A week passed, and Lucas didn’t show up to see Maxine. After that scene at the university, the young man didn’t contact her again.“I thought I’d be his slave,” Maxine muttered to herself in front of the mirror, combing her shoulder-length hair. “Well, this is okay too. Besides, maybe he won’t continue the contract.”“Who are you talking to?”“Oh my gosh, Mom! You scared me,” she exclaimed, turning to her mother. She hadn’t noticed her mother’s arrival.“Who were you talking to?”“No one. I was talking to myself.”“You silly girl.”She applied a little lipstick and powder to her face.“Okay, Mom, I’m leaving.” She kissed her mother.“Be careful.”“Yes, Mom.”SHE got her books from her locker when she arrived at the university for her class that day. As soon as she closed her locker, Hevo’s face appeared before her.“Why do you always pop up wherever I am…?” she jokingly asked him.“Because I’m stalking you,” he replied nonchalantly, then smiled. To be fair, he was cute.“Crazy…!”He w
“T-THANK you.” Lucas finally came to his senses. He slowly loosened his grip on Maxine. “I-I’ll go ahead…” He finally let go. He could barely hear anything except the deafening beat of his heart. He couldn’t speak. He just stared at Maxine’s face until she turned away. He couldn’t even move. He just stood there, watching as the girl walked away. What the h*ck was that?! D*mn, why does it feel like this feeling is getting worse. Oh God, I’m sick. LUCAS didn’t want to go home because of his grandfather, but he felt like just lying down all day. He seemed not feeling well. He didn’t want to see Maxine anymore. He was so confused. He slumped onto the bed and buried his face in the pillow. No matter how hard he tried to forget, the scene kept replaying in his mind. D*mn! There it is again, his heart. He touched his chest again, still lying on his stomach. Its beat wasn’t normal anymore. “D*mn, is this for real?” He sounded like a fool talking to himself. “Ugh, you got to be ki
“I don’t want to see him,” Lucas said sadly in a low voice. He couldn’t hide his emotions.A moment later, he felt Maxine’s presence next to him.“Are you okay?”He didn’t move. He just stared up with his eyes closed. He felt the corner of his eyes heat up. The past flowed through his mind again.“Do it, Fernan!” his Grandfather commanded his Uncle, his voice booming. The Grandfather sat on a silver throne at the front, surrounded by four other elders. Below, in the hall, people lined up on either side, dressed in long black robes that reached their ankles. Their faces were covered, only their mouths visible, like grim reapers.In the middle stood his Uncle Fernan, fear and anxiety etched on his face. Behind him, a woman, about the same age as his mother, was bound hand and foot, trembling and crying hopelessly. He had no Idea what was happening.“I can’t, Dad! Just let her go. She has nothing to do with this! It was all my fault! I was the one who betrayed Ella…!”He gripped the door
IT was exactly two fifteen when Maxine decided to spend some time in their room. She felt like a fool at the park earlier. Hevo left her. She knew Beatriz was just acting.“I don’t have any change for that.”She looked up. Meghan was the new arrival.“You’re early,” she commented. Their first subject this afternoon was at two thirty.“You are too,” Meghan said and sat down. “What’s bothering you..?”Maxine shrugged in response.“I saw your Hevo in the lobby, by the way,” Meghan said a while later.“So?”“She’s with another girl.”Maxine scoffed. “I don’t own him.”“But isn’t he into you?” Meghan asked with a furrowed brow. “He seems interested in you. Then suddenly---wow, it’s so unclear!”Maxine chuckled wryly. Meghan didn’t know. She didn’t have any feelings for Hevo. She was just happy because it was the first time someone confessed a feelings to her.“Uhm, wait. I have something to show you,” Meghan exclaimed and took something out of her bag, a magazine. Maxine curiously looked
LUCAS watched Maxine’s hand intently. This was the second time he felt this way. He shook his head and looked back at Maxine. He didn’t know what was happening, but his body reacted strongly whenever their hands touched. He hadn’t even thought about what he had said earlier.“I’ll take you home after your class,” he said. She seemed to be enjoying her food. She didn’t even bother to look up at him.“No.”He frowned. “Why not?”“My mom might freak out if she sees me with another guy again.”“I’ll take you home,” he said firmly, crossing his arms. He didn’t like the idea of her bringing someone else to her house. “And I’m not asking your permission anyway.”She suddenly looked up. “You’re so persistent.”“Have you forgotten? I’m your Highness, and you’re my servant. Whatever I say will be followed.”“Whatever!” she said sarcastically, taking a huge bite of meat.He watched Maxine with admiration. She wasn’t pretentious.“Why?” She stopped chewing and looked at him with a furrowed brow.
