Chapter 4
2470 Words
“Good evening, Sir. What’s your order?”
I’m working on a night shift in the café today because of the schedule of my classes. Thankfully, our boss has been lenient on her part-timers. She lessened the hours per day and just added the hours on a freer day.
“I’ll have one macchiato and a slice of Sansrival.”
I smiled and nodded as I punched his order on the registry and collected his p*****t. “Thank you, sir. Your order will be delivered in a while.”
He nodded and took the receipt before walking to the empty table. I turned to Moira and gave her the order. It’s funny how we’ve already been working here for years and we’re still here. She’s also a working student and a scholar. Her mother is sick and she needs money for her medicines as well.
So far, the night shift is going well. We have had a few customers but because it’s the start of the week, there’s not a lot of people here yet.
“I hope we could go home early,” Moira said. “I have a paper to finish.”
I nodded in agreement. “I hope so, too,” I replied. We have a partner project in Social Studies and I want to help Genius. He stayed back in the library to find some resources. I want to help him because that’s both our grade.
“Working while studying is hard. I wish we have a choice,” Moira said sadly.
I smiled weakly and nodded. I hope so too. The truth is, in life, when you’re poor, you have no choice but to work hard and earn. You cannot afford to have time to play or for love. It’s all about surviving this cruel world.
Moira was giving out the orders when my phone vibrated inside my apron.
Genius:
Done with the resources. We can do this tomorrow lunchtime.
I sighed. I am just relieved that I have Genius. He’s been helping me out a lot. Whenever I am sleepy in class, he would write some notes on my notebook so I wouldn’t be falling behind. He’s always giving me coffee during breaks and is even waiting for me here in my workplace when we decide to review together.
“Is that your handsome best friend?” Moira teased as she placed the tray down.
She’s been pushing me to Genius ever since we got close. Sometimes, she even asks jealously whenever Genius is talking to me. She still likes him even though he’s pushing me to him.
I sighed and nodded. “He’s working on our resources for our partner paper in Social Studies.”
Moira nodded at me while wiping the marble counter. “Have you ever thought of being more with him?” she asked me suddenly.
My eyes widened, a little scandalized at her question. Sure, when I first met Genius, I really thought he’s handsome. And even until now, I still have times when I feel like he’s too handsome. His sister, Tracy, is also a beautiful lady. It runs in their family. But that’s all that it is. I see him as a friend and only that.
“What?” Moira shrugged. “That man is like a demigod,” she chimed. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of him to be more than a friend.”
I shook my head. I am already cringing by the thought of it. Genius is just a friend to me. He’s important to me and I love him but that’s only because he’s a friend and he’s been taking good care of me. Besides, he’s too rich for me. I can never long to be with someone in the higher spectrum when I’m a poor girl.
Moira looked at me with a smirk on her face. “I think he likes you,” she beamed.
I laughed and shook my head. “Genius might be good to me but I can never assume that he likes me. He doesn’t and I accept that.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why are you acting like it’s impossible? He has been frequenting this café ever since he knew you were working here.”
I made a face because I don’t believe it. Genius is not coming here because of me. I really think and he even admitted that he loves our espresso and that’s what he’s been coming back here for.
Moira’s words kept bugging me until the next day. I don’t even know why I’m being affected by that. I’m sure what she said is wrong. I’m sure Genius is there for the espresso but the thought of it keeps messing with my mind. I should just let it go.
I went straight to the student’s lounge where Genius is. He texted me that he’s already waiting for me and we could start with the brainstorming for our paper. I read on the resources he got last night and thought that it is enough for our paper. We could eat a quick lunch before heading over to the library later on.
Students are flocking in one part of the lounge. They seem absorbed at something. I looked to the right side and saw Genius with eyes narrowed at his laptop screen. He’s wearing his eyeglasses today and he looks extremely intelligent with them on. I have always told him that but he’s always just shrugging it off.
He’s not a show-off. He came from a rich family—his father is a lawyer—but he’s humble and he studies hard. I heard Tracy is good at her studies too even though she’s a bit of a party girl. Genius has been having headaches and migraines because of Tracy and her wild escapades. He always fends off her flings. The main reason why she changes flings every now and then.
I walked towards Genius and sat beside him. He looked at me and smiled. “You’re here,” he said before showing me his laptop.
I placed my bag on the table and pulled the laptop closer to me. He’s already finished a few paragraphs and has meshed the information from the resources really well. We need to write at least ten pages of this. I think it’s possible to finish this within today or tomorrow. I have already noted down the things we must include and from what resources we could find the information.
I yawned.
“Did you get enough sleep?” he asked me.
I looked at him and shrugged. “We closed at midnight. I had to read all the resources you sent me so I left at around four in the morning,” I explained with my eyes glued on the laptop screen.
I heard him sighed before he took something out of his bag. “Here,” he said, handing me an energy drink.
I looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“You need energy today. We have three major subjects,” he told and opened the energy for me.
I nodded, unable to resist the drink because I know that he’s right. I have to focus on those subjects if I want to retain my scholarship. “Thanks,” I replied and drank on the bottle.
He smiled and then focused on the screen again. “I did some paragraphs. I think they’re okay but you can still change some of it,” he told me.
I nodded and went back to reading what he started. To be honest, Genius actually fits his name. He’s intelligent so I can say that he’s a genius, too. He’s not showy and definitely not boastful but he’s so smart and I actually admire him.
We spent the rest of the fifteen minutes in the lounge, trying to figure out how our paper would go. We walked to our first class after.
