Chapter 02

I woke up early as usual. Our class starts at twelve o'clock and I plan to leave the house at eight o'clock. 

I was whistling while cooking while thinking about what Troy would look like later when I handed this food to him. I feel like I'm being sprinkled with salt because of the excitement I can't control inside of me.

"Oh, you already woke up." 

I looked at Aunt Anne for a moment, her hair in disarray. She obviously just woke up.

"Ah, we have practice today Aunt Anne for our intramurals. We need to be on the court before class starts." I said. 

"Really?" Aunt Anne, promised unconvinced.

I turned off the gas first and took out the bacon I cooked.

What I said is true. Intrams is coming up and I'm participating because I'm a gymnast and at the same time I'm also a part of the school's cheerleading group. We have to practice before class since our group has to show off for the other schools. I'll also be dating Troy at the same time, of course. I don't fail there, even though I'm busy with my training, I don't forget him. In fact, he is my inspiration for all the things I do in school.

"Auntie, it's like you don't trust me. You cant take me to school if you want, so you can be sure." I said, challenging her. 

"Oh, my trust is in you, since you already said it. But don't forget our conversation last night, do you understand." It's not a question anymore, it's more on, I need to undertand it. "Stop courting, because first of all you're a woman, Abigail—"

"Hey Aunt Anne, we're in a new generation, it's no longer fashionable for men to court." I groin and I felt a pinch in my side.

"That's not what I want to convey to you. All I'm saying is, slow down because your pocket might be empty again. You'll regret it later because you're spending your time and money on the wrong person. And one more thing, Didn't I tell you you're too young for that?"

"Troy is the right person, Aunt." I said ignoring what she said last time.

"The right person on your side. But for me, from what I see. You will only be hurt by Trisha's daughter. Isn't that a woman by heart and he still has a boyfriend?" She asked while taking the leftover bacon and patting it.

"Auntie, you're gossiping my man huh." I joked and threw myself on the chair. "They will also be separate Aunt Anne, I can feel it." None of my own and I immediately felt stoned. I picked up the tissue below and put it on the table again. I didn't pay attention to Aunt. 

I'm just kidding. But if God granted me my joke, what joy will I feel? But it's impossible, from the news I've heard, the relationship between the two is even more getting stronger. But even so, I don't lose hope. I know that one day we will be meant to be with each other.

I smiled at the memory that came to my mind. That disappeared as soon as my Aunt Anne spoke again.

"Abigail studies come first." She said again.

"Auntie, I'm studying real hard. You saw my grades, didn't you? I even entered with high honors this grading." I said, proudly of myself.

Aunt Anne did not answer. I grinned when I finished what I was preparing. I immediately put Troy's food and mine in the bag while facing the mirror and fixing my hair. I just put my liptint and just powder and cologne for my to go school make up. Simplest the best.

When I finished, I focused my attention on my phone. I immediately typed a message for Troy, I knew he wouldn't be able to answer that so I didn't wait any longer.

"Aunt Anne, I'm leaving!" I shouted from the living room. My Auntie came out of the kitchen and waved at me with a smile and her eyes widened. I just nodded and gave him a thumbs up.

While I was waiting for the ride to go to school, I took the phone out of my pocket to message Troy again, but before that I looked at the schedule that Brando sent me this morning.

It's been a few days since I asked him for Troy's schedule. He didn't want to allow me at first because he said that his friend might get angry with him because he said that I might show up somewhere. It's a true thing, but now, it seems I've agreed with him. His justification earlier was because I said I would cook for Troy, that's why he agreed.

I thanked him a few more times and I didn't disappoint him, because later, I would go to their room myself so that he wouldn't have to go down and crowd the cafeteria.

I was shocked to see the time today. That's right, it's break time. I immediately pressed the call and after a while he answered it too.

"It's good that you answered right away. I thought I'd have to wait a few more hours before—"

"Abigail?" Said a familiar voice. "It's Jack, Troy is at the clinic right now. I'll just tell him that you called, bye."

