Chapter 2
2319 Words
Mom and Dad looked at me from head to foot as I went down the stairs. I smiled and greeted them and went straight to the car with Genius waiting for me. His jaw dropped when he saw what I’m wearing.
He chuckled weakly and shook his head without uttering a word.
I rolled my eyes at looked out the window.
This is Day 1 of Operation: Make Cyrus Donovan mine. I will make sure I make him mine before this semester ends. I have never wanted anyone so much as much I want Cyrus.
We arrived at the campus without hearing any derogative remarks from my twin—which is good. I don’t think I need him to tease about my outfit today. I’m sure Ivana would do the honors.
“What’s with the maxi skirt?” Ivana asked me as she gave me a disgusted look.
I was right. Ivana will be the one to roast me. She hates fashion terrorists and I’m pretty sure she’s killing me inside her head right now.
I rolled my eyes and looked at my peach maxi skirt again. I sighed. I am wearing a simple white T-shirt tucked in a maxi skirt. I am also wearing sneakers. Freaking sneakers! Not that I don’t like wearing those but I am not used to going to school wearing them.
I look fine. When I looked at the mirror before I left the house, I swear to had cursed all I could inside my head before finally convincing myself that I look okay. I am not that ugly. Just don’t look at my maxi skirt with sneakers and I think I could survive this look.
“I need to look demure…” I told her like it was such an obvious answer.
Ivana narrowed her eyes at me. “Even if you wear those, you would still not look as demure as that Samantha Niel, you know,” she deadpanned.
I hate that she already knows what I am thinking even before telling her about it.
“You think Cyrus won’t be shocked to see you in that? He’s seen you with all the designer clothes you have worn in the past. I’m sure he won’t fall for your trap.”
I glared at her and started walking towards my class. First class is with Cyrus so I need to go there earlier than usual. He needs to see that I am at least trying to change.
“Are you my friend or what?” I asked her, already annoyed that she’s spewing sensible words. I hate it when she points out she’s right and I realize that she is.
Damn!
The students are all looking at me with weird looks as I passed by the corridors. I would only roll my eyes on them and ignore. Yes, ignoring is the key to success.
“They are all looking at you like you’re some mental patient lost in a sea of people,” Ivana whispered as walked towards our class.
I glared at her once more. “How could you say that? I’m being demure!” I hissed back. And besides, I am not the only girl here with this kind of fashion! There are a lot of girls who wear sneakers, too. Even Graziella Fuller who’s the heiress of the biggest airline company is wearing one!
“Well, I don’t think rolling your eyeballs is a good way to be demure,” she said with a victorious smirk.
I looked at her and took a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll try to stay calm and look kind,” I replied, totally defeated.
She’s right. I can’t be demure if I look like I’m scowling all the time. I can’t look strong. I should look like a damsel in distress so Cyrus would come and save me.
I heard Ivana chuckle but I ignored that too. We just continued to walk towards the classroom.
I need extreme focus and concentration. I need to make sure that I don’t mix up the real me from the ugly and weak me.
True enough, when we arrived, there were only two persons inside. One was Samantha and the other one was that nerd seated right in front of the teacher’s table. I wonder how he manages to sit there. It’s a little too close and the teacher can see everything you’re doing.
I just shook my head at him. I don’t know if I’m allowed to pity him when he chose that for himself.
Ivana and I sat at the leftmost part of the room, near the window. We easily get bored so we’ll just critique the people outside the window. We could see the field from here.
Samantha and the nerd—Ivana says his name is Nash—were busy reading their books. They even look like they’re memorizing some words from it.
I shook my head and just looked outside the window beside me.
“You should read your book, too, you know,” Ivana whispered.
“Boring,” I deadpanned.
I heard her chuckle. “But you need to be like Samantha Niel, right? So, I think you should open your book and at least pretend to be reading it.”
I looked at her with narrowed eyes. How am I even friends with this girl? She’s enjoying this. She knows that it’s hard for me to actually maintain this kind of disposition. I bet she’s even guessing that I wouldn’t last a day in these hideous clothes.
I sighed and took a random book to read. I heard her chuckle once more but I ignored it. When I succeed in this, all of these will be worth it. Every sacrifice is worth is as long as I get Cyrus in the end.
More and more students came inside the room. My head turns to the door every time it opens, wishing that Cyrus would come in. My heart sank every time a different person enters the room. And so when he came, I felt like a kid who was given a new toy.
I sat straight and pretended to be reading my notes.
“He’s not looking,” Ivana said.
The f**k?
“He’s going straight towards Samantha,” she added.
Damn it!
I sighed and looked up to see Cyrus sitting beside Samantha Niel. She blushed as she smiled sweetly when she moved so he could sit there.
Something inside me boiled as I looked at Cyrus smiling at her widely. How can he do that to her? Does he really like her? I can’t believe it! Why would a hot and handsome person like a simple girl like Samantha? She’s too demure for him! They don’t match at all!
