Chapter 16 - Tagged

Sabrina's POV

The picture was flooded with so many comments that I can't help but read some of them.

>They look good together

>She's a flirt

> Curious here, why does the caption said: "Thank you"? Care to explain?

> Red is just too good to be true. Sabrina, can I have his coat, please?

>Why so handsome? Can you be my boyfriend, Red?

>Kelsey is better than her!

>She's not that pretty. Too plain for Red!

>Who is she??? Does anybody know her?

>What's with the Thank you? Is she Red's girlfriend? I thought it's Kelsey?

>OMG!! My heart!

>Does Kelsey knows about this?

I stop reading the comments when it's started getting personal. There are comments everywhere, and I can't read them all. Surprisingly, more and more people sent me friend requests. I chose to ignore it. I decided to just log out on my friendsbook account. It's better that way.

***

"Now explain! Who's that guy who posted a picture and tagged you? Why is his coat on your shoulder? How come I didn't him?" Cheska bombarded me with questions the moment she found out about the picture.

We are here in my room. Cheska wasn't satisfied with my explanation over the phone that she'd come over here at our house just to bombard me with her questions and look at me full of curiosity and intrigued.

"He's Red, our College Governor. I just don't understand why they are making a big fuss about it. It's just a picture," I explained. Cheska stood up from where she sat and walked back and forth as if she was thinking deeply.

"While on my way here, I somehow stalked that Red" Then she looked at me with her teasing look. "He's popular at our school. Girls swooned over him. He's good in sports, a consistent honor student, and of course the Governor of your college" I can't believe she really did stalk Red. "That explains you have many haters online. They are jealous of you," and then she laughed at me. "Wait, I'm quite intrigued on how did you two meet?" she asked and sat down next to me. She teased me while her eyebrows are wiggling like she really enjoyed teasing me.

"It's a long story that you don't wanna hear it," I lazily said and then lie down on my bed.

"Try me. Promise, I have all the time in the world to listen" she grinned at me. She even got a throw pillow and comfortably sat and looked at me like she's been waiting to hear the story all her life.

She laughed at my stupidity particularly when Red didn't only trick me once but twice. I am starting to regret telling her about what happened when my cellphone suddenly rang.

Cheska was still making fun of me when I checked my phone.

I can't help but raised an eyebrow when I saw who's calling.

Smiling Devil calling...

Cheska seemed to notice that I'm just staring at my phone when she took it from me and curiously checked it.

I saw her forehead creased.

"Who's Smiling Devil?" Confusion is all over her face.

"SShhhh... Keep quiet. I'll just answer this." and then I grab my phone back.

"Hey, I'm asking you. Who's that? Put in on a loudspeaker!"

"Okay. Sshh,!" I cleared my throat first before answering.

"Hello?" I said more like a whisper.

"Hi, i-its me, I just want to-- by the way are you busy?" a manly voice over the phone made Cheska glared at me like she's accusing me of keeping a secret from her.

"No, it's fine!"

("Who's that?" Cheska whispered softly to me. I prompted her to keep quiet.)

"You might be wondering why I called, but by any chance, have you checked your friendsbook today?" Red said it like he's reluctant to say it to me.

"Is it about the picture?" I asked. I have a feeling that's the reason for his sudden call.

"Yes. I'm so sorry. I didn't expect that people would react that way. It wasn't my intention--"

("OMG! Red is Smiling devil??!!" Cheska can't help but raised her voice a bit.)

"...and besides---Wait, are you with anyone?" Red paused and asked me, maybe he heard Cheska.

"Huh? Y-yeah. I'm with my best friend" I decided to tell him the truth instead.

He was silent for a while and heard her sighed.

"Sorry to disturb you. I'm sorry about the picture. If you want, I could remove the photo and--"

"No, it's okay. It's just a picture. It's not your fault if they reacted that way. Don't worry. I can handle it," I assured him as he tried to ask me again if it's really okay with me.

"O-Okay," he said, but he sounded like he was still not convinced. He asked for an apology again before saying goodbye.

"So, he's the Smiling Devil, huh?" Cheska said and smiled meaningfully at me.

"Yes, that name suits him. With all the misfortune he has caused in my life." I said and went back to my bed.

"Red Salazar a.k.a. Smiling Devil," Cheska continued teasing me. "Thank you," referring to Red's post again. "Thank you for what?" she smiled broadly at me.

"Do me a favor. Please. Stop it Cheska," I begged her. "Don't tell me you're making that picture a big deal as well?

"Well, you can't blame me we are talking about my best friend's love life,"

"What love life are you talking about?" I glared at her, but she just laughed at me that made me frown.

***

"We will have a long quiz next meeting. Class dismissed."

My classmates quickly stood up and rushed out, maybe they will have to go to their next subject. Others seemed to be relaxed and just planning where they will hang out after class.

I was about to leave when I heard the conversation of the two students who had just entered. I think they are the next class who will be using the room.

"Speaking of the flirt, I don't know why there are people who are naturally good at flirting? You know, smoothly jumping from one guy to another, " the girl with her heavy make-up on said loudly followed by a mocking laugh from her friends.

I don't know what are they trying to insinuate. I don't even know if they are referring to me. Since that incident that Red posted a picture of us together, many girls have been messaging me on social media if there's something between us, which I denied right away.

There are even speculations that Red and Kelsey broke up as they were not seen by the others lately, and they are blaming me for it and even tagged me as the "Third-party". Sometimes, I just want to laugh at them for having such a wild imagination.

I've got too much on my plate that I don't have time to entertain such thoughts. It's been bugging me for these past few days now. I have a feeling that my parents are keeping something from me. I even heard them fighting the other night. I would like to believe as Cheska has mentioned that maybe it was just a petty quarrel just like any other relationship that maybe I'm just not used to witness just like that. I just really hope that it just a simple misunderstanding.

As always, I pretended that I didn't hear anything. I got my things and was about to go when someone blocked my way.

"Sabrina, right?" she said, and her mouth twisted into a humorless smile.

"Why do you have a habit of getting Red's attention? You think I didn't notice how you intentionally went to school late so you can be with Red all by yourself going to the Mangrove Planting site? What a natural flirty act" she crossed her arms and looked at me with pure disgust in her eyes.

I almost laughed when I heard what she said. I pitied her. Instead of interfering with my life, why don't they just focus on their studies? Thinking that I'll be just wasting my time dealing with them, I started walking away when she suddenly grabbed my arm causing my books to fell on the floor.

"I'm still talking to you, so don't you dare turn your back on me," she said as she tightened her grip on me.

The room suddenly became quiet. I felt several pairs of eyes are on us, whispering words that they can only understand.

"I don't think I need to explain myself to you, and don't you dare touch me," and I snatched back my arm from her grip. I equaled her gaze with irritation.

"So you think highly of yourself now? Because of what? Because you think Red would always back you up?"

She's beginning to get on my nerves. What kind of relationship does that woman have with Red? Why is she so furious?

I was about to pick up my books on the floor when someone took them first. I lifted my eyes and saw Yuseff.

"Is this yours?" Yuseff sounded like he's asking, but his eyes told me he knew that it was mine.

"T-Thank you," I said and waited for him to hand me the books, but it didn't happen.

Yuseff stared intently at me as if there are no other people in the room except us.

"Let's go! Where is your next class?" he casually said totally oblivious of his surroundings.