Chapter 11: A Date With Them

XINCERE CALLIOPE'S POINT OF VIEW

I was not able to sleep that night, I did not know if I was just too irritated or what, but I was literally awake that entire night. Early that morning, after checking my phone that was in silent mode, I saw a lot of missed calls and messages from my grandma. It was just 4:30 AM and I began to dial her number, I was a bit nervous as I heard the buzzing from the other line while waiting for her to pick it up.

"Hello, Xincere! Sorry to wake up this early, I just wanna hear your voice. Tell your dad to come over here during weekends and take time to rest. Your mom always calls me every night and tells me how busy they are. I asked Mr. Robert to deliver the newly reap fruits and vegetables from our farm here, it seems like you guys already forget to visit me and your grandpa even just once a week. Okay, my little princess, just goes back to sleep. I just call to tell you how badly I missed you." I smiled as I could imagine her facial reaction just by hearing her voice.

"Don't worry, Grandma. I'll tell Dad to come and visit you much often. By the way, are you with Grandpa on the farm?" The moment I found out that they were helping some of the gardeners on the farm, I decided to visit them, even just for a moment before I continue doing the project I was working on since last week. They were actually on the farm not so far from our village, after Grandma asked my dad to just let them stay there, even if Dad wanted her and Grandpa to just stay here with us. Grandma loves gardening, and she liked the idea of doing a lot of things, seemed like her work was never done.

"Mom, I just have some important errands to run. Just told Dad that I promise to come back before afternoon." I hastily placed a kiss on her cheek and headed downstairs even before she uttered a word. She just got up from the bed, as she was still wearing her silk pajamas. I ran to get in a cab. Upon checking the time in my wristwatch, it was just 5:45 in the morning and the sun was just about to appear when I arrived there. Since it was not far from our village and I guess it was a nice idea that I went there early this morning. There were no traffic jams by this hour.

"Grandma," I saw how surprised she was the moment she opened their classic inspired gate as I pressed the doorbell. I was wearing a black skirt together with my plain-white-knitted top. I saw her rosy cheek as she walked closer to hug me. My grandpa was looking at the fire on the hearth before setting down a tray of cookies on a vintage brown table that was near the blazing hearth and walked closer to our direction and slightly open his arms as I ran to hug him.

"I missed you, Grandpa." He placed a kiss on my forehead before getting my beige shoulder bag and putting it in a wooden long chair near him. Their house was full of classic furniture and fixtures that we're able to contribute to its coziness. I liked how the warm white light made me feel as if it was raining outside.

"What's bring you here? Did you take a cab all the way here?" I smiled and nodded before saying a silent prayer as I devour a cookie.

"I just want to visit you and check on our garden." I saw a smile etched on her face as she heard me talking about our garden. This was to become our bonding, to clean, water, and check on the vast garden in their backyard. I began to regret the moment I realized that I should not wear my white sneakers today.

"Xincere, did you know that Xairo come and visit me last week? He sang a song for me until I fell asleep that I did not know when did he actually leave to go home. I just texted and called him earlier, the same time when I called you." I told her that I could not stay any longer since I needed to finish my activity that needs to be passed up until 11:59 PM this day.

"Come inside and take your breakfast." I could see how my dad talked just by looking at Grandpa. They have the same voice, and I like it whenever I hear someone telling me that I had the same eyes like them. Because whenever I see their gaze, I feel the tranquility and calmness of their presence.

"Grandpa, I have something for you." I handed him a new cap since I already noticed that he was still wearing the black cap I gave him a year ago.

"Did you take it from your savings?" He asked while looking at it. Grandma told me that even if he had a lot of caps in their room, he preferred to wear the one I gave him.

"It doesn't matter, Grandpa. It's not expensive as your caps, but I promised that it will fit you so well." He gave me a genial smile before pulling me closer to him and hugging me. I really missed taking breakfast with the two of them. Before Dad came here to fetch them whenever we have a family gathering that usually happen during Sunday, after the church service, but since everyone was too busy, no one knew when it would be the next family gathering be.