I rolled my eyes as I gritted my teeth in frustration at the odd taste of Cyrus in women. Can’t he use his eyes?
“I bet he really likes submissive people,” Ivana said as she shook her head.
I bit my lip as I watched them interact. He likes submissive women? Why? So it would be easy to take them? So it would be very convenient for him?
I took a deep breath to calm myself. I am starting to get furious. I know I don’t have the right. But why? Why does he look at Samantha instead of me? Why?!
“Tracy?” Someone called me.
I looked up and someone familiar. He’s from my class, that’s why. I just don’t know his name because he’s not really that close to me.
“Yes?” I asked, still annoyed at Cyrus for only looking at Samantha.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
I can hear from his voice that his s****l orientation is different. We like the same gender even though we’re gender opposites.
“Yes, why?” I asked again.
He bit his lip and looked at me from head to foot. “You don’t look like the normal Tracy,” he pointed out.
Duh? It’s so obvious. The real Tracy will never wear clothes like these. Hell, I don’t even wear these when I sleep.
“So?” I asked in a rude tone.
He pursed his lips in a thin line. “Don’t be mad at me, alright? It’s just that I had admired your fashion sense before and it’s too obscene to see you like this.”
Obscene? Even when I’m not showing any skin? He called this obscene?! How dare he?!
“Obscene?” Ivana asked the same thought I had in disbelief. “How could you describe her outfit like that?”
He laughed.
“And most importantly, who are you?” Ivana asked in her normal b***h tone.
He shook his head, smiling widely. He’s not even hurt at her words. I bet he’s a strong heart.
“I’m Miles Franco,” he said. “And I’ve been your classmate since freshmen year.”
I bit my lip, feeling a little bad. I didn’t know his name when he’s been my classmate for so long? That’s how uninterested I was in him?
“Ivana French,” she said as she extended her hand.
Well, look at her change in mood right now?
“I know,” Miles said but he still took her hand for a shake. Then he looked at me, then at Cyrus’ direction. “You like him, huh?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes. I cannot deny that.
“Was I too obvious?” I asked Miles.
He shrugged. “He doesn’t like demure women,” he said.
Ivana and I narrowed our eyes at him.
Miles laughed. “Is that why you’re dressed like that?” he asked. Ivana and I looked at each other. “Cyrus Donovan likes girls who are easy,” he said.
“How do you know that?” Ivana asked.
I looked at Cyrus. He’s laughing with Samantha. Does he think Samantha is easy? Is that why he’s close to her?
I looked at my clothes. So, it isn’t the physical appearance, after all.
“I’ve known him since childhood. He’s my neighbor.”
“What?” Ivana and I chorused.
Miles laughed.
“Are you close?” I asked. Maybe this is the opening of heaven’s gate for me! I will be Miles’ friend and then he will help me be with Cyrus.
“Slight?” he replied, uncertain. “I never really liked playing with boys when I was a child.”
I raised my brow. “And why is that?” I asked.
Miles shrugged and opened his arms like, Duh? Isn’t it obvious? “I’m gay, Tracy. I thought you would see that in first meeting,” he outed himself like it was no big deal.
Ivana laughed out loud, attracting some attention to our side of the room. “You’re fun, Miles! Let’s hang out more!” she beamed. “These days, Tracy has been so obsessed with making Cyrus Donovan like her.” She snickered.
Miles laughed and nodded at her offer. “I would love that! I heard you’re the definition of real party girls. I need to experience that hype!” They high-fived and laughed together.
I looked around and saw most of our classmates looking at us. I glanced at Cyrus’ area and saw him staring at me from head to foot with narrowed eyes.
I bit my lip and looked down. I suddenly feel embarrassed. What is he thinking now? Does he think I am easy for him? Would I be easy for him?
I didn’t attempt to look up. I only did when our professor was already in. When her eyes found me, she seemed a little shocked. Okay, maybe I really look horrendous with this outfit. I need to change during the break.
The class was so boring that I wanted to doze off the whole time. When it was finished, I rushed to my car to get my back up clothes. I have to change. This isn’t going to work anyway.
I was cursing inside my head about how stupid of a plan this is when I saw Cyrus walking, probably headed to the field. He stopped when he saw me. I looked away. Damn. Why do I chicken out every time he looks at me?
I was about to pass by him when he grabbed my arm, making me face him. My eyes widened at our sudden contact.
Cyrus stared at my face, then down to my body. His tantalizing stare makes my whole system quiver. It’s as if I’m a computer that’s already about to shut down.
“You don’t look so bad in your clothes now,” he said. “But I think you’ll look better with the clothes you’re comfortable in wearing.” He finished and smiled before leaving me alone and stunned in the hallway.
Damn!
- Writer
