Chapter 11
"Hi, Pershey," Iries greeted her as she followed her. Pershey just looked at her with a trace on her face the shock of Iries' sudden greeting to her. "Good morning," she greeted as she caressed Pershey's arm. She was carrying two thick books. She was still wearing glasses and her hair was still curled. "You look gorgeous," she commented.
"With my uncombed hair, I know," she replied. She just keep walking.
"Actually, yeah. You looks gorgeous with yo-"
"What do you need? I have vacant time," she interrupted Iries. She grabbed Pershey by the arm so they both stopped. Their eyes meet.
"Pershey," she called.
"I'm busy, Iries. I don't want to talk about that, okay? Go to your room," she removed Iries' hand that was holding her arm tightly. She looked back at the road then walked straight.
"Think about it, Pershey. Your ball is coming!" She shouted just loud enough for Pershey to hear.
She did not utter a word. She went to her room. Her classmates were already there but she was looking for someone.
She dropped the books on the desk of her chair then walked around the room.
"Excuse me, are you looking for me?" someone asked her behind her. She turned to the speaker.
"I think, you're the one I'm looking for," she replied with a wide smile. Leighden just laughed at her. "Don't laugh, Leigh," she scolded. Her forehead furrowed.
"Leigh?"
"Yeah. Leigh sounds cool, right?"
"78.65% only, Pers," she teased her as she continues to chuckle.
"Stop laughing, Leigh. Don't call me Pers. Sounds number," she scolded. Shaken as Leighden laughed.
"Leigh?" she disgusted the call. Leighden just stared at her annoyed. "I need your help," she said.
"Help?"
"Follow me," she came out and Leighden followed her. They went to the library, to her deluxe room.
"What help do you need?"
She first sat on the bed then removed her eyeglasses. She let her hair down and shook her head.
"What are you doing?" Leighden asked her.
"Look at me," she commanded. Leighden sat down next to her then watched her. She stared at Pershey from head down to her face then turned her gaze back to her eyes. She stared at Pershey's cheeks for a moment as well as her lips and nose, then, she looked back at Pershey's cheek. Pershey just smiled at Leighden's stare at her when Leighden suddenly slapped her. Her cheek flushed at the force of Leighden's slap.
"Ouch!" she moaned. "Why you slapped me?" she asked.
"Mosquito bit you, Pershey. Don't you feel like you've been bitten by a mosquito?"
"W-why did you have to slapped me? You slapped me so hard, Leigh. You're getting into my nerves. Fuck! It fucking hurts, Leigh!"
"S-s-sorry! I didn't mean to slapped you, Pers. I-i just wanna kill the mosquito on your face. S-sorr-"
"Don't be an actress, Leighden. Hahah. It hurts but it's okay," she said. She laughed and then slapped her on the shoulder. "Your hand is heavy, huh," she commented.
"So," she began then stood up to close the door. "What help do you need? Anything I can do, Pers," she added. Pershey's facial expression became serious. She came even closer to Leighden's side.
She stared Leighden in the eye. Leighden frowned at what she was doing.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"Iries offered me something," she began then turned her face away from Leighden. She stood up and took a walk. "She told me the plan for my 18th birthday," she sat down. "She wanted to have a party on my debut like Mom told me," she stood up again and went in front of Leighden. "She wants to make me beautiful," she stared Leighden in the eye. Leighden just listened quietly. "Am I beautiful?" She nodded in response. "She wants me to be a model here at the University. She wants me to be a famous model," she continued before she sat down next to Leighden.
"Seriously?"
"Our University will be having a Pageant. She wants me to join and change myself."
"Pershey, I think you have to think about that. For my point of view, that's an opportunity for you. You can join in the Pageant, you can be a model. It's the better way so you don't have to pour your attention on Neil. It's the better way for you to stop dreaming of him. He won't be yours. He's a playboy. The best thing to do is to follow your heart. Ask yourself about that things. You know, that will be the way for 'yah. "
"Do you think, do I need that? Do I still have to do that? I'm happy with who I am, Leigh. I'm comfortable with myself. Maybe I'll just change when I fix myself."
