Running from the Horizon (Secondary Series #2)

02

“Have we met before? How do you know me?”

His brows are furrowed as he looks at me, waiting for my answer. I am completely speechless because of what I have just done. Like, yeah, I just called him by his name. I can just say that I just heard your name through my friends because you are SPU’s star player but the words just can’t come out of my mouth.

“A-ah….” I stuttered. He is just waiting for me to talk but my eyes are wandering around, thinking what to say. The words are stuck in my throat, not even wanting to come out.

We have been standing here for a while now but he still is not letting go of the fact that I just called him by his name and his surname. Oh believe me Noah Castro! My friends know more about you than I do. I only know your name, your school, that you are a taekwondo star player, the heir of Fortress Le Restau, and that you are tall, rich, and handsome as what my friends described you.

“Sir Noah? Is there something wrong here?” A guy, probably in his late 20s, asked as the two of us turned to him. He eyed me for a while before returning his attention to this Noah Castro in front of me.

Noah Castro eyed me, which I immediately avoided, before letting out a deep sigh. “Everything’s fine.”

“Mr. Castro is waiting for you now in the private room now, sir.” the guy said as Noah nodded to him.

“Please look around you and stop daydreaming.” He reminded me before he left me there, mouth parted. I don’t know whether I will take it as a reminder from a concerned citizen or a sarcasm for not answering his question to how I know his name.

I proceed with my thing in the restroom, making sure to calm my nerve down first, before going back to our table. The table is round so I have Meghan and Bailey on my both sides. The food is served including my favourite pasta dish in this restaurant.

As we proceeded to dinner, my mind went back to that short moment with that Noah Castro. He is just like what my friends mentioned him as like. I may not notice it when he is standing right in front of me earlier due to nervousness but right now, I can notice it already.

He is towering me by a lot earlier and his eyes are more attractive than it is in the photo. He did not smile at me earlier, instead showed me his grumpy side, than the one he shows in his i********: photos but he still manages to look attractive in my eyes. His skin tone just fits him and his body seems so well-built for his age, which I don’t know how old he is. It must be because of his continuous taekwondo training. Keeping himself in shape.

“Ate, mama’s asking you.” Meghan nudged me to my shoulder, bringing me back to my senses. I looked at her confused as she signalled me to look at our mother who was looking at me.

“What is it again, mama?” I asked.

“I asked about your school program today, anak. Are you okay? You seem to not have an appetite. You are playing with your pasta.” She worriedly asked as my eyes immediately went to my almost untouched pasta plate.

I smiled awkwardly at her, nodding my head for assurance. “Just have some thoughts in my mind about our meeting earlier mama. Nothing to worry about.”

She looks hesitant before she lets it go. I talk to mama about things. I just find my heart feels more at ease whenever I open up my worries here. What I admire is that she is always willing to listen. May my worries be too childish and immature for someone who has been through a lot in life, she still tries her best to make me realise things. She really just makes sure that she still have some time to talk to each of us, especially to me and Meghan.

“So tell me, is someone planning to court you Diana?” Papa asked as my eyes widened. Not because I have something to hide but because I was shocked.

“What is with the sudden question papa? I don’t have any suitor and am not planning to have one for the meantime, if that is what you are worried about.” He laughed softly with my answer.

That has been my father’s question almost every single time. In the whole month, the same question will be heard twice to thrice which I find funny because he looks like waiting for me to have one.

“I am not too strict, okay? Just tell me if someone is planning to court you. But if there isn’t, then that is better!” He said as I smiled, shaking my head.

“But isn’t kuya Rocco hitting on you, ate?” Meghan suddenly said making us, except our brothers, turn to her.

"Rocco?” Mama repeated as my sister nodded. I ate my pasta as she told them what she thought was happening.

“Kuya Rocco is ate’s friend from another section. He is at the same year level as her. Kuya told me that he likes ate when I went to ate’s room last time to borrow her pen.” Meghan said.

Mama and papa turned to me, waiting for my explanation. “Rocco is originally a friend of Vanessa. We are just friends. I bet she is just messing with you Meg.”

“I don’t think he is. He even told me that he is just waiting for the right time. You can ask ate Vanessa if you want to. I’m sure she knows something.” She demanded as it got me thinking.