MAXINE was going crazy trying to figure out how she would pay Lucas. Why did he have to demand payment now? If she had known, she wouldn’t have accepted his ride.Her thoughts were interrupted when something hit her shoulder. She frowned and looked at Meghan. She was always throwing paper at her.“What?” Maxine asked, her brow furrowed.Meghan didn’t answer, but just pouted and pointed. Maxine followed her gaze.“M-ma’am..!” Maxine panicked and stood up. Miss Gillany was standing in front of her, arms crossed, staring. She wasn’t angry.“My God, where have you been? You seem out of your mind, Miss Filmore?”Her classmates laughed. What else was new? They always did that.“Ahm..”“Never mind. Just give an example of a business establishment and draw its blueprint on the board.”Maxine secretly bit her lower lip. She hadn’t been paying attention. What was she supposed to draw? It would be easier if it was just a simple hut.“M-ma’am..,” She scratched her head. “I don’t know.”Her classm
“HEY...! Wait for me, Lucas!” Lucas strode towards the parking lot where Lourine’s car was parked, taking long strides. “What’s wrong with you?!” He knew his sister was just worried. But he was really not in the mood. “Lucas..!” she called again when he didn’t respond. “What?!” he asked, his voice raised. Lourine stopped. She seemed surprised by his outburst. “I’m sorry,” he apologized, calming down. “I’m just tired, Lourine. Get in, we’re going home,” he added. She silently obeyed. He didn’t know why he was acting this way. All he knew was that he wasn’t happy. It was weird. “WHAT was that?” Lourine asked him again after a while. He didn’t respond, focusing on driving. “That girl earlier, that was her, wasn’t it?” He still didn’t speak. What would he say anyway? “You’re jealous, I knew it.” He couldn’t believe he was looking at Lourine. Where on earth did she get that idea?! “You say what?” he asked, frowning. Me? Jealous?! And why on earth would I be?! He asked himself
LUCAS slumped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling of his room. He had just come from the place where he dropped off the girl yesterday, and he was dismayed that he couldn’t find her there. What’s the problem? He asked himself. He shouldn’t see her anymore. He knew it wouldn’t lead to anything good. But d*mn, he started to get this feeling that made him want to see HER face again. He sighed. This can’t be. He was just amused by that girl. “Baby brother, are you in?” He shook his head when he heard Lourine’s voice outside his room. He got up and went to the door. “What do you want?” he asked Lourine when he opened the door. And as usual, a meaningful smile plastered on her face whenever she asked him for something. “Can you go with me? Shopping.” He knew it. “Again? You can’t even fit in your other clothes. Are you going to buy more? Do you plan to turn your room into a boutique?” Why are girls so fussy? He thought. He didn’t understand. “Come on, baby brother. I
THE COM management camp was a success. The students and some instructors were now heading back from the camp. “Hey, just wondering, where did you go yesterday? And why is your shirt torn?” Meghan confronted Maxine. As usual, the two were sitting beside each other. “I went for a walk. You’ve been asking that since yesterday. How many times are you going to ask?” Maxine said, not bothering to glance at her companion. “Hah! You’re hiding something, I knew it,” Meghan said unconvinced. “It’s just your imagination.” Maxine leaned back in her seat and decided to take a nap. The school bus would be leaving soon. She wanted to rest. “No---” “Hep! I’m going to sleep,” the girl interrupted Meghan, knowing that she would ask again. “I hate you,” Meghan muttered, rolling her eyes. “Same here,” she replied with a smirk. Even she was curious about the man who saved her. She knew their first encounter wasn’t good. She immediately judged him for his arrogance. But after he saved her yesterday