CHAPTER 10: TORN IN BETWEEN
1819 Words
Monday
Weekend has ended. The encounter in the forest last week seemed so fresh. Justin and his friends didn't show up in school after that fight.
I entered Anna's room. She is getting ready to go to school. "Are you sure you still want to go to school? They already know you. Even Louie. They can follow you, or ambush anytime."
"Don't worry. We'll be careful. We won't harm your Uncle Fernand either." She slipped her backpack on. "They will not take the wrong step either because they are not registered with the SAC. Your Uncle has already checked their records. Come on."
They left first with Louie's car, Martha in the red car and I in the white car. I haven't got my favorite gray car in the condo yet. I will get it back later.
We arrived early in school. We parked our car separately so that no one would notice that we know each other. I walked towards my favorite spot in the campus garden when I heard someone called my name. "Vanessa."
I turned to him. It was Jeric. "Oh! Hi, Jeric."
He sat next to me but at still kept a distance. "Our group project discussion will start later. Let's leave our old group. We will not finish anything if we wait for them."
My phone rang. Someone is calling me. I stole my phone. I saw an unregistered caller from my phonebook. "Sure, no problem. I don't want to fail my subject because of other irresponsible people. That's why I don't like group projects. It's sympathetic." I frowned. How many people have interest in my number? "Just hold on for a minute," I apologized to Jeric.
"Hello?" My hello is too high, to know on the other line how surprised I was to receive a phone call from someone I do not know.
"Hi, this is Justin, your seatmate." What does this half-vampire need? I looked around to see if he's watching over me.
"How did you know my number?"
"I asked around. That guy knows your number. I asked him," Justin replied firmly.
The i***t was just around, and surely was staring at us. It is impossible for Jeric to distribute my number. So probably Justin's a mind reader, most likely. Fortunately, I have blocking power so no one can read my mind. "What do you want?"
"I want to talk to you, privately."
"Why? We don't we talk things on the phone?" I asked firmly.
"Please? Even just at the Fishball store. I have no evil plans to you. I just want to talk to you," he speaks in a tone of supplication.
I sighed. I looked at my wrist watch. It's 30 minutes before our class. "Okay." I answered sparingly before I turned off the phone.
I got up to go to the meeting place. "Jeric, I need to go first. You go ahead to the room. I will just meet someone."
Jeric nodded at me with a big smile. I waved first before I left. I went straight to the Fishball stand not far from the garden. It's situated behind the Statue of Rizal with a huge wall and fountain.
I went straight to the Fishball stand. He hasn't arrived yet. The only people here are the vendor and the two students flirting with each other. I didn't wait for him, I stabbed a fishball. He doesn't eat fishballs, he likes people.
"Van ..." I heard a husky voice. I turned to him. He seemed depressed. He looks haggard. Maybe because of the loss of his two friends in just 1 week.
I frowned. "What do you want?"
Can we talk farther, just a bit farther from them? "He looked around. He pointed to the bench in the distance." At least there. "
I looked at him first, I rolled my eyes before I walked towards the bench he pointed to. I sat to at the end of the bench. Justin sat down at the other end.
"Again, what do you want?"
He thought at first as if confused before speaking. "I like you Van. So much. I know it's crazy to like someone so fast, it is hard to explain but this is what I feel."
I knew what he was referring to, I felt that towards Louie. "Thanks for liking me Justin, but I don't feel the same way to you."
Justin stared at me. He seemed can't accept that a woman as rejected someone as handsome as him. "This is impossible. No..." he sat up straight. He whispered very weakly. "She's a human being..." before facing me. "Can I court you? Please? Give me a chance to prove to you that I really like you. I'm begging you. I just felt this now with only one person."
My mouth dropped open. I'm seeing sincerity in his eyes, and he's not trying to use his compulsion on me. He respects me, as a person. My heart was a bit shaken with his words. What is this feeling? "I-I'm not sure, Justin. I-it's too early for that stage. I don't know anything about you. I-I can offer my friendship for now. I hope you understand me."
He just looked at me, then smiled. "I understand. I was very surprised. We don't even have proper introduction, and I was rude to you before. I was just fighting the strong feelings I felt for you so I was a bit harsh at first. I'm sorry about that. I hope you can forgive me? "
Is he being sincere? The difficulty of not having mind-reading power. "We could be friends first... for now." I reached out my hand. "Friends?" Can I change his view on people as vermin? Can he stop killing humans for me?
Justin reached out and shook my hand. "Friends." Then we shook hands. "But I won't go to school first. It's a bit complicated, but I will still be around. I might shift my course. Film Making is not for me."
I nodded. Maybe he's scared of Louie. "I see. I have to go. I still have classes to attend to." Then I stood up.
"All right. Thank you for accepting me as your friend. Everything starts from there. Hoping for a deeper connection with you later." He smiled then waved at me as I walked away. I just waved back to him then I turned around.
I sighed. I offered friendship to my enemy. I just shook my head then walked faster. I'm late.
I entered the classroom, they were already there as well as Louie, our professor of English Literature. Martha sat in the back. There are no other vampires around.
I sat down in my assigned seat. I think my classmates are also used to sitting in our assigned seat even if it is another professor and another subject.
"You're late." Louie said sparingly, but eyes widened.
"I'm sorry." Then I sat down. "Martha, Justin met me," I explained mentally, talking to Martha.
"What?!" Martha said loudly in my mind.
"Ouch! Martha!" I complaint.
"I'm sorry. But why did he meet you?" Martha asked curiously with a mixture of concern in her tone.
"He likes me. He' s asking if he can court me," my short explanation.
Martha laughed. "So a half-vampire s***h notorious killer of people did not escape your charm?"
"Unfortunately, yes." I was blown away by the wind before looking at our professor who looked at me angrily. I see his furrowed brow and his face is dark. I frowned at him, too, asking him why. I do not know how to connect mentally with him. We have no connection yet. I just let him frown until the end of class.
I was on my way to the canteen for lunch when Louie chased after me. "I read Martha's mind. She shared it to me, actually. That half-- whatever, likes you? You allowed him to woo you?"
I shook. "No. I offered my friendship instead. Too early for courtship."
Louie stared at me. "Stay away from him. I don't want you to stick with him."
I frowned at him. "Why? He was nice earlier."
"Because you're mine." Then he turned towards the Faculty.
What ?! What does that mean? Both my cheeks got hot because of what he said.
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