busy right now. Doing some senior stuffs” Joey said
“That’s new. Whenever I see Charisse, there’s always Warren on her side” She said with curious smile.
“He’s not around anymore. So, it’s more like the two of us who’s been with Cha for the whole senior year” Calvin spoke.
“Well, want to watch the game at St. Dominic?” We all agreed to join Bella in watching the game. While we’re walking, I excused myself as I ran to my locker because I remember something that I should’ve given to someone a year ago.
St. Dominic’s gymnasium was full of students. We stayed at the bleachers near where the players were sitting. We’re like in the VIP seat since Bella is the girlfriend of the former captain, Caleb.
“Caleb!” Calvin shouted as he tapped Caleb’s shoulder. He was not yet playing.
“Hey! Are you guys gonna watch the game?” He asked as he and Calvin do a man hug.
“No! we’re just here to say ‘hi’! We actually drove from St. Therese to St. Dominic just to say ‘hi’” Joey said sarcastically
“You never change Joey! You’re still feisty!” Both Caleb and Joey were shouting because we actually can’t hear each other because of too much noise inside the gym.
“Where’s Warren?!” Caleb turns and asked me
“I don’t know!” I said as I smile at him.
“Wow! you smile now? And you did not hesitate to respond! You changed a lot Charisse! Keep it up!” He said.
I changed? I haven’t thought about it before. But I think I really did change. It’s because of the people around me. There’s Joey Ann who is quite feisty but she’s warm and likes to hug the people she’s closed to. Calvin is very optimistic and friendly. It’s almost like he knows everyone in and out of the school. And there’s Warren. My support system, my listening ears, my food buddy, the center of my change.
I changed because of him. I tried to loosen up and not be too uptight and timid because he’s like that. I tried to smile a lot because he likes my smile. I tried growing my hair because he likes to play with it. I changed because I like him. And I want him to like me back.
My thoughts stopped as I heard a whistle. The coach asked for a time-out for St. Dominic’s team and because of that, I saw him again after a year. He was jogging towards where the team is in huddle position.
He was listening attentively when our eyes met and that was the first time, I saw his shocked face. He looks silly so I let out a small laugh.
--- LEON ALVARO DE SEVILLE POV ---
I heard the whistle of the referee and gave us a sign for time out. I was all sweaty while jogging towards where the huddle is.
I miss this. As I was looking around the gymnasium, I started to reminisce. I miss the crowd, the school, the team, the -- Charisse? Is it Charisse Lee?!
My eyes widen as I saw her near the players’ bench. She’s here?! Why?! This is the first time that she came here! Is she here to watch the game? Does she even know that I’m here? Wait, is she even looking at me?
All my questions and inhibitions vanished when I saw her smile.
“Dude! Focus!” Noah said as he tries to get my attention back to the huddle.
“Coach! Can I take a break?” I said as I kept my eyes on her. I don’t want to look anywhere else. I might lose her again.
“You still have 20 minutes in the game De Seville!” Our coach said but I didn’t listen. I won’t even last a minute playing basketball knowing that she’s here. Charisse Lee is here.
“Caleb!” Noah shouted as he gets the attention of Caleb. They both know now why I can’t even focus on the huddle.
As I jogged towards where Charisse is, Caleb bumped me and smirked “You still have it bad, man!” he said but I didn’t even listen. I focused on reaching where Charisse is.
“Hi.” I said. I’m here now but I don’t even know what to say to her! Goodness!
“you were in the middle of your teams huddle” She said and I smiled as I heard her voice. That calming voice of her. I heard it after almost a year.
“We need to change players. How are you?” I asked and she pulls something from her bag. It was a certificate inside a holder. I stared at it.
‘Photo-Calligraphy Champion … Leon Alvaro De Seville from Saint Dominic University’
“We won! Congratulations!” She said as she handed me the certificate with all smiles. Her smile, it was more than any other certificates, medals, or trophies that I won.
“Thank you, Charisse. Congratulations as well” I said as I kept my eyes on her. It’s actually a great decision that I agreed to play again this year!
“Should we advance our ‘Congratulations’ for the game?” The girl with glasses said. I remember her. Law of Attraction-girl!
“I’m Joey Ann Luna. I believe we met a year ago?” She said as she held her hand in front of me and I shook it.
“Yes, I remember you well. Thank you. For last time” I said
“What last time?” A guy suddenly shows up behind Joey
“It doesn’t concern you, Calvin” Joey said as she rolls her eyes.
“If it’s you, then it does! Calvin Liam, Joey Ann’s boyfriend” He said as he shook my hand. Looks like Noah is too late this time.
“Leon Alvaro De Seville. I’m an alumnus here” I introduced myself to Charisse’s friends.
