Chapter 7 - Her Rival

She did not pay any attention to her friend calling as she couldn't breathe anymore in pain. Just when she admitted herself what she really felt for him, that's when Jay started to have an interest with another girl. After she heard Jay shared that thought with her, she felt like there wasn't any chance for him to like her at all. What's worse was that the person she love only valued her as a friend, and nothing else. Why did she allow herself to completely fall in love with this guy? She shouldn't had given meaning to the kindness he was showing to her. But any girl would fall for him if shown the same kindness like he did to her. Her problems now doubled and she had no one to blame but herself. She became confident and she allowed her feelings for him to grow deeper. She's annoyed at herself while her tears were rushing to fall. She just needed to pound her chest to feel better. How would she ever overcome this situation? She just wanted to leave somewhere far but her heart contradicted her brain.

When she got home, she stayed inside her room and cried to sleep. Anyway, just only two months to go before graduation. A little more sacrifice and she could finally move on. It was painful but she had to deal with it.

The next day, she left early and didn't wait for Jay. She was trying to condition herself to act just like time when there was no Jay in her life. While she was walking,

"Excuse me, you're Jay's friend right?" a tall, pretty girl who looked like an Caocasian asked her.

"Yeah, can I help you?" Cissie replied.

"Yes you can help me, definitely! You're the only person in this campus who can help me," the girl confidently replied.

"I even have no idea yet. How could I possibly help you?" Cissie was trying to be realistic.

"I seriously need your favor to meet Jay in person. Please, introduce me to him," she begged. "By the way, I'm Cherry Madsen. We moved here from Norway last year. It wasn't that difficult for me to learn your language as my mom used to talk to me in that back in Norway. I just extended my introduction so you wouldn't feel aloof with me," said the girl who looked so kind yet so outspoken. She could have liked Jay a lot.

"Don't be so sure that I will help you. Who knows, I could not be that nice as you think I am."

"That won't happen. I know you're not that type of person. Looking at you, I can tell that you're really a nice person. May I know your name? I already introduced myself to you and I didn't even know your name," she smilingly said.

"What if your instinct is wrong?" the girl became sad with what Cissie said.

"Fine, I'll do it. By the way, I'm Cissie. Wait for me here later at lunch break. It seems like you really like him a lot, huh?" Cissie had no choice but to give what she wanted. Anyway, Jay was not hers to begin with.

"Yes, I knew it! Thank you so much! I got to go, I'm about to be late," she even hugged Cissie before running away. Cissie just shook her head. She couldn't believe with what happened. The competition was getting tougher. Anyway, who was she to join the competition? She had nothing to show off other than her brain. Other girls had that too and they're pretty. She sighed and shook her head as she continued walking towards her classroom.

"Bezzie!" Jay shouted while running towards her.

"Bezzie, wait up!" he caught Cissie's attention with its loudness.

"Why?" Cissie bitterly asked. She felt like the pain in her heart got worse when she saw her friend.

"Bezzie, the girl whom you were talking to earlier was the one who requested a song last night. Bezzie, she was the girl I was talking about!" he excitedly said.

"Really? You guys seem compatible. You know what she told me earlier? She was asking me a favor and that she wants to meet you in person. You should be happy since you will finally meet the right girl for you," Cissie bluntly said and left.

"Whoa! Are you okay? Did I say anything wrong?" Cissie did not respond back and continued walking.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Jay followed her.

"What is wrong with me? There is nothing wrong. Just leave me alone. I'm not in the mood for talking. I'll take her to you later, don't be too excited, Bezzie," she replied.

"If that's what you said. Wait, why are you too peevish? What did you eat that you became like that?"

Cissie did not pay any attention to what he said. Jay just let it passed while looking at her friend went inside the classroom. What did she eat to act like that? It's simple, she's jealous and she pitied herself.

That noon, the foreign girl was already waiting outside Cissie's classroom. Cissie felt more annoyed but she didn't want anyone to be affected with any personal issue that she had.

"Wow, you're early! Did you even attend your classes?" Cissie told her, trying to calm herself.

"Of course! Can't you see how excited I am? I can't wait!" Cherry couldn't hide her excitement.

"You're really different. Let's go. Jay couldn't wait to meet you too in person."

"Ahhh!" Cherry felt the chills. "Really? Seems like I can now imagine my future husband," she continued.

"Husband, right away? Can't he be your boyfriend first?" Cissie got annoyed with what Cherry said.

"I already claimed that. Let's go!" she then pulled Cissie's arm. If it wasn't obvious yet that she's excited. While heading inside the lobby of the admin building, they saw Jay who had been observing them from afar. He couldn't resist himself and went to them.

"Hey bezzie, who is this beautiful girl with you?" he asked while extending his hands to the beautiful lady his friend was with.

"What a big surprise to see you here!" Cissie sarcastically replied since she knew that Jay had been observing them for a while.

"Don't be like that. I know you have already saw me here earlier," Jay replied to Cissie. The foreign girl then held Jay's hand and did not let go. When the girl was about to speak, Cissie started talking.

