Chapter 6
2055 Words
Plus, I told him and made him feel like I hated him so many times. It's true that I hate him at some points.
Come to think of it, should I join the volleyball game? I mean I've been so busy lately with my school works and I want to do something fun.
Maybe I'll just try to contact Mau, She was our captain ball. We don't communicate anymore, but we ended in good terms. She was strict when it comes to training and games, but she's kind and soft outside the game.
I opened my f*******: account and looked at her profile.
As expected, her timeline is full of pictures about volleyball. I saw a photo of her and my old teammates. I kinda miss them. They were my friends, like really close friends. I just distanced myself.
Some of them still message me, but we only talk for like about 2 minutes? I clicked the messaged button and typed my message.
Me:
Hi, Mau! Laura told me that there will be a game this Friday? So I was wondering if I could still join the team? If that's okay with you though. I understand if the team is already full.
I didn't wait that long to receive a reply. It's still early, so I already expected that. We usually train for 6-8pm before.
Mau:
Celena! We're short of members actually, I was hesitant if I should message you since I thought you wouldn't want to join. We're happy to have you! Come at the gym, 6pm sharp.
I smiled. I could stay longer at school then. I don't really wanna go home. I don't know, but I'm kind used to Caleb being at home and now it kinda feels empty.
Mom and dad are always busy and all I do at home is eat, sleep, and study. My daily routine.
Good thing, I always have my training bag on my car. I didn't remove it since I could use it in case of emergency, like wetting my uniform or whatever.
-
After class I went to the gym. All my teammates looked at me with shock in their faces. I can see some new faces, I think they're first or second year? They look young.
"Celena!"
They ran towards me and hugged me. I smiled and hugged them back. God, I missed this!
"I miss you guys!" I said.
"Mau didn't tell us you're the new girl! We're expecting someone from first year. We even got some pranks to pull, but this won't work on you anymore."
I chuckled. They didn't changed at all.
What we do before when we have a new member is, we prank them or make things hard for them at their first day. I wonder if I could still play.
It's been months since I last play volleyball.
We did a warm up first and then get into a game. I'm the server before, I don't know if I could still spike that hard. I threw the ball up and jump to hit it.
"Nice serve!"
We finished one game and my team won. It was a close fight. We're 4 points ahead. Ah! That was satisfying!
"You're still good! Better than us! So unfair.." Valerie said.
"You guys are better than me, don't flatter me that much." I chuckled.
It's true though. I'm still a bit rusty. We won because of teamwork. I opened my phone and saw a friend request from Caleb.
He use f*******:? I was about to decline it, but a message popped out.
Caleb:
Hi baby, I miss you.
I wrinkled my forehead.
Me: Wrong send?
He's typing already. Not busy huh? I thought he would be so busy enough that he wouldn't bother me anymore. I guess this is his hobby.
Caleb:
What do you mean? I only have one baby and it's you.
I rolled my eyes. I was about to lock my phone but a phone call from him suddenly appeared on my screen.
"Hello?"
"What are you doing? Do you need help in home works?"
I can hear the flipping of papers. So he's busy? Then why is he bothering me?
"No. I'm at school, training."
"Training? For what, baby? It's already 7pm."
"Volleyball. Training ends at 8pm."
"Celena! Last game!" Mau called.
"I got to go."
"Please be careful on your way home, call me or text me."
"Fine. Whatever." I said and ended the call.
Mau looked at me with fishy look
"Who was that? It's not usual for you to use your phone during break."
I don't really use my phone that much, but I couldn't ignore Caleb. Even if I want to. There's something inside of me that-- I don't know, wants to talk to him?
Argh! I hate myself. It's confusing. Everything about me, especially my mind.
"Nothing, just a parasite."
"Parasite?" She chuckled.
This is what I don't like about Mau. She tries so hard to find out everything about you. I ignored her and called Valerie.
"Let's go, Let's finish this so we can all go home early." I said.
We did another game and this time my team lose. We kind shuffled the members of each team. Finally we're done. Mau's still following me.
She's waiting for the right time to ask. It kinda annoys me, but whatever. I pretended to open my phone like someone just called me.
"Hello? Mom? Yes, I'm on my way home now. Okay. See you."
I pretended to hung up the phone and looked at them.
"I'm sorry, I forgot we're having a dinner with my mom's colleague."
"It's fine, the training's finish anyway. See you tomorrow?"
I nodded and said. "Yes, thank you for today. You guys be careful on your way home, okay?"
"You too."
I waved goodbye and bring all my things with me. That was tiring, but fun. I have a lot of home works to do when I get home.
I felt my phone vibrate.
"Hello?"
"Are you at home?"
I sighed. It's Caleb again.
"No, I'm on my way home though."
