Chapter 12: Caught

I almost fell down on my knees when I suddenly felt his hands on my small waist. Another one is leaning on a countertop beside us.

I remained quiet infront of him as I waited for his insults or whatnots to come.

But my eyes widened when he said the things that I mostly feared as of now.

"Nice poem," his deep, hoarse voice made me shiver. Even without looking at him, I felt him smile and then he let go of my waist and distanced himself a bit.

I immediately faced him with wide eyes. Which was a stupid move because our face became much closer than it was a while ago.

I pushed him and ran as quickly as I can. I never looked back at the canteen, afraid that he's watching me and be reminded that he literally read my poem!

I ran the distance from that palce to our classroom. Maybe adrenaline rush hit me so hard not just because I so wanted to get out of his sight but also the fact that classes already started.

Still catching my breath, I knocked on the door and got inside. Not caring that I look disgusting from all that running and such.

"Sorry, I'm late," I politely apologized to my English teacher.

"It's okay, Ms. Chavez. But this is a warning. The next time youlate, I will mark you as absent," I nodded and my eyes went down ok the floor when she scolded me.

"Oh? What happened? You looked like you ran a marathon!" Allanis told me as soon as I am seated beside her.

I saw Calvin, Clyde, and Matt who was behind us looking at me, oblivious of me, too.

I just shaked my head, refusing to answer her question.

"Really? Your face and neck is red too," she whispered since the teacher was lecturing.

I didn't responded again but that didn't stopped her for firing more questions to me.

"Where have you been? Why are you late?" she blabbered.

She sighed when she realized she won't get an answer from me.

I was spacing out the whole period because of what happened. I didn't even care that I didn't listened to the lecture just now.

Actually, three subjects have passed and I'm still in outer space while Allanis kept on bugging me with her questions.

She just stopped when one of our strict teacher scolded us for being noisy and not paying attention to the lesson.

I thanked him, honestly. Because of him, this girl beside me stopped interrogating.

I just decided to tell everything to her when the embarrassment and paranoia in me had died down.

It was already five in the afternoon when class ended.

"Ji, I'll be heading now. Our driver's already here and we'll be having familydinner later," Allanis said her goodbye.

"Yeah, it's okay. Maybe I'll just wait for my brother or get a cab," I responded.

She nodded and offered to give me a ride home which I refused because our houses are in different directions. It will just hassle her.

She agreed and I watched her leave the campus. I actually felt bad that I didn't opened up to her about my encounter with Lucas. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

Because they saw me walking alone along our hallway, Calvin's group offered to walk with me. I agreed especially that the girls aren't with them and it's just Calvin, Clyde, Cole, Chance, and Matt. A bunch of Cs and Matt is left out.

They're fun to be with, truthfully. Besides Allanis, they are the ones I talk to the most. But not when their girl friends are there.

Whenever I attempt to talk to the boys, the girls will just talk trash to me. Knowing that I always talk back whenever I'm triggered, I just decided to let it all pass. I rather not pick up a fight.

I was laughing my stomach out when we passed by the girls' comfort room.

"Hey, I need to take the CrR. You guys can go ahead," I let them know,

They all looked at me. "You're gonna pee? We'll wait for you here," Chance offered.

I chuckled. "No, thanks. You can go ahead. I still need to fix myself before I head home," I convinced them.

I don't want to be a burden to them and actually let them wait for me doing my girl things here.

In the end, they nodded and agreed to me. I waved them goodbye as they watched me enter the room before going on their paths.

"I bet she's going to reduce her waste," Cole joked so we all laughed.

I closed the door between us, still smiling from the conversation I had with them.

I looked at myself through the mirror and chose to send Jerich a message.

Me: hey, I'm already done with school. Can you pick me up?

Afterwards, I returned my phone in my bag and started washing my face. I dried up and put a little powder and perfume.

I got used to this that everytime it's already dismissal, I retouch myself. I wouldn't know if my brothers who always picks me up has some appointments or whatnots and they decided to take me with them.

In just a minute, my brother replied.

Jerich: On my way.

I continued applying my peachy lip tint before layering my favorite gloss. It's glass container almost fell when I jumped in surprise when the door slammed open.

I cursed a little. Not you, my favorite lip gloss!

But it almost fell again when a scene of Lucas and my classmate who he's flirting with for weeks, Athena were making out. Literally, in front of me!

They shared their wild and steamy kisses while their hands are all over each other.

I was so shocked because that's the first time I've seen it this wild. Their hands are making my mind so dirty. Plus the fact that THIS is Lucas and my classmate!

"Oh my God!" out of surprise, I accidentally shouted.

I didn't want them to hear me and let them knew that I was here but I couldn't contain my shock.

It's Athena!

It's Lucas! I hated myselft at this point because all I know is that earlier, I was making poems about him and now, he's here, making a dirty scandal!

Athena pushed Lucas away as soon as they realized they were caught. While me, I remained in my place that even though I wanted to leave, my feet is rooted in the floor.

My eyes went to Lucas who is calm and composed while wiping his lips with the back of his hands, eyes on me.

That urged me to really leave.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I apologized and started walking near them, where the door is.

But before I could go, Athena held my hand. I looked at her eyes who is filled with fear.

"Please, Jiana. Keep this a secret. Please don't tell our teachers or the office," she begged. Fear is also evident in her voice.

I shaked my head in disagreement and let go of her hold as I proceeded walking away. Athena was calling me desperately but I didn't stopped.

I left them there, Athena, almost begging for her life, and Lucas, not even caring about what happened.

I can't promise them that I won't report it since it's against the rules. I actually wanted to go and tell the teachers since I couldn't contain it.

I knew that Lucas is this kind of guy. The first time I met him, I knew it. Plus the fact that he tried to flirt with me that time.

Little by little, I was already accepting that he's a good guy but now that this happened, my perspective towards him these past few days popped like a bubble.

I groaned in frustration.

"Give me a big, fat break!" I told myself.