Fire and Fury

We hear the sound of a whistle. The game is over.

"Team A wins!" Our PE instructor announces.

Mina runs to me and hugs me tightly. I tap her arms to remind her how uncomfortable I am with this. We are actually sweating profusely. She removes her arms around me and bounces like a happy kid instead.

Our team wins in the volleyball game miraculously.

I was the libero and I really had to focus on the game but was distracted by Sean's scream. I tried to ignore him but he kept on shouting my name. Cheering like a madman. I was so pissed that I just diverted my irritation to the ball and thought of it as Sean's face. I hit it hard every time I had a chance.

Now we are done with the practicum, I am fully aware of my classmates' attention to me. Some of the students in the gym who don't know me yet are still wondering who 'Corine' is. His girl fans are especially looking for me among our team. Their eyes are wandering around to find me. Probably planning to kill me.

I see how my classmates are whispering to each other while stealing glances at me. The girls are looking at me with piercing eyes. This is what I really dreaded the most. Being everyone's target.

Sean is a jinx that is given to me. My only choice is to bear with it.

I just ignore them. I go back to the spot where I left my jug and book. I am already fetching my things when I hear some footsteps approaching. I turn and am already annoyed to see the senior boys who made fun of me before. Now, what are they up to?

"Hey, look who's here. Hi, sexy! Wait-- did you just cover your flawless legs with these cheap leggings?" The most annoying guy in the group says. He is obviously the leader of the gang.

His members burst out laughing.

"Leave me alone," I say before walking past them. They block my way.

What do these abnormal guys want from me?

"Not so fast, baby. Why don't we hang out for a minute?" The leader says again. I look at his unpleasant face. His crooked nose and big mouth are really irritating me.

"I'm not interested," I reply and try to walk past them again.

The most annoying guy grabs my wrist. My blood suddenly boils and anger swells inside my chest. My patience is fading away.

"Will you--"

"Get your hands off her!" A voice suddenly cuts my words.

We all turn our heads to the newcomers.

Sean is standing tall and proud with his hands in his pockets. There are four other big boys behind him.

"Dela Fuente! What a nice surprise!" The wicked guy sarcastically smiled at him. He finally let go of my hand.

I see how Mina running joyfully toward us but stopped when she sees our situation. She smells trouble as well. Her smile fades and she turns slowly to walk away from us.

"Yeah. I am here to fetch my friend over there," Sean gestures his hand to me.

"Really? Wow! I never thought you are connected to this weird girl here," The wicked guy turns his face to me and smiles evilly. How great it is to burn his annoying smirk!

"More than you ever know, Acosta," Sean shows his unusual smile. His dimples are still showing but his eyes are different from what I have seen so far. This is the first time that I see those warm brown eyes turn cold and hooded.

"Ah...this is so interesting," The guy named Acosta stared at Sean wearing that evil smile. His eyes are deadly too.

"Come here, Corine." I am a bit surprised to hear Sean calls me.

I walk down the bleachers to where Sean and his friends are waiting.

"Be careful, Dela Fuente. I might ask a payment for what you have stolen from me before," Acosta warns him.

Sean laughs sarcastically.

"I didn't steal anything or anyone from you, Acosta. Stop acting like a loser," Sean dismisses him and suddenly pulls me to walk away from them. Sean's friends follow suit.

I turn my head to see Acosta's mad face. He is really pissed off. I feel satisfied because of that.

We are already in the middle of the court when I become aware of Sean's hand on mine. I pulled it from him. He stopped walking and turns to me.

Everyone is looking at us now. Shocks!

"Did he hurt you?" Sean asks gently.

I can feel everybody's eyes on Sean and me. Even those who are at the far side of the gymnasium. They are all watching us now.

"No. Thanks, anyway." I quietly answer him.

"What does he want from you?" Sean asks again. Are we really going to discuss it here? In front of his team and his fans? I can see that they are all gawking at us like we are some kind of an unknown specimen. Most girls are obviously angry and some are confused.

