Chapter 6: Solve Puzzle
Looking straight on her way and walking alone to school while feeling down wasn’t cool at all. Fera was walking like dead and a bit unstable because of her wounded foot. She didn’t seem bothered by her neighbor’s stares. She dropped her ID in Mama Tes’ office before heading to school. Mama Tes was giving her an unusual stare, especially at her foot and the way she walked. Good thing she asked none. Since Fera was not in the mood to explain any. When she got there, the school was in chaos. The canteen server was being escorted by authorities to their mobile, and her schoolmates were there watching the scene. The mobile left and gossipers were shamelessly talking about it. She somewhat felt proud of Nick’s heroism. She was not against helping others, all her concern was, that maybe he’d get farther and cross someone’s privacy. As well as he might cross with dangerous people. Their class started and Fera felt good already. Because, when she saw Nick, she didn’t see any hint of boastfulness in him. He was sitting peacefully on his chair with a casual expression. She didn’t know how he manage to do it but what matters as he didn’t fall into serious trouble. Everything went fine until lunch break, she was not fun of gossip but something caught her attention. “It’s her right? Nick’s girlfriend?” She felt goosebumps upon hearing those. Felt like a bucket of iced water splashed on her spine. “I heard he sleeps in her apartment, and now she walks different.” And she get choked by her food and then started coughing. Nick arrived and handed her a bottle of water. She aggressively turned her head to the girls behind her who were talking about her. They had gone out of the canteen, and let out a furious sigh. “Are you alright?” Nick asked her and sat next to her. “Nuh, I’m fine.” He just shrugged and eat his lunch. “So, your theory was right?” She started a conversation and pretended as if she was not curious about how it went. Nick got surprised but choose to disregard it. Didn't want to make Fera feel embarrassed. “Not at all, April and the server were related, she’s April’s mother and help her eliminate Marisa, while Troy is innocent all along,” he answered. “What did you do, then?” “None, she surrendered. She can’t sleep knowing her daughter is in jail.” “But everyone is talking about your heroism.” “I confronted her and broke down, starts crying while kneeling on the floor, some call the police and got her arrested.” She nodded and finished her food. “By the way, I heard those girls a while ago, gossiping.” She opened up about their issue. “I thought you’re not found on gossips.” He commented and eyed her confusedly. “Unless it has to do with me!" she exclaimed. “They’re talking about me being your girlfriend and you slept in my apartment last night, now I walk differently. What does that mean?” He froze looking at Fera and gave her a disbelief look. “Are you serious?” “I am dead serious.” And he started chuckling while shaking his head. “What the heck was that mean?” “What part that you don’t understand?” He asked while still smiling, he still couldn't believe that gossipers had come that far. “Well, I truly understand why they thought we have something since I don’t talk to anyone except you intentionally. But what does it have to do with me walking differently? There must be something I am missing here. Why would that part become relevant and linked to me, being your girlfriend?" She spoke while pointing to herself. "They might think, I'm abusive," Nick said and drank his soda to hide his smile. "Yeah, you seem abusive and they thought you hit me but that's not it. I have the feeli-" "What! I am abusive?" he blurted. "You SEEM," "Exactly the same thing!" "Lovers Quarrel?" Someone interjected and they both turned their head to it. And Fera saw a man with a huge naughty grin on his lips. Looked dashing in his icy blue long sleeve and black trouser. "Ben," Nick greeted. While Fera was figuring out how to escape. She'd be out of place with them. "Nick!" The man called Ben, sat across from Fera. He was eyeing her with an annoying smile on his face. He had clean hair cut and clean face and white teeth, giving Fera somewhat a fuck boy vibe. "I haven't heard anything from you for a while," Nick spoke but Ben gave him a meaningful look. