Chapter 4 4

Contrary to the previous days, the sun was shining brightly today. I had to put on sunglasses because I was getting blinded by the sun. When I stepped outside, I had to rush back in because the heat was scorching. I even ended up wearing a jacket.

I must have looked silly, like one of those swaggering emo kids who insist on wearing a jacket even in scorching weather.

I'll just take off this jacket once I get to school.

As usual, I arrived late for school and got a lecture from my teacher. Thankfully, she forgot to suspend me. She only stopped talking when she called all the teachers for a meeting. Thank god, my ears were getting tired from all the talking.

While we didn't have a teacher, I organized the compilation of my quizzes that I would be passing to our Physics teacher.

Demmy approached me, saying something, but I couldn't understand because I had earphones in. "Huh? What did you say?" I asked as I took the earphones out.

"You're such a pain, I've been talking to you and you weren't even listening," Demmy replied in annoyance.

"Sorry. So, what were you saying?"

She didn't respond, maybe she got annoyed. Tsk. Since she didn't want to repeat herself, I just went back to listening to music. She opened her mouth again after a while, so I lowered the sound volume on my phone. That's when I realized she kept opening her mouth, but she wasn't saying anything.

My hand automatically moved to flick her. "You're not saying anything, why are you doing that?"

"There's nothing, idiot!" she said, laughing, before leaving me.

That girl is really something else. I was sitting next to Casper, but he was quiet, busy writing in his notebook. I suddenly screamed when I felt a poke on my butt. I immediately stood up and looked to see what was on my seat.

I saw Demmy hiding under a bench, holding a pen and trying not to laugh. I quickly smacked her face with the test papers I had in my hand.

That girl, she just can't resist causing trouble!

She stopped when I hit her, but it didn't take long before she started poking again. This time, I aimed the hole puncher at her. That finally made her stop.

Our class adviser returned not long after. She was with a girl who looked around my age. She had brown hair and eyes, a nice nose, and red lips. In short, we were both beautiful. Our teacher announced that she would be our new classmate.

Damn, so many transfer students.

"Class, this is Althea Ross. She will be your new classmate. Treat her well," our adviser said.

She pointed to Althea's designated seat, then left. Maybe Ma'am is really busy, huh? It's tough.

Before Althea sat in the chair Ma'am pointed out, she made eye contact with me, and then with Casper. Casper returned her gaze.

Do they know each other?

I subtly nudged Casper and asked him, "You know her?"

"Yes, I know her," he replied shortly. He looked back at Althea, then back at me. "Why do you ask?"

"Uhm, nothing. I'm just, you know, just asking."

They seem to know each other. Maybe she's also from England?

---

*I sat alone* - Just kidding, I can't continue in English. Darn, nosebleed. I'm waiting alone at a table here in the canteen. My friends are still in line at the counter, so I'm alone for now. I'm just staring off into space as always.

I see Althea approaching in my direction. "Hi," she greets me before sitting in front of me.

"Uhm, hey, that's my friend's seat," I say.

"Yes, I know that, honey. I'm just dropping by to say 'hi'," she says with a smile. She extends her hand to me. "My name is Althea, may I know yours?"

"My name is Rica." I shake her hand.

"Oh, so that's your name now."

"What do you mean, 'name now'? I mean, what do you-uh, what do you, I mean, sh-"

She chuckles slightly. "It's okay. Don't stress yourself, I speak Tagalog." She stands up and turns to leave. "See you later," she says before leaving.

Well, that was odd. She knows how to speak Tagalog, why did I try to speak English? Damn. I got really nervous there.

When my friends come back, we all start eating together. While we eat, the conversation naturally turns to Casper. I don't participate as much in the conversation about Casper, since I might end up in the hot seat, being next to him.

After eating, I head back to the classroom. I sit in front of the electrical outlet, next to Allen.

"Wow, I'm sitting next to my crush. Rica, you really look beautiful!"

My eyes widen in surprise. "What?!"

Allen looks at me, puzzled. "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"W-what did you say?" I ask again.

"Are you spacing out, Rica? I didn't say anything," he responds, annoyed.

I just let it go. Maybe it was just my imagination because I ate too much. I was about to dismiss it, but then I heard his voice again.

"Rica, one day I know you'll love me too."

I turn to face him again. "Hey, Allen! What's wrong with you?"

He stares at me in confusion. "What? Did I do something to you?"

"What are you talking about?" I ask again.

He gives me a look like he's considering whether I'm the one going crazy between us. "Rica, I'm just here, not saying anything. If anyone's going crazy between us, it's not me."

"Rica, I'm going crazy for you."

"What do you mean I'm going crazy? You said earlier that I'm beautiful, and now you're saying you love me. And now you're saying you're going crazy for me," I say. "Are you crazy, Allen, seriously?"

Allen turns pale from my words. I'm not lying when I say everything he said, that's what I heard.

"What the hell is wrong with him? It's as if he's making a fool of himself, seriously.

"I-I don't know about you!" he said before standing up and leaving.

From the door, I saw Kheyzelle, my classmate who acts like she's the most beautiful thing on earth. I unintentionally stared at her as she walked towards her seat.

"What the fuck are you looking at?" she asked when she noticed my gaze.

"Is it wrong to look?" I countered.

"Excuse me, am I talking to you?" she asked in surprise. I heard her speak again. I heard her voice even though her mouth didn't move. "Oh, my God, this freak bitch. Is she abnormal that she suddenly starts talking like that?"

"Hey! I was just looking at you, and you're going to call me a 'freak bitch'? You're really something," I said just to avoid a fight. She might just pick on me more if I retaliate.

"What? I never said that you're a bitch. Rica, what's your problem? Just don't talk to me because you're irritating!" she said with a haughty tone. "Talk to me again and I swear, I will hurt you." She gave me a very sharp look, so I didn't say anything else. "I swear I will cut off your nose."

I could feel her seriousness in the last statement. We were the only two people in the classroom now, so I was afraid she might actually carry out her threat to cut my nose. Suddenly, I found myself touching my nose. She looked at me for a long time before leaving through the door.

"She was looking at someone else earlier, so I'm sure she didn't see me take Trixie's wallet from her bag. Rica is so clueless that she won't suspect that I'm the thief in this classroom."

Those were the last words I heard from Kheyzelle before she left the classroom. I could hear her voice even though her mouth didn't move. Could it be that I can read her mind? The same thing happened earlier when I was with Allen. I could hear his voice even though he wasn't speaking. Oh, my God. I can read their minds!