"Okay, take care baby. Don't end the call for me."
Whatever. I put my phone on the passenger seat and turned on my engine.
"Celena!"
"Fuck." I whispered.
It's Mau. She followed me here! What the hell?
"Can I have a ride? just drop me off the mall."
I just fake a smile and nodded. Sure, Mau. Even though I know she will just ask about the phone call. I don't know why she's obsessed with it.
I placed my phone on my lap and unlocked my door.
"So, How's life?" She asked.
"Pretty good and tiring. How 'bout you?"
"Still the same. So, who was that earlier? Do you have a special someone now?" she chuckled a bit.
See? We fought before because of this attitude of her. You just couldn't hide things from her because she tries so hard. She is kind and soft, but this is just something that she couldn't change, I guess.
"I told you, Mau. He was just a friend-"
"He? So it's a guy! Are you dating?"
"No. I just told you we're friends-"
"But you don't like to be just friends with boys."
I rolled my eyes. This is really annoying me.
"I'll drop you off at the mall, I still have to go somewhere." I said.
I drove the car fast so that I could drop her off. I stopped the car in front of a mall and unlocked my door.
"Thank you!" She said and left like nothing tension happened between us.
I looked at my phone and saw that Caleb is still on the call.
"Who was that?"
"A friend. She's the captain ball of our team."
I turned on the speaker mode on the call and started driving again.
"She sounds annoying."
"She is annoying."
"You in a bad mood now? Do you wanna rant about it?"
I don't know. Should I? I'm kinda pissed right now and I'm driving too fast.
"You called earlier, right? She was pestering me about it. She wants to know everything about everyone and I don't like to share the story of my whole life! Not even Laura knows what happened between us."
"Mhmm,"
"I'm just.. pissed. I don't know if it's because I'm tired or she's just pissing me off."
"I understand you're pissed and annoyed, but can you slow down the car, baby?"
How the hell did he know? Is it because of the sounds? He's so attentive even to little things. Not to mention he's busy and I can still hear the papers flipping.
"Fine."
I slowed down a bit and took a deep breath
"Good girl. Don't drive that fast, okay? If that girl bothers you again, call me anytime and pretend like you're taking an important call. Okay?"
"Okay."
I felt a bit relief. He's so good at this.
"So how was your day? Do you miss me?"
I chuckled. "No. Why would I?"
"Ouch, that hurts. I miss you though. I wanna go home."
"To New York?"
"To you, baby. You're my home."
I felt like time just stopped. s**t. I shouldn't be swayed by his sweet words, but damn! Maybe I feel like this because no one has treated me this way before.
It's foreign to me.
"I'm home." I said as I parked my car.
I carried my things and my phone with me.
"Are you going to take a bath?"
"Hmm... why?"
"Take me with you."
"Pervert!"
He laughed hard and I laughed with him.
"I'm joking baby, just trying to lighten up your mood."
I don't know if he's really sincere or he's just good at this. You know... New York boys don't do this. They can be serious, but it's so rare.
There's a lot of pretty girls in New York. Prettier than me, so why me? I want to ask him a lot of question, but I don't wanna sound so interested.
"Are you still at the office?"
"No, I'm at my condo. Just doing some paper works."
"Alone?"
"Yes, baby, Alone. The only person I want to bring here is you."
I believe him, but not fully. I don't give my full trust to anyone, not even Laura. The last time I trusted someone fully, It broke me.
It was a friend from New York. She was my childhood friend. We used to play when we take our vacation there.
After I turned 7? I think. We stopped visiting New York. My mom and dad took risk and build a business in the Philippines. They got so busy and they wanted to focus on it, so that's why.
So basically, me and that childhood friend met here in the Philippines. She ran away from her parents so she stayed here, in our house. I let her sleep on my room since we're pretty close and I don't mind.
She was partying, like everyday. That's how I got into party. I go with her, but only on weekends. So we went to a party of her friend.
I thought it was a party where you drink and dance, but no. They do drugs! Well, I didn't mind it at first and just enjoy my own company, until she offered me drugs.
I didn't want it. After that I swore that I would never go with her in a party. Then a police came to our house, someone reported her for using drugs.
It wasn't me, but she looked at me with horror and threat. I didn't think she would think that way.
What she did was, she showed my drawer full of drugs and it wasn't mine. It was all hers. What she did, she put all of those even before taking me to the party so in case she got caught, I'll go along with her.
It was traumatizing. I trusted her so much, even gave him a shelter, money, and everything she needed. Then she just ended up dragging me to the police station.
Good thing they didn't put me in jail. Mom and dad rescued me and told them that I wasn't using drugs, I even got tested just to prove them wrong.
"Thinking about someone?"
I forgot I'm still in a call with Caleb.
- Writer
