Misleading of the Variance (Secondary Series #3)

08

“You may be a senior but that’s not going to happen.”

Kuya Michael insisted. I felt the tightening hold on my right wrist where Benj is holding. It’s like I can feel his growing annoyance as his hold is starting to hurt already. The atmosphere between the two of them is too intense right now.

“What are you two doing?” I questioned but it looks like I was set aside and my voice is not even heard.

“You said it yourself, I’m a senior. At least still have a little respect, Uy.” Benj says firmly.

“I have respect for those who deserve it Benj. I’m pretty sure you know that so well.” Kuya Michael fired back.

Is this a war of minds? Are they trying to get into each other’s hair until one just gives up and attacks the other?

“I don’t think I’m informed about the respect you are talking about Uy. Let go or else-”

“Or else what? Are you going to use your seniority or your position as a Vice President in the student organization to make me let go?” Kuya Michael argued.

I don’t know how this all started. I’m confused with the sudden happenings around me and about why they are doing this!

“Don’t try to provoke me Uy. You’ve already done enough.” Benj says, making him remember what happened just early this year.

“I would gladly like to see you provoked Benj. Come on, show them who you really are.” Kuya Michael provoked.

I thought things wouldn’t get worse anymore when Benj turned silent. Kuya Michael has a smirk plastered on his lips while Benj is just staring at him fiercely like he is close to fighting him. A moment later, I was pulled harshly to the side making kuya Michael let go of my wrist. I saw the glimpse of shock and worry in his eyes when I was out of his grasp. Benj let go of my wrist as he charged slowly towards kuya Michael.

“You are getting on my nerves Uy.” He said in a threatening voice when he is just a few inches away from Kuya Michael.

“I would be lying if I say I don’t feel the same way Benj.” Kuya Michael responded as he glanced at me before looking at Benj again. “You are way too harsh, don’t you think? Kuya Adam doesn’t even want a single wound in her body but you pulled her towards you too hard.” 

Those words made Benj look at me slowly. He looks at my hand that is massaging the wrist he was holding earlier. His hand marks are visible in my wrist and are a little reddish but the pain is slipping away as I massage it more. He looks at me in the way as if he was slightly terrified from what he did.

“Tell me, Benj… why are you even doing this?” Kuya Michael questioned.

I thought Benj would keep his eyes on me but I was wrong. His jaw clenched and fist clenched like he is about to punch someone already.

“None of your business.” Benj says in a firm tone.

I know it’s my time to step in when Benj stepped an inch closer to kuya Michael. It’s not good for him to get into any fights. He is a senior and a sure running for Valedictorian of their batch. It’s his last year here and getting into a fight right now will ruin his records when he kept it clean for the last 12 years that he is studying here. Added to that, he is the Vice President of the student organization and planning to run as President. If he gets involved in any fight, he might get suspended and his application for student organization candidacy could get nullified. He will be in trouble with his father if all of that happens.

“What are you two doing?” I questioned, raising my voice a little. I stood in between them, trying my best to separate them from one another by pushing them away. “Are you crazy?”

I look at the two of them in disbelief. Kuya Michael looks so chill, even crossing his arms to his chest. He wasn’t even bothered about what he just tried to do when he would get in trouble as well if they fought. He is one of the top students in their batch and getting into fights will get him suspended even though he didn’t start it. There is a high possibility he will get suspended from the Math club as well if he fought with Benj and his records will be ruined as well.

“Are you both trying to get suspended?” I questioned again but they remained silent.

Here I thought I could go home peacefully and enjoy my weekend. Witnessing a trouble is not even in my schedule today but here they are creating one that will put both of them in suspension.

“Kuya Michael, you know exactly the reason why you can’t get involved in any fights.” I told kuya Michael, facing him. “You won’t be able to compete in the minor league as well when the competition is just a month away!”

He was about to say something but just gulp it all in when I glared at him. He knows the consequences but he was still so ready to jump into trouble against Benj.

“And you!” I turned to Benj as he looked at me, almost terrified and shocked. “You are a senior, graduating Benj! Do you think getting into a fight right now won’t affect your records and your way to graduating as Valedictorian just because your tita owned the school? Do you really want to get into trouble with tito David?”

As if he was enlightened, he immediately stepped back. He stared into space as he realized what he was just about to do. He knows exactly how bad it is to get into his father’s side. Tito David is kind but getting into his bad side is not really what his employees and everyone around him would want. He is strict, especially to Benj at some point. He doesn’t want Benj to just play around ever since he was a child that is why back then, he only got to play with us when tito is not around since he is required to read most of the time than play.

“And just so you both don’t know, none of the two of you have to take me home in my house like I’m a baby who requires the assistance of someone older than me. I can go home by myself, understood?” I told them.

