“Are you sure you’re coming in now?” I was fixing my hair in front of the mirror when Keziah asked. Reign was next to it and they were also busy arranging the uniform they were wearing. She just closes the button of her blouse.
Here they slept last night just to accompany me. After Franco took me home, the two of them arrived. They already bought some clothes that they will use and even the bag and other things they need for school they also brought because we went straight to University when we woke up in the morning. It's not new for my friends to sleep here. Any day or time they come here to sleep. But now I expected that because they wouldn’t let me cry alone.
I am very thankful because Dad came home late last night so he didn't know what was happening to me. I also breathed a sigh of relief to learn that Dad also left early today because most likely, he would notice me if we happened to have breakfast together. I still find it hard to lie to Dad. I’m just quick to feel guilty so I can’t really lie when I’m not asked.
I nodded slowly. "Yes, Kez, I will come in," I answered her question.
I don't want my academics to be affected. It’s hard to focus but I’ll push. I will not let myself be broken, and then I will fall. It hurts twice as much! I wouldn’t be more receptive when I had failed grades. Since elementary school I haven't had failing grades so I won’t let my grades get dirty just because of the pain I’m feeling right now.
Reign looked at me hesitantly as she stood up and approached me. It looked at my reflection in the mirror. “What if we meet Caleb and Trisha later? Are you ready to face them both? We know it won’t be easy for you.”
I stopped combing. I also looked at my friend in the mirror. “I just act like nothing happened. I will make them wind in my sight. I will ignore their presence. I would think that they did not exist in the world, that I did not know them.” I smiled fakely. “As Caleb does when we face all of you, so will I. If he could do it, then so could I. I would think I didn't know him and he wasn't a part of my life.” My voice was full of sadness but I didn’t notice. I gave a smile to show that I was strong.
After what happened yesterday, I couldn’t help but feel pain and sullenness. I never thought Caleb could do that to me. The more he hurt me. The quicker he let me go. Everything he does, he doesn't even think about how I can feel. Is that how he can forget me and hurt me?
I looked up and looked at the ceiling to keep the tears from falling into my two eyes. I remember what happened yesterday. I remembered again the stupidity I had done. I felt sorry for myself during those times. I let it be weak. I let myself fall right in front of him.
He was able to turn his back on me in the middle of a heavy downpour.
At the same time as the heavy rain, my tears also fell. The sky seemed to accompany me with the sadness and grief that Caleb provided. It was as if the rain said it was okay for me to cry to lighten the weight I was feeling. I was not mistaken. The pain I was carrying was somehow relieved.
The only thing hurt, he knew I was so wet yesterday and he didn't even hesitate to come back to me. At least he would give me an umbrella to take shelter in. Does he really have no care or pity left?
Is it true that everything he admits is a lie? Of all the things he told me, wasn’t there even one that was true? In the amount of lies, is there not even a single certainty?
I couldn’t help but be angry with him. Anyone will harbor resentment and anger at what he did. He not only made me hope, he lied to me too! I am hurting now because I hope. If only at first, it would not have provided a motive. I hope at first he won't allow me to have feelings for him.
If he knew Trisha still to this day, hopefully he wouldn’t have opened his heart to others. Hopefully he made sure of how he really felt first.
You will not give him the motive that he also likes someone but when the person he once loved returns to his life he will only know who he loves more.
If he was just that responsible, I hope I don’t get hurt now. I hope I'm not crying. I hope I’m not begging him to choose me. I hope I didn’t believe everything he said!
I wish I hadn’t let myself love him.
I wish I hadn’t just fought my fear of gambling again. For the second time, I failed again.
"Let's go," I said. When I stood up I was immediately grabbed by the dresser. I suddenly felt dizzy.
“Oh, Bri. Are you okay?” Reign was about to touch my forehead but I immediately stopped her. I don't want her palm to touch my forehead because she will know I have a fever and they won't let me go to school anymore.
"I'm fine."
I felt dizzy and my head was heavy. I have been feeling bad ever since Franco and I came home soaked in the rain. I took a shower right away but that was still not enough. I really often have a fever whenever it rains. But I never told my two friends that I felt bad. So I still went in. It will also disappear later because I will be taking medicine.
