Connectors of the Two Worlds

Chapter 3

"What?! He did that to you? Oh, what a jerk he is! Where's that mutt and I'll teach him a lesson!" Wednesday stood up with her sudden fighting stance, very mad.

"Wait, Wedne! It's alright. He won't be bothering me anymore," I said as I pulled her back to her seat.

"Clan, why didn't you punch his face? Ugh! I want to wring his neck right now!" she shouted while gritting her teeth, then sighed. "I wish I was there to protect you. I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were in trouble, Clan."

I feel like I wanted to laugh rather than be flattered because she is acting more like Marrianne. I just gave her a crooked smile and pinched her cheek. "It's okay, Wedney," I said reassuringly.

"Well at least I love the 'you're-a-jerk!' part." She laughed remembering what I said earlier about giving Joe a paper with a note.

The note says, "You're a jerk!"

Whenever I think about that, I couldn't help but gain my victorious smile. For an average girl like me, doing those brave things made me realize that I have to fight back, too. More often I let others bully me, but not anymore. I will show them that I'm no weakling. I will tell them that I have what it takes to fight back.

As days grow old, the more I'm getting annoyed with Joe's presence. He always annoys and never fails to bother me with every minute we cross our lines. Girls in our class obviously liked him because of his remarkable talents. Of course, I admit that he's really good at most of our subjects and the teachers always give him two thumbs up whenever he shows off.

He is friendly to boys but a bit of a nagger to girls. Well... except with me.

Maybe because he was like convincing me to be his friend? But I hardly talk to him. Sometimes I think I was being unfair, giving him shame by ignoring him in front of the class. But I just kept doing it. It was kind of awkward.

Sometimes, he goes to the Faculty Room and often gives Miss Cruz, our Filipino Teacher, some chocolates and flowers, and they would talk spontaneously like they were lovers. Or was the suspicion true?

Wednesday carelessly placed her book on the table in frustration and sat opposite to my chair. We were in the canteen and currently eating lunch there. She sighed, heedlessly put her head down at the table.

"This is bad..." she muttered.

"What's bad?"

She hurriedly turned to see me with tired eyes. "This stupid Arts Club! I can't believe they gave the vice presidency to that stupid Garcia! Ugh! I can't believe it!" she exclaimed.

"W-wait, who's Garcia?"

"Duh! The one who bullied you last week. Ugh! I hate him!" I was shocked by her last statement. He could just take that away from the old students who sacrificed everything just to be in that position, couldn't he?

"What did the faculty say?" I asked, dazzled.

"What else would they say? They wouldn't dare to decide ambiguously if they're not dealing with the son of a City Mayor. So even if I do a cartwheel tumbling they won't listen to my plea," she said as she crossed her arms to her chest.

So he's a political son after all. That's why he acted so exceptionally braggadocio the first time I met him.

I rolled my eyes at the thought. We just continued eating our lunch but still didn't let go of the Garcia issue.

"Clan, what do you think of Miss Joyce and Joe? Are they dating each other?" I paused from eating when Wednesday asked that weird question.

"What, you think the rumors were true?"

"Yeah! I saw the guy peaking at her in the faculty room while holding the same gifts he always gives her!" She meant the bouquet and the chocolates he always gives to Miss Joyce.

"Is there any reason for a person to be attracted to someone older than him?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Well, I like guys older than me. They're more experienced and matured," she confessed nonchalantly. I thought for a moment and then finished my lunch.

"I can sense that Joe is up to something. He's doing it for this political hovering of his father. He is way too different from Joan!" She shook her head in disbelief. She was referring to Joe's fraternal twin named Erish Joan. Joan enrolled a little earlier from Joe's arrival, that's why we knew her longer than her twin brother. They're both our classmates, too.

"Really? How convenient for him, huh? Is he a dog or something? The longer I'm seeing his true colors, the more I disgust him. He's too young to be a suitor of a lady like Miss Cruz."

"Well, apparently Joe is not Miss Joyce's suitor or an admirer, but rather her nephew." Someone interrupted us and saw that it was Rex, holding a tray of the meal, and managed himself to sit beside me. I automatically moved to the side to give him more space. And here's my heart pounding hard again.

"How could you tell? Do you know them personally?" Wedne asked afterward.

"Well technically, they're both related to the Cervanteses. Second degree, to be precise," he added. "And the reason why Joe is always around the faculty room is that-- Do you know Mr. Valencia?" he asked.

Wedney widened her eyes to a sudden poof of an idea. "Oh! You mean the proxy teacher. Yeah, what about him?" she asked.

"Well, Mr. Valencia is a family friend of the Garcia, and Joe gave him a big favor of secretly delivering those gifts to her." That made us silent for a moment.

