Chapter 4

The first thing that I did as soon as I arrived in the university was to proceed in my cousin’s club room. Jethro messaged me this morning to meet him there. It shock the hell out of me when I saw his message. 

“Let’s start from the top!” 

“For goodness sake Worth! Focus!”

“Damn Shaun! You’re out of the beat!”

My forehead creased when Jethro's frustrated face welcomed me. 

“Why are you so hot-headed today, Jet?” Linus, the acoustic guy said.

“Yeah,” Alas, the pianist seconded. “You’re not yourself, bro.”

“Just shut up and continue!”

I pursed my lips before silently sashayed closer to them. Worth's eyes bulge when he saw me. I gave him a small wave and landed my gaze on Jethro who was already glaring at him. I assumed, he didn’t notice my presence. 

“Focus Rojas! Don’t let me repeat myself again!” he growled.

 What’s with him? I shook my head deciding to make him acknowledge my presence. He’s too busy being grumpy to his band mates.

“Mr. Martinez.” I folded my arms. “Why don’t you give your band mates a break and give me your attention instead?” the last line made me want to poke, m****a!

He slowly turn to me, eyebrows furrowed. I kept my face straight when he finally faced me. His band mates look stunned from what they heard from me and just stared at us.

“You’re late, Missy.” He said in a cold tone.

“Not my fault,” I shrugged. “I’d seen your message five minutes after you sent it to me.”

“That’s not a valid reasoning, Rojas.” He stood up from his seat then played the drumsticks on his hands without leaving his eyes on me. “I won’t accept that.”

My eyes roll upwards. “You’re funny.” A sarcastic smile played on my lips. “Valid or not, at least I came here.”

I saw how his jaw tightened. “Follow me then.”

I sigh as I watched him walk his way out of the club room. 

“Are you serious?”

“What do you think?”

“I won’t accept it!”

I inhaled sharply. “Do I look like a pig to you?! This is too much!”

The man just lazily stare at me as he put both of his arms on the table. 

“You’re skinny,” he pointed the foods that he bought. “Eat.”

“We supposed to talk about my club’s project not to eat here,” I gritted my teeth in frustration.

He didn’t say anything, and the last thing I knew; he pulled my face closer to him. My mouth parted in shock, stunned as he placed something inside my mouth.

Joder! I cursed loudly inside my head. 

“Yummy?” he smirked.

“Gillipolas!” I spat.

He chuckled. “Calm down, babe.”

The nerve of this guy! Que culo! I should have refuse Ms. Concepcion's task for me! This is making me frustrated!

“Calm down, hmm?” he lick his lower lip. “I figured you haven’t eaten yet so, I bought this all for you.”

“Should I be thankful, then?” I crossed my arms across my chest then lifted my chin up as I settled my eyes on him.

“Your choice,” he shrugged. 

I growled. “I hate you.”

He just bore his eyes on me, not giving any reaction from what I said. 

“Shall we start what we’re supposed to discuss?” he said.

We spent an hour discussing my club's project that involves them. Glad that he doesn’t seem to mind those looks that students in the cafeteria giving at us. Our conversation turned out well because that’s how it should be. 

“Be here at eight tomorrow,” he said as he stands up. “You have my number, so inform me if you have other concerns.” 

I just nodded my head. “Okay, thank you for your time.”

He nods in response before turning his back on me. I watched him steadily, but paused for a moment when my eyes landed on the foods on the table. I gasped, eyes narrowing as I lifted my pointed finger to his direction.

“Dion Jethro Martinez!”

He didn’t turn to my direction, instead he lazily waved his hand then continue walking away. 

With my eyebrows furrowed, I tightened the grip on the three paper bag that I’m holding as I made my way to our room. I couldn’t just left all of this in the cafeteria. Captain’s effort will come to waste. Note the sarcasm tone in that.

“Did you lose in a bet?” Maisie asked me.

“Don’t talk to me,” I huffed as I placed the damn paper bags on the floor. 

She chuckled in response. “Someone made Amber mad!”

“Oh! I bet I know who it was!”

“Omg! Spill the tea!”

I roll my eyes and sat on my chair. Can I find another friend? I want to change these dummies. They’re not useful.

“Worth,” I called the man who was smirking at me. “Can you give these to your asshole Captain?”

His mouth parted. “Ass what?” he chuckles, “he really get into your nerves.”

“Just give these to him,” I said in a monotone voice.

He raised both of his arms. “Of course. I surrender, my lady.”

Fool. “Hurry up.”

He scratched the back of his neck as he grab the three paper bags on the floor.

“But Captain just texted me that you should keep those,” Alas interfered that made me froze.

“Que culo!” I hissed. “I don’t care about it! Just give those to him!”

“You should keep it, Amber.” Adira wiggled her eyebrows. “You won’t have a problem buying stocks. He already provided it for you. So, keep it babe.”

What the fuck? Do I look like I need someone to provide me foods? I scoffed. I can buy my own. I can even buy the whole supermarket for my needs!

“Oh, oh.” Sadie shakes her head. “You just made her madder, Adi!”

Aren’t they aware that I’m not that kind of person who’ll accept things from someone? If I know that I can provide and give it to myself, I won’t need anyone to do that to me. I can stand on my own. 

“I can buy those,” I said. “You know how I do things for myself.”

“You believe in your own supremacy,” Arya smirked. “That’s your famous quote.”

I spent the rest of the day editing the pictures in my gallery. The pictures that I took in our summer vacation. It’s Friday, so we don’t have much things to do here. 