The three of us had breakfast and then entered at the same time. We used Reign’s car and he also drove it. Of the three of us, she was the only one who knew how to drive. Her brother taught her so she always knew how to drive. She was even given her own car.
When we got to the University, we found many students wandering in the forest. It's not like this during class hours. Very few slept in the forest because most were in his-his class. So it is surprising that so many students are now here in the forest.
“Hmm, I can smell the good news,” Kez said as we walked down the hallway near the forest. From the tone of Kez's voice, I already know what she thinks is good news.
We saw many students lying down. They were not holding books but their cell phones so I realized without work.
Reign smiled because she seemed to be able to read Kez's mind. “So, what? Shall we go to Rocca? ”
The two looked at each other and laughed at the same time.
These two really have the same mindset. University and Rocca just run their minds. Rocca bar is now closed because they always go there.
We found out from a student we met that there were no classes because all the instructors had an emergency meeting. All departments announced no class all day. Many were happy but many were also bored. Some of the students are from other places and they always commute so they get annoyed every time the University makes a late announcement. It's also because of the size of the fare, so it's really a pity. Hopefully they told the students earlier.
That's why all the students were laughing and lying down. Those there don’t seem to think there is a problem with academics.
Leading there was a group of men at the far end of the forest, where the only long table was there. We met them immediately.
They waved when they saw the three of us.
“Hey! We’re here,” Leo shouted.
Ever since we came home from Siargao, we have always been together. Franco's circle of friends expanded because we joined their group, adding Caleb and Trisha. That's why Reign and Kez are so jealous of us because we are always with the heartthrobs of the University. There are others who are asking for a request that we introduce them to Franco's friends. If they only knew they were almost all womanizers! But even so, they were all kind. It's good, they're still loving because they don't love just one woman!
"Do you want to go there?" Kez asked. “They are probably with Caleb and Trisha now. Let's not just hang out with them. It would also be better for us to avoid Franco's group. The world of the three of them Caleb is getting smaller. Let's just avoid them. Franco will understand that and he will have to think of a reason to tell his friends.”
I look straight at their table. They are still laughing to this day and I also caught the sight of Caleb and Trisha side by side. They both smile while flirting with others. I felt chest pain again.
As long as I'm in Franco's circle of friends, I can't help but get hurt every time I see them both.
I heaved a sigh. I took a deep breath to lose the weight I was feeling. "It's fine," I replied to Kez.
We walked in their direction. Even though my friends were hesitant and unsure, they still followed me. They stopped laughing when they saw us standing in front of them. All their attention went to me.
"Bri, are you okay?" They greeted me with a question.
"What happened yesterday?" curiosity of one. “You just left us in the cafeteria and then Franco didn't even say the reason. You know, we are so interested in the lives of others that we are all intrigued. ”
"I-It's nothing," Reign replied. It just acted normal. “Franco and Bri just went somewhere yesterday. They left us too and we don't know where they went.”
I felt like someone was looking at me but I didn’t look at it because I had a strong feeling it was Caleb. The left side of my face reflects its direction.
I am responsible for what I said earlier that I will act if I do not see him. In my opinion, Trisha and I are just wind. I will not let that affect me again.
"Ah, we thought, what was that?"
I just rode what Reign said. I can't tell the truth because we are with the person who caused me to cry yesterday. Also, even though we've been together for a few days, that doesn't mean that I consider Franco's friends to be true friends. I still can't trust them. I don't know them that well. I'd better be sure.
I rolled my eyes to look for Franco. I haven't been able to thank him since yesterday. I was so buoyant and crying incessantly, I didn't kiss her until I got home.
Even though he was hurting too, he still chose to accompany me. He saw how much Caleb had hurt me. He witnessed how much I loved Caleb.
"Where's Franco?" I asked.
“He’s not here yet, Bri. He may have overheard an emergency meeting so he didn't go in.”
I just nodded.
But Franco is not like that. It's not like being absent and even if it's only half a day, it still makes you work. I'd rather go out than just sneeze at their house. He could not bear the fact that he was just at home and the sun was not shining.
“Why, Bri? Do you miss Franco right away? ” Trisha inserts.