My phone suddenly rang while I was still wearing an apron after I helped my Grandma wash the dishes, Mom asked me what time would I go home, she probably knew that I did not out to attend our class since Zac was still asleep when I went out earlier, and I guess she knew that I was visiting Grandma and Grandpa. She told me to take my breakfast there since she was not able to cook this morning for us due to an urgent meeting she needed to attend.

"Grandma, Grandpa, I think I need to go home now there was no one who will prepare a meal for Xairo at home, besides Zac is in the house as well. They used to skip breakfast. But don't worry, I will come back again, I will visit you much often." They knew about Zac since we used to share at one table whenever we had a family dinner at home. Besides, Grandpa knew his dad. Since he had been my Dad's best friend for a long time.

"Zac was with Xairo the last time. Bring him here next time you'll come, okay? He was a nice guy. And if you will be ask me, yeah. I like him." My grandma seemed like teasing me as she flashed a wry smile. On my peripheral vision, I saw how my grandpa snorted like he always does. He did not like to talk about such stuff, just like my dad.

I was having menstrual cramping, but choose to not entertain the pain. I just deeply sighed after receiving a message from my Mom telling me that Zac already left without taking his breakfast, and told Mom that he will just buy something to eat in the cafeteria. I got my phone and plan to call him, but I remember that I blocked his phone number last night. So I just texted Nathaniel, who has always been with him in the classroom and even in their practice every after class.

"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." I sent it to him since I did not actually know where would Zac go this early, besides our class will start later afternoon.

"Come inside first, and I'll prepare something you can eat this morning." I saw how he reluctantly looked at me as if telling me that I should not waste my time. I just gave him a side glance of disgust before rolling my eyes against her.

"I am not hungry, besides I have a lot of things to do on campus." He reasoned out while forcing himself not to smile while trying to convince me to believe in his lame excuses. As if I did not know that he hates it whenever I was the one who would prepare our food. I just snorted before getting from him another pack of marshmallows that he was handed to me.

"Is this how you bribe me?" I snorted before I devour a lot of marshmallows that were on my hand. After my brother had left to attend his morning class, I was actually crawling just to get in the living room. I badly wanted to go upstairs to take a nap. This was probably because I was awake the whole night that my eyes were about to close at their own initiative, but these menstrual cramps were actually killing me, I was hugging myself in pain. I could not even feel my hands, which were really numb by this time. My knees were trembling. I was sitting on the floor while resting my forehead on our couch. I failed to notice that I fell asleep at that state. I did not even have the strength to even take off my dirty sneakers that were full of mud. I actually had a plan to attend my class this 5:00 PM, but since it was still this hurt, I tried to contact our professor this afternoon and told her that I could not make it to attend our class. I knew that he was here, just by hearing his footsteps, but it was like twisting the lower part of my tummy.

"Is there anything hurt?" He stooped down and gently wiped some beads of sweat on my forehead.

"Zac, it was hurt." I used to suffer from heavy cramping.

"Why I couldn't contact you?" He unzipped his black jacket and put it on my lap before he carried me in his arms going to our couch. I felt how warm was his hand the moment he handed me a hot compress bag. He held me, both hands and I guess he felt its shaking. I tried to get it back, but it was so hurt that I actually lost my strength to do so. I just rolled my eyes and gave up the moment I felt him holding those tightly. Suddenly, the light went out. Having him with me, somehow made me feel at ease.

—

"Class, I have good news for everyone." I could hear the celebration of the students, who uttered different reactions even before our professor began to announce the news.