They were about to argue with me but a single glare made them stop. They didn’t even bother saying a single word. Seriously, they are acting like elementary here when they are just in their last one and two years in high school.

“Where are you going?” Benj asked when I turned my back from them.

“I’m going home. Don’t even try to follow me or else!” I said when I faced them again.

Kuya Michael was quick to take action first. He walked towards me as if he didn’t hear a single word of my threat. I glared at him when he passed by but he doesn’t even mind it.

“Kuya Michael!” I called as he stopped on his tracks to look back to me.

“I’m going to see your brother remember? So I’m not following you. I’m just going to the same place as you. Take a different ride if you want or you can hop in my car and go there together, choose. I’ll wait for you in the school gate.” He says before walking away.

I was about to call him out again but I had no choice. He was right. He is coming to see kuya Evan anyway. In the first place, going into our house with him is already expected. I mean why would I even choose to still commute when I can go at the same time as him. Not only do I get myself free from the hassle of commuting, I also saved some money up to use tomorrow because of the free ride.

“Ali?” I heard Benj called me in a small voice. I look at him as he looks really lost. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

“It’s okay Benj. Just be mindful of what you will do next time. You need to be careful everytime. It’s not just complying to your father about not playing around but also because it’s not the year to do it anymore. Just like I said, this is your last year in high school and you are graduating. There’s a lot of things at risk if you get yourself in trouble.” I told him as he nodded, agreeing to every I say.

“I know. It’s just that…”

I waited for him to say his next words but he only looked at me before looking down, heaving a deep sigh. Is what he wanted to say that hard to speak to?

“Nevermind.”

“You should focus on the things you should do Benj. I heard that you are preparing to take the college entrance exam in UST already, focus on it. You also still have to focus on your responsibility as the school organization officer and many more things. Don’t you think it’s better to focus on those things than to get yourself into useless troubles that will only put you into edge?” I questioned as I immediately saw the guilt in his face.

As I grew up with Abi and her siblings being around most of the time, I witnessed how Benj is not really as strong as he is. He has a lot of faults and downfalls. He is worried and conscious with everything that is going on around him. He has a lot of fears that he doesn’t let anyone see it so he uses his seniority and usually blames others whenever he feels wronged.

Even if he won’t admit it, he has a lot of envy inside him. Envy to those who can enjoy their life without being limited to do things which he has to go through. I noticed as he grew up, he is always following his father’s order and is always afraid of disappointing him. Kuya Adam once told me that Benj is like a puppet of his father. Whatever his father will say, he needs to comply or else he will be on the wrong side immediately.

He was the one, among the three of them, who experienced the strictness of their father. He was the one who was put on hold to do the things he really wanted to do. He is restricted to be whoever he wants to be. I even heard from Abi that he will be taking medicine for college and will pursue the same specialization which is Cardiologist. The pressure was on him because he is the oldest. Kuya Adam says that there is a high possibility Benj will be the one to manage Sanchez Medical Hospital in the future.

“You surely know how to scold me and give me an earful ever since we were kids.” Benj says with a small laugh.

“It’s because you have always been so hard headed ever since then.” I told him as he nodded in agreement.

I still remember the time when I first talked to him officially. It was when he went to talk to me about what I witnessed with him pushing James on the floor because he doesn’t want to play with him. I still remember his words.

“Why are you studying when the classes didn’t even start again?”

“Because it’s the only way to make our parents pay attention to me as well. Before James was born, our parents' attention was divided between just me and Abi but after that, dad focuses on James and mom focuses on Abi. So I thought if I study hard and am willing to study more, they will give me more attention as well.”

Ever since we talked that time, Benj started to feel at ease only the times when their father is not around. He is way carefree already when he is with us or when his mother is around but not when tito David is there. He doesn’t dare to speak up that is why up until now, he obeys everything his father would tell him to do. It’s like his whole life is made to dedicate it to their father alone.

“You should head home now. Just go and take the ride with Uy.” He told me as I nodded.

We walked out of the school grounds. Kuya Michael is waiting outside his car for me, leaning on it while playing with his phone. He immediately stood up properly when he saw both Benj and I. I walked towards him alone with Benj walking to their car. He didn’t tear his eyes away from me and even stood in front of their car until I’m already in front of kuya Michael.

“He can just ride with us, you know?” Kuya Michael says as I immediately smack his elbows which made him shocked. “What was that for?”

“For being such a troublemaker! Why did you even try to fight with Benj earlier?” I scolded as he laughed.

“Do you know? Pissing him off is really fun.” He says without even answering my question properly.

We went inside his car, seated on the back seat, as his driver drove out of school. This is not the first time that I have been here in his car. There have been countless times when he gave me and kuya Evan a ride home. Since he stays in the house a couple of times, we are really familiar with kuya Michael already.

“Tell me, what’s with you and Benj?” He asked when he tore his eyes off his phone.

