Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I. just closed my eyes tightly and closed the window curtain. I was hurt by what he did. How could she look at me like that? That's not how the Isha I met looked. Isha is sweet and cheerful. The Isha I liked was far from like her.

"Hey, don't sulk. That's how Ai really looks at everyone," Clyde explained to me. The tone of his speech was different and the expression on his face had improved. I sighed.

"I'm just worried about him," I said. Clyde snort at me.

"You don't have to worry about him," he turned his phone to my face and I blinked at the ranking he showed me. What is this?

"See," he pointed to the username the far end of the screen, "he's already at Level 50."

I snatched his phone so I could see more information on the website. It lists all the ranks of players throughout the Philippines. My eyes widened at the name of the game. CURSE, I read here.

"Why did you just show it to me?" I asked Clyde without taking my eyes off the screen.

"Ah! Didn't I show you that before?" he answered with one hand on his neck. I shuddered as my eyes focused on Isha’s username.

"I'm sorry. You know my brain is lagging. I hope when I told you before that your friend is a gamer, you just believed right away."

Clyde stood up when suddenly some of my classmates came and sat down next to me. Looks like the lunch break is over.

For the last time I stared at Isha's username before I returned Clyde's phone. I can't believe he's actually playing. Is this one of the reasons he shunned me? Why? I need to talk to him tomorrow.

I changed my mind. I don't want to talk to him anymore!

I backed away when I saw Isha, standing not far from my seat. I am now outside the school while Isha is standing near the crossing. He seemed to be waiting for something because he had been standing in his place for a few minutes.

I quickly hid behind a tree when he turned in my direction. I was grabbed by my chest before I adjusted my wearing glasses. Why am I hiding ?! I slowly glanced at him but he was no longer where he was. Eh?

I went out of my hiding place to look for him when suddenly someone spoke from behind me. I was devastated when I recognized the owner of the voice.

"Are you following me?" The coolness of his voice. It was as if we had nothing in common with the tone of his speech.

"H-No, ah." I'm lying! I've been following you ever since you ignored me.

Why did you suddenly ignore me? Did I do something wrong? Many questions in my mind but not one I could not ask Isha.

"Good then."

What does he mean? Good because we’ve both let go of each other? What's so good about what I said ?!

I felt Isha leave so I immediately turned to her. We stared at each other because of what I did. I just now noticed that I was taller than him. I had so much fun and I even surpassed his height!

"What?" She coldly asked.

I shuddered as I restrained myself from smiling.

She's still beautiful. No! She looks better now! Her bangs were even and she turned whiter. I also couldn’t help but notice the shape of her body. Our school uniform is his thing. Wait, maybe everyone's school uniform,

things to him. Was it just me or did his eyes turn more brown? Ah, maybe because of the sunlight. Seriously, the speed of my heartbeat! I expected to actually see his face when we talked but I wasn’t ready to see the changes in him. If I only knew that this is how we would be in this situation now, I would have stared more at his face then.

I really miss her.

"Isha"

My tongue twitched when suddenly a man approached me. He was wearing the uniform of a well -known private school here with us and ... he looked cool.

"Oi, Ai."

He stopped behind Isha and without hesitation strode over her shoulder. I stared at the man's hand holding Isha's shoulder. I can’t understand how I feel right now. I want to strike his hand.

I looked at Isha's face. There was no emotion in his eyes as he looked at me. I'm getting smaller. The two of us are so far apart.

"Who's this, Ai?" The man smiled at me.

I stared nervously at Isha but she just avoided my eyes.

"Your duration."

He turned his back on us without even letting us know. The man left us both but the expressions on our faces were different. He's confident. As for me, I felt like I was poured cold water because Isha didn't even say that I was her friend.

The guy smirked at me before leaving me behind. I just stood there watching the two of them leave on the motor of the man who suddenly arrived.

I was grabbed by my cheek. I didn't realize that I was in tears. What the heck was that?

I clung to where I stood, still unable to believe what had happened. Until someone came up to me and grabbed me by my left shoulder.

I slapped the hand of the person holding me without even knowing who it was. I'm sure it's Clyde. I went out with her first because I really planned to talk to Isha. Maybe he was happy with what he saw and he plans to laugh at me again today.

"Mr. Carlos ..."

I was dazzled when I heard the voice of Mr. Santos behind me. Eh? Did I hit his hand ?!

"Faculty office, now."

I was really curious every time a student was called to the faculty office. How did they feel as they followed the teacher who knew they were cutting classes? Or not to those who reported what they did wrong inside the school?

Now, I know and I will never want to do it again.

"I'm sorry, Sir!"

The sun is setting but here I am, rubbing my palms while bowing in front of Mr. Santos. Then I saw him earlier. After I found out that it was his hand that hit me. That's when I knew I was broken.

Mr. is a new teacher here. Santos. Last year he started working here and I swear he is good at teaching. Not only is he popular with women because he is good at Math but he is also a young man.

Ever since he let us choose where we would sit, I’ve liked Sir. Don't get me wrong! I didn't type Sir. I mean Sir is my type but not in a romantic way. I just find Mr. Santos cool that's all. I want to be like him.

