Bella internally screamed for like an eternity and hoped to god that she was dreaming. Or possibly dead. Oh god, of all people... she didn't dare to complete her thought. All the other girls looked at Bella as if leading the guy to his prey.
Her life flashed before her eyes the moment she locked eyes with him. Her body breaks into a cold sweat looking at the guy's crooked smile as if he knew her secret. Why wouldn't he? He is literally holding it in real life and about seconds to unveil it.
"Isn't that?" Leslie whispered nudging her head to the guy who was holding Bella's guidebook.
"You forgot this." the guy said holding her guidebook in the air for everyone to see. There were a lot of hushes inside the classroom. One might've heard,
Isn't that-that Gian Matthews who got kicked off from varsity?
What is he carrying? Is that a diary?
Isn't he the guy who beat up a teacher in freshman year?
Are they like going out or something?
How do they even know each other? He's like the menace in section 412
She was fighting the urge to run or jump through the window when the guy casually walked in the room cooly handing her most prized possession. Bella stood frozen looking at him, she could feel everybody's eyes staring at them waiting for something to happen like watching a scene from a cinema, the only thing lacking was the popcorn. Leslie gave her a little nudge in the elbow as if saying, say something.
"You dropped it earlier," Gian Matthew grinned. "And by the way, it had some pretty interesting things written on it" he added almost to a whisper. Her mouth twitched, but kept her cool and forced a smile.
"I-I have never se-seen that in my entire life" she wanted to sound cool and innocently but her voice stuttered in protest.
"Well," he chuckled. "Your name is written on it." he countered in a matter-of-fact tone pointing the book cover.
"No, it isn't," she replied with a strained smile while her eyes scanned the cover. Shit. She saw her first name in curved, written at the middle bottom of the book cover.
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She could feel eyes staring at them then at the book looking to see if there was really a name and some even stretching their necks to confirm it for themselves. Leslie nudges her again.
"Really?" he tested her with a crooked smile. "Isn't--" she didn't let him finish and grabbed hold of the book with both hands.
"You know what?" she said louder than she meant to. "How about I take this off of your hands so you can be on your way. And I can look for the owner for you because I clearly don't have anything to do with this book," she added while trying to pry his hands off the book.
"Oh?" he said in a tease. "If this isn't yours then there must be some other Bella here in school then" testing her act and grabbed hold of the book tighter.
Their aura turned menacing that at any moment a cloud dark smoke would come out of nowhere and surround them. The air was filled with too much electricity, you could almost hear the light crackle. The other students staring at them started to murmur a little louder. If you do not know what was happening inside the room you could mistake them chanting spells rising up the devil himself. They were practically performing an exorcism. You could almost feel the whole room with an uneasy tension.
"No, really" she insisted. "I insist," she said through clenched teeth and pulled the book towards her.
"Well, if this isn't yours..." he said the words with tense. "then... I'll take care of it!" he added pulling the book towards him.
"And, I bet I can even learn a thing or two here too" he whispered that only they can hear and grinned at her.
"I said give it!" she shouted trying to take the book from him.
They were like children fighting over a toy, a game where one is trying to rid off the other one's hand where Bella is badly losing. She was holding onto dear life and dignity, there was no way she'll lose to this guy. She was so sure that he'll reveal her secret to everyone one this is over. She needs to think of a plan fast or else everyone will find out and she'll be back to being the socially awkward kid again.
The crowd still intensely staring at them wanting to know who'll win this battle. Her half started to slip off the book as her hand began to sweat with fear of losing when the school bell rang and Mrs. Miriam walked into the classroom looking at them both, "What is going on in here?" Mrs. Miriam shouted angrily.
The whole class went silent and everyone staring shifted their eyes towards Mrs. Miriam. Startled, Gian Matthew loses his grip and let go of the book. Bella loses her balance and fell down the instant Gian Matthew let go. With a sigh of relief, she stared down on the book in her hands almost feeling delighted to herself when Mrs. Miriam starts to walk towards them.
In order to make sure that Mrs. Miriam won't get a hold of her guidebook. Adrenaline coursed through her body as if by defense mechanism. Within seconds, she stood up and zing!
Threw the book right outside the window just in time Mrs. Miriam was near. "Nothing, Mrs. Miriam," she replied looking innocently.
