Chapter 7: Motor Ride
She unconsciously took a huge gulp and sat in the most proper as she can. "Do you have something to share, Miss and Mister?" she asked. The teacher was eyeing them both with a serious expression. Her huge thick-lensed glasses failed to hide the annoyed look in her eyes. "Nothing, ma'am. We're sorry," Fera answered in her low voice. "You sure?" the teacher asked in monotone causing the tension to elevate more than it had been. She wasn't pleased with all, her wrinkled face was more than evident. "Yes ma'am." They answered in unison. As the teacher proceeded to the topic, Fera somewhat lose a huge problem or survived a fatal battle. After class, she found herself walking home alone on the roadside. A bicycle and a few motorcycles passed her. Some with spacious vehicles offered a ride but Fera gladly declined. She was pleased with their generosity but she just couldn't trust anyone. She wasn't the one who trust easily. Nick on the other hand had a motorcycle too and offered her a ride. "I'm fine." "No, I insist. Your foot is wounded, I know." He said while handling the helmet to Fera. "That's a suicide, I rather hurt my foot from walking." She shamelessly judged the vehicle with two wheels. "You hadn’t ridden a motor before?" "Do you mind?" She asked, her dead expression was replaced with an annoyed one. "Whatever, just take it." Pertaining to the helmet but Fera stepped back. And Nick was fast to catch and pulled her hand. He put the helmet on Fera and locked it. "What the hell is this?" "A helmet." "I know!" Fera exclaimed and tried to take it off. Nick went down from his motor and lift Fera. He placed her on the motor and climbed on too. Fera panicky hold on the motor. "I'm telling you, Nick. This is will kill me." "Chill, you'll be fine." And he kicked something on his right foot and the motor tilted a bit. She accidentally let out a small squeal that made Nick chuckle. Fera tried to went down but before she could move her foot, the motor moved forward and stopped. Fera crashed into Nick’s back and the impact made Fera's head flare. "Nick!" she grunted and slapped his back. "You were too far, hold on to my shirt." Nick oddly found comfortable with her despite her attitude. She instead holds on to his backpack. Nick was ready to argue when a four-wheeled vehicle passed them, Fera saw the teacher and the girl again. It was them who were talking around lunchtime. They followed slowly while Fera was tightly holding his bag. Not wanting to fall, the ride was slow but terrifying for Fera. "You better bring me home alive, Nick," She warned him. "Just calm down, I got you." Fera was taken aback by the term he used. It sends something unknown to Fera's end. She had gone more nervous but not because of the motor anymore. His words were something she couldn't explain. It made her feel awkward during the entire ride, she was just looking at her hands, tightly holding on to his bag. Her stares went to his broad shoulder up to his black hair. She awkwardly looked away and her cheeks started burning. She completely forgot that she was riding a motor and was overwhelmed with the sudden strike of unknown feeling. He stopped in front of their apartment, and Nick offered his hands to help her go down from the motor. "Are you alright?" he asked. He noticed her odd silence. She only nodded and started walking to the stair. He parked his motor in their garage and followed Fera. "Hey," Fera jumped when she felt someone touch her shoulder. Nick took his hand back and felt guilty. "I'm sorry, I thought you can handle the ride, I didn't expect you're scared of those kinds of rides, I should have driven slowly." "I'm alright." She stepped back and continued walking. "No, you're not. I'm sorry, I won’t force you next time. I'm sorry." "I'm good, Nick. Don't mind me." She spoke and stuck her key then open her door. She never dare to look at Nick and entered, she instantly closed it. This time she securely locked it. She dropped everything on the floor and went straight to the bathroom room. Turned the shower on and closed her eyes while letting the water trace down her body. 'What are those feelings? I may be flattered by his concern and generosity.' She thought and finished showering. Walking to her kitchen, she heard a low knock. She went to open it and Nick’s face came into her sight. "Why?" "I thought you haven't eaten dinner." And Nick showed a place of food. "For what?" "A peace offering. I know was being dumbass this day. From ruining your morning to the ride back home." She opened her door wider, and his face immediately lit up. "I am fine, seriously." She spoke and went to her dining corner. "You were oddly quiet, I was expecting remarks or curses after climbing down." "Maybe you just don't know me that better to expect my actions." That made him shut his mouth. "Maybe, how's your foot." "Gotten better." Fera was tasting the food and it was great. 