"After analyzing the results of all your examinations, all of the Deans from different departments suggested that we can have a trip to the historical art gallery this weekend and I want you guys to relax this day before passing all of your major exams. That's all for now. And I hope that you guys are excited to go well in your next major exams for more exciting rewards from the university." I just yawn and rolled my eyes for a moment while hearing the excitement of the whole class while Zac was just rolling his as I look at him, he was probably irritated after hearing some of the girls sitting in the front seats already planning their outfits for that day.

—

There were lots of students from other departments that were roaming around. As we were making our way to the spacious cafeteria of the university, there were lots of students having their lunch while having their chit-chats. Though I used to go here and witness how sophisticated it really was, still it couldn't fail to amaze me about the interior designs that looked like the restaurant that was near the public library in the city. I used to buy vegetarian food. We spotted the vacant table to the right corner, not too far from the counter.

"Have you heard about us going to the art gallery this weekend?" Geli asked while slurping in a glass of ice tea Zac bought for us here in the school cafeteria. I smiled after seeing how badly Zac rolled his eyes after hearing about it for the nth time.

"Yeah. The whole class can't be moved on after hearing that announcement. By the way, we saw Justice earlier and told me that he haven't seen you the whole day. Why did you guys have a serious fight again?" Zac grimaced after I looked at him as the ketchup and mustard fell on my white dress. He handed me a tissue and reluctantly looked at me while I was wiping it on a bit lower of the round collar of my dress.

"You know what? I was waiting for him the whole time, thinking that he was practicing, but when I come over to the court to give him the food that I prepared for him, he was already eating the food from his admirer, the junior HRM student who keep on giving him a lot of food in his locker. I just got irritated, thinking that he should just text me instead if he really needs one. It was just pissed me off." I could see how mad she was by just hearing her tone while telling me the whole story. Zac reluctantly looked at me before excusing himself, probably he was not comfortable sitting here with us while we were having our girl talk.

"And you know what annoys me even more? It's that, he didn't have any idea why I am mad at him." I was just all hears while listening to her rants about her long-time boyfriend.

"So insensitive!" I found her so cute whenever I see her pouting for some time without knowing it. She had the power to convince anyone that she was really the victim to whom she was talking, just by listening to her. I just nodded my head as I saw that she was looking for someone who would agree with her.

"Do you still have a class?" After about half an hour, I was looking around to check if Zac was still there. He stood properly as he saw us walking out from the human sensor sliding glass door of the cafeteria. He took a glance at us as he was laughing along with some basketball players who were wearing maroon pairs of jerseys, which signifies that they were in the other department. I saw how they did some handshake I usually saw him doing with some of his teammates, some of their faces were looked familiar to as if I already see them somewhere I just forget exactly where it was. Zac slightly tilted his head in our direction before he turned his back on them.

"Bro," I did not know why I felt somehow irritated as I saw justice. Maybe I just remember what Geli had told me. I knew that Zac knew it as he took some glance at me before he took the high five offered by Justice.

"I just call you later, I saw them last time and they Were inviting us this weekend. Told Xairo about it." He just nodded before tapping his shoulder.

"Okay, man. Just keep me posted. We'll go ahead." I slightly nodded my head as he looked at me and bowed a little.

"Do you really guys think that pretending not you are not a war to your stup*d actions would make you innocent?" I snorted while I was browsing my phone while shopping online.

"Is it about Geli and Justice? Let just fix their own problem. Besides, don't get mad at him. You don't even hear his side." It sounds as if he was protecting him.

"That one doesn't need an explanation. His action speaks the whole story." I shrugged while my gaze was still on the screen of my phone as I was looking for the best shade to purchase.

"It was because he did not make it a big deal. Did you get it? There were times when you girls just making things more complicated." he was so deadpanned. I took a glance at him as he smoothly turned to the other way while his left arm was rested on the window while touching his lower lip using his index finger.

"Don't depend on him. Guys are just so insensitive." I shook my head while giving him a wry smile. He laughed a bit as he looked at me.

"You just too paranoid." I just smile and shook my head as opposing what he just said.