Chapter 5

“Well at least we tried right?” Trina asked as she sipped on her frappe. I just smiled at that.

“Yep, it’s not bad at all. Like at least we were able to prove ourselves that we have improved. Imagine, Phylisse Academy didn’t really win that big against us last time so meaning, we have a chance to beat the other teams,” I said hopefully. I know it may sound delusional but I am not ready to give up just yet.

“Hey, Arya! It was a nice game last time!” one of our schoolmates approached us. I do not know her name but as far as I can remember, she’s one of those few students who watch our games.

“Thank you, and I really do apologize if we were not able to win,” I said shamefully even though, deep inside I think they’re already used to it.

“Hey, don’t be sorry. I actually have this feeling that you will be able to win this time, judging your performance last time,” she said again and after bidding her farewell, she sat on a table nearby with two of her friends.

We’re currently at Café Katrina which is the favorite spot of most of the students from our school. The food and ambiance are quite great here that even students from all over the district also comes over here. Their frappes and cakes are heaven, while the rice meals are also elegant even though it’s not even expensive.

“Are you and Maven meeting here today?” Gail asked.

I shrugged. “Not sure. Since the league officially started, from what I know they’re training more seriously. He texted me also that they have training today. Well, you all know how Vicente is. After that loss against Herondale High last year, I bet he’s real pissed to take back the crown from them,” I sniggered.

Our men’s team may be a really good team yet when they’re up against Herondale High, it seems like the cards are stacked against them and it has always been like that for years, that people even call them already, “destined rivals”.

I remember how Maven was devastated last year. It’s supposed to be a back-to-back championship for them but it was really difficult. The match reached the fifth set and during that point most of them are tired already while Herondale is still on their game. Though it’s no wonder already since Herondale won the fourth set, so it’s just natural that the momentum is on their side.

So, this time, they’re really motivated to play better. 

“Well, will you be okay if we’re going to leave you alone?” Gail asked while looking at her phone. She doesn’t need to tell me but I can tell from how she looks that more likely her mom texted her already to go home.

“Oh sure, no worries,” I assured because I understand that Trina needs to go too especially that their houses are just in the same village.

“See you tomorrow, captain. Let’s just try harder next time,” Trina said and then off they go.

I sighed because I suddenly feel so tired. That was just the first game and the next one would be on Friday. Weekends begin tomorrow and I am thinking of training but I guess I would have to postpone it until next week so everyone could rest.

The door of the café then suddenly opened because I was kind of expecting that it’s Maven or someone, I know but it’s not.

I automatically hugged myself. Last time, the crowd around are noisy but now everyone is so silent that I can feel my own heart beating in my chest

Fourteen guys entered and they’re intimidating as ever. They are all tall, and their school uniform looks familiar. Black slacks paired with the same color coat, necktie, and a white polo inside.

My eyes widened. These guys are from Herondale High! I can’t be wrong because they’re the only school here in district whose school uniform is all black and where students are gangly.

They looked around as if they’re looking for someone and when they saw a vacant table, they squeezed themselves together then started browsing the menu. This isn’t the first time that I see a student from Herondale High but certainly, this is the first time I saw them as a group.

And what are they even doing here in an artsy café?

I badly want to tear away my gaze from them but I can’t. There is something unnerving about them. I don’t usually feel intimidated by guys considering that I have three brothers but being here with these guys in one place makes me feel uneasy.

I won’t even have to guess that they’re a member of a gang because I am sure of it. They have the aura of being in one, and they have these identical rings on their fingers.

I almost jumped off my seat when one of them suddenly darted his attention to me. Pair of cold gray eyes welcomed me.

Shit, why is he looking at me?

We stared at each other for a few seconds until I am the first one to look away. I hastily get my spoon and looked down at my cake to distract myself but I can still feel that that guy is still looking at me.

I just resumed eating and did not bother to look up anymore. I just grabbed my phone instead and texted Maven to ask where he is.

Yet, I am also forced to look up because someone just sat in front of me. The gray eyed guy. What is he doing here?

