Chapter 2

The noises faded. No one tried to speak as Raxon walked closer to us. The way he walks with confidence and authority made the students look up to him. I remained standing as if my feet were nailed to the floor.

His eyes were blazing with darkness and power, showing no emotion at all. I was devastated when he stopped in front of us. His serious gaze darted on me first, then to that girl who's now almost trembling in fear.

"What is happening here?" his baritone voice broke the silence.

"S-She's the first Rax! Look at my uniform! I'm in mess because of her!" he looked at Rax as if begging. I can't help but smirk and eyed her dangerously.

Rax looked at me as if waiting for what I would say. So I talked but I'm looking at her damn face.

"It's not my fault, you know that miss. I've already apologized but you're making a scandal. I think you're a rich child, but why don't you know how to act like a prim and proper lady?"

Her face reddened in anger. He was already simmering in anger like a volcano about to erupt. When I looked at Raxon I saw the momentary lift of a corner of his lip.

"You bitch!"

I sighed and he didn't hit me again. "I don't have time for this. Excuse me." I said calmly before walking towards our table.

"Your fighter sissy! You're kidding, Clarissa Avila, you humiliated her like that!" Laine flirted as we walked down the hallway of the building. I guess, she's really amazed of what I did. I just secretly smiled. I believe that even if I am poor, I should not oppress anyone and agree to despise my character. That is what my father taught me.

"Then, suddenly Raxon Bermudez came! Didn't you see him staring at you ?!"

I winced. I know what he's thinking. "You're just imagining things, Laine. He's years older than us so stop your illusions."

"What about now? He's so handsome and the strength of dating! Even the grade seven students are affected by his charms!"

I just shook as he continued to speak until we could enter the classroom. If Aaron hadn't really come to us it might not have stopped.

"Hi girls." he greeted us with a smile plastered on his handsome face. He has been my classmate since grade seven so I can say that we are somehow close to each other.

"Your timing is also good, isn't it?" Lalaine’s sarcastic promise that obviously many more wanted to tell me was cut short by Aaron’s appearance.

"I heard, you embarrassed Clarissa of section 2. You're also crazy Amara ah!" The speed really spread the news.

"I didn't embarrass her. She embarrassed herself. She's a daughter of a rich business man but she acted like a lady living in squatter areas." I said in a matter of fact.

When our English teacher came in, everyone was quiet. Mrs. Cruz is known for being a terror teacher so when he is the classmate the students are really attentive to his every word.

While the teacher was lecturing, I didn't know why instead of focusing on what he was saying, Raxon's look suddenly entered my mind. The way he looked at me with amusement in his eyes made me feel something unusual. His gaze was debilitating as if energy was being absorbed into my entire system.

"Group yourselves into five. Submit your group works on Monday. Class dismissed." Mrs. Cruz said that made me came back to my senses. I rubbed my forehead when I realized my whole class was floating. I didn't even understand anything in the teacher's discussion.

Fuck this. Why am I still thinking about that man.

"Hey sissy!" I looked at Lalaine. "Aron, Ken and Mike are a group."

"Ah all right. What are you going to do?"

His forehead furrowed. "What happened to you Amara? You're always attentive to the teacher. I noticed in our whole English class that you seem to be out of the world."

"Someone is just thinking."

He came closer to me and was obviously curious as to what I was thinking. "What are you thinking? Or must I say, who?"

"Stop that Lalaine. I-I was just thinking about dad." I will reason even if the truth is that other people are in my brain all the time. I don't want him to misinterpret that so I won't say it.

"Ah, okay."

After dismissal, we hung out in the canteen for a while with our groupmates Aron, Ken and Mike. They are all my friends so I feel comfortable with them. Well, it's better to make group works with those people you know. Mike laid on the table the drinks we bought before we started planning for the output to be made.

"So where will we do it?" and Ken.

"It's up to you." I promise. I don't know where we will do it as long as it ends on time.

"Can we just go home?" and Mike. Aron and Ken agreed. I just shrugged.

"Then it's settled!" Lalaine smiled.

"What time is it tomorrow?" I will ask. It's Saturday tomorrow, there are no classes so we can do it even in the morning.

"Eleven in the morning. You can have lunch with us there as well."

"That's what I want!" happy promise of the two men. I was just shaken. As if there was no food in them. We talk about the details of the entire output. Everything is planned for tomorrow and I think the outcome of our work is good because we are equally determined to do it.

"Let's go to Vermillion then!" Mike seemed so excited. The Vermillion is the famous river here in San Alfresco.

"I'm game there!" Lalaine immediately agreed. The other two men followed.

"You, Amara?" the four of them are looking at me now.

"I'll ask mama's permission. But I'll try."

The next day I woke up early even though I was not working. I helped mama with the shopping for what she was going to cook today. I'm used to it on weekends. Aunt Delia is the only one who helps her with cooking and other activities at the karenderia. It's really good and my aunt is with us because mama and I will have a really hard time if it's just the two of us, especially since I have classes on weekdays.

"Mom, later on, we'll do a group output at my classmate Mike's house." I said after putting the ones we had sold on the table.

"Oh, all right. Just be careful." aniya.

"Besides, can I go with them to Vermillion, then? We won't be long but if you don't let me--"

"What are you son, that's okay with me. I want you to have fun anyway. But don't spend the night, huh? And make sure those with you are sober." I smiled widely. Mom is really very considerate.

"Thank you 'Ma."

I helped them mama in cooking the dishes to be sold at the karenderia. I am used to kitchen work because I learned from mama. It has been five years since the construction of our karenderia. Mama knows a lot about this field so we have a lot of customers because our dishes are delicious.

Before eleven o'clock I was ready to leave. I wore only a simple white t-shirt and denim shorts. I was busy combing my straight hair when I heard my mother calling my name.