“What do you mean?” I asked as he faces me.

“What’s with the sudden, I will take you home?” He mocked Benj’s words that made me laugh. “I know that you are close to him and his siblings but I didn’t know you two are on the level where he will wait for you and will take you home.”

“He gave me and Peyton a ride as well before. What’s shocking in him telling me that he will take me home?” I questioned him as he looked at me in disbelief.

“Girl, are you that clueless?” Kuya Michael questioned in almost a high pitched tone.

What is it with them saying things the same way about Benj? He is not the first one to even question me about my closeness with Benj. The ones who are familiar to me even asked if there is something going between the two of us. Whenever I tell them that we are just close and that’s all, they will look at me suspiciously as if I am lying or what.

“What do you want to hear?” I asked him, chuckling.

“The truth, Ali. I can’t believe you are that clueless. You spend so much time with him and his siblings. You go to his house almost every other day but you have no idea.” He told me, shaking his head with a little smirk plastered on his lips.

“Idea about what? If you are telling me now then I wouldn’t be clueless here, don’t you think?” I insisted as he looked at me, thinking whether he would say it or not but he ended up shaking his head.

“You are academically genius but are slightly blind. A harsh young girl.” He says.

I smacked his arms making him laugh. I don’t even know if I should take what he said as a compliment or not. I don’t even get what he was trying to say. 

“But honestly, I really thought Benj won’t get pissed earlier but I guess I was wrong. Guess I finally got my revenge.” He says.

“You still haven’t let it go? It’s been months!” I said in disbelief.

During the intramurals last school year, their teams competed against each other in basketball. It was a great match because both teams got a varsity player on their own sides and even the ones who are not athletes played well too.

Things were getting interesting until Benj and kuya Michael clashed into one another. I still remember how kuya Michael was so pissed. It kind of looks like they really targeted him because he was doing so well in shooting three points. Their last clash was when Benj bumped into Kuya Michael that made him fall into the ground. Since kuya Michael is too annoyed already, when the referee calls for a foul, he immediately goes after Benj. He was stopped by his teammates though.

It didn’t end just there. It’s not enough that the game turned almost into a professional play, kuya Michael even called out Benj in the hallway. They were only lucky that the supervisor is not roaming around and teachers and most students are busy watching the next game or else, both of them will possibly get a suspension that time.

“He pissed me off! Besides, he didn’t only push me into the ground on purpose once, he did it for more than four times! At least let me get a small revenge that I deserve.” He defended as I shook my head in disbelief.

“And your revenge includes getting me in between? You know that if the supervisor was around when you both tried to get into each other’s hair, there is a high possibility that I will be suspended as well.” I pointed out which enlightened him.

“I… didn’t think about that earlier.” He says as he laughs awkwardly. “Sorry.”

I rolled my eyes in response, looking so done. Imagine getting involved suddenly in a revenge suddenly because the opportunity to do it is just right in front of you? They just had to end my week with trouble.

“But hey, I really didn’t expect he would be so pissed. I only planned to piss him off a little by joking around but I guess he took it seriously. You should have seen how he was so close to punching me earlier.” He says before laughing.

When we arrived at the house, Kuya Michael was so fast to tell kuya Evan what happened. Somehow, kuya Evan and Benj are in a love and hate relationship. Sometimes they are on good terms and sometimes are not. I don’t know why they had such a relationship but all I know they aren’t really that close than I am to those three siblings.

“Why do you even keep going against my plan? We are in one group here, hello?” Abi argued with Russell.

Sam, Kait and I, along with our classmate Jared, are just looking at the two of them arguing. We are here in Abi’s house doing our group project. It’s for science and our teacher just had to put both of them in one group. I once imagined this day would happen. Both of them are running for 1st honors, being at the same group and cooperating with each to create and plan a project.

When we were first told that the two of them will be in one group, we were really delighted. We have the advantage already because it’s Abi and Russell. It’s easier to get things done with both of them in one group since I already worked with each one of them. But I guess, I am wrong. It’s a disaster!

“It’s because your plan won’t work! We won’t finish it on time as well because your plan requires a lot of time before it will be finished. It’s not like we can rush it anyway. We only have a week remember?” Russell argued back.

“So… are we just gonna watch them fighting all day? We have been here for half an hour now but we still haven’t concluded any plan. How can we even get started?” Sam whispered to me.

“What do you want me to do? Get in between them?” I asked her as she nodded.

“It’s not like Kait, Jared and I can do it. You are the only one who can.” She says.

“If I do that, they will just end up making me choose. If I go with Abi’s plan then Russell will say I am siding on my best friend. But if I go the other way round, I’m a traitor.” I said, clarifying to her the possible outcome if I get in between these two.

“So we are just really gonna let them keep arguing then?” Jared butted in.

