CHAPTER 37: IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER
THE GIRL WHO CAN’T DATE
By Eleventh
CHAPTER 37: IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER
“Ugh! When my temper reaches its peak, I lose my sanity. And I don’t like myself when that happens. But I’ve become better at controlling myself and I celebrate every milestone.” – Ira P.
BANG!
The door suddenly swung open and startled the two, looking disconcertingly at a panting Skye Doromal. The first thing he checked was Mr. Romualdez’s face and felt so relieved to see it wasn’t bleeding. Then he checked Ira. His almond eyes grew big when he saw her hands clenching. He gulped and as he locked his eyes with hers, he gestured his head with a gentle shake and mouthed the words “calm down”.
“MR. DOROMAL! YOU ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK! DON’T YOU KNOW HOW TO KNOCK!”
The angry prefect now channeled his anger toward Skye who responded with a fake smile.
“I’m sorry, Sir! I raced my way here to call Miss Ira. It’s her class… She missed it the other day and… she can’t miss it again today. So…”
“Whatever! Get out the two of you!”
“Let’s go!” Skye called. “Your class is waiting!”
Without saying a thing, Ira left the office with Skye. She walked so fast, so eager to be away from his door. The moment Skye closed the door, Ira’s knees passed out. But Skye was quick to catch her.
“You okay?”
She quickly shook her head and whined. “Hnnng! Hell no! If you had come a second late…”
“I know! That’s why I rushed.”
She stood straight and walked properly. She breathed in and holding her head, she whined again.
“Hnnnng! I can’t believe I almost punched him. What could have happened to me?” Suddenly she stopped walking and faced Skye when she realized something. “Wait a minute! How did you…”
“I was waiting outside for you. When the guests left and you didn’t, I began to worry.”
“Phew! Thank you for saving me there!”
“No, I didn’t save you. I saved Mr. Romualdez’s life!”
“You smug!!!” Ira was pissed off that she threw a punch at Skye but he dodged it and started running for his life. “Come back here, Twerp!”
Ira was being sincere, but the obnoxious colleague ruined the moment. Annoyed, Ira chased him in the hallway. He provoked her even more by calling her a small troll and they look like kids running around the lobby.
------
The next day, Ira spent her break sending emails to the admins to appeal for Carlos’ expulsion and waited the whole day for their response. But not a single one of them even replied.
“You’re not giving up on him, are you?” Maggie assumed, sipping on a cup of coffee.
“He doesn’t have a family who will appeal for him, so I’ll do it instead.”
“Do you believe he is innocent?
Ira breathed deep. “Everybody deserves a chance.”
“Mmm… so, how far will you go?”
Ira leaned on her chair and stared at the ceiling.
“I don’t know. Maybe as far as Miss Grayson’s office?”
Maggie almost spilled her coffee. “Really? You would dare go to the witch’s lair?”
Ira sniggered. “Crazy! Don’t call our boss like that.”
“Oh, come on! Admit it. She does look like a witch.”
Setting aside the humor, she spun around her chair allowing her head to be in a daze with her hows and what-ifs. To revoke an administrational decision based on a plea from an instructor who has no power and influence would be the first of never. She is nothing but a mere employee of the academy.
Spinning around wearied her that she stopped and closed her eyes for a moment. She suddenly felt the exhaustion in her body though she never did anything physical that would tire her out. Perhaps, it was the overthinking that exhausted her.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Her phone vibrated on her table. Adrielle’s name popped on the screen.
[Dinner tomorrow night? - Adrielle]
Maybe a confidante is what she needs, someone she can vent out. She hasn’t spoken to anyone about what she exactly felt while she is motivated to go the extra mile for Carlos Pineda.
[Alright! See you tomorrow! – Ira]
After replying to her suitor’s message, she closed her eyes once more and rested until her next class.
AT PARDILLA RESIDENCE
“I’m home!”