“Is it okay for you to be here?” Charisse asked as I turn to face her again.
“Yes, we’re actually here just to support the new members of the team. How are you Charisse Lee?” I asked her and she smiled. Man! I think I’m falling all over again!
“I’m good. I’m excited for college” She said and I can definitely see the excitement all over her face.
“Where are you planning to continue your studies?” I continued the conversation. I really have no plans to stop talking to her.
“I’m planning to stay here in Palawan.” She said. I started to calculate how much money do I need to go back and forth here from Manila just to visit her. I’m already lost from my thoughts when she spoke.
“Where were you? I haven’t heard from you after our photoshoot in El Nido. I actually went here at St. Dominic last year, looking for you.” My eyes widen because of what she said. Really?! Her?! Here?! Looking for me?!
“W-what? W-when?! Is that for real?!” I’m still shocked of what she said.
“Yes! I went here with Joey last year. We were looking for you. We actually bumped into your friend, Noah. And we –” I tried to pause her because I can’t really digest what she just said.
“Noah?! That Noah?! Number 3?! Noah Job Carmonel?!” I shouted because I still can’t believe it! She asked Noah about me and he didn’t even mention in to me?!
“Yes! We also had lunch together. Joey, Noah, and me” She said as she looks confused why am I over reacting. Why wouldn’t I?! Noah knows how much I like her and – Lunch? Did she just said they had lunch together?!
“Noah Job!” I shouted his name as I tried to look for him with full force making him to stop in the middle of the game, looking at me, while he’s holding the ball.
I showed him my middle finger and said “You’re dead”. His eyes shifted from me to Charisse who is now waving her hand to Noah. Even though I was in the bleachers, I can see he swallowed hard while the other team got the chance to steal the ball. The coach gave him a warning because he lost his focus on the game.
Charisse’s phone suddenly rang while I was still looking at Noah, and thinking of many ways to kill him because of what happened last year.
“Where are you?” I hear her say. I looked at her and she continued to speak “Wait for me there”
She then looked at her friends. “Warren. He’s here. Outside the gymnasium.”
Her friends exchange a confused look “Why is he here? How did he know that we’re here?” Joey said
“He liked our photo in IG a few moments ago. Maybe that’s why” Calvin responds.
Then they all got their stuffs and were ready to go out. She then faced me.
“I’m sorry, our friend is waiting for us outside. Good luck with the game! Bye” She said but before she got down on the bleachers, I held her arms.
“See you again. It’s not a good bye but rather, I’ll see you again” I said and she smiled before I let her go. And they all went out.
“How many times have you let her go already?” I suddenly faced Bella. I know her because she’s the girlfriend of Caleb. She knows that I like Charisse because she has a very nosy and talkative boyfriend.
I just let out a sighed.
----------------
After the game, I was walking towards my car that was parked near the gym when I heard a familiar voice. I looked around and saw her crying.
“Dad, let’s go. I’ll go with you in –”
“Charisse?” I said and she turned around. I can’t help but to get confused as to why she’s crying, mad at someone who made her cry, and heartbroken because her tears kept on falling.
She hurriedly turns the opposite direction and started wiping her tears fast. I walk fast and grab her arm.
“Charisse, what’s wrong?” I asked and she faced me with this sad smile on her face.
“I-I was j-just – I j-just lost something i-important. T-that’s why” That made me more confused. What did she lose?
“Let’s find it. I’ll help you” I volunteered. How important is that thing for her to cry like this?
“Y-you c-can’t. you w-won’t find it. H-he’s g-gone now” She said as her tears started falling again. I now have an idea but I’m not sure why she’s still crying.
“Do you want to talk about it? I’m all ears” I said as I face her and wipe her tears away. “I won’t judge, I won’t even talk. I’ll just listen. I won’t be able to ease the pain, but let me at least wipe your tears away”
As I said those words, she started crying hard and I just let her.
“W-warren! He’s – H-he’s l-leaving us! He’s m-migrating to c-Canada! A-and he d-didn’t even give us a n-notice!” I knew it. It’s him.
“a-and, I w-was j-just his f-friend! I t-thought I w-was someone s-special. I t-thought we h-had something s-special. B-b-but ..” She can’t even finish her sentence because she was crying too much.
How? How can the same person who can make her smile genuinely, can be the same person that can hurt her this much?
How cruel can he be? I don’t like seeing her smile because of him. But I hate it so much when she cries like this because of him as well.
“Come with me.” She suddenly stopped crying as she heard me. I’m going to make my move now. I’m keeping her, Warren Gage Richards. And this time, I’m not gonna lose. I’ll keep what you disregard. I’ll have her to myself and let you regret what you wasted.
“Run away with me, Charisse Lee” I said as I hold her hand tight. I won’t let go. Not this time.
