Chapter 20

"Trees Park. Cedar Bench. Tomorrow at 5PM," Mr. Bro, the school janitor read the paper that Nate handed over to him.

"Shhhh….please don't read it out loud. Just give it to her," he told him.

"But you both have cellphones. Why don't you just send her a message instead of this?" Mr. Bro asked him.

"Her mother or someone might see it," Nate said.

"You know, I am just being careful. I fear her mother just like everyone else here," Mr. Bro said.

"What should I do then?" Nate asked.

"Just tell her personally when you meet her here later," Mr. Bro suggested.

Nate thought for moment.

"What if she says she can't come? I don't know if I can handle instant rejection," he asked.

"Tell her slowly so she will get every details correctly then run fast before she can answer," Mr. Bro gave a ridiculous suggestion.

"You think that'll work?" Nate asked.

The janitor nodded.

"Now, crumple that paper and leave it here before anyone sees it then go to your practice. It's in 10 minutes, right? Mr. Bro said.

"Oh shoot! I'm running late and I still need to change," Nate said.

The janitor shook his head and continued to sweep the ground.

"Isn't he pathetic?" Lora asked the janitor from behind.

Mr. Bro startled. "My goodness, Lora. I almost had a heart attack. Were you listening to us?" he asked.

Lora looked to him. "What's up with you today?" she asked him.

"It's nothing. But why did you say he's pathetic?" he asked to change the topic.

"Well, let me guess. He's asking you for advices on how to court a girl?" Lora said.

Mr. Bro sighed. "You guessed it right," he said.

"I knew it because he's been asking my boyfriend and those who have girlfriends and married people like yourself," Lora said.

"That reminds me, you're one of the scholars of Mrs. Serrano, aren't you?" the janitor asked.

"I am. Why did you ask?" Lora answered.

"I heard she strongly disapproves of her scholars being in a relationship so just be discreet about that," he reminded her.

"I am not doing anything wrong. My grades are okay and just last week I even brought honor to the school for cheerleading." Lora defended her situation.

"I know but just the same, be careful. She is this school's most generous benefactor and not to mention, influential. If you impress her, she will sponsor you up to college," Mr. Bro said.

Lora saw Cela from a far. She waved at her.

"Aren't you attending our class?" Lora asked Cela.

"Lora!" Lora's friends called her interrupting her conversation with Cela.

"Mrs. Reyes is sick today. We can leave early!" They told her.

"Oh, that's a relief. I haven't done advance reading on chapter five of the book," Lora said.

Before leaving with her friends, Lora took from her skirt's secret pocket the crumpled paper that Nate carelessly dropped earlier. She discreetly gave it to Cela.

Although confused, Cela accepted the crumpled paper from her.

"Did you just give her something?" One of Lora's friends asked as they walk ahead.

"Oh, it's just something that dropped from her bag," Lora answered.

"You hate her, right?" another friend asked.

"I never said that. I am not her friend but I don't hate her. Let's say, I am just distancing myself from her. I don't want to be accused of using her to maintain my sponsorship from her mother," Lora explained.

"Well, you just need to endure a few months this year and soon, you'll be out of her wings," Lora's friend said.

"Honestly, I'm hoping that she'll sponsor me until college. It's a big help to my family," Lora said. "And that reminds me, I have a meeting with her tomorrow. I hope she'll be happy and content with my grades and recent achievements."

Sitting on the bench while waiting for her service, Cela tries to figure out what the crumpled paper is for. She then straightened it and read what was written in there but she could not understand what it was for. Worrying it might be something else, she slipped it in the pages of her new diary.

Mr. Bro walked fast towards her as soon as he saw her.

"Good afternoon, Cela. Are you going home now? Are you not feeling well?" He asked.

Cela smiled. "I'm fine. We're just dismissed early today," she replied.

Mr. Bro looked left and right. "Have you spoken with Nate today?" he asked.

"I haven't seen him today. I know he has practice around this time so he's probably in the gym right now," she said before standing up. "My service is here."

"Oh, wait," said the janitor. He doesn't know what to do.

"Yes, Mr. Bro?" she asked.

"Umm…he said he will meet you tomorrow at Trees Park, Chestnut Bench…," he said unsurely.

"I thought it would be at Cedar Bench at 5PM" Cela said.

Mr. Bro's face cleared up. He is relieved. "Yes, that's the place!" he said.

Cela smiled.

"But how did you know? Did he text you?" he asked.

"Lora gave me a paper," she explained.

"I hope we could just keep to ourselves," he asked cautiously.

"I understand, Mr. Bro. Don't worry," she assured him.

Cela cannot hide the excitement brought by the anticipation for the next day's meeting at the park with Nate. She can't eat well at dinner.

"Are you not feeling well? How's school?" her mother asked.

"I'm okay but I have a lot of assignments to do tonight," she said.

"Well, just have a few more bites and then you may go to your room," her mother suggested. "Rita can bring some snacks to your room while you study."

Cela waited for a few moments. "Can I ride with you tomorrow?" she asked.

"You mean ride going home? Of course you may," her mother said. She's delighted by Cela's request.

Nanny Rita followed Cela to her room. She closed the door as soon as she entered.

"What is it, Nanny Rita? Where are the snacks?" Cela asked.