Ira declared upon entering the door of the Pardilla Residence. Weary, she wore a grin on her face when she greeted her family who was enjoying their meal at the dining table. Their vibrant ambiance seemed to have energized her.
“You’re right on time for dinner. Come! Have a seat!” Seah greeted.
“Thank God! I am sooo hungry!” Ira exclaimed as she ravenously grabbed a plate and filled it with rice and meat topped it with mushroom sauce.
“Hey! Slow down, girl! You might get an upset stomach!” Eros warned.
But Ira did not listen. She continued to gobble her food. As she was gobbling her scrumptious dinner, sitting across her was a young man gorging as much as her.
She paused and watched him eat happily.
“I guessed you enjoyed the food?”
Carlos looked up with a smile. “Yes, Miss P! I have never eaten a meal as delicious as this. Your dad is a great cook!”
“Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Mageneo replied.
“Carlos,” Seah called. “You said your mom is abroad. What does she do?”
“She’s a nurse.”
“Really? I’m a health professional too. Me and my husband. Your mom must be working really hard, is she?”
“She sure does. And I am so thankful for her.”
There was a glimmer in Carlos’ eyes when he spoke about his mother. They can tell that he loves her and is thankful for her.
“Do nurses abroad make much?” Orion curiously asked.
“Oh, yes! They sure do. What they earn in a month is equivalent to what we can save in a year.” Seah explained.
“Whaaat?” Orion was impressed. “Then what are you still doing here in the Philippines, guys? Why don’t you go abroad?”
Ares smirked. “We would if we want to. But if we leave, how about the patients here? Hospitals in the country have been short-staffed because most of the health professionals prefer to work overseas.”
“Wow! I didn’t know our brother is a patriot.” Orion cracked with Eros as both men clapped slowly.
“Shut up!” Ares replied with a snigger.
“You must be lucky so lucky, Carlos, huh?” Eros remarked.
Carlos blinked in confusion.
“Yeah! You are your mother's only child so it means you must be enjoying every single peso she’s sending.” Orion agreed.
But Carlos doesn’t seem to agree. He just smiled at them and chose to zip his mouth. Ira and Eros noticed the change of expression on his face. He suddenly became uncomfortable with the conversation.
Later at night, Ira found him quietly looking at the moon alone outside the terrace. It was a perfect opportunity for Ira to talk to him.
“Can’t sleep?” Ira uttered, making her presence known.
“The moon is lovely. I used to watch it with my dad when he was still alive.”
Ira glanced at the moon. It was lovely indeed.
“I heard from my classmates that I was expelled.” He stated. It was sad news but he faced his homeroom teacher with a smile.
“Don’t worry! I am doing all I can to revoke the decision.”
“You’ve done enough, Miss Ira! You don’t have to plead for me. Besides, I deserve this.”
“Be honest with me, Carlos! Did you start the fight?”
“I didn’t but it doesn’t matter, I hurt somebody so bad that he almost died.”
“Didn’t he fight back?”
“He tried but… he can’t! Unfortunately, it was an ordinary kid versus a black belter jujitsuka.”
Ira slapped her forehead with her palms. “Oh my god! That is one uneven fight! No wonder you sent him to the hospital.”
“I know. And I feel bad. I shouldn’t have done it but along the fight, I got lost control of my temper. I got so worked up! So, Miss Ira… don’t plead for me anymore. I deserve the punishment.”
Ira gently flipped a finger on Carlos’ forehead and began to nag.
“Hey, kid! I am still fighting here and you should too. Don’t give up yet! You made a mistake but you don’t deserve the condemnation. Everybody deserves a chance to be better.”
“But…”
“No buts! As long as someone still hopes, you have to keep believing! It isn’t over until it is over.”
“When will you know it is over?”
“When we win the fight. That’s when we know it’s over!”
Hope sparkles in the eyes of Ira and as always, her faith ignites the disheartened. Sometimes, being stubborn does good. It makes someone persevere, never giving up on any fight.