CHAPTER 8

This is it, I’ll be having my first class in the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. This school is so huge. It’s beautiful in here and I’m happy to know that I’ll be studying here for six months. I am with the other four exchange students, all though we’re schoolmates, I am not close to them because they’re taking a different course.

“We can do this.” Emily said

They talked for a while but I remained silent and observed the surrounding. The students are going on, taking the wide stairway to reach the large entrance of the university. Some are in circles talking with their friends but there are also who preferred being alone. Then parked cars and beside are couples and friends running to them. 

But all of my attention was diverted to a car who feels like on a race. His car screeched hard and the people around looked over but I’ve noticed that they averted their gazes right away when the driver of the car showed off.

He’s in the famous black sunglass with a simple T- shirt on him and a pants. I can’t see his eyes but looking where he’s facing, maybe he is eyeing to our direction. I didn’t mind them that much. I started to walk away from the crowd. 

I want less people around me.

But, why would they not look at him? I mean the hem of people on us a while ago. Are they afraid of him? Or they just hate him? Nah. I can’t just conclude things basing on my mere observation.

“I’m really nervous, but I think we should go our own ways. See you around, girls!” Sharmina

They started to bid their good byes and went off. When we were in the airplane, we talked so much and I got to know their names. Just like me, they were excited studying here as well. 

“Bye, Jezcyl. Take care.” Lizzie

I smiled at them and waved my hand, “Bye.” 

Now, I am on the hallway left alone by them and in front of me is a bulletin board and few more steps away is the locker area. I proceeded there and looked for my locker number. All our stuffs transferring here for a while were taken care off so I don’t have any problem with that.

I found my locker and I’ve decided to put the other books I am handling. This is not accommodating me also, I mean I don’t like bringing too much things when I already have a bag. And as soon as I closed my locker, I was shocked. My heart beats fast again and I glared at the man who was standing there still not removing his sunglass. He was not even smiling. I guess his looking at me so seriously.

“So, you’re here for me?”

I put the keys on my bag and looked at him, “I’m here to study.” And I walked away. As much as I love, I want to have a low key life here.

I thought he’s not going to follow me but he did. I stopped walking and I’ve seen that he’s not even bringing a bag or a book. Then some random people interfered us, they patted the back of his shoulder and they stopped when they noticed me.

“A new prey?” asked the man who has a dark brown eyes. They are all tall and I feel like a child here. Damn.

I should have taken vitamins when I was a child.

“I’m going, first.” I turned my back from them. I don’t have any plans socializing with them or making friends. I just want to focus with my studies and went back to the Philippines with the learnings and lessons I’ve gained in here.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not that workaholic when it comes to school but I just feel like I need to do it now. I can’t put this chance into waste. 

I proceeded to my class and I’m glad it hasn’t started yet. I went to an empty seat and sat quietly. It’s good that we have separate table and chairs, I can focus well. After minutes of waiting the Professor came. He was an old thin man, but not that thin. His eyes darted on me and raised his hand a bit.

“You’re the exchange student?”

I stood up and all of my classmates looked at me, “Yes, Sir. My name is Jezcyl Lorenzo and I came from the Philippines. I’ll be studying here for six months.”

He nodded, “You know that three months you’ll be here in this university but for another three months, we’ll send you in a company as interns. That made it six months.”

“Yes, Sir.” I answered then he motioned me to sit down.

Our Dean explained it to us, at first we were really nervous but I think this would be a great experience for us. We just have to work there like an employee so I bet I’ll have excellent learnings. Knowing Americans, they are all competitive and they’re not afraid to take risks. And that’s what I want to learn from them.

The class begun and ended quarter to eleven that explains why I feel hungry now but I still have to find Aron. I’m thankful that he’s also here, studying. Someone can accompany me when I’m alone and save me when I’m troubled.

I texted him asking where he is because I can’t ask him on Facebook, he doesn’t have an account there. He just have Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and I do not know the others anymore. Among those apps, I only use Instagram. 

My phone vibrated and he replied, he said that he’s on the cafeteria and I should go there, so I went. I have a virtual map of the school that helps me know the direction and the places. There are a lot of hallways and I don’t know where to head to.

By this time for sure, there are lot of students there and I wasn’t mistaken when I reached the cafeteria. I looked for Aron and he’s sitting near a glass window. I hesitated to come because he’s not alone, he have friends with him and I don’t know them. I have no idea either if I saw them in the party last time.

My feet moved towards them when he asked me to come to their direction using his hand. There’s an empty seat beside him and he told me to sit there. His friends greeted me and I did the same. They’re nice.

“Can you order your food? Or I’ll just do it?” he asked me

“No, I’ll do it. Although it’s a bit crowded, I still want to try.” I stood up and turned but I hope I did not.

He cornered me, I mean I can’t pass because he’s already sitting and his legs are obstructing me to go over. His sunglass is on his nape now. He had a tray a while ago but he placed it on the table the moment he came. The table is accommodating six persons and there are already three on the other side while here, Aron is seating on the last chair near the window and I can’t walk over there.

“Excuse me.”

It seems like he didn’t heard me. Instead, he crossed his legs. I noticed that the three of Aron’s friend said their goodbyes and for a while, they looked at him. I just heard my cousin sighed and he transferred to where his friends left.

What’s wrong?

“Sit and eat.” He said without looking at me.

“It’s yours. I can buy my own, you just have to let me go.”

“Eat or throw it. I won’t have it either. I heard Filipinos don’t waste food.”

I was stunned for a moment. I sat on my chair where Aron left so we have a seat apart. I looked at the dish and its vegetable salad and beside is a pasta. Then the drink is cucumber. Is he a vegetarian?

