CHAPTER 12

The morning came and I did my daily routines. I was already in the campus taking the wide stair and I am carrying my books with me. But something is odd, people are looking behind me and they're avoiding again. I turned to where they are looking but I almost lost my balance when someone suddenly bumped on me but he managed to hold my waist and kept me from falling. 

"Twenty four."

I raised an eyebrow and pushed him. What is he saying? 

"What are you- are you measuring my waistline?" I unbelievably asked him

"I knew it, you have the shape just like-

"Just like your previous flings? No, I bet their sexier." I left them there but he followed me

"Don't be jealous, Lorenzo. You are my current fling, so I have no one to touch except you."

When he blocked my way, I glared at him. We just had a serious conversation yesterday but he seems to forget it.

"I'm not jealous, don't assume things. And didn't I told you yesterday? Leave. Me. Alone." 

After moments, I'm glad he didn't followed me again. I heaved a sigh and proceeded to my locker where I can keep these things with me. When I was about to close it, I saw my reflection on the mirror. I was wearing a red matte lipstick and I think it's so thick. I decided to go in the washroom. 

There were two girls inside remaking their make-ups. They took a glimpsed on me before looking at the mirror again. I went to the corner and washed my mouth. I literally washed my mouth with water. I want to remove my lipstick because I think it's getting so much attention. 

I wiped it with tissue and from time to time I can see the two girls beside me sneaking. 

"You're the exchange student?" they finally asked 

"Yeah."

It became awkward when they glowered me from head to toe. They're fixing their bag while still looking at me.

"Beware of them." And with just that, they left

I don't understand at all. 

I shook my head and applied a lighter lipstick. It was just a nude one. 

Time flies fast. I just finished eating lunch with my cousin. Only the two of us and I wonder where that man is. And then I realized, I just shoved him away yesterday and today so I guess he won't show up again. 

I am walking on the hallway when I saw some students secretly distributing papers. What's with them? 

It was just a medium size of paper colored red, a dark one. People gladly accepted it. They're just taking glances on it and then they will smile. Some of them even blurted yes. 

What is this school? Seriously.

I have chosen to scroll on my phone instead. I can't get anything from them, might as well occupy myself. 

My head is lowered that's why I didn't notice someone coming from my way. I bumped on his chest. 

"I'm sorry-

"You should be." He said

I can't add any words. Is he mad?

"Walking while busy with your phone? It must be someone who's so important." I can sense the bitterness from his voice

"Why-

My words were hanged when I noticed how they kept the papers. Some of them slid it on their pockets and some on their bags. I sighed and didn't mind them.

"Where is your attention? I'm talking to you Lorenzo."

I gawked at Zoren again, "you sure really talks a lot." 

I walked passed by him and he followed me as usual. 

"And you know how to shut me up?" he's smiling cunningly

I laughed, "what? Kiss you? You and you're moves."

I heard him chuckled, "You're quick-witted, honey. Where's your room now?"

Is he planning to walk me there? I stopped walking and faced him, "My decision is final. Get lost, don't bother me again, and stay away from me just like what you did recently."

It seemed that he effortlessly understood what I just said. 

"What if I don't?"

"And why would you not?"

He licked his lower lip and stared right into mine. 

"Eyes up, please."

He laughed inwardly and gazed into my eyes. "Why change your lipstick?" he made a step forward to me

"You think I'm not seduced enough?" he came nearer and I walked backwards until I felt the firm wall on my back.

I can also feel how students stifled.

"Everything about you is seducing." He said in a husky voice

My heart went crazy again. It was thumping so fast. I am lost in his eyes. Am I falling for him?

No.

I used my force to push him and I was glad that we made a distance. Earlier, I can't breathe because he's so close.

"If you keep doing this, I will completely hate you." I seriously told him before leaving him

The class ended well. I am only waiting for Aron's reply, we're going home together. I have to ride the car with him. Few minutes have passed but he's still not here. He told me to just wait on the parking area but he's still not here until I noticed my two classmates. They seemed in a hurry when they went to my direction. 

"Jezcyl, you told us Aron is your cousin, right?"

"Yes, why?"

They looked at each other, "He got into a fight, and they're on the soccer field now."

I stood up from the bench and took my bag. Without ado, we ran to the field and I saw how people watched them. He already got scratches and I am really nervous looking at him alone while fighting three men. What happened?

I was about to go to him and at least help him in a calm and easy way but a hand stopped me from doing it. His aura today is intimidating that I can't respond in an instant.

"I- I have to-

"You think you can help him?" he looked at my cousin and me again.

"Stay here. " He uttered before letting go my hand.

I've seen people gossips and took their cell phones out and started to take videos. What are they going to do with that?

"Oh my gosh! Zoren's gonna' help Aron."

"They have not messed with Aron, they knew he was close to him."

"Oh my! I really missed hanging out with him. Zoren is never fading. He always got this handsome face. He's so hot."

My attention only averted when I heard men cried. He started to punch them and one of the three men broke his arm. My hands are cold from nervousness. I don't know what to do if something bad happens to my cousin. The next thing I saw was really unbearable. The man's leg stayed accidentally on the bench upon trying to kick Zoren, but then Zoren suddenly stepped on his toe and his leg broke.

