CHAPTER 2: Chocolate Brown Orbs
"It wasn't fun," I hastily asserted.
Kaydee rolled her eyes upon hearing it. "Coz you're not even watching my volleyball games. Duh!"
My lips quivered trying to suppress a laugh, but didn't succeed. The echo of it reverberated on that narrow comfort room.
Since first year college, Kaydee and I became close friends with same course of B.Sc. Nursing. This girl was so chatty when we first met, to top that, she was also a Filipino born lass migrated in Canada. She was easy to be with except her sometimes controlling attitude.
And now, we were on our third year in Humber College, North Campus still inseparable since time immemorial.
This lady plays for our volleyball team last year and a sports enthusiast. When I said she was controlling, it was about her wanting me to be as sporty as she was. I doubted she could persuade me about it.
Kaydee grimaced which made me stop from laughing. Nonetheless, my nude matte lipstick would do smudges.
"Come on Aster, what's your definition of fun, huh?" she diverted her gaze from the mirror down on me. Kaydee did a messy bun on her straight black hair which perfectly binds that light brown skin.
"Mystery is fun," I simply answered her query while applying powder in my face.
Her plump glistening lips pouted, then, she faced the mirror again. "That's what you get reading mystery books and stuffs. Like, isn't sports fun? It is beneficial to everyone's health, and builds camaraderie within a team..."
Kaydee continuously demystify her aforementioned speech last time. It was my turn to roll my eyes.
Who wouldn't know the benefits of playing sports? Per se, not all people make fun out of it, including me. Sports were not really my forte since childhood.
"Let's drop this topic, please? For pete's sake, today is just the beginning of classes, Kaydee. Studies should be focused before sports," I blurted defeatedly.
"O'right," she surrendered, setting up her light blue feather jacket.
Finally, she dropped that topic off before we could get a long rant from the dean for being late on his subject, specifically Genetics. It was our last subject in the morning.
Genetics went well albeit being loaded with two activities given by the dean A.K.A prof himself. Despite the first day of classes, he had a good way of bringing enthusiasm to his students. It was a slight sarcasm though. I just suddenly missed the two months vacation.
The hands of the clock pointed at five and twelve which meant it was the end of today's school. It came just too quickly and thankfully without further tasks given by the afternoon professors.
We were dismissed by our professor in Midwifery, turned us to hastily clear our things, preparing to leave.
I sighed after looking at Kaydee checking her face on a pocket sized mirror. She was perfectly pretty with her round black eyes and that light brown skin. The beauty you wouldn't trade for any precious gems.
"Bid me goodbye to your kikay kits, Kaydee," I said, slightly waving my hand.
That was the time she stopped her pretty little business and hurriedly marched towards me near the door exit.
"Let's get going then!" she hurriedly exclaimed and hauled me out there. I didn't even had the chance to ask where we were heading to. However, looking at her, she was utterly excited that I was afraid what she had in mind.
"Kaydee Sebastian..." My voice was weak yet roared with warning.
Who wouldn't be piss at her sudden jolt? We were at the field. Jesus! I was right with his tricky scheme. The fact that she dragged me there without saying anything secretly told everything.
Her eyes fluttered. "Just this one, Aster. Just be with me watching this soccer practice game, please?"
My brows furrowed. "This is ridiculous! A practice game in the first day? They're creepy..." I muttered in disbelief.
"Creepy or not, blame their coach," she argued. "But still, we're both watching this practice game albeit your dislike of sports," she added with confidence.
I rolled my eyes. It was as if I had a choice.
There were plenty of students watching the current practice game. The sun was up high showering its rays toward every corner of the field. It was sunny hot, letting the players bathed in sweat. Thankfully, the bleachers were highly roofed.
Kaydee pushed me to sit beside her, situated on the second row. She was too enthralled on that said practice game which I ignored.
I felt agitated remembering Zeiko's request just this morning. "I'll fetch you on your building at five."
Glancing at my wrist watch, it was basically five fifteen. I panicked. He should be looking for me by now, though my cellphone shutted down earlier. He couldn't contact me, nor I could, except borrowing Kaydee's.
"Can't contact your darling?" she seamlessly asked. "No need. He's right there," she whispered before pointing her forefinger on my back, which made me surprise.
There, I saw Zeiko heading towards us. "I texted him earlier about us watching soccer…" she lightly chuckled, then, focused her eyes again on the game.
Tell me that she wasn't controlling. Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky! What a witty move Kaydee.
"There you are. May I sit beside you, pretty miss?" Zeiko beamed which I answered with a quick nod.
I moved closer to his side and leaned my head on his firm shoulders. I busied myself twirling his loosed necktie, with a perfect view of his collar bone.
I didn't practically watched the game, but looking at Kaydee's gleeful demeanor, I stayed.
Zeiko lightly raked my hair, sometimes smelling it. "You're bored," he stated the obvious. He knew I'm not fond of sports.
I sighed and met his gaze.
"I don't want to spoil Kaydee's happiness."
Zeiko understandingly nodded, before giving me a peak on my right cheek.
"Wanna eat some snacks?" Zeiko suddenly put his question aloud enough for Kaydee to hear.
"Oh... Only if it's a free load," she punned.
Zeiko laughed at Kaydee. "It's on me. Don't worry," Zeiko suggested before he left.
Kaydee went back watching that so called practice game, while I was reading something from Zeiko's literature book.
Suddenly, Kaydee called my attention, "Aster..."
"Hmm?" I mumbled, eyes still caught on the book.
"Zeiko is a good guy worthy to be kept. He's good for you. I can see sincerity in his eyes... He really loves you."
Her eyes intently bore in mine. I felt a sudden clench on my stomach before I eased it with a smile.
