CHAPTER 7

"Good Morning Jamie, don’t forget the floor plan, okay?. I’ll going to check it later."

My feet stops walking when my phone vibrated and saw Ara’s text, I immediately type a reply to her. I scanned my surroundings and saw only few students are here, I glanced at my watch and saw it’s only six in the morning. I woke up early so I asked the driver to send me in school.

Since it’s still early, I decided to go to the library to finish the floor plan. I scanned the whole place after the elevator drop me off at the third floor where library is located.

Just like the hallway students are few here. I went to the last table near the big window glass of the library. From my location, I can see the big trees isolating our school from the busy life of the city. The library is so big, there is a library for the students who are taking their masteral courses.

Our school has two libraries, even though this is big enough to cater all of the students. They still decided to make another one where you can be as noisy as you can. The admins believe that there are students who can concentrate if the environment is noisy, so they decided to make one.

I put my bag in the table and opened it. I get the sketchpad and pencil. I finished it quickly. I’m satisfied with my work, I hope Ara will too.

My phone vibrated once again. It was Dwight asking where I am, I replied to him saying I’m at the library 1. I rested my head in the table thinking I have two hours before my class will start.

I don’t know how many minutes I rested nor did I sleep? Dwight’s brown eyes are the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes, his eyes sucked all my attention, I can’t move any muscles in my body. He doesn’t move an inch too. He looked at my lips so I did the same, he swallowed hard before he withdraw his eyes from me.

“Let’s go, the class will start soon.” He quickly stood up and walked away.

I picked up my bag and walked behind Dwight. Girl’s eyes are on Dwight while he continues to walk with a high forehead. He is so oblivious on how he can pull the attention of the people even though he’s just walking.

“Did you just sleep on the library?” he asked me while we are walking. I shakes my head.

“No, I just finished something Ara assigned me to do.”

He’s gone quickly so I fasten my pace. The guard checks my bag first before he gesture it was okay for me to get out. I thought Dwight went to the classroom but I was shocked when I saw him at the last step of the stairs waiting for me. I smiled at him.

“Faster, Jamie” he said with an impatient voice.

“Yes, wait.” I took the stairs faster than ever.

We walked together towards the classroom. The quite hallway earlier became mess and noisy due to the students who are running because they are already late. There are also students who kept on chitchats while walking never minding about the people they’ll hit, so I adjusted myself avoiding them. Dwight suddenly changes our position, I looked at him but his eyes are on the hallway.

“Did you read Social Psychology last night?” he asked after we settled on our seats. I went to bed earlier last night so I didn’t have the time to review so I shakes my head.

“I went to the bed early last night so I didn’t do any notes.” He didn’t say anything instead, he gets something from his bag. I get my Social Psychology book and notebook to begin my review. I’m hoping there will be no quiz today. I didn’t have the chance to review, and I know our Professor wants us to review three chapters for only ten items quiz. My attention went to the notebook on the top of my notebook, it was Dwight’s hand who’s holding it.

“Use this, it’s my notes I wrote last night.” I smiled at him. I was about to say thanks but he avoided my eyes, hmp so snob.

I scanned his notes. He has a good hand writing I can understand it. Few words but detailed and understandable, I like his notes so I copied it. After thirty minutes our Professor arrived, even though I got the chance to read Dwight’s notes the time is so short for me to digest all of it.

Students’ were shouting after our professor said he will not do any quiz for today since he’s late. He said we can do what we want, others went outside to eat breakfast or buy a snack.

“Did you went to our house, last night?” I looked at Dwight, his forehead creased while he wet his lips with his tongue.

“Manang Tora told me, she can’t lie to me.” I confidently said it to him but he just smirked at me while shaking his head.

I looked at Dwight while he’s reading his notes for the next class, I scanned the classroom. I saw some students chitchatting, others were reading something on their phone and other are listening to music. I just realized I don’t know anyone here except for Dwight. I also checked the ranking since I was in my first year and I saw that Dwight is the top 2. My parents really locked the cage and let me focus on one thing. They want me to become someone I don’t want to, I didn’t explore much. I have the knowledge in terms of theories but I really don’t know how the world works.

When I was in the group I realized that there are so many things that can bring happiness to me. I thought seeing my parents proud and being on the top are the only things I want in my life. I want to be on the stage, I want to perform. I want to see the smiles and the eyes full of amusement while watching me. I want to be free.

