Chapter 3

Grey eyes.

“Amber!”

I blink. “What?”

Sadie’s worried face met my sight. “What’s wrong with you?”

I shake my head. “I’m just sleepy.”

She arched her eyebrow. “They told me that you went into your cousin’s club room.”

“Yeah,” I lazily answered. “Had to fetch someone who seemed to be getting fond of talking with my cousin.”

As if in a cue a loud voice echoed between us.

“I’m just asking him about something!” Adira snorted. “Well, you are too.”

“What about me?” I sighed and rested my head on the wall. 

“You’re spacing out since we left their club room,” she wiggled her eyebrows. “Got affected by Captain?”

I cleared my throat and compose myself before looking at her with my emotionless face. She’s so nosy. She notices everything. Now, I regretted going to the Music room.

“What are you talking about?” I hissed.

She laughed. “Dion Jethro Martinez the grey-eyed drummer guy.”

I pursed my lips. Even his name sounds cool. I heard Adira's laughs which made me look at her. She grinned widely while wiggling her eyebrows, teasing me.

“I’m not interested to him.” I said in a flat tone.

And with that she laughed hysterically. “Gosh! I didn’t say that you are!”

I groaned. Oh, come on. How stupid of me to say that! 

“Finally! Someone caught Ms. Classy’s interest!”

Oh crap. 

Everything was chaotic. The crowds were jumping while screaming the name of the band. I didn’t sign up for this. Why did I let myself got drag by them?

“Elite Band!”

“Linus! Linus! Linus!”

“Notice me Worth!”

“Shaun baby!”

“Marry me Captain!”

“My Alas!”

My face scrunched up from their loud voices. They’re just wasting their voice. Clearly, they won’t get any single attention from them. 

“Damn!” I heard Adira voiced out. “They’re so effing hot!” 

I shake my head and cover my ears. I could feel my tinnitus ringing because of too much noise. They forgot how sensitive my ears are from loud things. 

“Captain will sing this time!” 

With that, the crowds went wilder and louder than before. I cursed in my head. I need to get out of here pronto!

Biting my lower lip, I slowly push myself away from the crowds. 

Could you, could you come back

Come back together

Pull yourself on the band 

And see us forever

My mouth parted in awe as I slowly turn my head to the stage. His voice stopped me from my tracks. Ironic how his voice along with the lyrics of the song made me stay.

Could you, could you come home

Come home forever

Surely things on the band

Keep us together

It’s like he was begging from the way he deliver the song. I gulp when I met his pair of grey eyes again. I held my breath when he licked his lower lip and grin. I ignored the shouts of those around me and all I could do was to stare at him.

I gasp. For the love of everything that is holy! 

My feet seem to be rooted on the floor. I cannot motion myself to move and just remain standing like a statue. I swallowed, eyes were still on him. His eyes seem to be hypnotizing me, and I’m under his spell.

Cause you’re the one I love

You’re the one I love

You’re the one I love

The thought of wanting to leave lost in my mind. I stayed until the song ended. I still can’t take my gaze away from his grey eyes. It’s like they have a magnet. I unconsciously put my hand on my chest and that’s when I realized that my heart was beating faster. It accompanies the beat of his drums.

“What?”

“Caius and Madeline will help you.”

“But Ms. Concepcion—”

She once again shakes her head, dismissing my protest. 

“Go to Mr. Martinez at four o'clock this afternoon.” Her last words before leaving me.

When she left, I let out a frustrated sigh. Great. Seems like fate’s playing with us, huh? I huffed. Then I will play along. 

“What’s with that face?”

Madeline shot me a curious look. “You look like a tiger going to eat her prey.” She even made a frightened face then chuckle.

“We have a project to do,” I said as I pinch my nose getting annoyed at my situation.

“Oh that,” Madeline puckered her lips. “Your cousin’s team to be specific.”

“Unfortunately,” I roll my eyes.

I inhaled sharply as I sashayed towards their direction. I held my head up high when I stop in front of them. I heard some murmurs in my back and audible gasps.

“Omg! Ms. Classy!”

“What a beauty!”

“I really love her eyes!”

I kept my face straight even though I badly wanted to walk out in this place. This is so frustrating. M****a.

“Dion Jethro Martinez.”

I balled my fist and bit my tongue out of frustration. How I wish I can refuse to do our project! 

Slowly, he turn his head on me. I gulp as I watch how the beads of sweat on his forehead fall down. His jersey was already damp because of his sweats. It’s almost four o'clock in the afternoon but they’re still training. 