The voice that answered Troy's phone sounded a shock to me. I swallowed several times and tried to sink what Jack said into my brain. I didn't waste another moment. I stopped until I got a ride to school. I'm nervous for him. What happened? I'm almost restless. I bit my bottom lip several times because of the scenarios playing in my mind. I closed my eyes and calmed myself down. Nothing will happen if I get nervous and panic even if I don't know the whole thing. After I got off the gate, I just ran inside. I immediately saw Brando with Candy, they both noticed me and immediately greeted me.

"What happened to you?" Candy asked as she made me sit still and rubbed my back.

 I faced Brando. 

"What happened to T-Troy?" I just asked. "How's Troy?" I asked again.

Brando tilts his head and shuts his mouth. "At the clinic, that guy's nose just bled because he's so tired and he still hasn't slept. Don't worry baby, that guy is just fine."

There was reassurance in Brando's voice but I didn't move. "Can I see him?"

"Oh, Jack is there. You better go when you don't have his boyfriend over there." He said as he opened his fan.

"What now? I'm just going to check on Troy's condition. I'm worried, besides, Jack knows me." I sniffed together but Candy immediately stopped me.

"Troy will be angry with you if you interrupt their moment. Do you want to be drag by him, huh? Don't you remember what Troy told you? You can't interrupt them, especially at their moment together. Think about it, Abigail." That's Brando. 

I couldn't answer. Brando also has a point. If I go to the clinic while Jack is there, it might be my last day to be near him. The agreement between the two of us immediately came to my mind. It turns out that not only should I have agreed, but I also had no choice.

Some time passed. My plan to visit Troy at the clinic didn't work because Jack didn't leave him there. While practicing, I even made the excuse that I felt dizzy, because of that I was able to enter the clinic. My face soured at what I saw. Troy was lying down while Jack was in the chair. They were holding hands and smiling at each other while looking at each other. My whole being was filled with heartache, because even though I passed by Jack's side, Troy didn't even look at me. It was as if he saw no one but Jack at that time.

Our time to go home come and for a while I saw my fellow students exiting the gate. I stopped at the waiting shed and arranged my things first. Candy went first because her boyfriend picked her up, so I ended up going home alone now. Candy invited me to go along with them several times, but I didn't want to be their third wheel. I also know that they will not come home yet because they are still going to eat outside. It's ugly to look at if's I go with that situation, my face is not thick enough to make a scene. And they deserve the alone time with each other.

"Are you going home, Abigail?" 

My forehead wrinkled when I turned to look at the pair of shoes by my side. A smile appeared on his lips when our eyes met.

"Isn't it obvious?" I rolled my eyes at him. 

 He winced and scratched his head. "I'll bring you home, if that's okay with you? You don't seem to be with your best friend at the same time and it's getting late."

I shook my head. "Thanks but no thanks, Samuel. I can take care of myself, and can you stop coming near me, if that's okay?" I said in annoyance at the same time as I teased him. I quickly picked up my things but Samuel quickly turned me closer to him.

"W-What the hell?!" I pushed on his chest but the force of Samuel's grip on me was too strong.

"I'm just going to take you home, Abigail, that's all. You already busted me, not just once but several of times, and now you don't even want to let me take you home? You're pushing me too much away from you, Abigail." His voice was filled with resentment.

"Because that's the right thing to do! Can't you feel that I'm not into you, Samuel? Are you that's numb??" I asked, annoyed. 

"B-But I'm madly into you, Abigail. So please, let me take you home---" 

"S- Samuel, can you please stop? Don't you really can understand it, huh? How many times have you tried to take me home? Why can't you get it into your head that I don't want to! I don't want you to take me home and I don't want you too!" I muttered a litany and was disgusted when I stared at him.

