Chapter 13: Cheese Burger
Fera on the other hand tightened her grip on her pen. 'This idiot had a bad tongue,' she remarked silently. In her side vision, she saw that Nick turned his head toward that girl. At the end of their first subject the girl waited for Nick at the doorway, Fera pretended as if she saw nothing, it was not a big deal, and she care none. But the conversation between them was much clearer than her footsteps. The girl asked Nick to go with her to buy something in the canteen. Together with some of her classmates, they head to the next subject. In the room, she found Tunner in there. As Tunner saw her a wide smile escapes from his lips. He tapped the desk of a chair next to him, it was the first time that someone offered a seat to her. She awkwardly walked towards him and sat down. "How was your weekend?" he asked with a full smile. "It was fine," socializing wasn't her thing the reason why she found it awkward upon talking to someone she wasn't comfortable with. "Uhm, do you watch a basketball game?" he suddenly asked, which made her turn to him. "I'm not a fan of physical activities," she confessed. "I was hoping that you can drop by the gym, we'll be playing for the school basketball league." She doesn't know how to decline this time, he was been good but she couldn't bring herself to be confident and say okay. "You won't be sitting with the crowd, you can be in a VIP seat." He added when he felt that Fera was about to decline. "I don't know," Fera thought that it would be safer to answer that way. "Do have something important to do?" She awkwardly nodded. She wasn't one of an empath person but she could feel his disappointment. "Will I expect for next time?" and Fera lost her words. "It's fine, maybe next time you'll find basketball interesting." He promptly said before Fera could turn him down. "I'm sorry." He only responded with a weak smile. Behind her, she could feel the stares of everybody, she secretly glanced at who are they but she met the sharp glare of a group of girls. A dry run of discussion ends, and a golden hour had began. The beautiful yellowish sphere in the west was about to drop. She started walking alone and took a glimpse of the sun turning dark orange between the wigs of the trees. "Hey!" she turned her head behind her and saw Nick running towards her. "Do you need something?" she asked. "Nothing, but I remember that I owe you." And she recalled that she loaned him money last Friday. "Forget about it," she instead answered and they walked together. "Oh, come on." He grabbed her hand and they walked towards the none cemented path. They passed taller trees and dense parts of the town. "You're not going to kill me, are you?" she mumbled while looking around, she heard some birds singing in their small voice. "Maybe," he tightened his grip on Fera's hand. Fera pretended to ignore it as if she hadn't heard it. It was weird that she couldn't bring herself to feel frighted about his answer. What horrified her was the fact that she's comfortable with Nick and feels betrayed when someone has his attention. As they moved, Fera saw a metal fence. Beyond that fence was a beautiful park. They walked into a small hole, which was a broken part of the fence. They got in and she saw an elegant fountain standing gracefully in the middle of the park. "Here, they serve the best burger." Nick pulled her after whispering those to her ears. In the corner, there were food stands that offer different food. He bought two burgers and they sat on the nearest swing. "Thank you," she thanks. A sweet smile responded from him. "You seem a bit off," he concluded. "How can you say so?" "You don't usually say thank you and you thanked me just now." She kicked his foot and he laughed at her reaction. "Funny?" "Now I can see, you're back on track." She rolled her eyes and harshly bit her burger. Her eye grew wide as she taste the burger. "What is this again?" she turned to him and asked. "Burger," and her face fell into annoyance. "Stupid, what I mean is what its name!" His laughter mirrored the level of her annoyance. "Cheeseburger," he answered. It wasn't the usual burger she had when she was a kid. It was much delicious and creamy yet, it was not too sweet to justify the patty. "Do you like it?" "Not bad," she only responded and eat it. She never speak again and focused on her burger. "What's up with you and Tunner?" she stopped for a bit and think what is up too. She didn't know what he meant but she shook her head. "Are you sure?" "What do you mean?" she blurted, as she finished