I don’t think it's necessary to ask him because my friends and Axel have been teasing Rocco to me the moment Vanessa introduces them to us. I am not that dense to not notice that Rocco has something on me even though I may sound like I am concluding things without making sure of it but I can sense it. I just try my best to not give him any hope that I can give the same thing in return except for being his friend.

We went home after an hour because papa still has a meeting to attend tomorrow and also because he looks really tired already. We demanded that we can go home already while my brothers are playing at the arcade after dinner. Papa looks guilty because my brothers had to finish their game immediately but they insisted that it is all right since they played enough already when we first went to the arcade before dinner.

“Is it me or papa looks extra tired these days?” Meghan questioned when I came out of my closet.

She has her own room, the one next to mine. But she usually hangs out here in my room before sleeping just to kill some time. During those killing time moments, we will talk about random things. Mostly it’s about Korean dramas, actors, and idols because we are both interested in one. We do talk about boys, the ones around us. Most of the time it was her who talked about them because she has a lot of crushes. And sometimes, I do help her with homework since I already finished taking her subjects.

“I thought you did not notice it. I’d like to think that it is due to work only but we never know. He is not staying so late at the office anymore during the past few weeks.” I pointed out.

“He is losing weight too, ate. If you look closer to his face now, his cheeks somehow drop a little.” She says before opening her phone, handing it to me. There is a photo of dad just a month ago during our usual family day.

I took the seat next to Meg on my bed as I opened my phone to check the photo we took earlier. He really did lose some weight because in the photo from Meg’s phone, he still looks livelier and looks like in the right weight but he looks slightly different in his latest photo. He grew tired and his face looks like he is having a hard time from something.

“Don’t you think we should ask mama about it? I’m sure she knows something.” She worriedly asked me.

I gave her back her phone as she waited for my answer. “Let’s not conclude anything for now. I’m sure if there is something wrong, mama and papa will tell us about it.”

She just nodded with my answer before laying down in my bed as if it was hers while browsing over her phone. I went to my vanity table to do my daily skincare. I need to keep my face bright especially that we have to do some cheering next week for that annual private school competition.

“By the way ate, you know who Noah Castro is?” Meg suddenly asked, making me almost slip the slippery face masks from my hand due to the moisture it has. So she knows that guy as well.

“No! Do I look like I know him?” I unconsciously raised my voice a little making her look at me weirdly. She puts down her phone, changing her position from laying on her back to laying on her stomach with chin leaning over her palm.

“Why do you sound defensive?” She teases as I glared at her. I put on my mask, leaning on my chair, while waiting for her words. I’m sure she is not done yet. “If you don’t know him, then why did you talk to him earlier?”

My eyes widened but I remained leaning on my chair because of the mask. “I saw the two of you at the Fortress ate. I bet you are thinking about him while having dinner, that's why you are out of yourself.”

I reach for the pillow on my small couch, throwing it at her face as she laughs. How is she so good at concluding things? Like all the time! Everything that comes out of her mouth always comes out as the truth.

“If you saw the two of us then you probably know what happened.” I almost mumble, being careful with the mask because opening my mouth wider will misplace the mask.

“Chill ate! I am just teasing you!” She said. “I just never see you look that nervous over a guy. Like you don’t even have a crush, besides the Korean actors and idols that we like.”

“Does everyone need to have a crush? Huh?” I questioned.

“That is not my point ate! You never really look like you are interested in any guy. That’s why it is something new to see you act like that in front of the great Noah Castro.” She said. She left me alone for the next few minutes until I removed my mask.

I took the empty spot next to her in my bed, opening my phone to browse my social media account. My mind went to the topic about that guy again. Why am I even curious?

“You seem like you know him as well.” I told her.

“Who? Noah Castro?” She asked as I nod. She let’s go of her phone, changing into a sitting position. “I heard a lot about him, ate. And I really admire him and his circle of friends.”

“Circle of friends?”

She scrolled something over her phone before handing it to me. The same photo that my friends showed me earlier is on the phone screen.

“Those are his friends, ate. From Noah Castro, the girl besides him is named Charlotte Garcia. I heard that her parents own Garcés Models.” My mouth formed an ‘o’ when I heard about Garcés Models. It is one of the top modeling agencies in the country and almost all of their models are supermodels now.