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your girlfriend?" He asked which made Nick smile while Fera's eyeballs rotated three hundred sixty degrees. "What brings you here?" Nick instead asked. "I was looking forward to meeting your girlfriend." But his friend wouldn't let it pass that quick. He even emphasizes the word girlfriend while eyeing Fera. "This Fera, Fera this is Benjamin, my cousin." Fera astonishedly eyed Nick, 'why the heck did he introduced me to this idiot?' "Benjamin Leonardo," he took his hand out and offered a handshake. "Fera, a girlfriend of none." She continued eating her pasta, ignoring Benjamin's hand. "Great! Mr. None you got a feisty girlfriend here." Nick kicked Benjamin's foot underneath to stop him but he couldn't hide his smile while Fera was dying to stab Ben using her fork. "Alright, I was truly here for the incident that happened yesterday. Unfortunately, Nick here has already saved the day and left me with nothing." "Your tardiness isn't my problem." All of a sudden, Fera stood up and got her pasta. Both men stared up at her. "I lost my appetite." She only spoke and Marched herself away. "She seems familiar." She heard Ben say, she traced the path to the huge field behind their school building. She was trying to calm her heart down, her hands were trembling and drops of perspiration started building upon her forehead. 'He cannot be recognized me! I should change my look or style.' Fear was eating her, and she couldn't keep herself still. Her heart was hammering against her chest. She hurriedly reached out her phone in her pocket. Her trembling fingertips kept messing up dialing. After a few minutes, she succeeded in dialing. "Picked it up, Lora." She started biting her fingertips while silently praying that her secretary would pick up. 'Yes, hello?' "9811145674," '1012387762, Miss Fairly.' "I need help, I met someone today and he seemed to recognize me." She mumbled, trying to speak faster yet lower. 'What's its name, I can track his recent trip and see if you've met before.' "Benjamin Leonardo," while looking around making sure none heard them talking. 'Benjamin Leonardo, a fresh graduate of Bachelor of Laws.' "He's a lawyer?" she asked. 'That explained his confident aura,' she thought. 'Criminal Lawyer, but he hasn't taken a board exam. And you never cross paths, you can deny if he ever recalls your face, I'll send you new clothes for your new style.' "Thank you, Lora." 'You're welcome, Miss.' "I told you, I'm busy!" She accidentally threw up her cellphone and securely caught it. She hadn't recovered from nervousness totally and a voice of a man, made her heart jump again. She slid her phone into her pocket and grip the strap of her bag. 'Who the heck is that?' Then she found a man, in a teacher's uniform. "When will you be free? Oh! Never, 'cause you're done with me, right?" A melodic raging voice of a girl appeared in her ears. "Tone down, Rika." She saw the teacher looking around and she swiftly step to his blind spot behind the huge trunk of an old tree. "What do you want?" "What do I want? That's INSANE!" She heard the girl shout and followed by a harsh hushed by the man her talking to. "Let me remind you, that you never messaged, called, or see me! For five weeks! After what we did, you acted like you never knew me." The girl's voice cracked at the end. 'What a mess?' Fera stealthily walked away and went to her next class. 'This school is full of controversy, isn't it? Just the right place for me, great.' She quietly ranted while calmly walking to her next class. "Fera!" Her calm face turned into dead when she heard someone call her. Turned her pivot around and saw a man with a huge smile approaching her from behind. "Fera, right?" He asked and stuck out his hand as he reached her. "I'm Tunner," she eyed his hand but eyed his face back. "Are we going to settle something?" she asked. "Oh! Yeah, actually. You left your notebook, " he handed me a brown notebook. True enough it was Fera's. "We share a previous subject and you left this on your desk." "Thank you." "May I walk you to your next class?" She instantly remembered that she walked pretty unstable. And she thought he was offering to help her walk to her next class. "No, thank you. It's just a small cut under my sole, I'll be fine alone." "You do?" He confusedly asked and Fera nodded in response. "What happened?" "Long story, let's just say, blind enough not to see the broken piece of a glass." "The must be hurting you." 'Of course, what's wrong with him?' She mentally mused. "Not at all, I'll be running late, thanks again." Before any response, she turned herself around and walked without second thoughts. She quietly entered her room while her teacher was facing the blackboard. She sat next to Nick, which was the only vacant chair. "Where were you?" Nick whispered. While she was searching her book for the current subject. "Somewhere none of your business," she replied. "Yes, children at the back?" she froze and looked at her teacher at the front.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 ha
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