"I don't know. Can we just forget about it? I have to go--"

"Be careful with him, Corine. Call me if he bothers you again," Sean advises me seriously. I see a surprise reaction from those who hear what he just said. They even look at each other.

"Fine. I need to go," I quickly walk away from that awkward scenario.

"Aren't you going to watch our game?!" Sean shouts at me.

I pretend not to hear him and half-run away from the gym. When I am finally outside, I let out my breath and tried to relax. The mad eyes of the students in the gym were suffocating me. Seriously? Is he some kind of an idol or what?!

"Corine!"

Not again...

Mina excitedly runs toward me.

"What happened?" She curiously asks me.

"Don't even bother," I turn away from her. She follows me.

I am hungry and thirsty. I need to go to the cafeteria.

I buy spaghetti and mango juice while Mina picks potato chips and cola. We both settle at a nearby table to eat our snacks.

Mina is busy telling a story when a group of girls approach our table. I look upon their faces. I don't even know them. They are all strangers to me.

"You are Corine, right?" The girl wearing a red short dress asks me. She is holding a glass of milkshake in her hand.

This doesn't feel right again.

I just look at her. She looks so flirty and sexy with the tight revealing dress on her.

"What do you want from her?" Mina asks the girl as well.

"I am not talking to you!" She spits back at Mina. I see how Mina bites her lips to hold her words back.

"So, you're not going to answer me huh? Now, take this to help you speak up," then she suddenly pours her milkshake on me. I gasp as I feel the cold drink streams down from my head, to my face then to my neck.

"What do you think are you doing?!" Mina shouts back and rises from her seat.

I am trying to keep it calm. I can feel that all the students in the cafeteria are watching intently at us now.

"That is for flirting with Sean," the girl says with venom.

I see how she lifts my plate of spaghetti and suddenly slams it on my face. Shit!

"And that is for pissing me off," she says and laughs flirtily. I hear as the other girls laugh with her too.

My eyes are shut. I count 1 to 10 to calm my nerves. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes I did years ago. I am better now when it comes to this.

"Stop it!" I hear Mina says. Then I feel a sudden commotion around me. I open my eyes and see two of her friends are holding Mina back. Her clothes are also wet. The red girl faces her and slaps her hard on the face. Her eyeglasses fall off from the impact. Some students flinch as well.

I wipe the spaghetti sauce on my face using my bare hand. I am done with their bullshit. Now, I am fuming with anger.

I shut my eyes again to avoid looking at the bitches. I decided to focus my eyes on the table beside them. I concentrate and stare at it for seconds.

The flames suddenly burst from the table. Everybody is so shocked and horrified at the sight. All the students panic and some even run outside the cafeteria. The bitchy girls are so dumbfounded at the raging fire beside them. I even see others jump off because of the burn.

I controlled the flame near Mina and skillfully tone it down to avoid hurting her.

A small flame catches the tip of the girl's red dress. She is so rattled that she shrieks so hard and bumps herself on the other table. She doesn't even know what to do. She just screams at the top of her lungs like a madwoman.

I grab my mango juice and splash it on the girl's red dress. She keeps on screaming and crying.

Some staff of the cafeteria is already running toward the table with a pail of water in their hands. I even see some guards bring the hose inside to drain the fire. Other securities are helping each student to come out safely.

I stare at the fire on the table and chairs. It is gradually subdued and only a little amount of flame is left. I decided not to fully put it off to avoid suspicions. I let the rescuers take charge of everything now.

We are all ushered safely out of the cafeteria. Mina is having a hard time seeing things around her. We fail to get her eyeglasses inside. Everyone is prohibited now to enter aside from the authorities. I guide her to steps instead so she can walk carefully.

"Are you okay?" Mina suddenly asks me.

"Yeah. And you?" I ask her back.

"I'm fine. It's just hard to see without my glasses on," she exhaustedly replies.

I feel so sorry for her. My heart aches when I think of how she stood up for me against those bitches. Even though I promised not to do it again, I still did it for her.

I just couldn't forgive them for hurting the person who cares for me.