Geez, I forgot about my condition! If I want to be like him I must first look at the one holding me before I get hurt. I'm sure that's what Mr. Santos. I have to apologize! I really messed up.

All I know is that Mr. Santos but according to my classmates, who was called to the faculty office just a month before the entrance, he is not like the teachers in junior high school.

What if Mr. Santos he Mama? I don’t want to bother him because of my negligence. This has only just happened in my whole school life.

"Sir, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

My palms were sweating and my knees were shaking. I don’t want to be on the list of disrespectful students. I don't want that to happen.

"Mr. Carlos," Sir sighed, "it's okay."

I raised my head and stopped crying as I looked at him. He was shocked to see how I looked and immediately handed me a handkerchief. I looked at his white handkerchief. I didn't want to offend Sir so I still accepted it even though I had a handkerchief in the bag.

"Are you scared?"

He laughed softly at me as he sat in his swivel chair. I didn't touch him and just remained bent over.

I simply glanced at the faculty office. Sir and I are the only ones here, it's good. I don't want to leave a bad impression to my other teachers. I just hope Mr. doesn't tell. Santos' tong happened to us. He doesn't look like that.

"Hey, Carlos!"

He laughed out loud once leaning back in his chair. I stared at him in shock, not knowing what to say. I always see him smiling at his students and fellow teachers but not once have I seen Sir laugh.

"What are you?!"

He slapped me hard on the arm causing me to miss. I was dazzled by what he did. Mr. Laugh at me. Santos do you mean ...

"Aren't you angry?" I asked while looking at him directly.

He raised two eyebrows. Her face was full of excitement because of my question.

"Huh? Why would I be angry?"

Mr. holding. Santos on his chin once looked up at the ceiling, remembering what I had done to make him angry. I slapped your hand. I wanted to remind him but I just chose to keep quiet.

"Ah!" He snapped his fingers.

"Because you slapped my hand earlier? Oh! I didn't feel anything, eh."

He smiled at me and pushed the empty swivel chair next to him closer to me. He signaled me to sit down and I immediately followed him. I dropped my backpack on my thigh and focused my full attention on Mr. Santos.

"That's not why I'm sending you here," he explained.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard what she said. To my great joy, I even held it to my chest as if the arrow that I had pierced myself had been removed from it. Mr. Santos chuckled.

"You really are. I can't just be mad at that. Anyway, is that why I'm sending you here," he turned and faced his desk, "where is that?"

He opened the folders on his table but it didn't seem to be there what he was looking for so he next looked at the drawers.

As I watched Mr. Santos I couldn’t help but notice his wide back. It's also nice to see his muscles and I'm sure he has abs. Is he working out? I looked at my limp arm and leg. At what gym does he workout? It might just work for me.

"Ah! Found it!"

He held a paper in the air and I looked back with a smile. I gripped my bag tightly as I stared at Sir's hand. I was nervous to the point that I wanted to take a shower and release all my nervousness.

He turned to me fourteen times and then he opened the paper maybe to read its contents to me.

"It's really good that I caught you outside. This is really Clyde. I told him this lunch break to send you here before you go home but he seems to have forgotten," he said.

"What do you need from me, Sir?"

I can't believe he waited for me. It's embarrassing for Mr. Santos. You're really reliable, Clyde.

"When my fiancee asked me if I knew any students who could teach, I immediately thought of you."

Sir turned to me with the paper he was holding. I brought my face close to it and read what was written at the top. My eyes widened as I understood the contents of the paper.

It's a contract, ah ?! Me ?! He wants me to tutor an elementary student ?!

"Oh, why are you so surprised? Last year I noticed that you're good at Math so if you want, we'll just take you as my fiancee's niece's tutor. 'Don't worry. You're only there every Saturday. will go to our house. "

Wait! Wait! I'm going to their house Mr. Santos to teach ?! I don't want to dislike Sir right away because I can really see in his face that he really wants me to agree but what about Isha? He often leaves every Saturday. I have accumulated enough this week and I plan to follow him.

"Er," I swallowed.

What shall I answer? I also want to help. It may be different to feel that you have shared your knowledge with someone else but because what ... Isha. I can't prolong our relationship like this. I wish that when we came to college we were back to normal.

What now, Seth? Choose where you are happy.

"Oh, right! We also pay you every Saturday and you also have a travel allowance."

My face lit up because of what I heard. Isn't my tutoring free?

"Is there a fee?" I stared at Mr.'s face. Santos.

"Of course! You will be teaching in Grade-3 and his name is Kite. You will only be teaching the basics. If you're asking if he has been a tutor? Yes, there is."

It was handed to me by Mr. Santos was the role and I immediately accepted it. My eyes widened at the bottom of the paper. Kite's profile is there. He has this impassive look on his face.

"Kite had a tutor before but it wasn't effective," said Mr. Santos against him, "he doesn't move, eh. But he can speak, Kite is really shy so I think you two are something."