"You dropped this," Nanny Rita said.

Cela's face turned red.

"Is this tomorrow? How are you supposed to meet this boy? I already assumed it's not just a friendly meet. You don't have friends in school," Nanny Rita asked,

"Mom is meeting her scholars tomorrow. I can meet Nate – that's his name quickly in the park then go back to school," Cela explained.

"Nate? Is he one of your mother's scholars?" Nanny Rita asked.

Cela nodded.

Nanny Rita sighed. "You kids are brave but good luck," she said. "And make sure to keep this or throw it to the garbage," she added as she handed the paper to Cela.

The following day, Cela' mother began her monthly meeting with her sponsored students starting with Lora.

"Your grades are good but they could've been better," she said.

"I promise I will do so much better next grading period, Ma'am. My extra-curricular activities for the rest of the year will be fewer that this first half. I can concentrate more in my studies," Lora said with assurance.

"Extra-curricular activities are fine. I don't think they eat up so much of your time to affect your grades. What you could do to help you improve your grades is to keep out of a relationship for now. You're still young. That thing can wait," Mrs. Serrano said straight to the point.

Lora looked to her adviser who is also in the room.

"Do you mean I have to break up with my boyfriend, Ma'am?" she asked.

"Exactly." Mrs. Serrano said.

"With all due respect, Ma'am but I think that's not fair," Lora said.

"How is it not fair? I just said that you stay out of relationship for now not forever. It's more of a distraction than inspiration," Mrs. Serrano said.

The adviser can't say anything. Lora tries to make sense of what she was told.

"Lora, you have to make time for the things that will benefit you in the long run. There is time for everything. This time is meant for your studies. Think of your future," Mrs. Serrano continued.

"I'm really sorry, Ma'am but I don't think I can do it," Lora said.

"Of course you can. It's just a matter of knowing your priorities," Mrs. Serrano said.

"Ma'am, can we at least let Lora think about it? I will talk to her," the adviser meddled.

"Let me tell you this. Everyone in this school knows my former husband who was this school's PTA president several years ago. He was actually my high school sweetheart. I gave him everything. He was always considered in every plan I made. In fact, he's on top of my everything. I even took the backseat so he could shine more. But besides my children, what did I get in the end?" Cela's mother gets personal and emotional.

Despite her disagreement, Lora is still careful not to say anything that may upset Mrs. Serrano.

"Think about it over the weekend and let me know," Mrs. Serrano said said.

"Ma'am, do you really mean I really have to do it? What if I could improve my grades without having to give up my boyfriend?" Lora asked.

"Lora, I'm a busy woman. Allotting time in my hectic schedule for this is serious. I don't have time to chit chat, dear. If you choose to keep your relationship, that's fine. It's your life anyway. However, if that's your choice, then I will have to stop sponsoring you because as your sponsor, that is my choice," Mrs. Serrano said.

"But that's so unfair, Ma'am," Lora said. She begins to cry.

"It's my money and it's for your own good," Mrs. Serrano said.

"How come you allow your children to date but we can't?" Lora asked bravely.

"Lora, calm down," her adviser asked.

"I'm not sure why you said that. I have the same rules for my own kids. My son stopped pursuing that girl," she said.

"What about Cela?" Lora asked.

"What about her?" Mrs. Serrano asked.

"She's seeing someone from this school," Lora answered.

"Enough of your non-sense, Lora. I'm giving you the weekend to think things over. Are we clear?" she said. "Let's call the next scholar, please."

Lora did not reply. She stares blank at Cela's mother. The adviser is nervous that she might say anything disrespectful.

"If I could prove to you that your daughter was dating someone in this school, would you allow me to keep both my relationship and my scholarship?" Lora asked.

"Alright. Tell me who that guy is," Mrs. Serrano asked. She begins to lose her cool.

Cela quickly fixed herself in the ladies' room before leaving for the Trees Park to meet with Nate. She looks radiant and the excitement on her face shows.

From the gate, she checks if her mother's car is still parked near the faculty office where she's meeting her scholars. The area is packed by a number of students, which is quite unusual especially on a Friday afternoon when everyone just wants to leave the school premises immediately.

Shortly after Cela left for the park, her mother exits the faculty office.

"Let's go to Trees Park. You know that, right?" She asked her driver.

"Yes, Ma'am. That's the park near this school," the driver said.

The Trees Park is a newly opened park that has different benches named after big trees. It's inviting for anyone especially students who long for peace and relaxation after a long day.

Cedar bench is the first bench that visitors see upon entering the main gate of the park. Cela immediately saw Nate sitting on the bench. He seems to be writing something or perhaps sketching while he waits. He lifted his head and saw Cela approaching. His smile shows on his face even from a short distance.

As Cela was about to take another step, her mother's car approached from behind. Mrs. Serrano lowered her window. "Get inside. Now," she told Cela in a strong voice.

Cela is totally caught off guard. It doesn't help that other students are there to witness what just happened. She has no choice but to follow her mother as everyone, including Lora's friends is looking at her.

Other students who witnessed the scene are in shock. It's like watching a scene from a TV series of forbidden love.

Nate sees everything from where is he is sitting. He worries for Cela but he's also incapable of anything to help her at this point.

The sun is about to set and so does their little dream.