A devilish smirk formed on his lips “Hello, Arya Astrid Fonacier,” he said that made my eyes widened.

“You know me?” I said in disbelief as I try to remember if I have seen him somewhere already.

He stared at me coldly. “I just called you in your whole name, right? Go figure,” he answered back coldly.

This is dangerous. He is dangerous. I do not know him but his aura is enough for me to know that he’s dangerous.

He put his hand on the table and tapped it with his long fingers. The ring on his index finger caught my attention. I focused my eyes there just in case I can catch something like maybe the name of their gang, but unfortunately, all I can see is just a faint image of a wolf.

Herondale High. Herondale Wolves. It makes sense.

“I know you’re wondering why I approached you. I came here to tell you that your boyfriend is cheating on you. He’s going out with that cheer captain for some quite time already, did you know?”

My jaw dropped at that. What did he just say?

“You don’t know –”

“Maven Paolo Fajardo, isn’t he?” he said cutting me off.

I’m not deaf so I am sure that I heard him. He said that my boyfriend is cheating on me who’s going out with the cheer captain for a while now. But does this guy think I am stupid to just believe him?

“I bet your family isn’t giving you much attention so you’re out here playing with other people? What makes you think that I will believe you? I mean, it’s not surprising that you know Maven since he’s famous,” I retorted but it seems to do not have any effect on him.

I almost jumped from my seat when he stretched out his hand. I thought he’s going to touch me yet he reached for my frappe and sipped from it. The nerve!

“Am I forcing you to believe me? Find it out yourself if you doubt it,” he said quietly.

There’s just no way that Maven will do that to me. I know him all too well. And if he’s going to do something like that, there’s no way for me to not know. St. Agatha isn’t that big for him to hide it from me. One more thing, he isn’t the sort of guy who will do it. He loves me so it’s just impossible.

“There’s no need for me to do that! Maven loves me and he won’t do that to me!” I hissed at him

“You sure about that? Let’s have a deal then”

My eyes widened at what he said. Deal? What does he mean by that?

“If I’m right, you will pose as my girlfriend for a month,” he said and even pointed at me.

I covered my mouth because I was too surprise. This guy is beyond crazy! We just met and he’s already asking me this?

“What do you say? Why does it seem to me that you’re having second thoughts already? Are you scared?” he teased when I just remained silent.

“With or without that deal, I know Maven isn’t cheating on me!” I answered.

“Then that’s it. If you’ll insist that he won’t do that then agreeing to my deal should be easy. Anyway, you really believe him, right?”

I can feel the anger slowly rising in my chest. I could’ve thrown my frappe at him already if I wasn’t able to stop myself.

“What will be the answer then, Ms. Fonacier?” he asked again, grabbing my attention.

“What if I win? What will I get from this?” I asked back.

He sat back comfortably and looked at me intently as if I amused him. He then shrugged his shoulders “Your call. Do anything you want with me; I don’t really care” he said

***

Like what I was saying, these guys presence is enough to make the atmosphere in such a low spirit. I wonder if this was what Harry Potter felt when there were dementors around him?

And it sucks to think that my thoughts are a mess right now especially when I am usually the one who can’t be swayed by a mere presence.

But can anyone blame me? Especially when this gray eyed devil is still in front of me and is looking at me intently.

“Do you still have something to say?” I asked with my one of my brows raise because he isn’t moving. He shifted from his seat and I saw him fumbled something from his

something. It’s a pen. He scribbled something on the paper then moved it to me.

“What is this for?” I narrowed my eyes. When I looked at the tissue there are numbers written on it then I realized that it’s a mobile number.

“Call me when the shot has been fired” he said tonelessly then left to join his companions. I thought they are staying because a lot of them are eating but when he signaled

something to them, they all stood up from their seats and went to the exit.

That’s when I noticed that there are big bikes parked in front of the café. As much as I want to avert my gaze somewhere else, it seems that my eyes have a mind of their own.

What the hell just happened? Why do I have this feeling that they just came here for me?