Into Her Book 1: Clyde Hernandez

06

06

4 MONTHS AGO.

“There’s still another box. I’ll just take it here.” I said before passing by her with a smile.

I didn’t give that guy another glance again and just went to work. But things happened accidentally, I didn’t expect the box to be so heavy that I lost my balance making the box fall down to the floor. My mind is on the craft and I was already expecting myself to hit the floor… but I didn’t.

My eyes were closed, ready for the impact, but then I felt arms keeping me in place. When I opened my eyes, I was greeted with another pair of intense eyes looking down at me with a blank expression on. It was like I found myself stuck in his gaze that I can’t even get out.

It’s him… the guy in a fancy outfit.

I was left just staring back at him despite the shades getting in the way. Even though he has those on, his strong aura was enough to keep my eyes locked on him. No matter how much I wanted to look away and get away from his hold already, I can’t do so because he is not saying anything as well. What is this?

“Are you just gonna keep staring at me and stay there, miss?” He suddenly says, bringing me back to my senses.

When I realized the position we are actually in, I immediately raised myself up and back away from him, almost a meter away. I fixed my clothes as well as my hair before my eyes went back to glance at him but immediately looked away when he glanced at me while fixing his short sleeve button down polo with tropical patterns.

“T-thank you for doing that,” I said without looking at him but I only heard a hum in return from him.

Without even saying anything again, he walks past my bike as if nothing happened and all I can do is give his back a short look. A sigh escapes my lips as I shake my head to bring myself back to my senses before checking if any of the crafts got destroyed but lucky me, none of them were affected by my clumsiness. I tried lifting up the heavy box again but only to almost end up the same again earlier.

“Why are you even so heavy?” I complained.

I have been delivering crafts to Aling Jilen for years now but this is probably the heaviest box I have delivered. This kind of heavy box is usually delivered by tito so it will be easier to carry since he is a lot stronger than me. But tito is busy with the other orders today so I have no choice but to use my bike and deliver it myself. I just didn’t expect that it would be that heavy. No wonder I had a hard time pedaling on my way here.

Just when I was about to have another try after gathering all of my energy, someone suddenly lifted it up for me without saying anything and walked inside the shop. I immediately followed the guy, only to realize that it was the same guy who saved me from falling earlier. My eyes only blinked and I immediately swallowed the supposed to be words that I will say when it was actually him.

Maybe I judged him too easily earlier because of his fancy clothes and sunglasses. I really thought that he might be one of those rude customers who is just out here to check the place out and judge it because he wants to. But I was just getting ahead of myself too much because of my allegations.

He puts down the box on the table where I put the first box I have lifted up myself earlier before seeing him. I just stood inches away from him, watching what he is doing because I don’t know what to say. He is a stranger but he saved me not just once but twice! Surely a thank you wouldn’t be enough but I’m not sure what I offer as a thanks to him.

Compared to me, he looks rich and even not used to the kind of things I am doing. He probably just pity me that is why he helped me earlier with that heavy box he lifted up so easily by himself. He looks like he is not even bothered that he lifted it and he helped someone because of how composed he looks like right now.

“Really thank you for your help. Maybe there is something I could give to offer my thanks?” I said in a polite manner.

He ignored my words and just went on with fixing his now wrinkled clothes. My brows arched when he suddenly let out a frustrated sigh while looking at his top. When he turned to face me, my eyes widened seeing the stain on his top probably from the box after he lifted it up earlier. His blank face turned into an obvious frustrated one now despite his glasses.

“Oh my God! I’m sorry.” I said, hesitating whether I should approach him or not. I ended up just standing on my spot. “Do you want me to wash it for you?”

“No need.” He coldly responded.

“Then… should I buy you new clothes? Just tell me what you need and I’ll get it for you.” I said out of panic.

“Nothing. There is nothing I need.”

He removed his sunglasses that gave me a whole view of his facial features. He has those dreamy eyes and straight nose, plump lips and a slightly tanned skin. Somehow, I feel bothered by his features that I almost forgot that we are talking until he speaks out in a way that I didn’t expect.