“The one next to her is Emma Buenaventura. Her family owns Buena Fortuna House of Publishing. Then the next one is Nicole Jimenez. Her family then owns Jimenez Realty. Then this guy behind her is James Sanchez. He came from a family of doctors and their family owns Sanchez Medical Hospital.”

“This one is named Felicity Martinez, right?” I pointed to the girl in front of that James guy.

“You know her ate?”

“I just heard her name from Vanessa.” I said.

“Yes, she is Felicity Martinez. The heiress of La Martíns Holdings.” She said. So in short his circle is full of riches.

“Is she and that Noah guy in a relationship? Or is there something going on between them?” I asked.

“Based on my friends, Felicity is the only girl that Noah posted a single photo with in his i********: account besides his mom. Everyone thought that they have something because of that photo but when you read the comments underneath it, you will read Felicity’s comment saying that they are clearly just friends.” she explained.

I am not concluding something but I am sure that they have something. Or maybe it’s just Noah. The way it looks in the photos tagged by their friends where Noah is simply looking at her, there is an eye of admiration. I am not blind. I can see it.

“Are you like Vanessa? You know a lot about these people.” I tease, returning her phone back to her.

“You can say it's because a lot of students are talking about them. There is not a single person in the six of them who is not known by many, ate. An added information, James Sanchez auntie is the principal or one of the directors of SPU.”

A circle of riches friends. Maybe that’s why a lot of people know them as well. You cannot deny that the six of them are good looking. All of them look like they have average height and are real classy themselves despite their big family backgrounds. They look both sophisticated and not so easy to reach.

“Tell me your sister is lying!” Vanessa suddenly said after they returned from the cafeteria. We are now wearing our cheerleader outfits for the semi finals this morning in the gymnasium. The first one will be basketball then the taekwondo semi finals will be this afternoon so there are a lot of outsiders on our campus right now.

“What do you mean?” I asked. Why is my sister suddenly in the talk?

“She told us that you met Noah Castro last Friday! At the Fortress!” I almost burst the water I just drank to them when I heard that guy’s name again. Meghan!

“Is it true?” Camille asked again. Marley looks at them, annoyed while drinking her own bottle of water.

We walked out of the cafeteria but they are still waiting for my answer. They did not stop pestering me until we arrived at the gymnasium for the basketball competition. The players from both teams just arrived so we are just in time.

“So?” Kendall impatient questions.

“Fine! Yes! I bumped into him but that’s just it!” I said as they squealed in excitement.

“Be quiet you nosy ones!” Marley scolded them as she said sorry to the students looking at us.

“OMG! What does he look like in person? Is he really so handsome? So tall? Is his voice deep?” They asked more questions which I answered in the best way I can. It’s not like I really talked to him anyway! We just happened to bump into each other.

The basketball semifinals continued as we did our best to cheer for our school which I think helps for their win. They will proceed to the finals with 8 points ahead from the opponent team. It was tiring physically and especially in the throat because we had to yell and yell just to cheer for them. Why did I even choose to be a cheerleader?

We went to the cafeteria for lunch but much to our dismay, there were a lot of people in there because the ones from another school came to watch the competition and ended up eating in here. We had to ask permission from our coach to eat in the fast food restaurant in front of our school so we can go back in time for the taekwondo competition. The competition my friends have been waiting for.

“I’m so excited to watch Noah Castro compete right in front of my eyes! The one who watched his competitions says that his kicks are powerful.” Camille exclaimed as we waited for our order at our table.

They never stopped talking about that Noah ever since they found out that I bumped into him last time. Is it really a big deal?

“He is not a star player for nothing, you know? Sadly his friend, James Sanchez did not compete this year.” Vanessa exclaimed, letting out a sigh.

So that James Sanchez is a taekwondo player too?

“But everyone says, including James, that Noah is much better than him in taekwondo.” Kendall said.

What a sporty guy then. Marley and I just stayed silent as they kept talking about Noah Castro and James Sanchez even when our food arrived. The two of us just kept nodding when they asked us something.

Throughout their talks, I learned that those two guys are both a flirt but the difference is Noah uses his face to flirt while James uses his mouth. James likes photography while Noah likes drawing. Unlike Noah who is much dedicated to taekwondo, James seems like he will only compete whenever he wants to but he is still one of the top players of SPU. They even talked about the female friends of those two until we finished our lunch and walked our way back to the gymnasium.