"I agree. My boyfriend is the nicest guy I met. He is super caring and all. He's perfect..." I uttered, then focused myself on the book.
I was reading, yet the talk earlier with Kaydee played constantly in my head. I should throw out the inhibitions and sticked myself in reading, but for some unknown reason, I couldn't.
I shook my head to erase the unwelcoming thoughts, instead leaned closer on Zeiko's shoulder again. Inhaling his scent made my worries diminished at bay. It was when Zeiko peeled nachos and puckered a few in my mouth.
The field suddenly filled with roars from some people watching, and it was because someone made a goal which I did't care and knew who.
Kaydee giddily slapped my hips. "Oh, Jesus! Lucas made the goal. He's such a motion killer!" Her voice was laced with adoration.
Zeiko sticked his nose out of the giddy praises Kaydee said, and just sat silently beside me.
"Lucas who?" I asked with confusion, not knowing to whom she was pertaining to.
I followed Kaydee's pointing nails on the far corner of the field. The man seemed Asian based on his built, more of Chinese.
I was about to not mind them again, but I gasped realizing who I saw on that area besides the so called Lucas.
Was it him?
It shouldn't be!
My hands began sweating like a waterfalls. I rubbed both of it to ease, but then again, the beating of my heart started to change drastically like doing threadmill running.
What was happening? I shouldn't be bothered by a man playing soccer with a built like the one I frightened to see. Also, he was far away from us, so I couldn't confirm my suspicion.
It wasn't the guy with a bloodshot eyes, right? Even if his shoulder length hair states otherwise. In fact, I saw few in this school with same hair length as his.
But what if it was him, Aster? Why were you so afraid of that guy you barely know? My inner self asked.
"You're pale. Are you okay?" Zeiko's face was laced with worry. "The play is done. We better get home if you're not feeling good."
I tried to open my mouth but it was as if my voice betrayed me, and won't come out, so I just nodded as an answer.
Kaydee thanked me with redundancy, but I weakly mouthed, "No problem." I was suddenly lost out of the mood.
Zeiko walked me towards his awaiting car, but stopped when he tsk-tsked.
"Shit. I forgot my keys on the locker room," he said with a lace of irritation. "Please wait here a minute."
I nodded. "I'll be fine."
Zeiko hurriedly stomped his black boots out of the parking area before his figure was out of sight. I sighed.
While waiting for him, I raked my eyes apparently on the school's big logo painted besides the big carved letters saying Humber College.
I scooted myself over Zeiko's car, suddenly tapping the windshield to kill my boredom. Whistles of the gushing evening wind embraced my naked face.
Where was he? It had been ten minutes passed.
The atmosphere became chilly again, welcoming the upcoming darkness. It was already 5:50 pm, yet Zeiko was still out of sight. I began to panic.
What if he was lost? What if someone played on him along the way? Did some of his friends trapped him for a talk?
He should be here. If not, I would look for him myself!
The other negative assumption played in my head. What if he suddenly got unconscious again? It wasn't the first time he experienced that. No, no, no!
My nervousness doubled just the mere idea of it. I couldn't withstand staying here without knowing his condition. I should definitely get to him now. I was about to step forward when a creepy sound cringed my ear.
"Oh..."
I stiffened. A sudden animalistic growl echoed the almost silent parking lot. With my almost thirty minutes of stay in there, I didn't remember someone entered the vicinity--even took the few remaining cars out there. Where would that sound came from?
"Fuck it!" There was that muffled voice again.
My pulse palpitated far from normal. The thought of finding my boyfriend was slighlty clogged by my curiousity. I slowly stepped towards the sound.
The part where the voice came from was way far from the main enter and exit. Perhaps, the distance of it from Zeiko's hammer was totally lengthy.
"Your...ugh!" The voice became much clearer coming from the lightning blue car. It was the only remaining car in that part, or it was the sole car parked there. Nonetheless, few would want this part because of seclusion and the far distance from the main entrance and exit.
My steps were glued on the rough cement when I realized what was happening. I almost thought something erotic just happened. I didn't know if I was just a subtle pervert or just green-minded.
Inside that lightning blue car was a man heads down, with hands searching for something on the compartment, and Lucas, paling to the core with clenched jaw and a red face. He was badly hurt. I guess a twisted ankle made him writhed in pain, looking at his almost purple ankle placed over the other seat. It was surely because of his hard goaler kick earlier.
And in fact, the sound I heard was from him, letting the other man do his ankle.
My third step hanged when a thick deep voice showed up from below the compartment. "You trust me enough to do this, aren't you? You should have told coach, and let the real doctors see this."
"I trust your expert hands, man," Lucas said in a playful manner, then laughed, while bearing the pain of his ankle.
"Fuck yourself," the man, then again, replied.
Hell no! My eyes almost popped out. That voice... It was that man. It was the new anonymous neighbor!
The power of invisibility wasn't bestowed upon me. They felt my presence, and showered me with glares, mainly that man in the neighborhood.
My stomach churned out as I saw that eyes again. Though it wasn't bloodshot like yesterday. Now, it was a pair of deep chocolate brown orbs looking at me--piercing my soul.
I swallowed the lump formed in my throat. I hastily bowed down to evade his burning gazes. It was too much to handle... His stares were deep, and I could sense his calculation out of that pretty orbs. Wait! Did I just say pretty? It was, perhaps, only acceptable, not pretty.
The man's stark demeanor seemed dangerous. Every part of him screamed destruction. I didn't know what was gotten into me which stared at them, motionless.
"Aster?"
Zeiko's appearance was really heaven sent. In a haste, I took my eyes off to them.
My head throbbed a bit before I closed my eyes.
While I marched towards Zeiko's car, all I could ever think of was that chocolate brown orbs.