Chapter 7: Zeke’s Angel

ZEKE

“Zeke oh. Para sayo.”

I was only thirteen when she started courting me. I already turned her down when she said she liked me but here she is right now. She had always been the bar-headed woman I know and I appreciated her persistence secretly.

“Do I look like gay for you to give me flowers?” I replied with the usual fake bored tone.

She never gave me flowers before and the bouquet of white tulips looked so fresh. I declined the offer but not because I think its gay. I want to take her gifts, but I just couldn’t do it.

The school bell suddenly rang as it erased my thoughts about her. My jaw and abdomen is still excruciating as if Chad’s knuckles are still pressed in my skin. I already excused myself in two subjects so I need to go back. I am not a fan of cramming.

“Dito ka muna dito Mr. Trevoir at dumudugo pa ang labi mo.” The nurse ordered as she stood infront of me while carrying her clipboard. I slowly sat up in the clinic bed then I put on my shoes.

“I need to go back to my class.” I plainly said before I stood and walked out of the room.

The pain was still unbearable but I chose to ignore it and started dragging my own ass through the corridor, wandering around if Cassidy is already back. I have to see her at least or I’ll lose my mind.

After class, I immediately walked past Cassidy’s room to quickly check if she was already there in a way that she wouldn’t notice. I worriedly checked on their door as I waited to see a glimpse of her.

I’m worried as hell when Chad suddenly took her. I was hit badly that time and I was forced by one of the teachers to go to the clinic because they insisted to find Cass themselves and I needed to cured immediately. If something happened to her, I will kill that bastard without second thoughts.

“Cass, besh, sandali!”

I was already on their doorway when Cassidy started walking out and her friend followed her while calling.

Agad na nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Cassidy but before I could even avert my eyes, she already turned back.

“Besh—”

“Tara na Trixy.” She said plainly before grabbing Trixy’s right arm before she started walking away from me, stunned by what just happened.

CASS

Parang tumatakbong mga paa ng kabayo na handang sumugod sa gera ang pintig ng puso ko at halos manginig ako sa pagpipigil sa sariling tapunan ng atensyon si Zeke at itanong kung ayos na ba s’ya. Nangangati akong hawakan ang pisngi n’yang may pasa at ang labi n’yang may sugat.

Napahawak na lamang ako sa sariling dibdib habang naglalakad palayo kay Zeke at hawak sa kabilang kamay si Trixy.

“Ang galing mo besh ha! Talagang nilampasan mo lang si Zeke! Dati, hindi nakukumpleto ang araw mo hangga’t hindi sinisigaw ang pangalan n’ya! Ang bilis naman ata masyado.”

Pabulong niyang sabi na halatang manghang-mangha sa ginawa ko. Baka marinig kami ni Zeke kaya’t nanatili kaming maingat sa pagsasalita.

“Hindi ‘yon madali Trixy. It’ll never be easy.”

ZEKE

As I walked inside my room, I immediately sat on the cold bed while thoughts about Cassidy filled all the corners of my mind.

Being ignored by her is the worst feeling ever. I never expected for it to happen. When it comes to her love, I know it was strong. Her love for me was always been unbreakable and I had been confident about it. Now that she didn’t even approached nor greeted me, I felt like I’m slowly losing my own sanity.

What kind of brainwashing did Chad fucking do for Cass to suddenly change like that?

“Hey there bastard!” I glanced at the devil who disrespectfully barged into my room and didn’t even bother to knock.

I just suddenly realized that I had been patiently living with him for eighteen years and suddenly thought that it was too much. I couldn’t remember how hard it was.

“What do you want?” I asked him whilst getting a hard grip on the sheet of my bed, trying to not lose my cool and kill him where he stood.

“I want you dead.” A triumphant and evil smile crept on his face as he remained standing in front of me. He stared at me just like how he used to when he mocked me back then.

“What coincidence then. Cause I want you rotting in hell, too.”

He snorted before he asked in his usual creepy serious tone, “I came here to ask,” he squinted his eyes like he was anticipating a reaction that he wouldn’t like, “you really don’t like her do you?”

I looked at him dubiously as I thought of a different approach he was actually going to do. Usually, he made me do his projects, he asked for the things I worked hard to get, or made me do him favors like how made me help him join the varsity. I wasn’t expecting that he would be asking about my feelings to Cassidy.

“It’s none of your fucking business.”

“I want you to spill it bastard.”

It made me angrier as I saw the persistent expression in his face and his clenched jaw, “What makes you ask that stupid question anyway? Why the fuck do you even care?” I said coldly as I returned the same glare he gave me.

“I asked that because I have to make sure now that we’re officially engaged.”

I didn’t know how to react at first and I was frozen for a second before I shook my head abruptly to snap out of shock. “That’s a stupid news.”

They cannot do that to her. They cannot just arrange her to Chad since everyone in this very house know that I am Cassidy’s true love. I knew she would never agree to it.

“You don’t believe it do you? Then ask mom. Or ask even tita Margaret to confirm it. They both decided that we’ll get married as soon as possible.”

My jaw immediately hardened and I could not help myself but grip hard until my knuckles turned white. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. They shouldn’t involve Cassidy to their businesses! It should be me! I sacrificed for years because I know when we’re finally older and I could finally stand on my own feet, I could finally pursue her! This couldn’t be happening!