“What do you need, Miss?” He raked his wet hair then lick his lower lip after.

I swallowed. “I came here to discuss something important to you.”

He raised a brow. “Spill it.”

From here, I can see clearly his grey eyes. His eyes were the perfect shade of grey. They were cloudy skies, they were quarry rock. Just like the ashes and smoke blowing of the wind coming from a fire. They were intense, they were cold.

They were beautiful.

How come did I not notice them before?

“I’m melting, Missy.”

I cleared my throat and fix my posture. “I need your cooperation.”

The sun sank lower in the sky, light of day draining away, giving way to the velvety dark of night. I feel the soothing breeze, become absorbed in the music of crickets, letting the gentle energy of nature wash in.

“Thank you for waiting.”

I stood up from the bench and look at him. He already changed his jersey into a new one. A towel was placed on his left shoulder while he’s holding a tumbler.

I bit my lip then avoid my gaze on him. “Shall we?”

“Okay.”

We made our way to the field. He told me to discuss it with him at the café nearby. Since, I need his cooperation I didn’t even think twice and agreed on him immediately. 

“Walnut tart and Ice Caffe Latte please.”

The waiter take note our orders. 

“You’re a coffee person, huh?”

I dropped my eyes on him. He was folding his arms while looking at me. I nodded in response and travel my eyes around the café. 

“I love coffee.” I said. 

I saw how the side of his lip crooked up a bit. Honestly, being with him makes me feel uneasy. I don’t know why. He’s so intimidating. I had never been got intimated by anyone except to my Abuelo. 

“Am I making you uncomfortable, Missy?”

My eyebrows furrowed. “It’s Amber.”

I gulp when he chuckle deeply. “Right.”

This man. He can control you with just his stare. With just his grey eyes, he can make you fall onto him in just a snap. 

But I will never.

Relief washed on me when our orders arrived. I slowly sipped on my latte while looking outside the café. People around me always notice how graceful I am in any ways. With the way I walk, dressed, act, and talk. And also with the way I view things.

“So, why do you need my cooperation?” the man in front of me spoke.

I quietly placed my latte on the table and met his gaze. 

“Your team was our club’s project.” I stated.

He nodded his head. “For photography club?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re the president?” He scanned my face, “you don’t look like one though.”

My cheeks burned up, not because I feel ashamed from his words but because I got offended and annoyed from it. 

Que culo. I gritted my teeth.

“Gillipolas,” I murmured under my breath. 

My eyebrows furrowed in annoyance when I heard him laugh.

“I know I’m an asshole, Missy.”

Instead of acting surprise from what he said, I smirk on him.

“Glad to know that.”

 Jethro seemed taken a back from it but he just look at me with an amuse expression.

“Now, I’m starting to get interested in you.” A loop side grin appeared against his lips. “Prepárate cariño.” 

That left me dumbfounded.

When I got home, I saw my brother sitting like a king in the living room. 

“Hello my dear sister!” he beamed. “I missed you!”

“Thanks.”

He blink then grip his chest as if he got hurt. “You’re heartless, sis!”

“I’m a human, so I have a heart.”

“Unbelievable!”

I roll my eyes. Estúpido.

Alexandrite pouted his lips as if he knew what I’m thinking. “I’m not stupid!”

“Okay,” I flatly said.

He huffed. “How’s your day?”

I lazily sat down on the sofa then turn to him. “As usual.”

He pursed his lips then place his head on my shoulder. I glared at him but he just chuckle in response. He’s been busy this past few months. He just visits here once a month. My brother is a workaholic man.

“How’s your club?”

I sighed. “It’s still a club.”

“I want a serious answer!” he whined like a child.

I roll my eyes. “That’s my serious answer, brother.”

He grimaced then mess my hair. I shot him a glare while he just grinned on me in return. He knows how I don’t want to get my hair messy and I hate when someone will touch it.

“Get your hands off on my hair!” I snorted and tap his hands.

“Why do you hate it that much?” he laughed. “You can just fix it!”

“That’s none of your concern!”

He roared in laughter then stood up, looking down on me while laughing.

“I missed that face, sis.” He grinned. 

“I hate you.”

Alexandrite loves to annoy me. That’s his favorite hobby since the day I was born. He look at me with his blue-green eyes softly then tap my head. 

“I’m glad that you’re fine, Cassy.” He said before leaving me in the living room.