I can't take seeing it so I avoided my gazes. Until the people begun to spread and went on their own ways like something dangerous is coming to them. Then I saw my cousin and Zoren walking towards me. 

We took Aron in the clinic and the nurse treated his wound on his face. I'm relieved to know that he did not break his body.

"What happened, Aron? Why did those three attacked you?"

"Nothing, just something to do with Tricia."

"Tricia? Who's Tricia?"

"My girlfriend, you have not met her yet but you will soon. For now, I'll be staying on my friend's house. I can't go home looking like this, mom will really scold me and she'll just get worried."

I don't know what to say, honestly.

"Just tell them we have a group project to do. She'll believe you, I swear."

"Then how am I going to get home? How can I get here tomorrow? I am still not familiar with the routes and I'm not fond of memorizing directions, I'm a direction freak."

It took time before he answered. He even looked at the man beside me.

"Zoren will do it for me. He'll never say no." then my cousin smirked

"How are you so sure, Aron?"

My cousin shrugged his shoulder and took his cell phone out of his pocket.

"Maybe I'll just call Stephen. He won't doubt, I'm sure."

My eyes widened. Why the heck would he do it? And Stephen? Of all people he knows, he'll just call Stephen?

"Fuck you." Said the man beside me. 

"Mouths please." A nurse interrupted us

I waited for Zoren to say sorry but he didn't. He just rolled his eyes and looked outside.

"We have to go." He stood up

I held Aron's hand, "are you sure-

And someone with no manners grabbed me from my seat. 

"Let's go. Your cousin is not a child anymore." 

"I know, tanga [stupid]". I ruggedly said

Both of their eyebrows rose up. They did not understand the last word. I laughed in my thoughts thinking how puzzled they are right now.

"What does it mean, Jez?"

I smiled at my cousin, "nothing. I just told him, thank you." And ogled at Zoren

He raised an eyebrow again and his playing his tongue inside his mouth.

"For what?"

"For helping my cousin and saving him."

"No, I didn't saved him."

I just shrugged my shoulder to end our conversation. Likewise, he'll not let me win. 

"But who are those men, Aron? We should tell the Dean about it. We don't know, what if they're-

"I have to take your cousin home. She's saying so much things." Zoren announced as he pulled me off from my cousin's bed. 

I though Aron would stop him from dragging me but he even smiled and motioned Zoren.

"Go, Jez. I'll be okay here. Tricia will be here in few minutes." He replied and as exactly as he finished, the door closes living him alone there.

I frowned, "why did you stopped me?"

He detached his hand from me. "Just it."

What?

Out of annoyance, I pointed him with my finger. My finger tip touched his broad and chiseled chest. Has this man been working out?

"If something bad happens to my cousin, I'm going to blame you for it. What if those men returned and harm Aron again? Are you going to deal with it?"

"No, what am I? His fucking savior?"

"That's it. You helped him once, I don't think you'd do it again." I turned my back from him and went off. 

Until I reached the car, I became silent and he was just at the back. I was about to open the door of the car when I came into realization so I faced him again and I was stunned a bit knowing that he's staring right into my eyes.

"Are you going to ride me home? Or I'll just grab a taxi, or maybe I'll go with the school bus."

But he remained silent.

I exhaled, "fine. I guess no.3 is the best choice. Just give the keys back to Aron." 

I unleashed my hand from the door and walked out. Few steps away when I heard him talk.

"Do you love to argue with me?"

My feet halted from my position. I sighed for the second time before turning to him again.

"I-

"Because I think I have to endure that for days until your cousin's back."

What?! 

I processed his words until it all sank on my system. My heart throbbed abnormally and I can't utter words to response. He's walking towards me but I can't even move my feet.

He took my wrist and tugged me. We went to the car but to the blue one. This is his car, I can still remember it. He opened the door for me and guided me inside. 

We went off and stayed silent for a while. I reached for the stereo and played music. It was a classic one. I just hummed with the song and I'm glad he remained quiet. 

But I think I was wrong.

"You can't talk things like that again in the crowd." 

I turned to see him, "things like that? What do you mean?"

He glanced at me, "just don't do it. Forget what happened, forget what you saw." 

"What if I did not?"

"Then I'll be in trouble, you want that?" he was serious but gradually, he grinned at me. 

I rolled my eyes, "you are already in lot of troubles and you're still afraid of this little one?"

"It's not little, honey."

"I don't know what you're talking about so just shut up if you don't wanna argue again." 

He zipped his mouth and laughed a little. We had a long drive and I feel sleepy. I sat properly again and stopped the music, it's making me more drowsy. I tapped my cheek a little and that's where I heard a chuckle, of course coming from him.

"What?"

"It's okay to sleep. I'll wake you up when we arrived."

I grimaced, "and knowing you, you'll probably take the chance and steal a kiss from me. Then I'll woke up like nothing happened while you-

"Honey, I don't steal kisses. I get them for free and permitted." He smirked again

"Really? You? Are you kidding me, Fraser?" 

His famous smirk went gone. "You saying it, is hot. But I want you to call me with my name. People I don't know call me Fraser."

That shut me up. There's something like that in here?

"And you're not one of them." He even added making the atmosphere awkward again.