Chapter 10

He's back

6 years have passed, but the memories of Cades on me remain. I have never forgotten him in each day of my life for the past 6 years. At first, it has never been easy. I kept yearning for him and worried about what he had been doing in Canada.

Is he okay?

Is he still hiding in secret?

Did he meet a new friend who can replace me?

Is he serious to the promise he swore?

Does he still know me?

All of that bothered me for a month. But as I grew up and lived while Cades was away, I get used to it. Having Elizea and Elizabeth are good. I'm a Senior High school now. Studying in a public school, Sta. Ana's National Senior High school. Didn't I tell you? I'm content. Even though my parents don't want me to study here, I'm against it. Studying in public school is fun for me. Good thing, Elizea and Elizabeth don't want to be separated from me.

I'm 17, a teenager. I was 11 years old when I met Cades. Until now, it seems like just a dream that once appeared in my mind. In 6 years, I haven't heard anything from Cades. I tried finding him on Facebook and Instagram, but there are no Cades there. Elizea doesn't hear anything from his parents though.

It's making me feel blue. Maybe he's not serious? But every time that I will remember what he swore that day, it's giving me hope, and it's making me remember that I also swore to wait for his return.

“Are you sure he will come back?” Cassandra asked while lazily reviewing. Exams are coming, so we are all busy and exhausted. Well, Cassandra hates studying ever since I met her in 9th grade. I also don't know how I ended up being her friend. Back then, Cassandra always annoyed me every time she showed up. She approached me every day. Annoyed me every day. Appeared in my sight every day, and bothered me every day.

Now, we're friends. She hates studying but she loves everything about Koreans. Korean dramas, Korean idols, everything! Although, that's the trend here in the Philippines now. Many are addicted to those oppas. At some time, Cassandra is speaking to me in Korean language just like she is really from there.

“Bible.” I said and laughed a little. I told her about Cades when we became friends. Until now, we can't stop bringing up that topic. Who knows if he will still come back?

“You know what, you have been waiting for 6 years. Who knows if he really meant what he swore? What if he doesn't remember it anymore, or maybe he decided to forget it?”

That's what scares me. If ever, then I will also just forget him.

“It's just your what if's.”

I brought back my eyes at the paper in my hand. It bothers me, that's the truth. The more I think about the possibility of that to happen, the more I get scared of it.

“Aigoo, you stubborn girl.” She rolled her eyes and annoyingly looked down at the books on our table. Here she goes again, speaking one of Korean's language. I can clearly remember when she started loving Koreans. It was in 10th grade. That is why she also has a high standard when it comes to men.

Cassandra is beautiful, but lazy. She has a white skin, just like mine. Straight black hair that looks rebonded, but no. Her eyebrows are upward, and her eyelashes are pretty thick. Her eyes are almond shaped in brown color. While her nose is just under the projected tip. Her lips are pointy natural shaped in pink and her face shape is round, but not chubby.

She has the same body as me. Not chubby, but not so petite too.

“CASSANDRA ALVAREZZZZZ? MARIA ANGEL CELENCIOOOOO?!” My lips moved involuntarily when Marius' voice covered the whole library. Gosh, I feel ashamed because of him!

“Why the hell is he always embarrassing us?!” Cassandra said in embarrassment.

“MR. ANGEL--”

“OH, THERE THEY ARE!” His face brightened when he saw us. The students who are reading and studying peacefully got interrupted because of Marius. Gosh, why is he doing this as his hobby? It's totally embarrassing!!!

“Aish! I will kill you, you sh*t!” Cassandra's face is red because of the embarrassment that Marius brought. I bit my lips and covered half of my face when I saw students who are here glaring at us. I deeply closed my eyes. This is a library, why is he always barking like a dog when he is looking for us?

“ARE YOU A--”

“SHUT UP, YOU PIECE OF SH×T!” My eyes widened when Cassandra ran to Marius with a book in her hand, ready to hurt Marius with that.

Gosh, this is trouble!

“Cassa--”

“OUCH! WHAT THE HELL!”

“YOU SH×T! I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THIS ANYMORE!”

Before I could even stop her, she reached him. Now, she keeps hurting Marius with that book.

I sighed in embarrassment. How long am I going to witness their fight like a child? It's embarrassing me! Can I just act like I don't know these two?! They are destroying my reputation as a good student here!

“OUCH! ST--”

“MS. ALVAREZ AND MR. ANGELES THIS IS A LIBRARY!!!!” I gasped in the air. The librarian's face is red. This is what I always fear when these two fight here. The librarian is already mad, but she's still trying to hold it. She looks like a dragon who will blow fire to Cassandra and Marius.

I bit my lips as I eye them. How am I going to interrupt them when the librarian is scary now?! Cassandra's hand with a book is hanging in the air, while Marius' hands are also stuck in the air, trying to protect himself in Cassandra's hand.

I gulped.

“It's his fault!” Cassandra glared at Marius.

“What?! Am I the one who started the fight?! You're the one who kept hitting me with that book!”

Cassandra's face turned red even more while killing Marius in her almond eyes.

These two are giving me headaches.

“Duh?! You're the one who's shouting our n--”

“ENOUGH!!!!”

We got startled when the librarian hit the table while looking so angry at them. They all have the attention of these students now.

“YOU, YOU, AND YOU!”

My eyes widened when she also pointed me out. I gulped and pointed at myself. Why am I being dragged by their fight? I just stood up here!

“I didn't do an--”

“YOU ARE ALL BANNED HERE IN THE LIBRARY FOR A WEEK! GET OUT!”

