Chapter 7 F

[Chapter 6]

Days passed, and our break was over. We're back to normal. It feels like just yesterday when our one-week break started. The days flew by, and now we're back to school. It feels like I just went to bed, and the next day, classes have started again.

So here I am, wearing my uniform, grabbing my bag, and heading out of my room. I rarely wear my uniform because it's uncomfortable and hot, but we have to wear it now because exams are coming up.

When I got downstairs, I found my cousins already in the dining area eating, so I joined them for breakfast.

After eating, we all headed out to go to school. I was with Alessandra, Gweneth, and Alessandra's brother, Rage-the same one who hit me last Friday.

My younger sibling and Alessandra and Gweneth's younger siblings are still in elementary, so we don't all go to school together.

Their classes start early, thank goodness I'm no longer in elementary. Back then, Mom would always get mad at me for waking up late. I mean, I was still sleepy! Waking up at 5 AM when the sun hadn't even risen yet!

Anyway,

Savianna, my mom's younger sister, is in her first year of college at St. Maria University. It's about a 30-minute drive, so she still comes home every afternoon because she has her own bodyguard/driver.

I still think about what happened a few days ago. The next day after that incident, I met Alessandra's bodyguard, who turned out to be a foreigner. Then I also found out that Rage's bodyguard is a foreigner too. So, my suspects were down to three: my bodyguard, Alessandra's, or Rage's. Their bodyguards are no joke.

But nothing has happened since that day. Besides, it couldn't have been my bodyguard; he knows where my room is and would never disturb me like that.

Oh well! Whatever. I don't want to stress over it.

While we were on our way to ACNHS, another car was following us, carrying my cousins' bodyguards. My bodyguard was our driver today, sitting next to me in the front seat, while the three of them were seated in the back.

It didn't take long before we arrived, so we all got out. Since their classrooms were farther away, I arrived at our building first. Mang Juan followed me up the stairs as I made my way to the classroom.

As soon as I entered, I was greeted by the noisy classroom. I glanced back at Mang Juan, who was now standing by the railings outside, looking down. I shrugged and sat down in my seat. It was still early, so the "witch trio" wasn't here yet. Well, only two of them because one is an angel.

"Hey, Madeline, we heard what happened. Are you okay?" My classmates immediately surrounded me, asking about the incident. I told them the story, and they all laughed, saying the kidnapper was dumb.

I knew they had more questions, but I shooed them away because their faces were annoying me. I just grabbed my phone and occasionally glanced at Mang Juan. Why is his name Juan? It doesn't suit him at all.

"Myl!" I paused from typing on my phone and looked up at my friends, who had just arrived. Nathalie and Lyra immediately hugged me, while Amber just smiled.

"Are you feeling better, Myl?" Nathalie asked as she sat down.

"I'm fine," I replied shortly. We chatted for a bit until our teacher arrived and immediately began talking. We were reviewing until the exams came. We needed to score at least 90% to graduate.

Each teacher had one hour with us, so all I did was listen. I needed to do my best if I wanted to graduate.

After two hours, the bell rang, signaling break time. I packed my notebook and pen into my bag and took out my wallet. Just as I was about to stand up, someone approached and placed a lunchbox and my favorite lemonade on my desk. I looked up, surprised, and saw my bodyguard staring at me, emotionless.

"Did you buy this?"

He didn't speak but shook his head. I kept looking at him, waiting for an explanation. I deserve one! Just kidding. He took a deep breath before speaking, and my heart fluttered again at the sound of his deep, manly voice.

"Your mom made that. She wants you to be safe with the food you eat."

"Oh?" I nodded and opened the lunchbox. My eyes lit up, and my heart, nose, and taste buds rejoiced at the sight and smell of the crispy tacos. There were two tacos and a burger. I smiled. Thanks, Mom!

"Hey! What's that?" I rolled my eyes when I heard Lyra and Nathalie's voices, along with the rest of my classmates, who were all hungry.

"If you want some, ask your mom to make it for you!" I said, annoyed. They just laughed and left. Even Amber left to buy food, so it was just me and my bodyguard left in the classroom. He sat on Amber's seat, two chairs away from me, while I ate.

I tried offering him some, but he refused, so I didn't push it.

I ate quietly while watching a movie on my phone. Just as I finished my first taco, Lyra and the others returned.

I saw my bodyguard leave as Lyra and the others sat down and started chatting. I joined in, as Nathalie always had the latest gossip-she's the most gossip-prone among us.

"I have a story. I'll give them code names so no one will know. J is the guy, and B is the girl. Okay?" We all nodded seriously, ready for the story.

"So, last night we were drinking with J. At first, everything was fine. Nothing unusual because J was still sitting with the boys. But when everyone started getting drunk, I was shocked because J suddenly sat next to B, and his hand was... well... on her thigh."

"And then?" We were all hooked on her story like we were watching a K-drama.