So, we were just talking ill? I felt a pang of guilt crawling down my spine.

"Cool!" Wednesday exclaimed. "But pardon, Mr. Cervantes, I still hate that stupid cousin of yours! He's a braggart mutt!" She then rolled her eyes but Rex just gave her a smirk.

"I'm confused..." Rex said again and we look at him intently. "Why are you so curious about Joe?" He was looking at me with that crooked smile he always gives me whenever he's accusing me of something unbelievable.

"What?"

"Do you like him?"

"W-who-- me? N-no, of course not!" I denied it.

"I can keep a secret..." he said in a delightful tone.

I felt like my blood came up all in my head and couldn't believe what I'm hearing from him. I couldn't breathe. I felt so uneasy.

"Maybe we were talking about him lately... but it doesn't mean that I like him." I got to my feet and bussed the remains of my meal and lowered my gaze, almost in a dark expression. "I gotta go," then, left the table without glancing at the two. I heard Wednesday calling but I didn't turn back.

That's the most painful thing I've ever felt since I admitted to myself that I'm in love with Rex. Not being numb to not even notice my feelings for him but for the fact that he always pushes me to somebody else. That really hurts.

But come to think of it. How would he know about my feelings if in the first place I did not tell him about it? I would've done the same thing if I were him. I would've probably accused him of being attracted to a girl he always talks about. But the fact of loving him hurts so much it's impossible to get angry for long.

I shook my head and felt my cheeks were wet. I smiled ruefully.

I guess I never learn. I always love him even though he continues to hurt me unintentionally...even if he loves someone else.

****

Dear Diary,

This morning when I woke up, I've found myself catching my breath again. That same nightmare appeared and might develop a heart attack.

-Clan

P.S.

I'm having an awkward day in school.

****

The bell rang. The students all rose and exited the door as the last subject has ended. I weakly arranged my things up and got on my feet, about to head for the door when someone pulled my arms and I automatically faced him.

It was Rex with his serious face. I felt cold as the rats came running inside my chest, the feeling that always betrays me when I'm with this guy.

I was about to brush off his hand but he gripped so tight, his expression grew darker.

"Clan...are you avoiding me?" He sounded so desperate. Very unlikely the Rex that I knew all my life. He's so gloomy today. Was Ashley being too harsh on him?

"N-no... I--" I trailed off as I was trying to push him away but he was too strong. I frequently looked out for the door and to his face, hard thuds banging my head.

"Then, why are you ignoring my texts, even my calls? Tell me, is this about what I said back at the canteen?" He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. I was just trying to cheer you up but it just so happened that you didn't buy it. I'm sorry, okay?" He's pulling me back made me weaker than before.

"Is there anything wrong here?" That voice broke in and gave me a chance to break off from Rex and turned to see that it was one of the School Maintenance Staff.

"Umm...nothing. We were just talking and I'm going home now. Thank you!" and I really mean it, I told myself. I headed to the door and walked as fast as I could.

Thanks to the staff, I have a chance not to break down in front of the man I love. I don't want him to see me like that. I can't let him see my weakest side again and make him feel the need of saving me. I'll only feel pity.

I did not go home, instead, I came to the Restaurant and offered help to my Dad. Until I've come here more often, gives me a little time to forget all the weird stuff that is happening to me these past few days. Most of the issues were with Rexander Louie. I couldn't help but feel disappointed in the memories making me ashamed of myself.

He might figure out why I'm avoiding him back at the canteen, but he will always miss the spot. And that is loving him secretly.

He might be sensible but still insensitive when it comes to me.

He suddenly changed a lot when he met Ashley, and I wanted to blame her for keeping him away.

Lately, he's being too much of himself. Too busy in his love life to even think of his friends. It's like I don't know him anymore.

I don't know Rexander Louie anymore.

Dad suddenly approached me. "What's the matter, Angel?" he asked in a worried tone. He's the only one in this world who calls me Angel since I was named Clarrianne Angelica. I can never hide my expression. He always figures what puzzles my mind.

I just shrugged and smiled weakly. I'm obvious again.

"Did Rex do something disappointing, Clarrianne?" Uncle suddenly appeared and interrupted us. I looked at him in surprise.

I did not respond for I might break down again. They kept on asking questions but I have a little dilemma. I closed my eyes.

I know it was rude to ignore them, but I have no strength to respond anymore.

The old men heaved a deep sigh.

"Rex told me about the incident at the Canteen and figured out it was because of what he said to you," Uncle said with an apologetic tone. "He was very worried about you and he wasn't able to approach you because you're evading him,"

I sighed and just smiled at them. I don't want to talk about it, even though I was half-amused about how they read me so easily. They have this fatherly instinct that touched me every time.

But I know, I should shake this off of me.