Chapter 10: Where on Earth Did She Go?

ZACHARY FLYNN'S POINT OF VIEW

"Bro, what's the deal? Are you guys okay now? " Nate asked while starting to buckle his belt as he stepped out from my bathroom.

"I don't really understand her, Man." I shook my head as I pulled my shirt over my head. It had been a week since the last time I could talk to her properly, It got me curious how does that girl tell her when she answered Xincere's call, for her to be this cold.

-

"Bro, why are you late? Hope you have done with your warm-ups while you were making your way here." Nate uttered while I was barely breathing as I reached the gymnasium.

"I guess you know the drill!" I heard an authoritative tone of voice that made us turn our attention on someone who just shouted from our back.

"Zachary Flynn Williams, his name 'right? He looks so hot!" I heard the giggling of some girls who were wearing their jerseys. I did not have time to even check on them. Until I heard my name being called by someone and laid bottled water. I barely looked at her, that was the girl who was holding the banner on our last game, the daughter of our dean's department.

"There is no need. I have one there. Thanks, by the way." I answered while I was still focused on doing my push-ups. I was exhausted that I could not even feel my arms, as if I lost my strength after an hour and a half of fulfilling my punishment before I heard our coach call my name.

"Hope to hear a different reason for being late this time." I just looked down and let out a deep sigh after realizing that he knew that Xincere was the only reason why I was always late in our practices.

"I'm sorry, Coach. It won't happen again." He just tapped my back and gently messed up my hair.

"I have been there. But next time, try to balance your time, okay?" He gave me a quick smile before he made his way out of the gymnasium.

"Bro, your phone..." I caught it from Nate and furrowed my brows as if asking him why he had it with him.

"I think, someone called on your phone earlier, I saw Beatrix holding your phone. Just check it!" I nodded my head and made my way to the bleachers where I put my backpack earlier. I immediately checked the call logs to know who had been called.

"Sh*t!" I mumbled under my breath as I saw Xincere's name flashed on my phone. I had seven missed calls from her, the same with Xairo and Mrs. Monroe. Why did I leave my phone in my duffle bag? I abruptly got my backpack and had no idea why I got here at the vast parking lot from the gym for almost two minutes. I tried to dial her number, but she did not pick it up. I pushed the lever that speeded up the car. I checked my inbox just in case they left a message.

"I can't contact you. Xincere told me that you had your meeting. Go home after, okay? Drive carefully. By the way, my princess prepared a dinner for you!" I smiled and felt at ease when I read her Mom's message to me.

I saw how irritated she was when I finally got home. I even tried to explain to her, she did not want to hear me out. She was not even coming with me to the university, which was unusual, since we always got here together. Mrs. Monroe told me that Xincere went to the University, early in the morning, but as I remembered, we did not have a morning class. I had no idea where she was going this early. I also left early to look for her at the university, But I failed to find her. I tried to call her, but she could not be reached. I thought of calling Geli, but I go realized that I did not have her number. And I think, it was not a good idea for me to call Justice just to ask for her girlfriend's digits.

Exactly 5:00 PM pa was the start of our class that day, but I was just roaming around in our entire department building around 8:30 that morning just to find her. It was approximately three minutes before our class began, but her seat was still vacant. I hardly swallowed as I saw our professor enter into this minimalist, white-painted classroom.

"Good afternoon class! As far as I know, this is your first class for this day and I expect that everyone is present except Miss Monroe." She looked around and checked if there was any other vacant seat.

"Man, do you know why she's absent?" Nate asked in a low tone and took a seat beside me, Xincere's armchair.

"It looks like your class, wants a thrill! Hope you watch the video references I sent last day." She flashed a wide smile that made a sudden utterance from most of the students, including the dude beside me. Especially when she wrote on the glass board the two words that make every student nervous.

"Pop quiz?" Nate almost shouted, which made everyone's attention shift to him.

"Too excited, Nathaniel?" A tumultuous laugh echoed in the classroom.

I hardly swallowed and closed my eyes as Nate gave me another piece of paper having his name in the upper right corner of it before our quiz has begun. He gave me a sheepish smile, before rubbing his nape.

"Bro, I promise to treat you tomorrow." He whispered and continued pretending as if he was writing something on the paper that was on the table. I just shook my head and have no choice but to answer his paper. I even tried to copy his lazy scroll, which literally unreadable.

"I hope we get even!" Nate was teasing me after handing me his phone and letting me read a message he received from Xincere.

"What's up, Nate? Are you with Zac? Can you feed him for me? He did not take his breakfast this morning. I just have some errands to fix. I'll treat you! That's a promise." -Xincere Monroe

Before our class was over, I hastily made my way outside the room, having my backpack hanging on my left shoulder. I got my phone and started to speed-dialed her. I just hissed and ran faster as I heard the operator again for the nth time, signifying that my call directly goes to voicemail. I did not know if I properly parked my car, but I ran the distance going to their house and found her seated on the floor while resting her forehead on their coach, uttering in pain.

"Is there anything hurt?" I stooped down and saw how pale she was as she faced me. I wiped some beads of sweat on her forehead.

"Zac, it's hurt." She was pressing the lower part of her tummy. This scene always happens every month. She used to suffer from heavy cramping.