“Classes are canceled,” Teresa, the room president announced. “Mrs. Clarity is not feeling well so she was rushed to the hospital this morning. We were not given any seat works so we’re free for the rest of the period.
I sighed in relief. Free period would mean we will have more time to brainstorm and write our paper. I could also afford to sleep even for a few minutes.
“You can take a nap first.” It was Genius who said that. He nodded and smiled at me to assure me that it’s alright.
I was reluctant but I nodded. “Fifteen minutes. Power nap.”
He chuckled. “Sure, Carrie. Just take a nap because your eyebags are already too huge to handle,” he teased me.
I frowned at him but that only made him laugh even louder. He petted my head and beamed. “You should sleep, Carrie.”
And that’s what I did.
***
He didn’t wake me up. In short, I slept for the whole two hours. When I woke up, he was already done with three pages and have already listed all the resources.
“You were sleeping so peacefully. I don’t want to wake you up,” he reasoned when I asked him why he let me sleep for long when I told him that I’ll only take fifteen minutes of a power nap.
I can’t believe he wrote three pages to himself. Now, I feel so guilty.
“I’ll do the next pages, then,” I told him.
Thankfully, our professor in the next class didn’t come as well because his wife just gave birth. He only left us with some readings and told the class president that we will have a graded recitation next meeting.
“Let’s go to the library?” I asked him and he nodded.
We grabbed our things and headed off to the library to continue with our paper. Walking along the hallways, I saw Tracy with her friend, Ivana. There’s a guy beside Tracy who looked like her new fling of the week. He’s tall and lean but muscular. His arm is wrapped around Tracy’s waist while she is talking to Ivana.
Genius stopped and eyed the guy standing beside his sister. I looked at him and saw him staring at the guy with narrowed eyes. He clenched his jaw and looked at me. “Can you hold this for a minute?” he told me while giving me his folder.
I nodded and accepted it.
He immediately walked towards his sister. Tracy’s eyes widened and she immediately jumped away from the guy who has his arms basically wrapped around her.
Genius said something to Tracy before glaring at the guy who was already looking so scared. I wonder what he said to him for him to look like he’s been threatened by a mafia.
Tracy tried to push Genius away and even pointed to my direction. Genius just gave her a look and a few words before walking back to where I am.
He looked really pissed and I just smiled.
“Are you okay?” I asked him.
He just let out a deep sigh and nodded. “I’m good,” he replied as he got back his folder. “That prick is annoying as fuck.”
I arched my brows at him. He’s not really the type to get annoyed or judge someone easily but right now he seemed so annoyed at the man his sister is dating. “You know him?” I asked as we continued walking to the library.
He nodded. “He’s that scum who cheated on one of our classmates last week.” My jaw dropped at his information. He chuckled. His mood suddenly changed. “He’s not getting anything from Tracy. That woman’s crazy.”
I laughed at his remark about his sister. She’s definitely not crazy. She’s just a little…playful. And maybe that’s what doesn’t sit well with him. I remember, one time, he even went to the bar Tracy is in and dragged her back to their house. He’s that possessive brother. I can only imagine how he’ll react when Tracy finally meets her match.
Genius might not say it but I know how much he loves Tracy. He wouldn’t be so protective of her if he doesn’t love her.
“I wonder when she will start being mature enough,” he mumbled while we were walking.
I shook my head. “You’re too strict on her, Genius. You need to loosen up and accept the fact that she’s beautiful and men would flock to her because she’s charismatic.”
Genius narrowed his eyes at me. “She’s still my baby sister.”
“She’s your twin.”
“I’m still minutes older.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. This man would never really loosen up when it comes to his sister. I can’t do anything about it. He’s a brother after all.
We arrived at the library and started with our paperwork. I tried typing a few words but then I realized that I needed to read more about a certain topic.
“Let me just go grab one book from the SS section,” I told Genius and he nodded. He is focused on the paper.
I walked towards the Social Studies section and looked for the book I have in mind. I have checked it out before and I think it would be a big help for us this time.
I smiled widely when I saw the book and started browsing the chapters to check if the content I remember is right.
I was busy reading through the chapters when I suddenly felt someone beside me. I looked up and saw a man who looks familiar. He’s looking at the books with focused eyes.
I wonder where I saw him before.
He sighed in defeat and suddenly looked at me. He smiled almost automatically when he saw my face. “You’re the one last night, right?” he asked me.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Who…” my eyes widened and remembered where I met him. “You’re the customer last night!”
He chuckled and nodded. He’s tall and has blonde hair. His deep-set eyes are green in color. He is on a different kind of handsome because he looks like a prince or someone from a royal family. Especially since he’s wearing a royal blue shirt and a pair of black slacks.
“I didn’t know you were a student here,” he beamed.
I chuckled. “Ditto,” I replied.
“I’m just looking for a good book for my thesis.”
I nodded. So, he’s in a higher batch than I am. Only fourth year students work on a thesis. “Good luck,” I told him and motioned to go back to our table when this man suddenly stopped me.
“What’s your name?” he asked curiously. “I’m Ryan. Ryan Bakers,” he told me. “I’m a senior in Legal Management.”
I smiled awkwardly. “Carrie,” I replied. “My name is Carrie. I’m in my second year.”
He smiled. “Nice to know your name,” he replied. “Hope to see you around.”
I nodded curtly and excused myself when I suddenly saw Genius standing in the middle of the bookshelves, staring at me with narrowed eyes.
“Who’s that?” he asked in a low baritone and for some unknown reason, I feel like I’m Tracy for a second.
- Writer
