Chapter 10

Isabel's P.O.V

Two weeks have passed since Jason revealed to us, I and Lily about courting me but has not formally announced the news in my family, especially to my father. We are texting now, and I said to him,

"May I ask you about something?"

"Yeah, sure. What is it?" He replied

"Does it not bother you, courting me in private? Don't you want to ask my father formally about it? He is asking me if are you courting me, or are we just close friends?"

"I am sorry. I did not realize how big a deal to you, being formally asked by your father. I am not used to it. Lily warned me about that but, I did not mind it. Do not worry: I will give time and formally ask your father to court you. Maybe on Wednesday evening, is it okay?"

"Yeah, sounds like a plan."

"Okay, cool! See you on Wednesday, crush and have your sleep now because you have class tomorrow and it is 10 pm already. Good night." He finished with a kiss and smile emoticons with it.

The two weeks of my life are exciting, boisterous, and chaotic because of the class and church activities. Lily and I belong to the church officers- so we need to ensure that the activities and programs are going smoothly. I am thankful, fortunate, and auspicious with my co-officers because they are responsive and cooperative- striving to succeed.

Jason and I did not have alone time to know each other because first, he lives 10 kilometers away from the town; second, he is busy with his class schedule; third, aside from being a student, he is also a businessman. He and his father are busy with their business. Fourth, the last reason, because of his business, Jason only has weekends as his free days. Sometimes free weekends are taken from him because they are also the free time for his partners and customers, so he needs to sacrifice it for their business. Jason talked to me about it and said, "he and his father are only starting the USANA business, which is why they have a very hectic schedule nowadays." He asked me if I agreed with it. I assured him that it was "cool" to concentrate on his business. Subsequently, Jason and I cannot give time to each other every day. Because I as well, am very busy with my schedule and activities. We settled on texting, calling, and chatting with each other. We need to be very busy for our future, and if destined for each other, destiny will be the one to make ways for us to be together.

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Monday morning is very tiring for me, well, who loves it though?

Walking to the hallway every day witnessing a sea of students saunter towards their classrooms can deteriorate me in functioning normally, maybe, that is why teachers give activities and assignments on Mondays for the students' sake. It is for us to finish our homework and have good grades. So I thought.

"Isabel! Isabel!"

I heard, but too tired in turning for the voice, not caring for it, I continued to walk towards the classroom. Feeling a tug from the hand of Lily stopped me.

"Girl, can you stop, please? You did not hear me calling your name?"

Ah, it is Lily. Yeah right. The routine since junior high. Waiting for each other and joining with the sea of students, saunter headed to our classrooms.

"I am sorry, Lily, I am in deep thought, and it didn't help that I hate Mondays."

"Yeah, it looks like something is bothering you, care sharing it?"

"Later, after class. I also have something to tell you. Let us go to our classroom and finish our day."

The morning class was finishing smoothly, and now its lunch break. Lily and I are going to the cafeteria to accompany the students in the long queue line for lunch.

"I am starving to death, and I can eat a human being now," Lily said, exaggerating.

"You are so dramatic, girl."

"Just let me be. Miss Repolo is trying to kill us with chemistry. It is my most hated subject, but I need to bear with it to maintain my grades. Give me a break." Lily rants.

"You are correct, Lily. I am sorry. I will make sure to kill you more softly next week." We automatically look at our backs and see Miss Repolo with her signature smirk.

Our eyes widened with embarrassment, and Lily's reaction was comical because Ms. Repolo heard our conversation.

"Oh, hi ma'am. It is unusual for you to join the queue line in the cafeteria for lunch. Usually, teachers are eating at diners." Lily said, changing the subject and hiding her embarrassment.

"It is unusual for you to see in the cafeteria because usually rich students like you are going to the restaurants for lunch." Ms. Repolo countered.

"Oh actually, ma'am, We do not find it unusual because it does not matter. Isabel and I like the food here, and our friends are there at the back waiting for us."

"Okay then, have a good lunch." Ms. Repolo finished

"You to ma'am, thank you."

After Lily's and Ms. Repolo's conversation, it was our turn to buy food then we headed to the back table where our friends were waiting.

"We saw you two talking with Ms. Repolo. What was that about?" Jerry asked me after we positioned ourselves at the table along with them.

"Lily just embarrassed herself with Ms. Repolo. Lily rants about the Chemistry subject handled by her. Unfortunately, Ms. Repolo was at our back while she rants."

"It is true though, Chemistry is everyone's favorite subject (insert sarcasm there), but I need to maintain my grades for me to keep up with you, my genius friend, Isabel. Unlike me, you can graduate with flying colors, barely breaking a sweat."

"That is not true." I countered

"It is." She countered back

"Stop! Please, let us eat our lunch because we only have thirty minutes left before the afternoon class starts. You can continue your bickering later if you want." Lucy, our other friend, intervened.

I just pouted at her and followed what she asked.

Charise, our fifth friend in the group and my closest friend other than Lily, meaningfully smiled at me. I looked at her suspiciously, and she just smiled again, then back to her own business. I just tilted my head and, eat my food.

We heard the annoying bell, and we went to our respective classrooms. Lily and I sprinted to the classrooms, and I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I removed it from my pocket and saw Jason's name on it. I opened the text, and it said,

"Hi there princess, how are you? I like to inform you that your father and I ran into each other at the mall. We talked, and I mentioned to him what we talked about last night. He is cool with it and gave me his blessing."

I replied, "Okay, thank you for considering it and informing me. Text me later because our class just started. Have a nice day!"

"Who was that?" Isabel asked, my nosey friend.

"It was your cousin. He said that he and my father ran into each other at the mall and talked. I will tell you later the details." I finish and give my full attention to the teacher who is currently discussing the most boring subject this sem. It was a boring subject, but I still needed to listen to maintain my good grades.

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After the thirty-minute discussion, the teacher instructed us to get one whole sheet of yellow paper.

I scan my bag to get the paper and ball pen for our activity. I then saw an envelope. "This was not here this morning. How, and when did it get here?" I mumbled, asked myself, and Lily heard it. "Did you say something, Isabel?" I just tilted my head and answered, "Later. Let us finish this activity, and we will look together at the inside of this envelope." She accepted and back answered the activity.