Everyone had their eyes fixed on Mrs. Miriam except for Leslie and Gian Matthew that had their eyes locked at the window where Bella had thrown out at the book. They couldn't believe that she threw the book outside of a fourth-floor building. He was about to say something when, "Mr. Ramos, why are you here?" Mrs. Miriam questioned him.
"Go back to your room!" she added, pointing her fingers towards the door. He looked like he wasn't near finished with whatever plan he has but he takes one look at Bella with piercing eyes almost saying, this isn't over, and walked out the door.
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After the incident with Gian Matthew, Bella was anxious for the whole period. All she could think of is what Gian Matthew is capable of doing to get back at her. After slapping him, play dumb with him and scrabble with the book it's no doubt that they'll cross paths again to finish what they started. Everyone in the room saw what had happened except the part that the book was thrown out the window but most of them especially Melissa are all looking at Bella. Once in a while when the teacher turns towards the board, paper planes come flying on Bella's desk with a written note:
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She would just smile to be polite as an answer to make them stop asking. She didn't have enough time to think about what they were thinking because to her the most bothering important question is right now was the fact that how could she possibly consider throwing out the book?
Sure, Mrs. Miriam wouldn't be able to find out the contents of her guidebook and let everybody in class what it was about or Mrs. Miriam can't confiscate it now but how on earth is she going to get the book casually?
It sure as heck that somebody definitely saw a flying book falling to the ground. Possibly, one or two would be curious enough to run down and check what it was. And if she was lucky, she might've even hit someone in the head with the book. She couldn't stand and wait in class, it worried her that the more she sits there the more chances of Gian Matthew running down and picking up the book from where she threw it. But all she could do is wait.
She did try to ask permission to go out but Mrs. Miriam was such a strict teacher that asking for a restroom break is like asking for detention. And sadly, so goes her next classes. The only left thing to do is to wait until lunch break to go down and find the book.
The second the bell rang for a lunch break, Bella stood up almost knocking down her chair and asked Leslie to help her find the book outside. "You threw it out of the window!" Leslie said in disbelief. "I can't believe you!"
"I didn't have a choice!" Bella said in defense. "It was either the window or Mrs. Miriam. I choose the window."
"That wasn't even a choice. You could've just hidden it under the table or something."
"Ugh. Can we please just fetch it?"
"Why do we even need to get it?" Leslie's eyebrows knitted still unmoving from her seat. "It's just a bunch of articles and notes no one would ever care about it"
"What if someone finds it?" Bella replied. "Melissa kept asking me what the book was for. She already knows what it looks like. If she finds it, read what was on it, I'm done for," she added.
Melissa wasn't just the President of Affairs in the school, she happens to be the School's newspaper reporter. Before her, the newspaper in the school wasn't even popular and circulation of it on the campus doesn't even reach ten or 20 people. But after a famous headline about a teacher and student relationship article she wrote two years ago, everybody in school reads the newspaper and a lot of the articles tend to be more a lot about gossip which is what they are famous for than the general school articles.
"There isn't something to find in there," Leslie said reassuringly. "As I said, it's a book with tips and articles about boys. There isn't much to say about it."
"Yeah, nothing but a lame book with practically a bunch of girl tips, pathetic handwritten notes on how to interact with boys and lists of the names of whom I confessed to, with my BIG FAT NAME WRITTEN ON THE COVER" she replied almost hysterically.
"Why did you even-- ugh-- alright fine," Leslie said in defeat. "We'll find that book, but once we find it we burn it."
"WHAT?! No! I am not giving that up." Bella fired back. "That book helped me through a lot of things. I will never burn it"
"Bella, you've practically memorized all the things written on that book. You don't need it!"
"Yes, but there's a lot more things I need to write on there."
"You've had it for like... forever. Trust me, you don't need it." Leslie continued. "You don't need to follow every word of advice from a piece of paper."
"Yes, I do"
"No, you don't"
"Umm.. yes, I do" she repeated. "Uhh, remember the first time I tried to go with my guts?" Bella added trying to test Leslie. Leslie rolled her eyes and took a deep breath and sigh. "Exactly!" Bella answered. "I suck."
"If you don't want to help me, fine" Bella said feeling annoyed that her best friend couldn't understand how important that book was for her. It was the only thing that helped her understand boys throughout her entire childhood after her parents died. Her Grandma isn't really open about love like her parents have, it was up to her to know and find it for herself.
