The next day, I report back to the senior's club. Until now I still don't have my assignment. Adam asks me to help the group with their tasks. Today, the group needs to go around the teacher's lounge and ask them to sign some paperwork for the event. Afterwards, we need to open a couple of boxes containing tickets to the event and distribute the tickets to every campus organization, teachers and help in selling the tickets for the event.
Since my team group accomplishes the tasks too early, Adam asks us to stay over and help the other groups. Another officer of the club approaches my team. His name is Ben. He is a little bit chubby and has a bubbly personality. He is wearing thick powder in his face and very red lipstick. He requests us to come with him to another room. We follow him. Ben is a little bit bitchy too. He is in-charge of the production for the event. He asks us to assist and help his group to make some decoration for the props. He is friendly towards me at first but after a while his moods changes and become mean to me. It happens after him and Gabby talk.
When Gabby comes to his room, they talk then start to laugh. They seem to be very pretty close to each other. I am doing some work for the props when I overheard my name and accidentally hear the conversation, "Is that him?" and the other one said, "Yes sister, that's him!"
Briefly, some one calls my name "Toni!" I turn around and see Ben is calling me. I approach him while Gabby is standing next to him. They both raise their eyebrows while walking towards them. I said, "Yes sir, can I assist you with something?" Ben said, "Call me, Madam!" I said, "Sorry, Madam!" "I have a special job for you!" Ben replies.
They take me in one corner of the room where there are some piles of tin of wet paint, some paint brush and some white fabrics.
Ben says, "I would like you to paint this fabric black." I have never done any paintings and before I said anything back, he says, "Start now!" I follow him immediately and start to unfold the fabrics on the floor and open one tin of black wet paint at a time. I took one brush and start to roll the wet paint to the fabric. Gabby and Ben are staring at me. Every minute Ben reminds me to work faster. He said I should kneel down when I am painting and don't be a pussy to touch the paint. Don't hesitate to get dirty – that's all he means.
After half an hour since I start painting I am not even close in finishing one fabric. I am beginning to get attention in the room. Cleo, Marcelo and Marvin offer to help me but Ben refuses. He said it is just one fabric, it is a simple task and I have to finish it by myself. Cleo says, "But he does not have any experience doing the painting before. Ben says, "You should mind your own business or I will ask you to leave." I don't want my friends to jeopardize their application to be a member of the club so I gave Cleo a wink and thumbs up signal to let her know that I am fine.
I work quickly as I could and did what Ben keeps on telling me. I kneel down, I work faster, and I put more wet paint into the fabric. I really don't care anymore if I touch and get all the wet paint all over me. All I want is to finish the task very soon. Finally, after another half an hour I have fully covered the fabric with black paint. Ben says, "Leave it there and let it dry overnight." He and Gabby turn around and leave the room.
My friends approach me and ask me if I am all right. I am very too exhausted to stand up so they carry me to the chair. Cleo hands me a bottle of water and says to drink up. Then, Marcelo says, "Why are they doing this to you?" And Marvin follows it up with another question, "Aren't they bullying you already?" Cleo says. "Stop it guys. Let Toni rest for a while. You should clean up when you are ready. You have some paint in your face, in your legs and in your arms."
It is getting a little bit late so some volunteers start to leave. I told my friends to go home already and I will be just fine. I just need a moment to take some rest and I will go and clean up soon. They said they are okay to stay but I insisted that they should go.
I am sitting in the chair while looking at my friends as they step out of the room. When they disappear, Gilbert enters the room with somebody. I recognize the girl right away. It's Marivic! Last time I saw her was in the library and I think she doesn't like that Gilbert and I shared a table together. Gilbert enters the room while Marivic stays outside. He says, "I heard what happened today." I said, "Huh, what happened today? Nothings happen today. I am just doing some work for the props team."
Gilbert left me for a few seconds and tells Marivic not to wait for him and go home by her self. He is staying with me and helps me to clean up. I said he doesn't have too, I am fine and I can take care of myself. He insists and Marivic without saying any word left us alone. I said, "I said I will be fine." Gilbert said, "Let me stay and besides I want to have dinner with you again because you will be paying this time" and he gives me a big smile. Then I said, "Lord, what did I do to deserve all of this?" I stand up and carry my bags and said, "Okay I need to go to the wash room and clean up a bit."
He offers to carry my bag and accompany me to the washroom. He grabs my small towel, asks me to sit in the counter sink and let him do the cleaning up for me. I refuse him but he came too strong and demands me just to follow him. He opens the faucet, let the water runs, wet the towel and squeeze out the extra water. He starts cleaning my hands all the way up to my arms. When he is done with my arms he rinse the towel again and starts to clean my face. The paint has started to dry so he needs to press the towel a little bit harder to my face but he was still gentle. He asks me many times if I feel any discomfort while he is wiping my face with the towel. That moment his face is too close to my face and I can able to smell him and his fresh breath when he talks. Finally he is done but he still needs clean my knee. I am wearing a short that's why I also had some paint in my knee. "Don't worry about it, I will take a shower anyway when I get home." And then I said, "I think we are pretty much done here, shall we go?"
While walking I ask him, "Are we going again to the barbeque shop?" He says, "We can go again if you like it there." I said, "Yes I do!" He says, "Sure, lets go again. Are you having the same thing again?" I said, "I think I want to try what you had the other night." And he says, "I will also try what you had last time." And we both laugh.
In the restaurant, we start to order the food and I ask Gilbert if I could order a drink for him and I will just have an ice water because I am short of money and I can only pay for our meal and one drink. He said its okay.
In the middle of our dinner, he passes me his drink and insists to try it. I don't know how to react in that moment. I said to myself, "how can I drink it? Should I drink from the same straw that he uses or should I asks for another straw." And then he said, "What are you waiting for? C'mon just try it, drink from my straw." And so I drink and he asks me, "Did you like it?" I said, "I didn't realize passion fruit tea tastes so good." And then asks him if I can have another sip. Before he responds I have already done it. He excuses himself and said he needs to go the toilet. He comes back and asks me if we can go already? I said I haven't pay yet for the meal, he said he already paid for it. I said, "Aww, here take my money!" He says, "Don't worry about it." I insist to take my money. He says, "Do you want me to punish you tomorrow?" I said, "Okay fine, if I knew you will pay for the dinner I could have order my own drink." And he says, "So I see what were you whining about? You know what, from now on we will share one drink!" I pretend I didn't hear what he said and turn my head away from his face and tries to hide my smile.