They all looked at me again and then shut me up because of what Trisha said. Trisha meant it to bring Franco and me closer. She makes way for me and Franco to be the only issue. She will show that Franco and I are getting along well again so that I can stay away from Caleb's life. I knew that was what she wanted to happen.
I looked at him seriously. "I'm just asking where he is, that's it."
It just shrugged. “It’s okay to deny. That's how we were when Caleb and I were just starting out. Right, babe?” It glared at the neighbor. “But look at now, we’re engaged! We also agreed in the end.”
She stood up to show us all wearing this engagement ring on her hand. I didn't hesitate to stare at it for a long time. I looked away in another direction.
“Look, Bri…” Trisha was still not satisfied. She made a note right in front of me that she was going to marry the person I love. So that others would not notice, I tried to look at his hand. “The nice diamond ring Caleb gave me.”
Reign secretly stared at me. Kez sneezed. The two are also aware of what Trisha is up to now.
"Yeah," I replied shortly. I still didn’t give up any emotion but deep inside, I wanted to hit Trisha. Isn’t it enough for me to know that Caleb and I are already engaged? Does he still have to brag in front of me? He almost slapped me with that ring!
“Don’t worry, you will also experience being given it. With luck, you might be able to stay with Franco.”
I just faked a laugh.
And he actually decided who I could stay with.
"We also don't know, maybe the one for me is still in the wrong person," I said sarcastically.
Trisha's eyebrows met immediately. I feel like he already knows something about Caleb and me so that's just how he behaves.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
I laughed. "Nothing. It's just random thoughts."
Reign and Kez accompanied me with a laugh that made Trisha even more annoyed. She secretly stared at us. Others did not notice because their attention was on the person approaching us now.
“Franco! We thought you were absent,” said one of Franco's friends.
"You just thought that."
Franco smiled when he saw me. To me he went straight and sat in the vacant seat next to me.
“Why are you here? Do you want to leave?” he whispered to me when he saw that Caleb and I were at the same table. He knows that it hurts on my part that I get to meet the two.
“It’s okay,” I said. I tapped his hand to convince him that it was all right. I can't just avoid them forever. Also, my avoidance might be a reason for others to notice.
"Wait, you're hot." Franco placed his palm on my hand which also rested on one of its hands. He felt my skin. "You have a fever, Bri."
"It's just hot," I weakly refused.
Others did not overhear our conversation because Franco and I were almost whispering.
"What now? It's time for Rocca! ” Eljohn's invitation.
Everyone was screaming. Even my two friends agreed.
"G!"
“Omg! Let’s go now! ”
"How long will it take you, come on!"
Everything is settled. It was only ten in the morning but their trip was different. Anyway, there is karaoke at Rocca and other online games and actual games so it's okay even if we go in the morning.
The others took their belongings and went straight to the car park. My two friends didn't wait for me anymore because they knew I would be with Franco.
I was about to stand up when Franco stopped me. "You should take a rest instead."
I looked at him. “I’m fine, Franco. I also want to go to Rocca.”
As usual, whenever I feel heaviness in my chest, I go to Rocca for fun. That way, I forget the pain somehow.
Franco did nothing with my stubbornness. We also followed her friends walking to the car park.
“Franco, just wait for me at the green home. I'll just go to the restroom for a while.”
Franco nodded. "Okay, I'll wait for you there."
I went straight to the nearest restroom. I have no other students because almost all of them have left the University. Like us, others also go there every sudden announcement that there is no class.
I entered a cubicle. I had a lot of water earlier before entering.
When I finished flashing, I was about to open the cubicle when someone suddenly entered. He slammed the door shut so I couldn't continue to turn the doorknob.
“What? We already talked about that. I need those fake documents as soon as possible!”
The woman's voice was familiar.
Trisha was the first to enter my mind. I even confirmed it when she spoke again.
“I need that fake medical documents as soon as possible! That's what I'm going to show Caleb so we can get married early. I need to hurry up the wedding before Caleb thinks twice and maybe the witch Brittany will take away what belongs to me. So please, make a way. Caleb must believe that I am seriously ill or, better yet, say that my life is fixed when we get married right away. Just do you job! I'm paying you, don't forget that.”
I could barely move from what I heard from Trisha.
She pretends to be seriously ill to marry Caleb?
Is she that desperate?