Eijun's Rival

CINDY

INSIDE the classroom.

Since our supposed teacher is yet to arrive, my classmates had their own separate agendas. While I’m right here alone and quiet, Marina and Mariana are currently talking to a classmate of ours. On the other hand, Happy went to the comfort room. I volunteered to accompany her but she declined. She said that she’ll be alright going alone. And I let her since that’s what she said.

But now, I regret that I didn't insist on coming with her. It’s because being left alone in the classroom bore me. Since I’m bored, I can’t help but just watch my classmates.

The view is your typical kind of classroom. Noisy, in groups and they tend to their individual matters. Some are in plain groups of women, some are with men. Some are in trios or in pairs. Some groups are mixed genders. A few are like me, alone and just observing everyone.

While watching them, I suddenly remembered my old school. Nostalgia hit me. Suddenly, there’s a burning fire inside my chest. Then, I can’t help but ask myself.

How are they?

How are my former classmates doing?

How are the teachers working there?

How are the other staff members keeping the school organized?

How is the school doing?

I can’t help but wonder. What if I’m still there? How would my life turn out? Would peace continue? Or some way or another, Dad will destroy it for him to get what he wants.

I hope they are okay.

I wish they are continuing what they usually do.

I hope the school is in good shape. I wish that Dad would have a word of honor and would do the conditions that I’m asking.

But then, Ma'am Lydia is there, the principal I trust so much and I’m sure that she will protect the school no matter what may happen.

I silently watched my classmates when my eyes caught a newspaper on the desk of the chair in front of me.

It’s a school newspaper. Since I’m not doing anything, I took it. No one is sitting on the chair so I don’t need to borrow it from anyone. I'll just return it later so there will be no problem.

I opened it. As expected, it contains documented happenings. There is news, events, about festivals, camping and many more but there is a part that caught my attention.

It goes like this:

Battle Bands

Eijun Warross and Levi Legazpi led the two amazing bands. These two rivals showed their skills in singing last year.

Now, our awaited Festival Celebrations are coming and the Battle Bands will again begin its search for the best band here in our University. So this year, who's going to win the throne?

Will the champion be the same? Or will a new champion take the crown?

Let's pray for them and love them as our coolest heartthrobs.

Heartthrob? Eijun Warross? Wait, my brain can’t seem to process the information I just read.

"Are you already informed of the upcoming Battle Bands?" Marina suddenly appeared beside me.

"Yes, I just read it in this school paper."

"Cem, can you ever imagine how lucky you are! You are engaged with the most popular guy on campus. If others will know about your engagement, a lot would die due to jealousy, surely!" I don’t like the sight of her dreamy eyes. It’s like she’s imagining some sort of fairy-tale in her head.

"He’s that famous on campus? I don’t think so. You are just exaggerating it."

I know there are a lot of crazy people chasing him. But I think it’s over the top if there’s a possibility that someone would die due to jealousy. That’s kind of creepy, rather than an achievement.

"You’re in denial! Exaggeration is what describes your fiancé, Cem. Can’t you see that your future husband is so cool? He has a perfect body and angelic face plus smart and kind. What else are you seeking for; God already gave it to you in a package! Just like the saying goes, don’t waste your blessing!"

I laughed at what she said. Blessing? More like it is a curse that was given to me. It’s a punishment that needs long endurance.

"Are you sure about 'smart and kind'?" I asked, still laughing. “Because I doubt it.”

"Yes. Don't you know? Eijun was the top student last year. He is ranked 1st in the whole grade level. There is a high possibility that he might be our Valedictorian this year in case Levi can’t find a way to beat him."

I was left dumbfounded. To me, what she is saying is like a foreign language. Or it seems like she is describing an alien rather than Eijun Warross. Or she sounds like a comedian with a lame jokes.

Seriously? Is Eijun smart? Not only just as simple as being smart but a 1st ranker in the year level?! Superman’s story is much more believable than what she just said.

"Legit?" I asked, confirming that whatever she is spitting out is really the truth.

She nodded. Sadly, Marina looks so serious. You can tell that this moment is not one of those moments that she is playing a prank on you. Especially that I just scolded them about Levi earlier. She would not have a gut to consistently play on me in one day.

"A-Ahem!" I cleared my throat. I’m finding my voice because my mouth suddenly runs dry. "But still, he's not 'kind'."

Yes, that's right. This I’m sure that he doesn't have as his characteristics. I’m a witness of his wrong doings. Whoever that would say that he is kind, I will sponsor that person so that she can be admitted in the Mental Hospital since she seems like needing it.