"Like what I told you, she has been wanting to meet you. I know that you feel the same way too. So, meet the dream girl. Bezzie, this is Cherry Madsen. I just happened to know her this morning. She ambushed me this morning, to exact. Cherry, this is Jay Tan, my bezzie," it's obvious that Cissie's tone was bitter but the didn't mind her saying. As if the two seemed to have their souls left that place, not hearing Cissie. It was as if their eyes were fixed to see only each other, and they were still holding hands. Cissie couldn't contain herself.

"Did you guys hear what I just said?" Those words seemed to brought the two back to earth.

"Of course, loud and clear. Hi, nice to meet you, Cherry," Jay smiled to the girl.

"Nice to meet you too, Jay. I just can't believe this is happening!" Cherry exclaimed.

"I hope this is not the end of our meeting," Jay said next.

"Well, let me know if we could stroll around some time and have either lunch, dinner, or breakfast," Cherry was just being straight forward.

That was an eyebrow-raiser statement for Cissie. This girl really was liberated that she was the first one to initiate and invite him for a date. What was she to expect from someone coming from a liberated country. Even people in this country who claimed to be religious and conservative, were also influenced by that mindset.

"Hey, I got to go. I look like a guard here. Enjoy each other's company," she tried to smile then turned around. The only thing she heard was 'thank you' from the two people who seemed to be meant to meet each other. Why did this girl even appeared out of the blue just when she admitted herself that she loved her friend? Why didn't Cherry appear during the time when she wasn't feeling anything special for Jay? Time really seemed to be out of timing. Cissie even thought that life was a joke.

The classes resumed but Jay seemed not to notice her. She didn't bother asking about Cherry since she wouldn't want to add salt to the wound. The whole day ended but he still did not talk to her. She fixed her stuff slower than the usual, waiting for him to ask her to go home together, but nothing happened. She was intrigued as he was the one who was always asking her to go home together before. She tried to ask him first.

"Bezzie, let's go home together,"said Cizzie approaching Jay.

"Oh bezzie, sorry. Cherry and I have to go dinner together. I feel embarrassed to say no. She is so nice to be snobbed," Jay replied while fixing his things.

"Oh. I think I should be going then. Enjoy your dinner then," Cissie melancholy replied. That was the first time that Jay didn't ask her to go home together. She felt that she didn't have the right to resent since she was the one who gave him a cold shoulder last time.

It was getting late yet Jay wasn't still home. Cissie couldn't stop worrying. She was walking to and fro while looking at her watch. That was the first time ever happened and she worried for Jay. When she couldn't take it anymore, she grabbed her phone and text him.

"Bezzie, where are you? Granny is looking for you," Cissie texted.

Granny wasn't really looking for him. It was just her excuse to text him. She waited for his reply as she knew that he replied right away. An hour and a half passed, she got no reply that she worried more for him. She tried to call him but no one was answering. She went to the living room to let granny know about it. She was going back upstairs when the door swung opened and saw Jay.

"Granny has been looking for you. I was texting you but you didn't even reply. I called you several times, you didn't answer. Didn't you know that people here are worried?" Cissie said angrily.

"Oh sorry, I forgot that my phone is in silent mode," he said while looking startled with Cissie's reaction.

"Really? Or you did that on purpose so no one could disturb you?" Cissie couldn't hide her annoyance.

"Of course not! I'm receiving a lot of texts from people I do not know. I don't think it's appropriate that I keep looking at my phone when I am talking to someone," Jay replied.

"You should have at least inform us where on earth were you."

"Fine, it's my fault. You get mad at me as if I'd really do something bad. I'd make it up on you bezzie, don't be mad. By the way, why were you that angry? This is my first time seeing you like that. It started this morning. Are you jealous?" he teased her.

"Stop it! It's not funny and I am not jealous, okay?!" She turned around as she might run out of excuses. Also, she felt that her cheeks were warm. She could be blushing.

"Don't worry Bezzie. You're my one and only best friend. We'll have dinner tomorrow, okay?" Jay said. He even emphasized the word 'best friend' which confirmed the reality that there's no chance for her to go beyond that zone at all.

"Whatever!" she hurriedly left as she was really jealous and worried. She closed the door for him not to annoy her.

The next day, she was expecting Jay to ask her if she wanted to walk to school with him but it didn't happen. He said he'd leave first as he had something else to do. She couldn't do anything as she had no right to ask or stop him. As she arrived in school, she realized that he picked Cherry up from her home and walked to school with her. Cissie was feeling heavy with what she saw. She didn't notice that tears were about to fall from her eyes. When tears started flowing down her cheeks, that's when she realized that she was crying. She wiped them hurriedly, fearing that other people might see it. When she was near the lobby, she heard someone mention her name. So she quietly walked towards where that voice was.

"So, she is the new girl," one student said.

"Yeah, and I heard that they are already dating. Well, that girl deserves to be with Jay, instead of that trash, Cissie!" the other one replied.