the last bit. "Nothing much, but I want to remind you that Tunner is a good player, so be careful." She nodded her head and stood up, she walked towards the stand. "Five cheeseburgers please," she handed the money after that, she went back to Nick. "So 'not bad' means very delicious." His remark hadn't affected Fera, she only raised her eyebrow. "We should go home, I think." Nick nodded and he started walking in another direction. She quickly followed, while memorizing the place and how to get there. "Have you heard-" "Not interested," she cut him off. Instead of getting offended by her attitude he smiled and pinched her nose. "Aww!" she slapped her hand away. "Your tongue has returned, huh?" "I am not a fan of gossip, Nick, keep it," she intentionally did that to annoy him. Payback time was always felt great. "It's not." "Gossiping is not good, Nick." "I'm not," he insisted as they walked by the road. "Wait, where's your girlfriend?" Fera suddenly remembered about the while earlier. "Which one?" And his back met her solid slap. "Some believe it was you, and who are you talking about?" "The girl earlier, who said she doesn't like me," she pointed out. "I don't know, she's a family friend, not a girlfriend," he clarified. "Don't flatter yourself, Nicky."Chapter 14: NicknameFera realized what she said and Nick turned to her. "Sorry?" he asked. Then is followed by an awkward silence. "Did you just say, Nicky? I am not a gay." He saved her from feeling embarrassed. "I thought you are, Nicky." She loosened up eventually and felt comfortable with his response. "Disgusting," he blurted which made Fera laugh. While he hold his smile back looking at Fera who was laughing. She rarely laughed and he treasured every laugh she did with him."It's great, Nicky," she giggled."Don't call me that," he even pretended not to like it."No one tells me what to do,""That's unfair."They reached the apartment before dark and Fera peacefully cooked her dinner. This time she browsed how to cook step by step with video. She couldn't risk her apartment anymore. She tried to fried the chicken coated with flour. When someone knocked on her door, her face turned into annoyance. She had been struggling to do it right, she was afraid of thos
Chapter 15: Rain Drops WHILE WALKING INTO the gate someone was eyeing her like a hawk, her hair was dark as night and plain shiny hair. Fera noticed her stares, yet she acted unbothered. She was heading straight and the girl who was eyeing her stepped in her way. She tried to walk passed her yet she stopped her. Her frowned face turned into confusion. She flashed an innocent face before looking at the girl in front of her."Yes?" she asked. She took a step back to make her feel superior. "You are Fera, right?" She asked with full blunt, thinking Fera was an easy prey. 'What is her problem?' she mentally asked. It was the girl who hugged Nick yesterday. She dressed just fine for Fera's judgment. She wore a gold necklace, branded bag, and shoes. Flashy, all she could comment."Yes, I am." She politely answered in her most submissive tone. She was trying to avoid trouble at all costs. She couldn't risk her identity for a small petty fight."Could you stay away from Nick? I
Chapter 16: Fever"Oh! I do, fantastic. And look! It's nine pm here when you're supposed to be home at six." He flashed a fake smile that made him more sarcastic. "Get in," Fera was far from afraid, she only raised her eyebrow and got in while not letting Nick's hand go."Children, let me remind you that it is not safe to play at night, especially you Fairly." He glared at her through his rare view mirror. He started the engine and drove off. While Nick felt her annoyance, he regularly glance at her and the man who was driving. Different theories flashed in his head like he might be her brother or relative."You're not my father, Fred." She lost her mood when he called her Fairly, Nick wasn't dumb not to realize it was her name. Nick bit his tongue to lessen the awkward feeling."Cause he's dead and I am left to a hard-headed daughter, I was fucking tired from work an-""Enough!" she cut him off. They both knew that it wasn't safe for them to talk about it in front of Nick