"If you compare him to the other famous personas at school, you can say that he's the kindest of all."

I look at Marina as if she’s some weirdo that needs immediate attention. I know that my cousins are crazy but I never thought that they were this crazy.

Eijun? A kind man? That’s the absurdist thing I ever heard today.

Marina read my response, that’s why she explained right away.

"It’s because Eijun hates it when someone bullies innocent people. He is also the most patient of them all. When he gets angry, he just avoids them and avoids further conflict inside the school. Most of all, he's not the type of guy who brags about money. We can’t deny that he does somewhat brag about his appearance, but that can’t be helped because he’s just stating the obvious," Marina said while her eyes are dead serious.

Is she for real?

"Are you his stalker?" I asked without any restrained or even filters. Well, that’s what she looks like to me now. For an average student, she seems to know too much about Eijun. She may just be a plain ‘chismosa’, but it’s not like her to know this much about a certain individual that doesn’t interest her.

The shining effect in her eyes disappeared because of what I said. I can almost imagine the bucket full of cold water splashed all over her. Those words really do wake her up.

However, I didn’t ask that question because it bothers me that she knows more than I do. I’m just curious. That is all.

"No, I'm not," she answered. She lowered her voice. "This is just a secret, okay?" I nodded. I’m ready to hear her secret. “I’m actually the one that wrote that announcement about the Battle bands. I’m secretly a school journalist. Just to inform you.” Then she winked at me.

School journalist? I looked at the section that she said she wrote.

"So you've known him for a long time? Even before we are engaged?"

"Nah! Eijun has been a real heartthrob since he came here but he's not that popular yet. He started being popular when he joined, with his band, the Battle bands that usually held during the school festival and talking about it, it's near!"

"So, before I knew Eijun, you already knew him?" I asked her again since she didn’t answer the question directly.

"I'm a journalist student so I need to know everything happening in our school, in this University."

So I think that’s a yes. Annoyingly, she didn’t even say a thing about that to me. Or even to fill me up. It may be look like just a little help but I can consider it a great help.

"Did Mariana know?"

She stopped on her tracks. It seems like I hit the sore spot. She opened her mouth but there are no words spoken.

"Is that a no?" I asked again.

She slowly nodded. Then suddenly lunge forward to hold my hands tightly. "Please, keep it secret."

Gosh! Such a head ached.

*****

THE class ended earlier than expected that day. The twins said that they have plans for that afternoon. It was separate plans, actually. Although we do asked them what are their plans and who’s with them? But the twins just smiled at us. Then ta-da! They are already on their way.

Those secretive girls! Well, at least I have one of Marina’s secret. Maybe someday I can use it as a trump card against her. In case she annoyed me or pulls a prank on me.

We are about to go home when two of our classmates suddenly approached us.

"Since you're a transferee and scholar at that, take that pile of papers to the Teacher's office," one of them said to Happy. Then they pointed out the mountain of papers that stacked together on the Teacher’s table.

"Are you sure she's the one—" I was about to protest but Happy stopped me right away.

“It is just okay, Cindy. I can handle it.”

“Handle that? That’s obviously their task, it’s just being passed on you,” I said glaring at the two who have the nerve to do this to my best friend in front of me.

"If you want, you can help her. Friends flock together, right? Slaves can do the same," the other one said. Then they laughed. The nerve!

I was supposed to shot back at them and let them taste the delicious flavor of my anger but Happy stopped me.

“Cindy, let’s just do it. It’s just a petty thing.”

She’s already walking towards the Teacher’s table. She’s ready to do just what those bitches told her to do. Because Happy is a friend and I can't leave her alone, I'll help her.

Sometimes, Happy’s kindness annoys me. It’s because some people take that kindness for granted. And it leads to abusing Happy. I hate that when they did that to her. Most especially when I’m around.

We split those papers in two groups. I carried the first one and she carried the second. Slowly, because the papers are somewhat heavy, we bring it to the Teacher’s office.

No one interfere in our trip so we arrived safely and without any disaster at the FSD building (Faculty and Staffs Building).

We went into the Teacher's offices. We headed straight to an empty table since both of us don’t want to cause disturbance. Thus, my arms are starting to go numb and I’m sure Happy feels the same, too.

"No! Not right there. Place those to that table," a teacher all of a sudden shouted at us and pointed to the table at the far end.

We stopped right away on our tracks. With just a look to that far end made me want to just throw these papers to that teacher. Can’t he see that we are already having difficulty in carrying these papers? The nerve of him to tell that!