“Just eat, Jez. He doesn’t like pastas.” 

Jez? My cousin made an own name for me. Good for him.

I have no choice but to eat the food. It’ll get wasted if I will not do it but I did not really like the vegetable salad. I do eat vegetables but this one with a mayonnaise and not cooked vegetables, no. I just chose the lettuces to eat.

They’re just talking and I am not listening to them until I heard my cousin laugh and his eyes are on me.

“My cousin is a picky eater.” He laughed, crossed his arms and shook his head.

I feel a bit embarrassed. I’m not a picky eater. I just don’t like some vegetables. 

“N-no. I eat vegetables but I want it cooked and I hate mayonnaise.” I don’t eat mayonnaise as well

He smiled and looked at the man beside me like he remembered something.

“By the way, Zoren will play later. You want to watch? I’m going there too.”

“I don’t think I can come. I have stuffs to do and I want to be home early.” I answered. Though I don’t have anything to do but I just really want to go home early. I’ll call my family and friends, I wonder how they’re doing right now.

And also, I don’t want to watch him later. It’d be awkward. 

“I’m not playing later, Aron. They can handle it.”

I turned to see him. What’s with his sudden announcement? My cousin seemed surprised with him.

“What? They’ll get mad at you.”

He looked at Aron, “Why? They’ll not, because they can’t.”

From his statement I can say there’s something in it. There’s a hidden meaning and thought about his words. They’ll not get mad at him because they can’t. Why?

Upon thinking about those, my eyes accidentally directed to a man. 

Stephen and his smirk. 

He’s with a group of man and they noticed him that’s why I diverted my attention to another direction. I am now slightly facing the wall and the window and my hand is rested on the temple of my head. It was just to cover myself from them.

“Are you okay, Jezcyl?” my cousin asked me and I just nodded.

Until I felt a very near presence and I think that he moved to the seat beside me. He took my hand and faced me onto him. He’s really intimidated. His eyes are examining me and he saw me looked at the direction of Stephen. He was still there and he’s looking at me then he mouthed, ‘DARE’.

Damn. He can’t get over with that?

“Stephen.” I heard him muttered.

“Be careful with him and his friends. They’ve got a crazy game and he won’t stop until he’s done with the dare but there’s another way.”

I can’t take the way he stares at me and my heart seemed to burst out when his eyes darted in my lips.

“What?” I asked him although I feel nervous now.

“I’ll do the dare instead.” Then the corner of his lips moved. I pulled my hand from him.

“Shut up and don’t ever dare, Zoren. I am not—

Fuck.

He grabbed my waist and locked me. I can feel the eyes looking at us. He’s making a scene. Students who were laughing instantly stopped when they saw our situation. Some of them were shocked and some wagged their heads like they saw something again like this.

Zoren’s face tried to came nearer mine. 

“Don’t dare. I’m serious.” I gathered all my might just to push him away but he just moved a bit and gawked at me again.

His smirk is making me nervous. 

“Fine.” He uttered as he stared at my lips. “I’ll let him play the game for a while.” And just that, he let go of me. 

I can feel my heart thumping so much and I’m afraid he can hear it. Despite what I’m feeling right now, I am still pissed. Using my right foot, I kicked his feet below the table. 

“Argh! Fuck.” He groaned

I stood up and took my bag. But before I left, I stared at him again.

“Don’t ever come near me again.”

My class for the day is over and here I am out of the building waiting for my cousin. He’ll drive the car and I’ll be going with him. I spun when I heard voices and I saw Aron but he’s with someone I don’t even want to see.

“Let’s go?” he asked me when he was right in front of me. He opened the door but for me to get in and I instantly went inside the car because of the presence he’s with.

But I was surprised when the person who sat at the driver’s seat was not my cousin.

“What are you doing here? We’re going home, get out.” I shoved him away but he did not even turned to me.

“Yeah, that’s what we’re going to do.” Then he started the car

Damn it. 

“Not with you, jerk. I’m going home with my cousin not you, not anyone.”

He looked at me without any expression on his face, “did I hear you right? You called me jerk?”

My tongue got cut. Why? Is he offended with that word?

“Sorry, I didn’t know you’re sensitive.” I just decided to apologize so we’ll get done here.

“I am not sensitive. You have sharp tongue, lady. Don’t you?”

I didn’t answered him. I looked away and I felt that the car is already moving.

“Geez! Are you for serious?” I annoyingly asked him

The corner of his lips moved again. “I am. I’m bringing you home.”

 “And you’re not saying—

“My home? Would you like there instead?”

“No!” I exclaimed

Why is he doing this?

“I don’t have plans talking to you. Stop the car now, Zoren.”

Instead of getting mad and stopping the car, he smiled deviously at me. “Sure, but I hope you know how to drive.”

My eyebrows furrowed. How did he knew I can’t drive? I am still learning.

“You didn’t do research on me, right?”

And for the first time, I saw him laughed.

“Why would I? Do you want me to say that I am interested with you?”

My mouth shut. I can’t stand having a conversation with him like this.

“Often, girls do the research on me. Don’t tell me you’re not curious?”

I stayed quiet for a while. From that day I saw people being distant with him, I became curious. Who is he? Why most of them are avoiding him?

“Why would I? Do you want me to say that I am interested with you?”

He chuckled, “you know how to fire back, huh.”

“And you talk too much.”

He glanced at me again, “and you have to be glad about it. You don’t wanna’ be part of those people whom I don’t talk to.”

The car stopped in front of our house. I didn’t noticed we’re here already. I was occupied talking to him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Jezcyl.”