"So, we continued drinking. A few hours later, everyone was super drunk-except me, of course, because I don't get drunk easily. J stood up and told us he was leaving, and he was taking B with him. And B, of course, went with him. But when they stood up... girl, his zipper was open!"

We all screamed in surprise.

"Are you sure? Doesn't B have a boyfriend named Stephen? Why is she flirting with J now? Didn't she reject him before because she wasn't into him?" I asked because that's what I remembered.

"Well, now that J is hot and muscular, our girl B decided to give him a chance. There are even rumors that J is, well, well-endowed."

"Wow, she's really going for it, huh? Doesn't she feel bad for her boyfriend? He's such a green flag! Maybe J is just manipulating her. Who knows, maybe he's trying to get revenge?" Amber and I nodded at Lyra's comment.

"Who knows? That's their story to tell. I have another story, though." Nathalie said excitedly, clapping her hands.

"What is it?" Amber asked, eating popcorn. Where did she get that?

"Where'd you get that popcorn?" I asked curiously. She grinned and motioned toward the back of the room, where Drake was sitting, reading a book and eating popcorn. I just shook my head.

"Just tell the story already." Lyra urged.

"My next story is about the time we went out to eat, Lyra. Remember?" She smiled mischievously, making me frown.

"What happened?"

"Remember the birthday party we went to? I saw a cute lesbian."

We nodded. Don't tell me they're dating now?

"Turns out, she likes guys."

"What? How do you know?"

"I went to a bar with my sister on Saturday, and I saw her sitting on some super hot guy's lap. And they were kissing! I swear, the guy was gorgeous!"

I grimaced at her story. I thought they were together. But no, she has a new crush? Tsk tsk! She's definitely going to find another one soon.

We kept chatting until our next subject started, which was our last class of the morning before lunch.

After class, we ate lunch. I looked outside, searching for my bodyguard, but he wasn't there. He must've gone to eat lunch too. Poor guy, he's all alone.

But a few minutes later, he came back. The classroom was almost empty because the teachers don't come in the afternoons, as we're busy working on our thesis. That was their instruction: focus on the thesis, no more exams, just the defense.

We only see our teacher when we need to check on our thesis progress.

My bodyguard handed me a bottle of water and my favorite lemonade. I thanked him, and he just nodded before turning to leave. I stopped him, thinking he might be tired of standing, so I told him to grab a chair. He followed my instruction and left with the chair.

By 2 PM, no teacher had shown up. My classmates were getting loud, playing music, dancing, flirting, and singing.

"Let's go to the canteen; I want some siomai." Lyra suddenly suggested. We all agreed and got up. I put my wallet in my pocket, and we headed out.

I was the first to step outside, and Mang Juan-no, that name really doesn't suit him-my bodyguard immediately noticed me. He blocked my way, his tall and broad frame

"Where are you going?" he asked coldly.

"Just to the canteen. We're hungry."

"I can buy it; what do you want?" I just rolled my eyes. What, is he really planning not to let me leave?

"No need; I also want to stroll around since we don't have a teacher anymore. You're being overly protective. Just follow me."

I said as I gently pushed him, causing him to take a step back. We finally went outside. We chatted as we walked. I glanced at the bodyguard and saw that he was following us not too far behind, his head constantly turning. Doesn't he ever get tired?

I brushed off that question and we continued walking.

"Wow, your bodyguard is something, Myl. How old is he?" Nathalie asked, looking at my bodyguard, who was standing watch not far from us. Almost all the female students were glancing at him. Who wouldn't?

"He's around 28, I think? Why?" I said as I took a bite of siomai.

"He's handsome; it's only now that I really got a good look at him. Because when he was with you here, he was just waiting outside. And when we went to your place, I barely saw him because he was always outside your house." She said, and I just laughed. Poor guy.

"Of course, I have premium service, so I got a bodyguard like that," I grinned, and they just shook their heads.

As we were chatting, I suddenly choked on my food, coughing non-stop. But my friends just laughed at me, although they quickly gave me some water. I almost choked again on the water because my bodyguard suddenly rushed over.

"What happened!?" he asked, worried, making me stop drinking. My friends laughed even harder, and I smiled, which made my bodyguard raise his perfect eyebrows.

"I'm okay. It's normal to choke sometimes. You can go back over there now." I smiled as I tapped his arm, which was resting on my back. It seemed like he was planning to carry me.

I could see he was still hesitant, but I just nodded at him. He took a deep breath and slowly walked away. As soon as he was far enough, the three of them started teasing me again.

"Wow, if I had such a handsome and overprotective bodyguard, I might fall for him!" Lyra teased. I just shook my head and told them to change the topic. They're pulling me into their delusions. But well, sometimes I'm delusional too.

But because of all the problems I created for myself, I forgot my responsibility as a novel reader: being delusional. I got too focused on my random investigations, even I can't understand myself.

We stayed there for a few more minutes, and during that time, we just ate. Meanwhile, my bodyguard was standing not too far away. He really never gets tired.