“Can you do me a favor and don’t go anywhere then be clumsy and stupid to carry something you can’t carry?” My lips parted slightly with the sudden rudeness. He lets out a heavy sigh before gazing at me intensely for a short time before passing by me. “What a bothersome.”

“Excuse me?” I immediately said after hearing his last words. “Did I ask for your help?” I argued which made him look back at me. “The last time I checked it was you who lifted the box yourself. I didn’t call for you and ask you to do it for me just because I can’t lift it up!””

I feel unfair because of his sudden call out. I mean if he has any problem with his shirt or is pissed off because of it, he could have just told me in the nicest way possible where he still has manners! Did he forget that we are strangers? He doesn’t have any right to call me out right now!

He let out a scoff in disbelief, looking at me with brows furrowed. “So this is what I get for helping a stranger? Maybe you are right! Maybe I shouldn’t have pitied you and went to help you even though you are already struggling so hard!” He let out another sigh in disappointment, shaking his head. “So much for kindness for me,”

“Kindness? I can take you saving me earlier and helping me with the box as kindness but talking to me rudely and calling me out? That is definitely out of line now!” I argued once again, raising my voice.

“You know what? Let’s just leave it here and let me leave. I don’t want to deal with someone as close minded as you.” He says without even giving me a chance to fight back again.

“Close minded? Hey! Hey!” I called out as he just kept walking further away from me.

Frustration kicks in inside me as he already ruined my morning! I swore that day that if I saw him again, I would get him back for what he told me and make him realize that he was wrong. That I am not someone he could just call out like that. It might sound immature but I can’t just let him disrespect me like that!

And today, he is standing just meters away from me while being admired and screamed for by many students in this exclusive school. Here, he is not just a student. He is a varsity player, a captain of a school team to be exact. Above all that, he is also the King-bee who cannot be offended by anyone else. He might be like that to them but for me… he is just that rude guy back in that town. That rude guy in his fancy clothes.

“That is the leader of 3 Aces and the captain of the school’s basketball team,” My eyes widened when that guy removed his sunglasses as I remembered where I had seen him. “He is Clyde Hale Hernandez, the king bee of RIS and no one dares to come and offend him at all.”

It was really him! The way he removed his sunglasses is still the same way he removed it back in Ilocos. The furrow in his brows and cold eyes with blank and rude looking yet handsome face remains the same as for the last time I have seen him four months ago. That deceiving face behind his eyeglasses I knew I shouldn’t trust anyone already, especially a person like him.

I tried not to give him anymore attention because all of those memories from that day where he came from being that helpful stranger to a reckless jerk who just can’t shut his own mouth keeps coming back in my mind. The best thing I can do is ignore it and not create any trouble in this school especially since it is my first day. But it’s hard when everyone’s attention is on him! And his friends!

The students keep looking at them, girls staring with loving eyes and some guys looking at them with so much enviousness. Probably it’s because they keep stealing the girls' eyes away which does not really exempt my new friends. I couldn’t help but just give them a look, especially Kim because she looks close to fainting, because they really are whipped for those guys.

I get it! Those 3 Aces that they are screaming at right now, they are all indeed handsome and tall. Actually all those ideal looking guy types that some girls wanted are all in them, added to that is they are part of a basketball team which is technically the sport that attracts almost every girl's attention! I may look at them in admiration too because of their physical appearance but after knowing that leader’s personality? I’d rather just stay silent and act like they don’t exist in my surroundings.

“Oh my God, Bella! EJ is looking this way!” Kim squealed near my ear, making me shiver and look at her in shock. She didn’t even give me a look and kept looking far away.

“Who’s EJ?” I questioned confusedly. So many names!

“Ethan Jude, the one she likes.” Hayde answered on Kim’s behalf because among the 3 of them, he is the only one who remained calm and almost not giving them any more attention. He gave me a looking before pointing at the direction of those 3 Aces guys. “The one with his hair pushed back.”

My mouth formed an ‘o’, getting his point. They definitely all do not look the same at one glance because the other guy is more foreign looking while the two are not. Besides that rude guy, maybe I can familiarize myself with those three guys he is with just so I know who I should avoid in the hallway. After all, they look like they are stuck with one another all the time.