'He is indeed a good cook.' "I just realized, was Fera your only name?" She froze upon hearing his question. She put her spoon down and look at him. "Why did you ask?" "I can't search you on social media." Fera raised her left eyebrow and started eating again. "I'm not into social media, I don't care if you've eaten by the way." He chuckled seeing Fera back in her usual attitude again. "I already did," he answered. "Good, and you need anything else?" "I just thought that you might need a social media account." "You're not ready for this, Nick." She was eating with a straight face. The usual expression but her warning made him realize that she had an argument to start. "No one was ready, but I don’t mind." "I would love to start from the purpose of social media, the main purpose is to socialize, isn't it?" Nick nodded in response. "Do I look sociable?" a wide smile crept on his lips. "Second, people share their lives. Posting pictures, updates, achievements, and everything. Correct?" Nick nodded again. "Why would I update them on what is happening in my life? Does anyone care? Would anyone be pleased to see my current status?" He was nodding continuously, amused by her opinion about social media. It was totally against the world's choice. "I, myself wasn't fun of social media," he spoke that making Fera roll her eyes. "I was expecting a good argument, is that all you've gotten?" "Social media is to socialize, correct. But these online platforms were usually a tool for entertainment. These save numbers of teens from an imperfect world. They most likely found entertainment in social media. Socializing wasn't just hanging around and talking something to barge off. They can talk to someone about their problems. Sometimes it's better to talk to a stranger that couldn't judge your whole being. Sharing lives, pictures, and achievements. Wasn't bad at all, your achievements can be an inspiration to someone, your story might help someone and your post might enlighten someone. It wasn’t showing off, it's sharing something you're proud of." Fera drank her water before answering. "Talking to strangers won't help my problem, and posting, hate comments won't feed you to survive every battle you face. Posting is luring insecure people, and they would stick their nose onto someone's life," she spoke fiercely. "Their opinion will never matter if you know yourself better." "Then why post it? I rather choose my pictures to be in a photo album not to be in someone's gallery on their mobile phone." "I rest my case." And Fera smile in triumph, she won. "I should have prepared for that." The day ended with Fera having a sweet smile on her face. Feeling proud of her win. The next day was still a cold morning, in the Philippines we only had a wet and dry season. Fogs had invaded the whole place. She was panting and clutching her jacket. On her other hand, she tightly holds her umbrella. Tiny drops of rain were continuously falling while she was walking to school. To her surprise, Nick had already been in school at she got there. She saw his motor in the parking area. 'Something is up, I guess,' she thought while carefully hitting the hallway. As the class started, his usual spot was empty. 'Where is he?' she mentally spoke. She was taking notes, and her hand was itching to reach for her phone in her pocket. Eventually, she realized. That would be useless, she had no contact number for Nick. 'He's old enough to be well breathing.' Convincing herself was quite tough but gladly managed to sit still and pretend to listen to the whole discussion. Her tiring classes had been cut by the break time. She secretly walked to the parking lot and she hadn't found his motor anymore. 'Where are you Nick Kingston?'Chapter 8: An Issue The warmth of the Golden hour was calming but that calmness was bothering her. She never saw Nick the whole day but found his motor by morning and then it was now nowhere to be found.She was one hundred percent sure that he attended none even a single class. Her foot had gotten better causing her to walk swiftly. Once she got home, she faced her newly set up computer. While I was booting she dialed her trusted friend. "9811145674,"'1012387762, yes Miss?'"Can you track down someone?"'Depending on the person, please state his name,' Lora answered."Nick Kingston Hernandez," she murmured while scanning her computer. She checked her device if it was well set upped.'Give me a sec,'"Sure," after a few minutes Fera received an email from Lora. 'Sent, Miss.' "Thank you," and she immediately opened it. Horrific info was written in it and her brain somewhat refused to process it. "Wait, Lora. Am I reading this right?"'Nick Hernandez, h
