After the whole ordeal with Nicole, I was now walking along the large campus and my destination is the clubhouse.
Today, I'm going to help with the request from the Instrumentals Club, and if I'm going to do that, I first need to inform the student council so that my actions would be validated after the completion of the said request.
When I got to the clubhouse, I wandered my gaze and started looking for Darren.
I wanted to know what his reactions are in regards to my supposed "help".
Unfortunately he was nowhere in sight. I asked Minji who was painting outside if she saw Darren earlier, which proved to be a bad move.
"That motherfucker has still not taken any request, and was even audacious enough to message us in the group chat that he won't be attending today too. Seriously, tell him that I'm going to break a bone or two from him if he continues lazing around."
I couldn't help but whisper under my breath.
"You could've just said 'no I didn't saw him."
"What wazzat?!"
"Ah no. You said we had a group chat? earlier you said that."
"Yeah....ohh right. I thought you were dirt poor and that you did not have a phone so I did not bother adding you."
'Word sure does spread faster than a virus.'
I thought to myself as I showed her my phone. She then added me in the group chat.
I thanked her afterwards, but before I left her alone I asked one last question....questions.
"Now take a hike! I still need to finish this shit they call masterpiece."
"Uhm, have you seen Joseph?"
"That weirdo is in the central clinic on the club intersection."
"Thanks, I appreciate it...well I still have one last question."
"What now?!"
"What the hell is GC-GC?" I said as I pointed at the name of the group chat.
"Gardening club Group chat, duhh"
"Wow thats so lame."
"Wawazzat?!"
"Nothing. See you later Minji."
I quickly left the garden and went straight to where Joseph is.
Shortly after walking, I saw him outside the center clinic with bandages in his wrist.
"Ocho! Here! I'm here!"
"No need to shout that man, we're the only ones here."
"I know. Hey do you know how I got this bandages? Well do you?!"
"Nope. Could you please assist me in processing this request?"
"Well if you're so insistent then I'll tell you."
"I still have places to go so I'll appreciate it if we could talk as we go to the student council office."
"Hear this yeah? I confessed to Minji earlier back at the Painting Club, but some fraternity guys started harrasing her while acting like they were helping her from me, and so Minji broke their wrists when they suddenly touched her arms."
"....whats that got to do with your-"
"Her nape was really smooth hehe."
"....Yup. I saw that coming from miles away."
We walked as Joseph narrated more of what he experienced earlier. And as we were about to leave the vicinity of the center clinic, we heard countless voices from the path entrance of the Sports Clubs.
I wanted to just ignore it but Joseph suddenly rushed towards the noise so I had no choice but to follow him.
On the intersection of the Sports Clubs, we saw 4 mascot suits each burning on a crucifix. It was placed on the side near the trees where nobody would notice. It seems that everyone only noticed it when it was set ablaze since everyone was oblivious of the culprits.
All the members of Sports Clubs are bewildered and angered with this clear provokation to them. The place was now crowded with dozens of hot-blooded athletes who were shouting various opinions of their own. But even with these kinds of noises I still heard Joseph's disturbed muttering under his breath.
"Dear god.... Its happening again."
--------
"Nic..."
'Why do I have to accompany him home?'
"Hey...ole"
'Do I really need to? Why did he even choose to go with this?....maybe he was ordered too by my mother to guard me... yeah that seems more reasonable...I just have to find a way to shake him off.'
"Hey. Hey girl...hey Nicole! Are you in there young lady?!"
"Huh?! What?!"
I got startled out of my thoughts when one of my close friends shouted at me.
"You didn't have to shout that loud Jackie!"
"Sorry girl. Don't go sassyin' on me. You looked like a soulless squirrel just now. Have you been takin' pills lately?!"
"What? No! I was just thinking about..this and that."
Jackie looked at me with a surprised look and suddenly hugged me. She then emotionally told me while wiping an invisible tear in her eye "I'm so happy right now...I'm gonna be the greatest aunty."
"What?! I'm not pregnant!"
We continued teasing each other and talking about some stuffs, like the collaboration with the instrumentals club tomorrow, until our breaktime was over and went back to practicicing.
Jacquilyn is quite famous in this school, she's a second year student who has a large circle of friends from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years. So it makes me wonder just how did we get this close.
Our practice today had been very arduous and exhausting since the contest would be held next week. Our coach worked us out of our lungs for 3 hours before concluding the practice and sending us home.
After leaving the clubroom with Jackie, I received a text from "that man" and walked towards the school parking lot.
He told me to wait for him here and that his club activities are over for today.
It got me thinking on what club did he actually join.
'It must've been the football club he joined. He have a nice physique after all....wait, why am I even thinking of that asshole right now?!'
"Hey Nicole. You're spacing out again. Seriously, is it a guy thats been causin' this?"
"Ah sorry. Its nothing. You really don't need to wait with me here Jackie. I doubt that he would even be interesting anyways."
"Who? That slumdog you wuz talking about earlier? You really should stop basing on status darling....Oh speak of the Darren."
We both looked towards a motorbike slowly approaching us and saw the face of the driver after he removed his helmet.
"Damnnn girl. Doggy be lookin' so fine!"
"Nice to meet you too. You're Jacquilyn right?"
"That I am, but no need for the long ass names. Jackie is fine."
"Ahaha yeah she is."
Before the two could develop into something horrendous, I quickly cut them off
"Am I suppose to ride this thing with you?"
"Why not? You already did so back then."
"I don't even have a helmet."
Ocho sighed at me and handed me his helmet. I've already worn it once back then so I went and received it only after showing a look of hesitance and disgust.
I then rode on the back of the bike after wearing the helmet, all on my own while also ignoring the assisting hand of Ocho.
We both said goodbye to Jackie and drove off out of the school.
Today is wednesday so its my first day off at work this week. It is also the only day of the week where the pastry shop I frequently visit is selling their best cake.
I expected Ocho to decline my request of stopping by the pastry shop first before going home, but he surprisingly agreed with me. He said that he will wait at the convenience store while I order my cake.
I appreciate his gestures and I was about to thank him after careful consideration, but the bastard almost hit a car and blamed it all on me.
"Fuck. What the hell you dog!"
"If you weren't such a pig then I wouldn't have a hard driving this already heavy bike."
"Uh-uh. Screw that. I'm surprised a dog even knows how to drive a bike."
"How about me? Its my first time seeing a pig eat a slice of strawberry cream covered red velvet with grape flavored chocolate toppings. You usually eat shit though right?"
I was honestly amazed that he knows the exact thing that I wanted to order, but I didn't show it on my face.
I wanted to praise him out of having the same interest with me, but I instead argued with him some more for calling me a pig.
We continued arguing with each other until we arrived in front of the pastry store. He dropped me off, revved the bike, and made me eat some smoke as he drove towards the nearby convenience store.
I raised my middle finger at him before entering the store.
------
After ordering my favorite cake for take out, I went outside and looked for Ocho but he was still not here. I thought that our little rumble earlier got to his head and left me here already. So I decided to leave the place on my own and take a taxi after telling the guard of the pastry shop to tell Ocho that I already left , if he ever went back for me.
I called a taxi that was parked nearby, and as I was about to enter, I saw 2 men inside that did not seem to be a taxi driver and a passenger.
I was about to close the door but the guy on the passenger seat forcefully pulled me in and covered my mouth and nose with a cloth.
I struglled against him but I soon felt my whole body limping when I breathed in the cloth, it probably had chloroform in it.
My vision started fading and my whole body stopped moving.
Oddly enough though, the last thought that came to my mind was.
'Fuck! You're sitting on my damn cake...'