Bella always liked the idea of being in love. Seeing her mom and dad love each other unconditionally when she was little, she wanted to have that kind of love. A love that meets no boundaries and someone who will possibly, look at her the same way her dad looks at her mom when she isn't looking. Calm, happy, and warm on the inside. She could still remember the day her mom told her, Someday you will find a love that makes you feel whole, a love that makes the world a better place. When you find it, don't ever let it go.
She walked away furious and pretended not to hear Leslie calling out for her. She didn't like fighting with her best friend but she also didn't like not having her guidebook. She promised her mom that she'll find a love that is right for her and she's sure to accomplish it with the help of the guidebook.
She rushed down the stairs, walked briskly to the side of the school building to where she threw her book, and started to poke around the bushes. For the last five minutes or so, she worked her way from the bushes to the trees to check and see if it was caught on there but no such luck. She started to freak out. What if he took it? Her heart pounded hard of the thought. She dismissed the thought inside her head and resumed looking around. When it was about a quarter to her next class, she finally gave up.
The only possible reason why the book was not there is that he took it and that the only way to get it back is to confront Gian Matthew. He was the only person who could've known where the book was, of course, assuming nobody saw the book when it fell down. She was close to ripping her head off trying to think of what the next thing to do. She couldn't possibly threaten him now or blackmail him as he has the upper hand. Most likely, it'll be the other way around. He's probably coming up with ominous plans to get back at her for slapping him and making him look dumb in front of the others. Time will tell that when she strolled the hallways of South Pacific High on her way back, her face will make the headlines of the school newspaper as "The old maiden". Karma was such a biatch to her.
She walked slowly on the way back to her next class thinking of ways on how to live with her shame until graduation when a group of girls shrieked in the hallways running towards her then onto the school field like a stampede. Ahhhhhhhh!
"Oh my god! There he is!" someone shouted followed by a shrill of cheer. There were about fifty to almost a hundred girls covering half the field. Even the gay guys were there cheering on whoever is in there. Her curiosity got the best of her and stopped to see what was all the commotion about. And then, she saw him.
The soccer team was playing in the field, looking all exhausted and sweaty but still looked gorgeous and fresh. How can these people look good in sweaty clothes? It was a mystery. All of them looked like models, with their sweaty white shirts exposing their six-packs when running against the wind. It was hard not to drool over them. But out of all the other model looking guys running in the field, there is one who ruled out among them and could be the reason as to why Bella was almost trampled over by a stampede earlier.
He was like an angel, no, almost godlike. He had the most charismatic chiseled face, thin kissable lips that compliments his perfect smile and a deep left dimple that could easily break every girl's heart. His silky light brown hair looked glittered under the sky every time he runs his fingers through them and breath-taking eyes that looked like a swirling pit of galaxies where you aren't sure whether it's brown, yellow or green. He was beautiful.
The Ocean of adoring fans shrieks in delight whenever he scores a goal. He looked really cool and almost impossible not to have a crush on but he wasn't her type. Maybe before, when she was blinded by handsome looking guys. After her numerous encounters with guys like that, she decided not to aim guys who are too high to reach and has a gazillion fanbase as it just ends up her being one of the targets of bullying. It was safe to just look and adore from afar.
"Did you know?" a girl with a ribbon clip in front of Bella said. "He just transferred this year"
"Totally!" her friend replied squealing with kilig. "GODDD! He's so HOOOOT"
"Marry me!" someone else shouted.
"Impregnate me, Oppa!" a gay guy screamed.
While everybody screamed and cheered for the guys playing soccer, Bella's eyes spotted a familiar figure seated in the bleachers. Gian Matthew was seated in the far side corner of the bleachers wearing his headphones with his eyes closed. It looked like he was sleeping. Well, if he was.. it was about to be interrupted by hurricane five Bella. She thought confronting him now is better than waiting for him to leap and attack in surprise. It's now or never. She took a deep breath and marched towards the bleachers thinking of what to say to him but was suddenly stopped mid-stroke when a group of girls near her yelled in unison, "Go! Nate Vasquez!"
Her whole body stiffened and shivered even though it was 30 degrees outside. She knows that name. She heard it before. Damn it, she practically lived her life knowing that name.
It brought back bad memories. It brought her back the first time she confessed to a guy she really really liked but got dumped in worse possible kind of end. She shuddered the instant her memories flashback her eyes from six years ago but it was instantly disrupted when a hurling soccer ball heads towards her face.
"Look out!" someone shouted a little too late. She didn't have time to react and before she knew it everything turned black and she looking face down on the floor.
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