Chapter 9: Got into Trouble As the class hour has met its end. Fera went straight out of the school campus."Fera!" someone call her before she could take a step out of the school gate.'Did I leave something again?' She mentally asked herself. "Oh, hey!" "Going home already?" He asked, Fera, noticed the sweat on his forehead and messy hair."Yeah," she answered hesitantly, 'he smells good still,' she thought."Would you mind if I walk you home?" He smiled charmingly, his charismatic build and smile were too dangerous to trust if Fera would judge."For what reason...exactly, I mean why?" It came out a bit panicky and she almost cursed herself upon sounding silly."No, don't be skeptical about this. I only thought that maybe I could walk you home. You know, maybe we could be friends?" She realized that they'd been standing in the middle of the gate and they have drawn much attention. "Not a problem at all." She answered so they could move already and get away fro
Chapter 10: Meeting the Grandparents She unconsciously tightened her grip on her phone as she answered. "Back off, Fred."'I humbly suggest that you must take your words,' his using that dangerous to Fera. That was a warning for her. She was doing illegal and dangerous. "I know what I'm doing." 'Of course! You're not dumb to jump in such a dangerous pool, Fera. Bending a bent law by those powerful dirty players was safe for you!' She took a huge gulp and breathe for her tensed lungs, sarcasm had perfectly fit his words to tug a guilty feeling in her heart."I know, just this once." "Interesting," she annoyingly rolled her eyes hearing it from Fred. "He must have something to do with you, why would you help a man, Fera?""Nothing, don't make this a big deal." She hissed in an attempt of shaking the topic off."It is a big deal! This wouldn't stop here, after you meddle with Constancio's business he will hunt you down." She took a deep breath and looked up. She kne
Chapter 11: False Alarm "Look at your face! So it's true that you broke into Constancio's private rest house!" Fera immediately stepped back and create a distance from Nick. She doesn't want to be noticed by the lady as soon as possible. "I'm sorry, Lola." The only thing that Nick afford to utter."How many times do I have to remind you that you are sixteen!" Nick was indeed troublesome."Seventeen, Lola," he still has the nerve to answer despite his grandmother's annoyance."Minor! A Constancio can easily kill you. Nick this is serious trouble, this is not fun anymore." Fera awkwardly looked around, 'I think going with Nick is a bad decision, I should have stayed at home.' she mentally hissed. "La, I have my classmate with me." And the lady turned to her. She put herself together and awkwardly stretched her lips into a tight smile."Clever, very clever! You brought a classmate so I would prioritize her over your trouble. Not this time, no motor from now on." The ol
Chapter 12: I don't like HerWHILE DRYING HER hair, she got a message from Clarita. 'He's home, it was a false alarm.' After reading it she checked what time was it. Six in the evening, she swiped her phone and texted Lora.'Good Job,' just that. It was laced with sarcasm and partly genuine. She was thankful that she did what she was asked to but she couldn't let the part that Lora betrayed her by informing Fred too. She was already in her apartment, their driver send her home at three in the afternoon. As her eyes fell on her painting materials, she seemed hypnotized by them. She put her blower down and got her paintbrush and started mixing paints. While dipping her paintbrush into a bloody red shade of color, she was staring at the white Oslo paper on her painting stand. She was already imagining the image, she carelessly stroked the red paint on it. There has no definite direction it was messy in the center. After drying it she got her black ink, using that ink for her pen
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 comfo
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