Days passed by quickly and the foundation day is fast approaching. Ara already checked the floorplan I created and she approved it when she saw it right away. We already did our meeting about the solicitation letter. Today is the deadline for it and we will meet today to collect the money.

I’m on my way to the dance room when I saw Bryll, she smiled at me. I smiled at her outfit, with her hoodie crop and leggings. She doesn’t looks like a nerd to me anymore. I laughed at her when I saw some boys tailing her. Shyness is all over her face resulting she bow her head a little, she’s not used to the attention she’s getting from the boys.

She clung into my arms after she saw me. I hold her chin and gesture it to go up.

“You’re a babe, own it.” She is shocked after I told her that, I smiled at her and we walked together going to the club room.

“Not just anybody’s Babe, but my Babe.” I smirked at Jacob after he gets Bryll’s hands on my arm, Bryll was shocked when Jacob puts his hands on her waist.

Jacob has a feeling towards Bryll, maybe he is in-denial stage so he can’t told Bryll about it. Maybe he don’t want to admit that he is falling for his best friend but when he saw other boys tailing Bryll and confessing their attraction towards her, the world turned upside down. He doesn’t like it when other boys gets Bryll’s attention.

After a little while, we arrived at the club room, I smiled at them and they smiled back at me. They are still in their uniform so I believe there is no practice today so I did not change my clothes. I give my watch a quick glance, it’s still early maybe we will dismiss early today too?

I scanned the room and there are three people who’s still not here- Dwight, Felix and Fajrah. I heard Lovely’s voice laughing so I looked at them, I am happy they are close with each other. It’s good though, the six of us will graduate together and they will be the one who’ll be left behind in the club.

I didn’t realized how long I was looking at them. I felt someone sat beside me. His brown monolid eyes met mine, he looks at my eyes too. I looked at his Adam’s apple when it move when he swallowed hard. Dwight’s eyes avoided his gaze after he saw me looking at him while he looks at my lips.

I cleared my throat and avoided his eyes too. We are already complete so I get the solicitation letter to get the money inside it. We formed a circle because Ara said so. Someone poke me from the left side, I saw Felix’s smiling face when I turned my gaze to my left side.

“Please behave.” I said while creasing my forehead, he rolled my eyes on me.

“Wow, attitude.” He was about to poke me again when he heard Ara cleared his throat. We put the solicitation letter at the center and Ara is collecting it one by one before she counted the accumulated amount.

“Okay, I also got the money from the faculty so we can go now to the place where we can rent the dance machine. But we have to go to the tailor first for the measuring of our costume. The tailors have the materials already so we just have to pay the down payment later. After that, we have to divide the group so the task will be done quickly.”

All of us agreed so we get our things and went to the tailoring shop. It’s still early so I’m sure Manong Raul is not yet at the parking lot I will just go back here after all of this.

Me, Dwight, Felix, Jacob, Kris and Bryll is the group who will go to the dance machine shop, while the rest were going to the mall to buy some decoration since it’s so many. I want to go to the mall but Bryll insisted I should join them so I agreed when I realized she’s the only girl in the group. Don’t get me wrong okay? I’m not saying that the boys are bad, I just know Bryll is a shy type and she is not still comfortable about the attention Jacob is giving to Bryll.

The group separated after we went to the tailoring shop, while we are walking I noticed that only Jacob is the one who is talking while Dwight and Felix are quite. Kris on the other hand is beside Bryll they kept on talking. Jacob is between of Dwight and Felix sometimes they answer Jacob but most of the time they just nod and shakes their heads. I smirked when I noticed the irritated face the both of them because Jacob kept on nagging them.

“Do you still remember our first year in the club? The picture is on my album, we are so skinny back then.” Jacob laughed after he said that

“As if your body is big now, mine is still bigger than yours.” Dwight put his arms into Jacob’s shoulder while saying that.

“Wow, the arrogance of this guy. Yours is bigger than mine because I didn’t do the ritual every day.”

Jacob quickly run when Dwight was about to punched him. Jacob is teasing Dwight about the ritual that he did every day resulting to Dwight’s veins in the hand is so visible. I saw Felix smirked while watching the both of them, I looked at Bryll to ask her about what does the ritual means but I saw how red her face is. Am I the only one who doesn’t know about the ritual thingy?

Two days went so fast and tomorrow will be the foundation day. So today will be our last practice, we decided to do a costume rehearsal at six in the evening together with our blocking in the gymnasium. I was so fascinated with the result of our costume, the costume screams elegant and power. We also decided to make the color of it red so it will be fit on the name of the group which is the Ignited Spirit Club. The red signifies the fire was ignited by our sparks- our spirit and our passion must be ignited with determination for the world can see us.