I waited and I kept waiting. Even if I want to hold her already, I controlled myself not to want her. I was confident that Chadler could never sweep her off her feet. She assured me every single fucking day that her everything would always be mine. I never anticipated Chandler’s brute force to just push her into marrying him.

Cassidy is mine. I would bring any fucking man to the depths of hell if he dared to touch her. I could strangle him right now if it wasn’t for lack of power yet.

“Cassidy will never agree to that. Whatever y’all trying to do, we all know who she loves the most.” I am confident. I am her angel. No one could take her away from me.

“But you hate her right? Maybe you could push her away harder this time so she’d be able to marry me willingly.”

I laughed bitterly in my head and I couldn’t help gritting my teeth. I was right indeed. He came here to ask a favor again. No not this time you bastard, Cassidy is a different matter.

“And you think with that, she’ll stay away from me? You think if I push her a little more, she’ll break?” I hissed, “can’t you fucking see how she’s into me? I already humiliated her, I insulted her, I belittled her, but has she ever left me? She’s even falling harder whenever I push her away!—”

Without a word, he grabbed me by the collar and looked at me straight with his eyes darkened. Chad was tall but he was still inches lower than me and I could bet all my money, I could pin him on the wall without even blinking. “And you’re enjoying the attention. You enjoy it so fucking much! But let me tell you right now you scumbag, and stick it right in your thick skull, she will never be yours. She’ll never end up with you. This wedding’s going to happen and I’m going to do whatever it takes to make her walk in that aisle. And if you dare do something to ruin it, I will kill you.”

With that, I pushed him with all my strength to free myself. He almost lost his balance but he still managed to kept himself standing. Et us see if you prepared with a great.

“You better watch your back then, stepbrother.”

That’s it. I could finally declare that their reigning days are over. I am not going to just stand here and do nothing anymore. They were trying to take Cass right now and I would never let them take her. She’s all I have left.

CASS

“Sugar-bum? Can we talk?”

I was in the middle of pouring my heart silently when I heard a soft knock on the door and my mom asked to reach out to me.

I sniffed in before I sat on the bed and placed the pillow I’m cuddling beside me and dried my tears, “Come in mom.”

I watched her slowly came in and sat beside me on the bed, as her eyes screamed concern and worry. “Is my baby crying?”

Masyado atang halata ang pamamasa ng mga mata ko kahit bed lamp lang ang nagsisilbing ilaw mula sa loob ng at kaunting liwanag naman galing sa bilugang buwan sa labas. Kinabahan tuloy ako at agad na nag-isip ng palusot.

“No mom. I think it’s just cold.” Muli pa akong suminghot para hindi na siya makahalata pa.

She still seemed dubious but after a second, she just sighed. Maybe she didn’t want to be persistent because it might cause an argument.

“You know what baby, I really missed babysitting you. I missed our times together watching your Barbie movies, eating lots of ice-cream, and girl talks. Now look at you my baby bear, crying over boys. You’re a lady now.”

I chuckled. The realization of how fast time could run allured me. “Don’t worry Mommy-bear. I still love you.”

Time might run fast and arguments might rise but my love for her would never change. Mag-iiba ang lahat pero hindi ang pagmamahal ko. If I could love Zeke this much, then I surely love my mother more than that.

“Baby, I know that you’re still too young to get attached to a guy but, I think Chad deserves—”

“I’ll give Chad a chance mom.”

Tulad nga ng hinala ko ay talagang nagpunta ito para kausapin ako tungkol sa kasunduan na iyon. Alam kong hindi siya titigil hangga’t hindi ako pumapayag.

I bet she thought I would be as reluctant as before because she was in total shock when I finally agreed.

“But in one condition,” singit ko kaya’t lalo itong umusog palapit sa akin at tinitigan ako na parang desperada na at handang gawin ang lahat.

“What is it baby? Chadler is willing to do everything just for you to give him a chance.”

Is he? It looks like she was the one was willing to do everything to make me marry Chad. I still feel traumatized after what he did to me at school so, I am a little bit not convinced with the statement, but maybe the fact that he didn’t really harm me that bad is something I could still hold on to.

“I don’t want to hear anyone of you chattering about weddings and marriage, yet. I want to get to know Chad first before I decide if I am willing to marry him. Is that clear?

I hated how they talk about me and Chad and how were things between us could further develop into marriage and building our own family. I hated the thought of how they want to plan ahead for us instead of just letting us get on with our own lives.

But as expected, my mother sighed in disappointment. She was always the one to start the commotion so I knew she would act like this. But it didn’t matter to me now because I’m already going to do them a favor. I am just hoping for a little consideration.

“Well, you leave me no choice baby. Okay. We won’t talk about you getting married to Chad yet. But, I want you to stick with Chad only. Not with any other guy, nor even Zeke.” Her voice sounded soft and calm, but even with that, my heart felt hammered to pieces.

I want to set him free, I really do. I want him to have a fair life that Tita Devin never granted him even he deserved more than that. I want him to feel safe and at ease. But I could never deny how hard it would be for me because of the fact that my own happiness and freedom would be at stake.

I felt my eyes started to water but I swallowed hard and cleared my throat to avoid showing my mother how vulnerable I am right now. “Okay. I will only stick to Chad.”

***