"Why I couldn't contact you?" I unzipped my black jacket and put it on her lap before I carried her on the couch and ran to get a hot compress bag. I felt how cold her hand was as I handed it to her. I hold her both hands as I saw those shaking. She tried to get it back, but, I guess, it was that hurt that she even lost her strength to do so. I hold it tightly when she rolled her eyes and gave up. What beats me is why she is still mad at me. Suddenly, the light went out. I looked around, and I think, there was a black-out here. I was about to get my phone before I remember that it was already dead bat.

"Get my phone on the center table." She uttered and finally got back her hand away from me. I furrowed as I began to realize that she probably blocked me, the reason why I could not contact her earlier, though it was on.

"Stop being so childish! Look, you can't even stand by yourself because of the pain, but you can still manage to act that way." I rolled my eyes against her as I was unlocking her phone using her four-digit password and turned on its flashlight.

"Why should I? There's no use of calling you!" She still managed to answer me while almost hugging her knees in pain. I just hissed before getting the painkiller in my bag that I bought in the pharmacy after reading an article that it helps to ease this kind of pain and I think it will be useful now.

"Have this!" I stood up to light up a candle. I actually didn't like its smell, but I guess I have no choice. As I remember, Xairo told me that he had practice after his class starting this week. He asked me to look after her sister since he was not sure what will be the exact time he was can get home.

"Go home now! Xairo will be here by any moment." She clumped her hair on the other side as she sat properly. She even shook off her hands about three times to stop its trembling. I got the coldness of her tiny hands. I could barely see her face.

"Do you wanna see a doctor?" She immediately shook her head as a no the moment she heard me asking.

"It's normal, Zac. Girl thing, you know? There's no need to worry about me. I can still bear the pain." I smirked and shooked my head.

"How did it become normal? You were baring that pain every month and now, you're telling me, that there's nothing to worry about." She let out a deep sigh, probably after realizing that I was right.

"Where did you go this morning? Don't tell me, that you got transferred to another university?" My voice was laced with full of sarcasm.

"So what? It was nothing to do with you!" I smirked as I heard the line I used to tell her.

"I wonder where on the earth does your new university is located, with all these mud and dirty sneakers, huh!" She put her feet on my lap as if commanding me to take them off.

"I never thought that date on the farm was a great thing to experience, that is a friendly tip! Give it a try sometimes." She looked better now as she can now throw a joke and flashed a quick grin.

"Cutting a class just for a date on a farm? That's new. I thought you were not interested in that stuff. You can even manage to wake up that early for that." I shook my head as if I was disappointed and wiped out the dirt on the upper part of her sock.

"No worries, next time, I will inform you, so we can have a double date. I guess my date would be happy if I will come there with you." I furrowed after realizing that she was serious about what she was talking about.

"You mean, did you seriously cut class just to date someone?" She gave me a sheepish smile before slightly shrugging.

"Of course not. I got home earlier. I left early, so I could come back before breakfast, but I guess it was awful that you already went to school that early just to avoid the food that I was about to prepare, don't you? But I won't mind, that is still forgivable. Xairo kept on complaining since last night. I think, he hid my apron and told Mom that I was doing that for you to not stay here. But seeing you here sitting beside me proves him wrong. Am I right?" She flashed a smug grin and raised her brows.

"We can say that. You did not ask, but authentic food is sometimes boring. Did you get that? Sometimes, it is nice to try some exotic food." I saw how expression change and grimaced at me. She still looked so pale and seemed like been pissed off at what I have told her.

"So do you mean, you left your date just to cook for my breakfast? That's why sometimes I even think about your Mom's jokes. If that happens, I will probably eat overcooked food every day." She threw me the pillow that was on her lap as I burst into laughter.

"Stop that nonsense, Zac. You better have that HRM student that left cake and cupcakes on your locker or Beatrix, Mr. Paisley's daughter, according to Nate she cooks well. So, you don't need to order food, especially when your Mom is not here." I hated how she managed to smile every time she was teasing me to other girls. I just threw back the pillow in her.

"I like someone else. Far differ from them." I shrugged my shoulder and took a moment to look at her, who was now looking, playing with the candle near her.

"Seriously? What's your type? Come to think of it, there were lots of girls that are head over heels to you, even from another university, but you don't seem to bring anyone to introduce to your family. Don't tell me it was Nate?" She looked like so enjoyed while teasing me. I just rolled my eyes and gently shook my head.

"Actually, I have one. And I guess Mom liked her as well." She looked so surprised from what she had heard as I saw her furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"Seriously? Why you didn't introduce her to me?" She rolled her eyes. I looked away as I found myself gawking at her while she was playing with her shadow produced by the candlelight.

"Who between just had a date earlier? I haven't eaten all day, thinking, where I could find you. I couldn't even contact you, since you blocked me." I saw a sudden change in her eyes' expression.

"Why didn't join Nate? Are you really out of your mind? Wait for me here." I gently pushed her back as she tried to stand up.

"Don't mind me. I still had no appetite. And besides, how can you cook in your condition? Just stay here." I furrowed in her stubbornness.

"I feel better now." She seated properly and put down her feet while taking off her ID that was still on her neck and threw it to me as she turned on again the flashlight on her phone.

"Then let's go to the kitchen." She put on her blue indoor slippers that had her favorite cartoon character, stitch. I have no choice but to let her pull me to enter their kitchen while holding the candle since my phone's battery was already dead.

"Zac, can you please not tell Mom and Dad about me not going to school this afternoon?" She casually asked before letting go of my arm. My eyes were glued on her before I nodded my head.

"Whom you were with earlier?" My voice came out louder than what I was supposed to do. I saw her sighing deeply before shifting back her gaze to me.