CHAPTER 5

“Is it true?” a female student asked as she was talking with her other classmates.        

“Yeah. I heard it from Dad. The case was so famous 5 years ago,” another female student responded with a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

Andrew was normally the type of person who didn’t eavesdrop on other people’s business, but his classmates were talking so loudly. He couldn’t help but listen to what they’re gossiping about. He ignored them as he was about to plug his earphones, but something caught his attention—5 years ago. It rang in his ear like an alarm; an alarm that he doesn’t want to hear but still rings, no matter how he tries to ignore it.

“He killed three people but since he was still a minor back then, they sent him to Juvenile center,” His classmate went on.

“Gosh! That’s so terrifying!” his other classmate responded as she gasped, covering her mouth.

“So why did they release him?” they went on.

“Dad told me that the guy has good consistent records. They think the guy was cured. And you wouldn’t believe it…” she leaned closer to her classmates as she continued, “… it was said that ninety percent of the inmates including the nurses signed for him to be granted freedom,” She added with a small yet loud enough voice for Andrew to hear.

“But isn’t that risky? What if he’s just pretending?”

“I don’t know what’s on their mind,” she responded as she shrugged.

“What’s the name of the guy?” Andrew felt his heartbeat flip-flopped at the question. He doesn’t want to hear the answer, yet his ears were stubbornly too focused on the subject.

“Uhm, wait,” her classmate fished out her phone and scrolled on it, “Sanchez? Allen Sanchez?” she added.

Andrew stood up immediately from his seat as soon as he heard the name. He trudged towards his classmate, who mentioned the name. “What did you say? Who was released?” He asked with a sharp stare.

“Uh... Uhm- A-Allen? Allen Sanchez?” her classmate responded, stuttering. She was shocked at Andrew’s sudden interrogation.

Andrew froze on his spot and his eyes widen as soon as he confirmed the name once more. His ears turned red and were buzzing. How could they let him out? He asked in his mind. He doesn’t want to believe it, but he doesn’t want to diminish the fact that it might be true. He walked out from behind his classmates. He couldn’t think straight at the moment.

“A-Andrew, where are you going? Our class will start soon,” her classmates called, but Andrew did not respond to them. In fact, he couldn’t hear them. He meandered out of the classroom, leaving them confused.

He ran out of the building and went straight to the nearest Vendo machine. He looked for his coin purse, but he couldn’t find it as his hands were shaking terribly.

“DAMMIT!” He shouted as he punched the vendo machine. “Where the hell is it?!” He knelt on his one knee then rummaged through his bag but he couldn’t really find what he’s looking for.

“What the fu--” he muttered as he felt a cold object touching his forehead. He stared at his side and his sentence was abruptly cut as soon as he realizes who he was about to curse.

“Here,” Sam calmly offered while holding cold bottled water that he pressed on Andrew’s forehead.

“Vice-captain...” Andrew muttered as he reaches for the bottled water. He stood from his knee and stared at him.

“What’s wrong?” Sam queried warily.

“I.. N-Nothing vice-captain. I just felt a little dizzy,” Andrew responded, knitting his eyebrows.

“Why don’t you visit the clinic? I’ll bring you there,” Sam offered as he was worried about Andrew.

“No,” Andrew retorted as he shook his head. “I could not attend our practice yesterday. I might not attend again today if I visit the clinic,” He explained.

Sam stared at him as he studied his face. For some reason, he felt like he’s looking at a different person. He vanishes the thought as he gently placed his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “Hmmm… But don’t push yourself, alright? Visit the clinic if you don’t feel well,” He ordered.

“I will… Thank you, vice-captain. I’ll pay you for the water,” Andrew uttered.

“No, no, don’t worry about it,” Sam threw his right hand as he waived at him dismissively. “I’ll go ahead in my next class. See you later!” he bid his farewell and left Andrew on his own.

When Sam was no longer in Andrew’s sight, he sat on the nearest bench and began rummaging his bag. He pulled out a glass bottle of medication and took a few tablets from it. He then drank it in one go.

“Allen,” Andrew murmured as he tightly gripped the empty bottled water he’s holding enough for it to smash.

*****

"ANDREW!" Karl exclaimed as he hurriedly ran towards Andrew’s direction, who had fallen on the floor. A ball spiked by Herbert hit him on the head.

Andrew groaned as he held his head while his other teammates scurried to his side.

"Is he really alright? His face has been a net for the entire set,” Martin asked warily, a young-looking boy with an average build. He has dark grayish and flyaway hair with a lot of freckles on his face and a scrawny body for a volleyball player.

"He couldn’t even take Karl’s sets," Angelo pointed out, an average-looking guy with slightly down-turned eyes, causing him to have a somewhat sleepy look on his face. He has medium-length dark brown hair kept parted near the middle. His eyebrows and eyes are the same brown color.

"Sorry! I think my spike was too strong," Herbert apologizes as he knelt on his one knee, staring at Andrew.

"Andrew? Are you okay?" Karl called with a worried expression. He held Andrew’s arm and stroked it. The latter then slowly opened his eyes, averting his gaze towards a hazy image of a man with long and silky blonde hair. "Andrew, are you alright?" Karl went on, but Andrew hears his voice within a different yet familiar man.

"Em--"

"Are you alright? Should I bring you to the clinic?" Karl asked once more, which seems more vivid and loud to Andrew’s ears. He blinked his eyes several times and the face of the blonde guy had disappeared. His eyes are now focusing on Karl’s worried expression.