“I’ll go now, Amber.” Aleeza one of my club mates said.

“Take care,” I mumbled without leaving my attention on my laptop. 

“Are you sure you'll not go with me yet?” she asked.

I shook my head. “No, it’s still early.”

“Okay.”

Sighing, I scroll on my gallery finding a picture to edit. My eyes stop on a certain picture. I bit my lower lip and averted my gaze on it. 

It’s still here, huh.

“I know you’ll stay here at this hour.”

That voice. 

“Stop messing with me, Gutierrez.”

I heard him sigh. “How long will you going to ignore my existence, Cass?”

I gritted my teeth. “Stop calling me that!”

“It’s been thirteen years,” he spoke. “Move on, Amber.”

“You’re saying that as if it’s that easy to do.”

“Because you’re not trying!” 

I shut my eyes tightly. “Can you just get lost?!”

I can feel the coldness beneath my skin. My hands were trembling, my chest feels like going to burst out. Whenever he’ll showed up, he never fail to send this feels in my system.

“And now you’re scared.” He whispered. “You still haven’t put in your mind that I will not going to hurt you.”

“Y-You’re not sure!” my voice was already shaking.

“I’m not like them, Amber.”

I let out a shaky sigh. “Just leave me alone.”

“Please…”

Emptiness. Why does emptiness takes a lot of space? 

Looking back from what happened a while ago, I haven’t figured out why am I feeling so scared and nervous from his presence. I had known him since day one, but I didn’t expect that he’ll cause this feeling towards me. And this is confusing. 

But maybe it’s because of her.

Maisie Anise Alcazar: Check our university’s page, girl! @Amber Rojas

Adira Storm Lucero: You’re trending! Omg! @Amber Rojas

Sadie Hart Limaco: Hot topic, alright @Amber Rojas

Arya Claire Roman: Your name’s everywhere, bitch! @Amber Rojas

I scoffed as I finished reading their messages in our group chat. 

Amber Rojas: I’m always on a hot topic. Old news.

After I hit the send button, I began to scroll on our university's page.

JUST IN: 

Dion Jethro Martinez the leader of the Elite band and the captain of Alpha team was caught dating with the club president of the Photography club.

See the picture below.

4.5K likes. 2.2K comments. 2K shares.

“What the hell?” I mumbled.

Why of all people?! It was a picture of us talking in the cafeteria. We are both wearing a serious expression as if we’re in a debate. I scrolled down on the comment section. My lips twitched when I saw a lot of comments coming from our friends, mostly from my annoying cousin.

Worth Farrel Rojas: *whistles* Is my ship sailing?

Linus Nolan Buenafe: Oh, what a tea

Shaun Martin Stewart: Holy cow! This is a biggest scoop!

Alastair Colt Enrique: Two powerful students in one frame, e?

Arya Claire Roman: @Amber Rojas This is what we’re talking about!

Maisie Anise Alcazar: Girl! @Amber Rojas

Sadie Hart Limaco: Nice shot 

Adira Storm Lucero: When two people with rare eyes meet *crying emoji*

I massaged my temples as I closed my laptop. Are they for real? We were just talking in that picture! Was that called dating already? Estúpido!

I've always been in the page’s news, but I never expected to be included in that shitty issue. Seriously? Can that useless thing will benefit them? I scoffed. People’s greediness always lead them to their own downfall, anyway.

“Howdy Amber!”

I kept my eyes on my camera, wiping its lens. 

“Don’t disturb me, Caius.”

I’m not in the mood to talk to an annoying person like him. My cousin and him sits on the same table. They’re loud. My whole mood ruined from that post yesterday night. Now, I’m giving myself a time to calm down by cleaning my camera because it’ll help me keep busy. 

“Hey babe,” I heard Madeline’s voice. “Leave Amber alone. She’s in the don't-mess-with-me state right now. So, you better not do anything that’ll put you in danger.”

“Oh, scary!”

“Babe! I'm serious!”

I bit my lower lip while attaching the lens back on the camera. My blood was literally boiling. This has something to do with the issue between Captain and I. It never left my mind. I couldn’t even sleep properly because of it!

“Alright people!” Ms. Concepcion called our attention. “Time to set up the cameras and such!”

With my camera on my hands, I stood up from the bleachers. I look around for Cain but I saw him talking with our club teacher. While my club mates started moving the things and setting it up around the field. 

“Amber!” 

I turn around only to see my cousin running towards me. He’s in their team's jersey. I titled my head and arched my eyebrow at him. He should be getting ready.

“Captain’s asking for you,” he informed once he get closer from me.

“Okay.” I said timidly.

He pouted his lips. “You look pissed.”

I look at him. “More than that.” I said which made his face turned pale.

He walked beside me as we both went into his team’s direction. I saw his teammates talking with Captain. They all look serious. 

“What is it, Martinez?” I asked without even greeting him. 

They stopped from talking and turn to me. Captain folded his arms across his chest as he met my gaze. His lips curled a bit then gesture something to his teammates.

“You look pissed, Missy.”

I roll my eyes. I lost count on how many times people told me that line. It’s all written on my face. 

“You did this.” I growled.

A grin escaped into his lips. “What should I do to make it up with you, hmm?”

I bit my tongue and avoided his eyes. I’m losing it. This is bad. You’re not like this, Amber. Get a hold of yourself!

“Ready your team.” Was all I said then turned my back at him.