I focused my attention on the pamphlet that I got earlier near the school office. It contains the school map, school events and many more things. It was an effective thought because I managed to keep my mind away from the loud crowd of students. Not until after a couple of minutes, the room suddenly returned silent which made it hard to make any single noise this time.

A gasp from the students including the people I am with in the tabel was heard, getting my attention fully. I glanced at Hayde, Kim and Kaori only to see them looking both shocked and worried while still keeping their eyes far away. Knowing they won’t provide me with any answer anyway, I decided to look back to the direction where those 3 Aces are in but I only see them standing in front of a girl who is standing tall about their neck, looking all scared.

“What’s going on? Who is that girl?” I questioned without any hesitation in this silent room.

Before I could speak up again, Kim suddenly covered my mouth and I immediately noticed how other students' eyes were glancing at me. What? Is it prohibited to talk as well when this kind of scene happens? I am new! I don’t know how to react when things like this suddenly show up in front of me after all those screaming.

“Remember what I told you about the social class in this school? That girl is one of them.” She explained, whispering, before removing her hand on my mouth. “She is Lorelei Marquez, a fangirl of the King-Bee and the Queen-Bee from what we know.”

“And? What did she do to make this silence happen?” I said in a low voice because I don’t want my mouth to be covered again.

“She kind of shouted the Queen-Bee’s name in front of Clyde, that’s why.” She spilled.

“Just because of that?!” I said, almost raising my voice.

My eyes went back to those people once again and observed them as well as the students. Some are whispering and some remain silent as if they are so afraid to get involved and even make a single noise. When my eyes went to my sister and her friends table, they had these smirks plastered on their lips as they looked at the girl in front of Clyde with mocking eyes. Talking about mean girls, aren’t we?

“Are you trying to get everyone in this room in trouble, huh? Boss is not in a good mood!” The guy with those 3 guys says.

BOSS?!

“What is wrong with this school?” I whispered to myself but I guess it's still loud because the students near our table still managed to hear it. I even got glares in return for what I have said. It’s not nothing wrong about it anyway. Who would even call someone who is probably at the same age as them as boss? Are they in a gang or what?

“What did you just say?” That rude guy back in Ilocos says. My eyes narrowed when he steps closer to the girl, stopping just a few inches away, while looking down at her with those cold eyes. “Did you forget about what I told everyone?”

“B-but I’m a shipper of you and Calista, Clyde! I have been following the two of you since then.” The girl whom I can recall as Lorelei defended.

“Are you some sort of stalker?” Clyde argued. Lorelei was about to say something more but got cutted because that rude guy spoke up again. “I don’t care what kind of person you are but if I see you following me again, spreading those photos that I already deleted in my socials and insisting on mentioning that girl’s name, you know what will happen.”

It is probably because of the silence that I was able to hear each of the threatening words that he says in a firm tone. The way his eyes gaze down fiercely to Lorelei, giving her fear and removing her rights to fight back already shows that it looks like he has this kind of authority in the school. That he is way above everyone else.

Without any more hesitation, he took Lorelei’s phone and did something there. I gasp when he suddenly just throws it on the ground harshly that creates a loud noise which also destroys the phone easily. What the hell?! Does he really think he has any rights to do that?

I look around, checking if someone will go there to help the girl but to my surprise, no one steps in between Lorelei and that rude guy. Instead, all of them are just watching and observing as if what is happening to their fellow schoolmates is not really their thing. I did admire their ability to not care earlier when I first met Kim in the hallway but not with this! They should take action! This is purely bullying!

“Why isn’t anyone doing anything?” I questioned Kim furiously again but she just tried to cover my mouth which I didn’t let her to. I changed my attention to Hayde who tried to avoid my eyes. “Why aren’t you doing anything? You are the student council President, right? You should stop them!”

“I am the student council President but I don’t really have that much power.” He looks at the commotion as a sigh escapes his lips. “Those guys are even more powerful than the ones seated as the student council officers. No one stands a chance once it is them who created a mess.”

“On top of that, Hayde is not really the President. Somebody is but she went abroad and left the position vacant. That is why Hayde stepped in as the Vice President since no one really wanted to occupy the position.” Kaori explained in a soft and low voice.