Samuel let go of me and I immediately took that time to get away from him but just like before, he quickly grabbed me again. His previously calm aura has disappeared, instead his tears are rolling down his cheeks and his roots are showing that and it voicing out that he is angry at what he heard.

Trembling rumbled in my chest. I have never seen Samuel get angry at my daily routine of pushing him away.

"Y-you're hurting me S- Samuel!" The courage in my voice is strained. But he only tightened his hold on my arm.

I want to cry in pain. My Aunt Anne has never carried me or picked me up with such pain, so I was filled with fear throughout my system.

"Y-You're hurting me too, Abigail. Emotionally and mentally!" He shouted that makes me jump out of fear. 

"Why can't you give in to me, Abigail? I'm straight, not like the one you're flirting with. Even now I can prove myself to you! Why can't I just—"

 "Because she doesn't want you."

My eyes widened and I turned my gaze to the bulk approaching Samuel and me. It was as if I was filled with hope when our eyes met. His forehead is furrowed, there is cotton in his right nostril and his thick eyebrows met apart. It was amazing that it completely stopped at our side. He came up to us with his hands inside of his pockets.

"And who is it, you?!" Samuel was furious as he threw me like a stone on the other side and was about to attack Troy when I quickly blocked him.

"Try it, Samuel. Try it, I will definitely report to guidance so that you lose your scholarship and position at this school." My threat seemed to bring him back to his senses. 

"Abigail—"

"Let's go, it's getting late. There's a lot of bad spirits surrounding this place, we'll maybe be haunted here If we stay longer her, it's hard." Troy sighed, picking up my fallen things and slung my shoulder bag over his shoulder.

I didn't look at Samuel anymore, I followed Troy's footsteps while fiddling with my finger. I don't know how to thank him, I feel shy for unknown reasons.

When we already got out of campus, we stopped in the parking lot and he handed me my bag. It appeared to me as if I had done something to him, when we just met. I just didn't pay attention to it because I felt like I was running out of energy.

"I thought you were going to walk away from that spirit?" He was upset. 

"Who?" I asked out of spite.

"Who, seriously, you're asking it to me?" He asked confused while washing his face with his palms. "Tsk, it's up to you, I don't care if you don't stay away from that devil? I should be happy because a snort will disappear around me."

"What are you talking about Troy?" I asked confused and tried to touch him but he avoided.

"Samuel. That classmate of mine is dead to you!" He shouted causing me to close my eyes. What a gay. 

"Are you saying I'm not staying away from him?" 

He didn't answer. 

"I didn't approach him earlier if that's how you understand the situation you found yourself in. I was there first and he insisted on taking me home and I immediately refused. He was the one approaching me Troy, not me." I explained but he looked away.

"I don't need your explanation. I don't even care." The tone of his voice change, there's no confusion or so whatever. 

"Yeah, why I even explained myself, where's there's not point of it." I uttered. 

I just let out a breath and turned away from him. I heard his weak question about where I was going while he was still talking to me, but I didn't look at him.

I'm tired. Tired to understand everything.

"Abigail!" He still screamed. "I'm still talking to you! You can't just walk out to me like that!" 

I stopped while crouching on my feet. I simply smiled. 

I can't walk out to him like this, but he can to me. What a bossy type of person he was. 

"I'm going home, Troy. I'm tired and—by the way." I immediately turned around, and saw him approaching me who also stopped voluntarily. I dropped some of my things on the floor and dug into my bag. "Oh, get this." I reached for the tupperware with food for him.

No doubt he accepted it, but then with a questioning expression.

I composed myself and gave him the smile I always do when I face him. "I cooked it, hopefully for your lunch but then you are at the clinic. I still intended to give it to you earlier but I saw you and Jack were busy with each other and I also saw him feeding you. It has cooled down, just warm it up or throw it away, you decide." I said before turning around and walking quickly away from him.

"Abigail!" He called again but I turned a deaf ear.

"Hide that tupperware! That's more important than anything else!" I shouted back and hop in a tricycle that I stopped.