Chapter 17: Taking Care Of HerFROM HIS DEEP THOUGHTS he noticed the paintings around. Her walls were almost covered with paintings. It was dark and sorrowful art. One was a hand holding a piece of broken mirror, and there was an image inside the mirror, an eye, with smudge eye shadow and it was teary-eyed. The other was a girl with curly hair with a smile on her lips yet her eyes were full of sadness. And he also noticed that the hair on that painting was sentenced, where the sentences were negative comments and criticism that the girls commonly receive. Such as she was ugly, fat and any other negative words that ruined every girl's self-confidence. He turned to her and touched her hand. While his eyes wander around her face, from her naturally thick eyebrows down to her pointed nose and her full lips. She was peacefully sleeping, while Nick felt his heart rate increase. A guy, when they want someone, they'd never deny it. And Nick knew what those heartbeats meant.A weak sm
Chapter 18: Somewhat a Deep Talk"Where are you?" Nick heard him ask. I couldn't answer right away since he was hesitant. "Let me guess, you're sick," he continued. Nick turned to Fera, he thought of waking her up to answer the call but he knew she needed to rest."State your temperature, I'll send Lora to take care of you." His bored voice spoke from the other line again, he did hear some noise of papers too."Thirty-nine," Nick answered and the other line went silent, it was awful silent."Where's Fera?" The only thing he spoke."She's-'"Give that phone to Fera," his monotone voice seemed deadly that didn't even let Nick finish what he was saying."She's sleeping," he only answered and instead of giving the phone to Fera, he went out of the room and lean on her door."Nick Kingston Hernandez," Fred stated his name which made Nick's face into a grim expression. "Seventeen years old, detective wannabe, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez who both died in a car accide
Chapter 19: My Nanny"FERA HONEY, WAKE UP," a soft voice entered her ears which made her open her eyes. She almost cried and jump to her when she saw who was it."Nana Felly," she whispered and the lady hugged her. After a tight hug, she stared at her white hair and white wrinkled face. Her caring stares made her feel comfortable. "Are you really here?""Of course," and she gave her another embrace, while Fera felt was just completely home. Fred may be evil sometimes but never did he fail to surprise Fera. She cooked for Fera and took care of her. She did all her laundry and never fail to check her once in a while. Before the day ends they had dinner together."When will you come home?" Her nanny asked. But Fera lost her words, she was never disrespectful to her nanny. She drank her water and cleared her throat."Nothing sooner," her cold answer was not new to her. She lives with her all her life."Why? Don't you miss hope?" Her caring voice and motherly tone was her wea
Chapter 20: The BullyFERA FOUND herself alone in the morning with breakfast on her dining table and preparing herself for school. She also found a sticky note posted on her fridge. 'Good morning, honey. Have a great day ahead.' A small smile drew on her lips and she kept that note in her black notebook. She left the house earlier than she usually does. She avoid walking to school so she called a tricycle for a ride.She wasn't smiling but her mood was quite good as she started her life. She had changed her things, instead of using her old stuff with famous brands, she used her new clothes with the underrated brand and even fakes. She had been more careful this time, she remembered Nick staring at her branded school shoes once. It might be too late but she could still deny it. The school was still quiet and peaceful when she got there. She only saw four to six teachers and students so she walked to the school library and planned to spend her time reading while waiting for
Chapter 21: The PrincipalThey all turned to the teacher who had just gotten in, and the students started retreating. "Miss Luzares, Mister Hernandez, and Miss Mendez?"She looked calm but her aura was far from calming, she was eyeing them like she could see their soul. "To my office children," she said and started walking. Nick walked next to Fera while Jade hold onto his arm and acted scared, which boil Fera's blood more. She looked so scared while Fera was beyond furious. They quietly entered her office, the teacher signaled them to sit down Fera's eyes fell into her name engraved in a white marble frame colored with bronze. Marianet Rentoza under her title School Principal.As the realization hit her, she found the principal eyeing her straight. But she didn't show any hint of fear. "Do explain the chaos," she ordered and sat in her majestic chair that scream power in a crimson black leather swivel chair. Fera turned to Jade, and the principal did so as Nick. She res