But anyway, Happy is already headed to the far end table. If not just because of this best friend of mind, I would not tolerate these annoying behaviors of these spoiled rotten employees of my mother.

I’m about to follow through when our Class Adviser out of the blue stopped me from doing so.

"T-That empty table would do. Thank you," she said and called out Happy. “You can put it on the floor, Ms. Charles. I’ll do the rest.” Then she smiled at me. Her impression tells me that she’s somehow asking for forgiveness of what happened. Right then I knew that she knew my real identity.

"What are you doing, Ma'am Dallia? Don't be too kind to your students, you’re spoiling them. Let them experience a once in while suffering," the teacher earlier interfere again.

Our Class Adviser gone paled. She swiftly run towards that teacher and whispered (if that can be called a whisper since its loud enough I heard it)

"Mr. Ramolus, aren’t you informed? That’s Cindy Vasquez. That’s the Vasquez heiress!"

That teacher turned pale after he heard it. He quickly stands up and bows down in front of me. As if I’m some kind of a princess, he shows humility instantly.

That exact gestures annoyed the hell out of me. This is the exact treatment that made my stomach twist. This is the kind of treatment that I don’t want to have.

Although, it is the truth that I don’t want them enslaving us or something just because Happy is a scholar or we are new in this school. I also don’t like them treating me like I’m some kind of fragile object they need to take care of. It disgusts me. I hate it when it comes like these.

Because of the annoyance I felt, I dropped the papers I was holding. It dropped to the floor and rang all throughout the room. Just like that, I got their whole attention. Their work ceases. They all stop moving and look at me.

"Listen!” I said. ”Just to inform everyone that are right here: I’m Cindy Ella Mae Vasquez. I'm the only daughter of the principal and the owner of this school but aside from that, I’m just nobody. That’s why I want you to treat me like a normal student. I don’t hold your pays. I don’t have a say on how you are doing your work. I will not cause anyone to be fired. So treat me the way you normally treat your students."

I looked at each of the students that are staring at me.

"Thus, I hopeful that this will not come out and spread like a wildfire in the campus, okay?" I stopped when I remembered something. I pointed at Happy. "And don't you ever order my best friend again, is that clear?!"

I glared at the teacher that’s in front of me.

"Y-Yes!" he answered right away.

That's the power of being Vasquez.

We went out after that. We left them all whispering of what just happened. I hope they take heed of what I just said. I hope this will not spread like some contagious disease in the campus.

"Are you okay?" Happy asked while we are walking.

I nodded but she knew better.

"No, you’re not." She blocked me. "I know you, Cindy. You’re the kind of person who is most sensitive when someone treats you that way. Despite showing a strong external appearance earlier, I know. When your surname is mentioned in the conversation, it made you sad. It made you remember terrible memories. Am I right?”

Happy is right. I hate it when there’s a need for me to say that I’m their daughter but please don’t treat me like a princess. I hate it when someone belittles themselves when in front of just because they are scared from the surname I’m carrying. Those treatments are the treatments that I want to forget. Because Happy is right, it made me remember terrible memories. Not just memories, it also reminds me of the hurtful truth. That despite us a being daughter or son of Vasquez, we are still nobody. It’s because even our own parents, they don't genuinely love us.

They love their business and money more than their children.

"Just ignore me," instead I answered.

After that, we just walked quietly. I know that she checked me and my expression a countless of time but I just ignored it.

We were walking quietly when I bumped into a man. There is a corridor that intercepts in the corridor we are taking and that’s where he came from. We are both clueless of one another that’s why we collided and worst; I am the only one who fell.

I looked up at him and he looked down on me. His aura is frightening. From below, he looks like some kind of black angel. I can almost imagine black feathers flying around him. If I’m to describe him to an animal, he looks like the jaguar. It’s not because his skin is dark or something, it’s just how he looked because of his dark aura.

"Cindy, are you okay?" Happy helped me stand up. While that man (whom I don’t know if he is angry or what) just passed through without any words.

"Who is that?" Happy asked. She’s referring to that man.

"I do not know. What I just know is that he’s a bastard that has the nerve to glare at me when he’s obviously at fault too.”

“You’re right. He does look angry. But doesn’t he look like someone we know? He looks familiar but I know is that I haven’t met him ‘till today.”

I looked again at the man who was now far away.

"Well, yeah. He looks like Karen," I said without thinking. That shocked both of us. I can’t even believe that of all people I could think of, why should it be Karen?

But don't tell me that’s...

Levi Gonie Legazpi?

*****

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