Gelo looked at me before shrugging his shoulders. He sighed before he nodded. "I know you know how much you really deserve, Meredith. Don't settle with this." Then, Gelo left.I immediately pulled Rupert away and we stopped in the hallway out of the building. When I saw no one else was around us anymore, that’s when I stopped walking and let go of his hand."That dude is really annoying. Is he really the other person who made it to the roster? Come on, that dude is an asshole, Meredith.”I stared at Rupert. Gelo’s words kept ringing in my head.How much is what I deserve?I blinked repetitively just to make sure I was seeing right— his face was red and his jaw and hands were clenched. I could feel his tension… and nasty temper."Don't ever talk to Gelo like that again," I said, heaving a deep sigh."Are you siding with him?""I don't take sides. But it's obvious that you're wrong." I ran my hand through my long hair before giving Rupert a hard punch on his shoulder.He winced, looking
"Focus on more important things, Meredith Kaye," I said to myself before glancing at my study desk to see where my checklist was.I was suddenly reminded of my upcoming general executive check-up. I sat in my study chair before taking my checklist. It contained the things my doctor said I needed to observe on my own after my last check-up last month.I smiled. So far, based on my checklist, things were going smoothly about my condition. I feel no fatigue, my vitals were doing good according to my mini check-ups at the university clinic, and my maintenance medications really helped. Also, there's no swollen portion on my breast.That's right. I had nothing to worry about. I shouldn't be scared. That check-up was like my other previous one. The checkup results would be okay.I bit my bottom lip before I put the checklist back on my desk. I quickly got up and stood in front of the full-length mirror in the middle of the two beds inside the room. I took off my shirt. Immediately, my gaze
"Welcome back, Meredith!" That's how Minzy greeted me the moment I entered the debate room.Minzy and Cherry immediately hugged me as David seemed to be calling a dove with the strength of his applause."It's nice to see you back," Sir Romeo said, tapping my shoulder before he gave me a pile of documents. "As much as I want to celebrate your return, we have a lot to prioritize for the regionals, Meredith," he added, making me laugh. I immediately accepted the documents he provided.We all even laughed when he was later on got hit on the arm by Ma’am Juliet. "You're really a party pooper! It's just the first day of their training. You're rushing over nothing, old man.” Then, she turned her attention towards me and the usual Ma'am Juliet I knew shrieked in excitement before hugging me. "I'm really glad you made it to the cut, Meredith Kaye! I'm really happy that you tried it again!""Indeed, Ma'am! And at least before Cherry and I graduate, we will be in the same debate room with Meredi
The moment I agreed with Cherry’s and Minzy’s invitation, they immediately looked at each other with stunned expressions as if it was so impossible for me to come and have fun with them. I laughed. It was only now that I realized it’s been quite a while since the three of us bonded together for a girl’s night out. I was a bad friend on that part.Minzy and Cherry were my college besties. They were the first ones I had been close to since freshman year and it was touching that even though they were a year ahead of me, they still hang out with me."Gelo and I will head first,” David said, smiling at the three of us after fixing his things. “Looks like the three of you have a date," he added, giving us a wave before wrapping his arm around Gelo’s shoulders."Next time, let’s all go!” Minzy waved her hand at David. "For now, this is exclusively for girls," she added in a sing-song manner.When David and Gelo finally left, I quickly brought my face closer to Minzy's to see the expression
"So, who is going to tell her story first? With Minzy-girl who was playing with David the Giant," Cherry turned her gaze to me before drinking her beer, “or with you Madam Meredith who is flirting with the Vulture’s vocalist?""You're overacting, Cherry," Minzy said, taking a handful of the nachos we ordered."Hey! You will eat all the chips again!” Cherry slapped Minzy's arm before pushing the bowl of nachos closer to me so Minzy could not get it. "It’s only the two of us who are allowed to drink alcohol now. You have to help me here and stop going after the chips, you beggar. I can't finish all the drinks we ordered by myself!”I laughed at their quarrel. God. I really miss their loud bickerings and frank comments, most especially Cherry.We were in a bar near the university. I thought we would hang out in a cafe or restaurant because they just said we would just talk. But then, I was surprised when they brought me in here and they ordered beer. I would not drink but Cherry insisted
“Meredith?”Rupert is falling for me?A bitter smile spread on my lips. "Impossible." I exasperatedly sighed. Then, I refilled my glass of iced tea and drank it. "There's Ava," I finally said, ruining their nonsense conclusions."Who the heck is that Ava?!" Minzy slammed the table with her fist."Hey girl! The table might break! Oh gosh! You’re no one but a broke college student! Get a grip of yourself!” Cherry went back to Minzy's side to calm her down. The alcohol was really making her lose her mind. Then she turned to me. "Who is Ava? Why is she in the picture?"I felt a pang of pain in my chest. Why is there an Ava? She’s not here but she was still part of the picture."Ava is dead. But she's Rupert's first love and he's not yet over her," I said, running my hand through my hair out of frustration. I just realized I didn’t want to talk about her. I was feeling angry for no reason."F-First love? Bullshit," Minzy hissed, "No one ends up with their first love, Meredith. Technically
“This is my life, Rupert.”Right after I said that, the tears doubled. The next thing I knew, my knees felt weak and I fell on the cold hardwood floor. I cried. My shoulders were shaking. My sobs turned to mourning weeps."I know you think of our relationship as something that only revolves about pleasure and bed, Meredith. Indeed, we're enjoying each other's company. But I'm not a heartless man just like what you thought of me." To my surprise, Rupert suddenly knelt in front of me. He cupped my face and that's when I saw the emotions in his eyes. He smiled and then wiped away my tears. "You only have thirty more minutes to cry. After that, I will punish you for drinking and for putting yourself in a dangerous situation because of alcohol."My mouth dropped open as Rupert kissed my eyes. "Your face is so red. That indicates acidosis, Meredith Kaye." His right hand went down from my cheek down to the side of my left chest. The pad of his thumb caressed the side of my breast, igniting a
" Ava ... Ava ..."My head was terribly aching and my body felt so sore but these constraints didn't stop me from waking up. The bed, where I was lying, kept on moving and shaking. As I opened my eyes, my head started spinning because of dizziness. An unfamiliar white ceiling greeted my sight and a heavy thing was weighing my bare stomach, disallowing me to sit up. I could feel the terrible soreness in between my legs and my face turned into a deep frown because of the pungent smell of the alcohol lurking all over me.I didn't remember much of what happened or where I was but I didn't have time to think about it because my gaze went to the arm that was tightly wrapped around my waist."Ava ... Don't ... Please ..."Rupert was beside me, his arm was wrapped around my waist and his face was on the crook of my neck. He was mumbling ... More like groaning ... And having a nightmare.His arms tightened around my waist as I tried to remove his arm. "Ava ..."There he was again. It seems l