We are now heading to the gymnasium. I received a text from Manong informing me he is at the parking lot already. I put my phone back in my bag and hung my bag in my shoulder.

“You’re going to bring that?” Felix asked me from behind.

“Yes, Mang Raul is already at the parking lot. My time will be on waste if I’ll come back here to get my things and to change my clothes.”

“Okay, I’ll bring this one.” He said after he grabs my bag from me. I scan the whole room they are all busy tidying everything up so I thought no one saw it but Dwight saw it. With a frown on his face he looked at the door where Felix gets out. I quickly run outside to stop Felix but he is nowhere to be found.

I’m out of breath when I saw him waiting for me at the gymnasium’s entrance. He stared at me with a bored face, he peek behind me checking if I am with someone or someone is tailing me. When he realized there is no one his eyes are back on me.

“Give me my bag.” I was about to get it when he grabs my arms resulting my body went to his chest for a tight hug.

“I missed you.” I don’t know how to react, it’s only three letters but it gave my heart a panic beating. I am afraid, what is he heard it? I pushed him away softly and avoided my eyes from him.

“What do you mean? We always met in the practice hours.” I said while looking around afraid someone could hear us.

“Tsk” I looked at him after he scoffs when he noticed I am looking at him, he rolled his eyes on me.

“You’re always with Dwight” so? What’s the problem about that? I didn’t complain he’s always with Ara? Of course Jamie, they are classmates so they should review together.

“Of course, it will be useless if you’re the one I am with while reviewing the major we have a different course-” oh look how rude this boy is, I didn’t even finished my sentence but he turned his back and walked away towards the stage. I was about to say something when I heard the voices of co-members.

“Oy Jamie, you’re here already? Too fast huh, meeting someone- ouch!” Dwight softly punched Jacob’s nape.

“Shut up Jacob, you too loud.” Dwight went in front of me after he said that to Jacob. I smiled when I saw Jacob is now nagging Bryll to touch the area where Dwight punched him.

They are already inside the gymnasium while me and Dwight are still here in the entrance. I looked at him and he did the same, I’m pretty sure there is something in his eyes it always pulls my attention. I was about to say something but I decided to shut my mouth. I saw his eyes went to my lips after I pursed it, he bit his lips and walked away. No doubt, Felix and Dwight are friends, I frowned before I walked towards the stage.

I quickly went up to stage, they are already on the position. Ara checks our blocking first so she went down and look at us. She scolded Kris and Kobe because they kept on chit chatting on the back. Ara is so strict when it comes to dancing, she’s bubbly but when it comes to practice you can see another version of Ara. Even though she is strict she still has a long patience towards us. She will gave you two to three chances to get the correct steps and memorize the choreography and if you still can’t get it after that… god bless your soul.

We did the dance three times. First try Ara is not there because she gets down to check our positions, second time is she said we should try again because our facial expressions is not enough and the third and last one is we are complete in the stage.

It’s so tiring so instead of changing my clothes I decided to take a break first. I stood up and was about to buy a water when Felix is in front of me offering a bottled water.

“Drink it, I know you are thirsty.” I smiled and said thanks to him, I noticed Dwight is beside me and he looked at the bottle water I’m drinking before looking at Felix.

Felix has another bottled water so he offered it to Dwight. I though Dwight will get it but after noticing I finished drinking he gets it from me while he is seriously looking at Felix.

“Wait- that’s my water.” I don’t have any other choice because Dwight finished it already. He then pats my head.

“Thank you for the water” I pouted my lips after he said that, thank you? I didn’t give him that he snatched it from me. I looked at Dwight’s back when he walked towards the dressing room, I returned my eyes on Felix. His forehead wrinkles while watching Dwight too. He looked at me when he feel I’m looking at him.

“Are you together?”

“No.”

“He’s courting you?”

“Hmmm, no.” He nodded after I said that.

“Change your clothes, I’ll go with you in the parking lot I’ll just change my clothes.” He said before walking away.

I looked around and saw all of them are looking at me. I closed my eyes after I realized they saw what happened earlier. I looked at them once again and my eyes went to Ara and Fajrah, they are not abreast with each other. Ara is smiling opposite of Fajrah disappointed face while shaking his head, I don’t know what to do so I get my bag and went to the dressing room to change my clothes.