"I..." Andrew mumbled, grasping Karl’s arm for support. He pulled his body upwards and sat on his bump. "I’m fine," He added.

"Rest on the bench, for now, Andrew," Dale ordered.

Andrew nodded in response. He stood from his seat and trudged towards the bench. Their manager gave him a water bottle as soon as he plopped down on it. Karl anchored his eyes in his direction as he pondered. For some reason, he thought Andrew was staring at him differently.

"Alright, another set!" Dale shouted that made Karl unfocused. He felt reluctant to continue with the practice but Sam slightly nudged him on his shoulder, gesturing him with a look of He’ll be fine. With one last glance at Andrew, he went back to the setter position.

After one last set, Karl immediately glances at the bench where Andrew was but he couldn’t find him. He trailed his eyes towards other benches to the other corners of the gym, but he couldn’t see a glimpse of him. Worry immediately appeared on his face and, as if it was a cue, he suddenly felt a poke from his back. He turned around and saw their manager now standing in front of him, a girl of average height with shoulder-length black hair. She has grey eyes with visible long eyelashes, a distinct mole on the lower left side of her chin, and wears square-rimmed glasses with pink rims and a bridge.

“He went back to the clubroom,” she started with a whispered voice that could make every man’s heartbeat bounced. If Karl was straight, he would actually put their manager on his ideal type list.

“Ohh, a-alright. T-Thanks, manager,” Karl stuttered as he heard her voice, which he only hears rarely.

Their manager nodded and left him on his spot. He sighed heavily as soon as she was no longer in his sight. As if he just talked to a goddess who could bless him with just a few words. It left him somewhat speechless and made him lost for a second, but then he thought of Andrew once more. Karl thought that maybe he’s not feeling well. He was quite the entire time ever since the start of their practice. He also noticed Andrew’s constantly unfocused attention and looking around, often causing him to miss his set several times.

"Karl!"

Karl averted his attention towards Sam, who’s standing in the equipment room, waving at him. He gestured Karl to come over, which the latter immediately obliged. "What is it, vice-captain?" he asked.

Sam pulled him inside the equipment room and halted in front of a cabinet filled with sports equipment. "I’m just wondering if you have a problem, you know, with Andrew." He muttered.

"No, we don’t, vice-captain. We’re just fine this morning,” Karl replied “Why? Did he perhaps tell you something?" Karl asked as he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Hmmm... No, maybe I’m just worried," Sam responded as he shook his head. But in the back of his mind, he thought there was really something different from Andrew from what he saw earlier. "I think he’s not fine."

Karl tugs his ears as he tilts his head. He furrowed his eyebrows and joggled his head. "I don’t know. We haven’t much talked ever since the start of the practice. But..." his voice trailed off as he hesitated.

"But?" Sam urged.

Karl sighed heavily. He’s not great at expressing himself, but Sam was different. For him, Sam was the most reliable person who he could trust aside from Andrew. Andrew is his sunshine who gives off energy, but Sam is like a moon to him. He’s not a ray of sunshine, but he shines when you’re in the dark. He somehow feels comfortable around him. He would have probably liked Sam as well if he hadn’t liked Andrew back then.

"I feel like he’s always hiding something from me," Karl confessed. "to the point that I’ve been asking myself sometimes of what I am to him,” He added with a brooding expression.

Sam stared at him, almost observing him. It was not the first time for him to hear these kinds of things. In fact, he always listens to his teammates' agony and rants that if there would be a job opening for students in the Guidance council, he’ll actually submit his application. "Did you try asking him?" he started.

"I’m trying," Karl muttered.

"You tried but stop midway," Sam continued that made Karl nodded in response. He analyzes the situation as he looked at Karl. "It bothers you, isn’t it?"

"Yes, a lot." Karl agreed with a quiet voice.

Sam sighed deeply as he joggled his head. "You know what. It will never work unless you tell him what’s on your mind. A relationship is all about communication, you know? How will Andrew know that you’ve been thinking that way if you won’t tell him? Relationships won’t work with one understanding person. It actually leads to more misunderstanding," Sam advises, almost sound like lecturing.

Karl pondered as he listened to Sam. Maybe it was his fault for keeping silent all the time, he thought. He always wanted to ask Andrew about him, but he couldn’t.

Sam threw his arm around Karl’s shoulder. "There’s no harm in trying and speaking your mind. You just have to be sensitive to others. And if it doesn’t work, you can always talk to me. I’ll always lend my ears. But, ears only alright? Not my body," Sam teased.

Karl’s ears suddenly turned red as his face flushed at Sam’s end speech. Why are the people that could have been on his ideal type list suddenly attacking him in his vulnerable state? He thought. Not that he’s impuissant.

"Karl!"

The man standing caught their attention in the equipment’s room doorway. The two anchored their attention towards Andrew, who’s smiling at them.

"Andrew, are you alright?" Karl asked worriedly as he walked towards Andrew.

"Hmm!" Andrew nodded in a cheerful voice as he stared at him.

"We are so worried about you," Sam uttered.

"Really?" Andrew asked as he tilts his head.

"Of course we are!" Sam responded as he wrapped his arm around Andrew’s neck.

Andrew gazed up at him. "What are you doing here? It looks like you guys are discussing something serious," He asked.

"No, w-were not. It’s just volleyball-related stuff," Karl retorted.

"That’s right! Soooo I’ll leave you guys then," Sam pulled his arm away from Andrew and nod his head towards Karl. The latter nodded back in response. “See you, lovebirds!” he added, as he strolled away from them.