The amount of trust in me by Mr. Santos then I just changed my mind because I heard about the fee. I really wouldn't agree but it also seems like it will help me a lot. I've made money, I've taught you something.

If every Saturday I get paid for my tuition, I can follow Isha without worrying about money. Just in case is it really okay for me to teach Kite? I know I know Math but teaching is a different matter.

"I'll wait for your answer until tomorrow. On Saturday my fiancee wants you to start right away. I'm sorry." Mr. Santos smiled at me. I nodded at him.

I looked again at the paper I was holding. Its a huge opportunity. I don't have to miss it anymore.

"Have you talked to Isha yet?"

Mama put a bowl of peach in the middle of the table and then sat in the chair in front of me. I nod. A sad nod.

When I came home, it wasn't about Mr.'s offer. Santos was the first thing that came to my mind to tell Mama but what happened when Isha and I met after a few months. It didn't go well but at least we had another interaction.

"My baby's courage!"

Mama smiled sweetly at me and added the vegetables on my plate. I smiled at him too. I'm really blessed to have her as my mom. I have no difficulty explaining how I feel to him.

I'm sure he now feels that Isha and I didn't have a good conversation. And I'm sure he won't ask how our conversation went because he knows how I'll feel.

"If your conversation with Isha didn't go well today, it's okay. The important thing is that you've been able to approach her. You've fought your shyness. I'm so proud of you, Seth!"

See, Seth? You are not mistaken. Your mom is the best!

"Are you praising me because I'm going to wash the dishes now?" I jokingly asked him.

Her eyes narrowed and she smiled mischievously at me.

"You know I'm cooking today so you're really the one doing the washing," he replied while laughing at me.

"Uhh, a lot of washed pots," I complained but I also laughed immediately.

"I'm sorry, huh? Good luck with the wash!" Mama laughed and I accompanied her. The ease of feeling to laugh with him.

Ever since Dad left to work in Japan, Mom and I have been the only ones left at home. Our activities were divided, so at the age of fifteen I learned to cook and do laundry. I personally told Mama to teach me because I had no inclination to go out with my friends. Oh, I didn't really have any friends back then except Isha.

I suddenly stopped washing the dishes when I remembered Isha. Yeah, noh. In the past, she used to come here to help me with household chores. Sometimes he would just lie down in the living room instead of in my room and read books. Did everything suddenly change?

I was putting the last glass I had washed in the pouch when I heard the sound of a motor in front of our house.

Mama is upstairs because she needs to finish some paperwork for her part-time job. He was excited earlier when I told him about my future part-time job as well. She said that I don't have to work but if this is really what I want, she'll support me.

"Thank you," I heard the woman say as she reached for her helmet on the man riding the motorbike.

It was really good and he went up because the one who came was none other than Isha.

I was just standing in front of the window in our kitchen, looking at Isha with the man who had suddenly arrived earlier. This is the first time someone has delivered him. Are they?

I was caught in my chest. Ah, the pain. Very painful.

"Can you stop this," I turned to them when I heard the threat in Isha's voice.

I carefully hid behind the curtain and sharpened my hearing even more (I don't know if I could really sharpen my hearing) to hear their conversation.

They are across the street so thank you so much for the silence of our neighborhood because somehow I can hear them from here in our kitchen.

"What if I do not want to?" There was sarcasm in the man's voice. I hate him.

"You take care of your life. I'm just telling you this now for the next time you pick me up you won't get hurt because I won't be with you anymore." Does that mean they aren’t ?!

I slapped my chest hard with excitement. I just moaned when I felt that my beating on myself had intensified. I adjusted my glasses and listened to them even more Isha. Suddenly my mood improved!

"Ah, is it because of the man I faced earlier?" The man grinned at her. Suddenly the temple of Isha's face changed.

"I don't even know him," he said.

Eh? Am I the one he is referring to? Am I the one he says he doesn’t know?

"Oh, really? Did you talk earlier?" The man's stare at Isha was sharp but Isha's expression remained blank at him.

"He asked me something. Is it bad to ask now?" He raised an eyebrow at the person but the man just smiled at him.

"Is it bad to court the one I want?"

Okay. When he said that line, I admit he was cool. Then it was really nice when he sat on his motorbike and the uniform he was wearing only added to his coolness. I can't believe I'm praising him right now.

"You know you can't stop me, Isha," he started his motor and scolded Isha, "so you have no other choice but to answer me."

How I wish I could also say such lines to Isha. Just in case even approaching him I was still having a hard time. Nah! I know I can do this. Little by little. Slowly. We will also return to the past. Even if we really go back to the past.

"OI, SETH! PLEASE PLEASE PUT MY BAG ON THE SOFA!"

I looked up at our ceiling in shock when I heard Mama shout. Wrong timing, Ma!

"SETH! PLEASE!"

I simply looked at them Isha and they were already looking in my direction. I immediately averted my gaze. Embarrassing! Mom, eh!

"SETH!"

"Yes, Ma!"

I closed my eyes tightly and quickly left my hiding place. I swear I just want to wash all our plates even if they are still clean with great shame!

TO BE CONTINUED......