What?!

“But I didn't do anything!” I disagreed. Why is she dragging me in the fight that I am not even one?! Exams are coming! I used to be here because this is the place I can only have peace here in our school!

“GET OUT, THE THREE OF YOU!”

“But--”

“Margel, enough.” Cassandra whispered and pulled me away out of the library. As we left the library, I glared at both of them.

Cassandra and Marius never get along. They can't meet without fighting and arguing about something that is not even worth arguing! Marius loves annoying people, that's why Cassandra hates him a lot.

“Sorry, he he.” Maruis gave me a peace sign. While Cassandra is smiling like an angel.

I sighed in distress.

“Where are we going to review now?” I asked, after calming myself.

Cassandra pouted.

“Why don't we study in your house?” Marius suggested.

“Yeah! Elizea and Elizabeth can come along even if they are not our classmates, right?” I nodded. It's still a good idea. That is the first thing they both agreed.

I guess we will have to study in our house.

“Well, just teach us. You're the top 1 after all.” Marius laughed and winked at me. Here they go again. They will not listen to our teachers then they will ask help from me when exams or quizzes are coming.

I shrugged. My head will ache because of them.

“Can I come?”

Ethan appeared with a smile. I stopped again when I saw his smile. He's our classmate, and he's pretty clever. For the past 2 years, we have always competed in 1st place. However, I still manage to stay in top 1 after all. I have to admit that he is clever. But we never treat each other as enemies. We were closed before. Suddenly, he confessed his feelings to me, and that struck the closeness we had.

I admit. Every time he will smile at me, everything around me is moving slow, and his smile only brightens. I can't stop myself from seeing Cades' smile before.

That's the reason why I am always stopping when he smiles.

“That will be good!” Marius put his arms on his shoulders. They are buddies.

I smiled. “You can come.”

His smile became wide even more.

“It will be awkward for the both of you.” Cassandra whispered secretly.

“I know.” I whispered back.

As I grew up, many boys also hit on me. But they were just all rejected. Why? I also don't know why I am rejecting them. I feel like my heart doesn't want anyone yet.

I sighed.

“I HAVE PIZZA!!!”

Another headache. Elizea yelled while holding two boxes of pizza.

“Gosh, you're an angel!” Marius flattered her.

“A pretty angel.” She winked at us. We all laughed at her. This is the friendship we created. I am happy to have this group of friends. My heart always feels relieved and warm with them.

“Come on, let's go to the hallway! The guard is out!” She giggled.

“The last is the loser!”

As Cassandra shouted that, we all ran as fast as we could with smiles on our lips. This is how we hang out. We may act like children, but we have priorities, and we know our limits.

The last is the loser.

We don't mean it, it's just how we annoy each other.

“Loser!” Cassandra teased Marius and laughed. I chased my breath as we reached the hallway. Sweat is falling down to our foreheads.

“Shut up!” Marius glared at Cassandra.

I can't help but to smile at them.

“Shut up, lovebirds. I'm hungry!” Elizea wiped her forehead and opened the pizza. The smell of it makes me starve!

“Yuck!” Cassandra acted like she would vomit while glaring at Marius.

“That's gross.” Marius said before he took one slice.

“Gosh, I told you not to buy pizza with pineapple.” Cassandra said.

She hates pineapple on pizza. I don't know why, but we are all just fine with pineapple.

“Hey, give some gratitude to me! I bought all of that!” Elizea glared at her. Her mouth is full of pizza again. Until when she will eat like this?

“Stop talking with food in your mouth! It's coming out!” Ethan said. We laughed at each other.

Elizea never changed. What she was when we were young, it's what she is until now. Her perspective changed, though. Of course, we all grew up and changed a bit. Especially our physical body.

“Go to our house at 9 am, please don't be late.” I said. Tomorrow is Saturday. There's no school. I guess we will spend our weekends studying for the upcoming exams.

“Why? What's the matter?” Elizea asked confusedly.

“We will have a group study, join us.” Cassandra answered her.

“That's unfair. I'm an ABM! My subjects are different from all you, who are HUMSS!” She looked at us so bad. Trying to bother our conscience.

“We can help you in Oral Communication, you have that subject, right?” Ethan said.

“Just go. It's not that your house is far from ours.” I laughed at her and continued eating. I stopped when Ethan eyed me.

“You…” He pointed by his finger to the side of his mouth.

What is he trying to tell?

“What?” I asked, confusingly.

When I don't get what he's trying to tell me, he sighed and goes near me. Before I knew, he wiped the side of my lips with a tissue.

My eyes widened a bit in surprise. What an idiot. Why am I so dense not to realize what he was trying to tell? Gosh, Margel.

“Catsup.” He smirked and laughed.

“Oh, y--”

“Cades?!”

When Elizea said that name aloud, my eyes widened and my heart started racing so fast. I felt this again, the unusual fast beating of my heart. Elizea is surprised while looking behind our backs. I feel like I got stuck, that I can't move my body. My heart is just racing, and I don't know how to stop it.

“You're back!” She ran happily and left us hanging there. I can't turn my head at them.

“Who's Cades?” I heard Marius asked. Cassandra's face is speechless when he sees Cades who is in my back.

“Margel!” I closed my eyes as Elizea called me. Cassandra eyed me nervously.

I took a deep sigh before I looked at them, with my hands shivers.

When my eyes met him, I remember everything when he arrived in my life. Those hazelnut eyes never changed a bit.

“H-hey.”

I smiled while shaking.

He's back.

Cades is back.

clarixass