I don’t know what to answer them because I also don’t know what will happen. If they will just keep on going against each other’s plan then we won’t be able to finish anything. We will all not get the grade we wanted. We will all be at a disadvantage.

“What’s with the noise? I can hear it all the way to my room,”

We all turned to our back to see an annoyed James. His eyes are glaring towards her noisy sister. He looked at each of us when his eyes landed to me, he immediately put on a smile before it turns into a glare again when he looks at his sister.

“Ate, someone, who is none other than me, is studying up to his balcony where your voice is heard so clearly.” He pointed up to his balcony in which we followed to look at. “That is where my room is, remember?”

“You can study inside your room, James.” Abi says, not even bothered that she is bothering her brother.

“I can still clearly hear your and your crush’s voice inside my room.” James says.

The four of us immediately reacted to what he said. I turned to Abi who now cheeks flushed because of James' annihilation towards his sister. It’s definitely his revenge for disturbing him because he wouldn’t reveal such a thing if it wasn’t. Besides, how did he even know about it?

I went to James, pulling him away from the scene. But of course, I still manage to hear what Russell says to Abi.

“So is that the reason why you keep arguing with me, Gail?” He teases which I immediately mentally facepalm.

“Why did you do that?” I scolded James when we were already inside the house.

“She was disturbing me with my studies ate!” He defended in which I sigh in disbelief.

“Just because she disturbed you, you will annihilate her already? How did you even know about it?” I questioned, shaking my head.

“It was too obvious ate! Also because I heard the two of you talking about it the other day.” He confesses which leaves me in shock.

He looks pretty shocked as well by his confession. I look at him in betrayal as he immediately covers his mouth. Now that’s the karma.

“You! Since when did you learn to eavesdrop?” I scolded as he looked at me with mouth shut.

“I didn’t mean to! You two were so loud while talking about that guy.” He reasoned out which made me feel so exhausted.

There is no use with arguing with him, I know that. As much as he listens to me most of the time, he doesn’t back down in argument when he feels like he didn’t do anything wrong. But he is wrong this time and he doesn’t have any plan on backing out.

“What’s going on here? What are you two arguing about?” Benj's voice suddenly filled the room.

“Well, your brother knows how to eavesdrop now.” I reveal in which James immediately tried to avoid.

I laughed when he was about to run away to avoid his brother’s scolding. Benj was quick to call him so he didn’t have any chance to run. I chuckled on my side, as silent as I can, when he pouted at his brother.

“What did you do James?” Benj questioned his brother.

I watch each of them as James tries his best to avoid his brother's eyes. He keeps looking around and fondling his fingers as his usual habit whenever someone is scolding him or whenever he is shy.

“I revealed to ate’s crush that she is ate’s crush.” He confessed honestly when he knows he has no way out anymore.

“What?” Benj glances to me, asking if it’s true in which I nodded. “But how? How did you know she has a crush? How did you reveal it?”

“I heard ate Alina and ate Abi talking about him the other day. They were noisy as well earlier while I was studying because ate and her crush are not agreeing with each other’s point so I decided to go down here and tell her to keep it quiet.” He explained.

“And I think it accidentally slipped in his tongue that Russell is Abi’s crush.” I continued what James missed to say.

Benj looks like he is thinking. He was just nodding slowly, understanding his brother.

“I get your point but you are seriously done later. Abi won’t let you go easily.” Benj revealed in which I agree.

Surely Abi won’t let James go. That reveal won’t let her sleep properly especially that it happened right in front of Russel.

Benj made James return back to his room and continue studying. He whined first that he wanted to stay and eat snacks for a while but he had not finished reading his book yet so he had to go. I stayed to tell their Manang Flor to prepare snacks for us but she wasn’t around so I just went to prepare it myself with Benj helping me without me even asking for it.

“Did you just get home from the academy?” I asked when I glanced at his outfit.

“Yes. Just at the right moment when James defended himself.” He says, chuckling. I saw him glance outside to their backyard before he turned to me. “Looks like you will sleep over tonight to help calm Abi down.”

“Looks like it.” I glanced outside as well as I saw Abi staying silent which is far from her loud appearance earlier.

“That’s the first time I saw her so quiet.” He pointed out as I nodded.

“I told her already to just go and straight up tell him that she has a crush on him instead of others revealing it for her. I wasn’t wrong though. James drags her into her own grave and looks at her,” I pointed to Abi outside. “She looks like she wanted to just crawl into her bed and lock herself up into her room the whole day.”

There was a moment of silence between the two of us. We continued preparing the snacks until we were done.

“Thanks for helping out.” I told him.

When I was about to take the tray of snacks, he suddenly called my name. I looked at him, waiting for him to talk. I was confused because he remained silent. When I felt like he didn't have any plan of talking, I decided to take the tray already and walked past him. But I immediately stopped when he talked.

“I like you.”