“But still! That doesn’t change the fact that you are still the President. You have the power to tell them to Mr. Llamarez.” I insist that only Hayde shakes his head.

“If he tells them on Mr. Llamarez, he will be their next target. Do you want your friend to be a victim of everyone in this school?” Kim says this time.

I let out a heavy, shaky breath because of frustration. My hands are slowly forming into fist as frustration is slowly getting into me because I didn’t expect things to be actually like this in this school. I look at the commotion again, gazing at that rude guy again.

He was about to turn to his back when Lorelei stopped him. “Wait, Clyde! I’m so-”

Everyone gasps once again when Lorelei ends up falling down to the floor when Clyde yeets her hold into his arm harshly. My eyes widened because of that disrespectful and unacceptable act by that so-called King-Bee now. He turns to face Lorelei again who is kind of struggling because of her hard fall.

“Don’t ever try touching me again.”

Those were the last words Clyde told her before officially turning to his back. His two other friends, Brycen and EJ followed him right away without glancing at the girl that their friend just humiliated in front of everyone while that Jerome just mocked and even scolded her because of what she had done. What a great gentleman those guys are, aren’t they?

“That’s it,” I told myself before reaching for a bottle of water that was placed on our table. I don’t know who it belongs to but I just took whatever I could get and stood up without much thought.

I could hear Kim, Kaori and Hayde’s voices calling for my name repeatedly with a hint of panic but all I could hear was my pounding heart in anger. Slowly, I opened the bottle of water in my hand while keeping my eyes on the target. Every table I passed by, I could feel more and more eyes on me, watching every move I make as I strive my way towards the person they are fearing and looking up the most.

“What are you-”

I pushed the Jerome guy from my way while the other two guys looked at me, watching me as I reached for their friend’s arm. He tries to yeet my hand away but the moment he faces me, I take it as my chance to do what I have in mind. I don’t care anymore if what will happen to me but I can’t let anyone be bullied over some lame reason.

“What the hell did you just do?!” Clyde raises his voice on me as his dry face earlier is now wet by the water that I splashed on him.

It drips on his blazer which made his school uniform top wet as well as his hair. His eyes were wide and his chest rose up and down rapidly. I could tell how angry he is just by the way he stares down at me with burning eyes. It was as if he could even tackle me here and wouldn’t hesitate to hurt me even though I am a girl just like what he did earlier.

“Boss!” “Clyde!” I heard his friends call but I just threw the empty bottle to the ground to where they were and that made them stop from coming closer.

“Now you know how it feels to be humiliated in front of everybody.” I told him in a firm tone which made steps forward to me until he was just inches away. A confident smirk forms on my lips as I notice the result of my action. “It’s frustrating, isn’t it? To be humiliated in front of the people who admire you.”

“Who the hell are you?” Without any hesitation, he grabs my wrist tightly which makes it a little hard for me to take it back. “Who are you to do this?”

I gathered my energy to yeet my hand away from his tight hold which I successfully did after my second try. “Don’t you remember me? The girl you gave rude remarks back in Ilocos, you asshole.”

He observes my face until a disbelief scoff escapes his lips. “That clumsy girl.” His eyes went from my head to toe which made me raise a brow until he met my eyes back. “How are you here? The last time I checked, delivery girls can’t afford to study in this school.”

It was like his plan to humiliate me back, he says those last words as loud as he can get. The students ended up laughing which got me distracted for a while but I kept my eyes on him. So this is how this school is like?

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is what you did to that girl,” I said, glancing behind me where Lorelei is standing while shaking her head on me.

“What I do is none of your business, clumsy girl. I suggest you stay out of my sight if you don’t want to get in trouble.” He threatened before turning to his back again. His friends passes by me with Jerome giving me a judging look,

But things could not end there.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that!” I said, raising my voice for him to hear before he could even leave the area. “I’m not like some people who can just watch and observe someone bully the other.”

“How fearless, aren’t you?” He stares back at me with his piercing gaze. “Who are you to step in my way anyway?”

“A transferee who isn’t afraid of you,” His eyes narrowed. “Arabella Fay Santiago.”