"You're right. I wouldn't mind if she is Jay's girlfriend. At least she is rich and pretty. She looks really perfect for Jay."

"Me too! Poor Cissie, she was just played like a toy. Left in the air," then the two girls laughed with the fate Cissie had.

Cissie cried after hearing that. She went to the comfort room to pour her heart out. It was when the bell rang and the first period was about to begin when she started fixing herself. She didn't care anymore what Miss Langit would ask her to do. She just slowly walked towards the classroom.

"Cissie, are you okay?" when she turned around, it was Miss Langit.

"Good morning, ma'am," Cissie greeted.

"I heard you earlier in the CR. Is there any problem?"

"No, I'm fine. I can take this. Thanks for the concern, ma'am."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay then, let' go inside."

Cissie was absent-minded throughout the whole class. She didn't even participate in the discussion. He had nothing in mind other than the pain of that one-sided love had brought her. She didn't thought of going or inviting her friend to walk with her later since for sure, he'd invite his girlfriend instead. Her world would surely be different now and that was painful for her. Anyway, she used to be alone before Jay entered her life. She just didn't realize that everything would end up that way. Their friendship was good. She admitted that it was love that she was feeling all along, but everything changed in a snap.

She tried to be normal in the next two months. She was like being killed by the pain in her heart every single day. She found it even more harder every time she saw the two happy and playing together. She thought, it should be her and not that foreigner girl. Every day was a big challenge for her to keep the happiness, because her happiness was slowly going away. Jay was slowly drifting away from her and it was killing her.

Only a week was left before their graduation.

"Hey bezzie, long time no chat!" Jay said while running after Cissie, going down the stairs.

"Hi bezzie! Yeah, indeed! Long time no chat. We're living under the same roof but we have barely seen each other for quite some time. How are you doing with Cherry?" Cissie bitterly replied.

"We are doing great! She said yes to me last night!" Jay happily shared the news.

"Oh, is that so? Well, congratulations then. You've finally met the right girl for you. I'll go ahead bezzie. I have to go somewhere," she bitterly bid goodbye to Jay.

"Take care bezzie. I will make it up to you some other time."

Cissie just waved while turning away from Jay. She had no more strength to reply back. Her chest was so painful as if it was being stabbed by a knife. She was expecting this anyway, but it was more painful when it came from the concerned person. She couldn't do anything but to cry and yield. She was determined to leave after the graduation. She thought that when he's already somewhere far, the pain would lessen.

The honor roll would be announced that day, but she wasn't excited to know whether she was still in the top 3 of her class. She was thinking nothing but the graduation day, so that she could leave right away.

"Good morning guys. As expected, I will announce today the honor roll. Congratulations to all who will graduate and sorry to those who will not. This is it! Congratulations to Jean Calunsag, our valedictorian. Cissie Cruz, our salutatorian. Al Perez, our 1st honourable mention. Jay Tan, our 2nd honourable mention..." Miss Langit continued on the announcement.

"Bezzie, congratulations! You're the salutatorian!" Jay hugged her. They caught the attention of everyone, including the teacher who paused the announcement. Cissie was startled with what he did. However she recalled, it's not something special because he already had someone special.

"Uhm. Congrats to you too. You're part of the honor roll," she aloofly replied. But Jay didn't let go of her. Even him was shocked with what he did.

"Bezzie, everyone is looking at us," Cissie whispered.

"Huh?" he seemed to got back on his thoughts, "can't I hug my best friend who is an achiever?" he loudly said while facing the whole class.

"Guys, before the school year ends, we will be having an open forum for you to say your goodbyes to each other. Those who were not in good terms have to patch up. You have to part ways without any hard feelings with anyone," Miss Langit said.

"Cool! We can now tell everyone who likes who! When would that be?" Jeff excitedly ask

"This Friday, a day before the graduation. We wouldn't have classes anymore so I will dismiss you early, but you are not allowed to go out of the campus, understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" the whole class responded together and could not wait for Friday to come.

While the whole class was noisy, Cissie kept silent. When she couldn't take the noise anymore, she left and went to the library. She went straight to her hide out and spent the rest of her time there. After a whole, the door opened.

"I knew it! I know I could find you here. I miss this place, Bezzie," Jay said.

"You haven't been here in a while since you knew Cherry. Nothing has changed in this place, it's still abandoned," Cissie was trying to imply something.

"This is the most unforgettable place I have ever been in this school," then he sat on the sofa.

"I now realized that we're different. I don't want to remember this place anymore so I am making the most of the time while I am here."

"And why is that so? As far as I know you valued this place more than any other places in this school, right?"

"Yeah, you're right! But we both know that this place is already abandoned and once I leave this place, I will bury all my memories here. Abandoned things don't need to be remembered anymore," Cissie was really trying to imply something.

"Wow! Is that you, Bezzie? I'm getting drowned with your deep words!" Jay said, smiling.

"You have to get used to it Bezzie. Let's go outside, it's about dismissal time."