"Amara! Lalaine is here!"

I stopped combing, exited the room and immediately went downstairs. When I got to the living room I saw Lalaine sitting in a wooden chair. She smiled sweetly.

I kissed him. "What are you smiling about there?"

"Your mom agreed to come with us to Vermillion." aniya.

"Yes. I asked permission earlier."

"Bring some clothes. We'll take a bath there." he excitedly promised that I would grin at him. "I'll just come with you but I won't take a bath."

"Is that so?" she sounds disappointed.

"Yes, Lalaine. Now, stand up. We're leaving." we went out of the house and said goodbye to mama before leaving. Mama's face was comfortable when I left, especially since Lalaine was with me. After all, the two of them have been very close since we were in elementary school. Laine and I rode a tricycle to Mike's house. Since we have been classmates for a long time we already know where he lives. And one more thing, his family owns a hacienda here with us.

When we arrived at Mike's mansion we were greeted by an old woman. She's wearing glasses and has white hair. But even so it still looks very elegant.

"Are you Mike's classmates?" she asked politely with a gentle voice.

"We are." I replied sharply in another direction with Lalaine's attention focused.

"I'm his grandmother. Come on, they're waiting in the living room." I sparingly smiled and nodded. The old man walked ahead to guide us inside.

"Laine, let's go--"

"Look sissy ..." he held my arm tightly as if to prevent me from getting stuck. I traced the direction she's looking at and saw an unexpected person. And all of a sudden, I froze.

Raxon Bermudez with his dark aura is standing meters away from us. He was under a big mango tree while talking to a man who I think was just his age. He's wearing a simple white polo shirt and faded jeans. But even though her attire was simple, she looked like a famous model.

"Children, come on." we both looked at Mike's grandmother. I immediately pulled Lalaine in because it seemed like she had no intention of stopping watching Raxon.

"He's really handsome!-"

"Shut up Laine!" I rebuke him. Maybe he can't stop himself from screaming so I have to shut his mouth. Too embarrassing.

"Amara, Lalaine!" Mike calls us as we just walk closer to them. I smiled and sat down next to Aaron. Lalaine sat beside me.

"I'll leave you." Mike's grandmother's poor promise before it walked away from us. I sighed when the man I had seen earlier suddenly entered my mind again. Damn. I should focus on what we need to do. I shouldn’t let myself be distracted just because of a guy.

"Let's do this." Mike and laid out a one-fourth illustration board and other materials on the small table in front of us. We need to make a poster. And because Ken is good in the field of drawing he was the one who drew while we were the colorist. I decided what the theme of our poster was since I have a lot of ideas when it comes to it.

"Are you good at drawing too?" I remarked. Ken smiled shyly at my compliment. It doesn't seem to be used to that. Too humble huh?

"S-Thank you Amara .."

"Aysus, it's Ken, still embarrassed!" teasing Aaron. Lalaine has also joined. I just shook hands with them and continued coloring.

"Stop teasing Ken there. Let's just finish this so we can get to Vermillion."

"Are you allowed?" and Mike.

"Of course! When I'm with Amara my aunt will definitely let her!" Lalaine said proudly. "By the way Mike, what is Raxon Bermudez doing in front of your mansion?"

When he asked I was stunned and looked up at Mike, waiting for his answer. It's as if there's something in my system that wants to get to know that person better.

"My older brother and I are friends, and sometimes when he's not busy, he actually visits our hacienda so he and I can ride a horse."

"Ah, is that so." we went back to what we were doing and just twenty minutes later we finally finished it. Grandma Rina, Mike's grandmother, called us correctly. We were sent to the dining area because lunch was ready.

"This is what we've been waiting for!" exclaimed Aaron. We just laughed because he looked excited to eat.

A long table with lots of food greeted us in the dining area. All the seats were still vacant as if they were really reserved for us.

"Sit down." Grandma Rina ordered. We thanked him before sitting down. I secretly tasted it while looking at the various dishes in front of me. I was about to touch the cutlery when I saw two men approaching the table. I was stunned, and couldn't help but swallow when Raxon and I hit each other's eyes.

Oh God. Why is my heart beating so fast? Is something wrong with me?

"Anthony, Raxon, come on and let's have a party!" Grandma said enthusiastically and sat on the far side while I seemed to be pissed on twitter.

"Gosh, sissy! We can catch her! I can't believe this!" Lalaine whispered obviously suppressing the tremor. If he was thrilled, I was restless for no apparent reason. I used to be confident wherever I am but the way he looks at me stripped all the confidence I possessed.

"Hi, I'm Anthony, Mike's brother." friendly saad of Mike's older brother and sat across from his brother next to me to my left. Lalaine is on the right. When Raxon sat in front of me, I did my best to look as normal as possible. I was devastated to see his cold look at me. His eyes are dark yet blazing with so much coldness. I couldn't help but ask my brain. Does this person eat ice? It's just pure cold.

"Oh, Amara, why haven't you put food on your plate yet?" I looked at Mike at what he asked. I was about to touch the cutlery but he got ahead of me.

"What--"

"I'll put the food on your plate. Looks like you don't have any plans to eat."

"It's not like that ..."

"Hey, si utol, dumadamoves!" Anthony's cock. Ken and Aron laughed, as did Lalaine so I just smiled sparingly. I don't want to look like a villain in front of Mike's family so I just go along. When I looked up at Raxon, I could see that he was stunned as if there was something he didn't like. He looked at me with his clenching jaw but just after a few seconds, he looked away.

"Thank you." I said after Mike put my plate down. It's full of food that I don't know if I'll consume.

"What's your name? It's like you're on my brother's trip." Anthony fired me a question. I was about to open my mouth to answer but someone did it for me before.

"Amara." it's Raxon who answered it.