“Ate!” I heard Meghan’s voice behind us as I turned to see her with her friends. They greeted me in which I returned one. “Papa will be the one to pick us up later. He says to wait in the elementary building after class.”

She just told me that before I nodded and she left. It’s just that simple. Papa really likes surprises, huh?

“Oh my! It’s Noah Castro and James Sanchez!” Camille exclaimed, shaking Marley who was standing next to her, in excitement.

When I turned to the direction where she was looking at, the two guys were easy to spot because almost all of the attention was on them. Another one is because they are indeed tall, about the same height. James was smiling at each people who passes by them especially girls leaving them squealing while Noah has a poker face as if he is ready to kick anyone who comes near him.

“Damn! Noah Castro looks hot in that taekwondo uniform!” Vanessa exclaimed as she stared at him.

“How come his poker face still looks so handsome?”

“Stop drooling over them! Let’s go! We need to get in the gymnasium now!” Marley said, pushing the three who were busy looking at those two guys.

I watch Marley push them as they complain before my eyes go back to those two tall guys standing under the big tree while their coach is busy talking to a competition staff, I think? I immediately looked away when my eyes met Noah’s suddenly making me nervous and running after my friends.

Why do I keep getting nervous? This is not the first time I saw him already. It must be because I felt guilty for not explaining my side to how I know his name. Is it really a big deal for him? I mean he is an athlete. I’m sure a lot of people know him.

We went to our side of the bench, preparing again. We cannot yell that much. We can only do that during the break time so this is less tiring than the basketball competition earlier. Our athlete who will compete with Noah Castro stands on the mat when his name is called. Noah then later on stands in front of him when his name is called.

“Noah Castro is so handsome! I wish he was mine!” Camille exclaimed.

“Are you going to cheer for that Noah guy or for our school’s representative?” Marley questioned her.

“I can cheer for both.” Camille answered her confidently as the competition started

I want to close my eyes during the whole competition because of how solid the kicks sound like. Each athlete shows different kicks which makes me feel the pain more than them. Their kicks are indeed powerful and look so experienced. They are also so flexible. Looks even more flexible than us cheerleaders actually.

The three rounds ended with Noah being declared as the winner and advancing to the finals. While almost everyone on our side is disappointed with the loss of our representative, most of the students on our side are cheering and excitedly approach the sweaty Noah on the other side where is standing.

“Come on!” Vanessa says as she dragged me with her and Camille dragged Marley.

While the three of them are standing close and squeezing themselves in the crowd surrounding Noah. Marley and I just stood behind, watching them.They are like those fangirls who have been waiting to meet their international idol. I mean if Noah is a Korean idol, I will squeeze myself in that crowd just to get close to her but he isn’t.

When they are done, the three follow the two of us outside already so we can go back home and rest. Meghan also called me and said that Papa said he is on his way so I need to be in the elementary building as soon as I can.

“Wait! I left my handkerchief!” Vanessa exclaimed, making Marley groan. We had to go back to the stadium to get it.

When we arrived there, the school staff were already clearing up but Noah, James, and their coach are still in there. Noah already changed into a shirt and sweatpants which gives the three time to fangirl again. Marley and I had to drag them to where we are seated earlier just find Vanessa’s handkerchief already.

“Are you looking for this?” We heard a deep voice behind us. When we turn, James is raising his hand while holding a pink handkerchief that belongs to Vanessa clearly.

Vanessa shyly approaches her as we just stand behind. James smiled at her. “Hi! I’m James.”

“What a flirt.” Marley whispered to me as I just smiled at her. She really is annoyed now.

“You must be that girl,” James suddenly said, looking at me. I raised a brow when Noah suddenly appeared behind his friend.

“Let’s go James! The girls are waiting in Emma’s house.” Noah told his friend but James stopped him before he could even walk away.

“Is she that girl, bro?” James asked him as my friends looked at me confused in which I returned the same.

Noah glances at me, which I avoided once again, before I heard his deep sigh. “Yes, that’s her. Are you done? Let’s go!”

“Wait!” James suddenly walked forward, approaching me as he stood right in front of me. I look at him confused. “So you are the girl my bro is talking about.”