"But, Pershey, you're getting older. You're too old to bear."
"As long as I have myself, I don't need to be someone else." Leighden picked up a book and opened it in front of her. She just watched what Leighden was doing.
"Look at this book," she commanded. She closed the book. "Look at the cover. Does the book look interesting based on the cover? Do you think the story is good?" she asked.
"Why book became related in our conversation?"
"Like a book, the cover needs to be related to the story."
"So? What have I got to do with the book?"
"You don't understand me, Pershey. Your life is like a book. Some people will judge you by your looks, books by its cover. Even if they don't know you, someone will judge you. Like a book, someone will judge a book based on the cover they see. They will judge the book even if they have not read the story," she explained. "Pershey, think about her plans for you," she pulled out a vape then blew it when Pershey grabbed it and threw it in the trash. "Why did you throw it away? That vape is my favorite flavor!"
"Hey! Crazy woman!" Leighden looked at her sharply. "I mean, crazy woman," she repeated without thinking of what to say.
"Crazy woman?" She laughed in annoyance. "You called me' crazy woman?" She bleated. "Last time, you called me frog," she agonized. "Pershey!" she shouted.
"Shhh. Don't shout, okay? I'm sorry, Leigh," she apologized.
"Just kidding," she chattered. "Let's go back to the topic. Don't be too serious, okay?" Leighden chuckled softly.
"So, I am thinking about that. I'm confused. I don't know what to do. I am comfortable with my looks. I don't need to be someone else. This is me. I am Pershey. This is the real me. "
"Okay, that is your decision. Just listen to your heart."
• 11:30 AM • ||
"30 minutes left, Neil," Draek reminded. He bounced the ball first before he answered.
"I know," he bounced yet another ball, shoot it into the ring. "Let's just have some meal," he whispered.
They went straight to the canteen. There were some students who were mostly athletes. They sat down where their companions were also. They just waited for the food they ordered to be cooked.
"Why haven't you joined the contest yet? You have a good, no, perfect body fit. Just try," he convinced.
"For what? For the consolation prize? 500k prize for the winner?"
"Yeah. Use that prize for yourself. Or give it to the needy. Give it to the orphanage. 500,000 pesos is a big amount, Neil. If you want, it's better to deposit it in your bank."
"There's no need. Dad planned the Pageant so I don't have to participate in that contest anymore. And one more thing, besides basketball, do I have any other talent?"
"There is."
"What?
"To play women's heart."
They both laughed at what they had been talking about. Meanwhile, Pershey and Leighden head to the restaurant where they were. El Lavish Restaurant is the name of their frequent destination. It is located on the first floor, next to the HRM room at the University de Forde. Aside from El Lavish Restaurant, they also often to hang out at Amiable Delayla Cafe. The cafe is just next to the restaurant. On the second floor, there is a swimming area, speech lab, commercial room and more. On the rooftop, there was a confession stage. Almost every day the students go there with the person they like. There, they confess their true feelings.
"Think carefully about Iries' offer, Pershey. You know, Neil will like you when you look better. You don't have to chase-" Pershey covered Leighden's mouth so she cut off what she was going to say.
"Did you see what I see?"
"Mmmmooo-mmmhmm-"
"What? Speak properly, please," she pleaded. Leighden's mouth was still covered by Pershey's hand so she couldn't speak. Pershey looked at her then removed her hand.
"What did you say?"
"I mean, did you see what I see? Do you understand? Do you feel the same? Am I only dreaming?"
"Do you sing?" She laughed before nodding. "Eternal Flame?"
"Yeah. Yeah." Her gaze focused on Neil's whereabouts. Leighden noticed them so she blocked in front of her. "Go away. I'm looking at something" she scolded. She was not listened to and smiled as if teasing. "Are you teasing me, Leigh? Get out of my sight. I'm looking at something, Leigh. Please, get out because I can't see-"
"You can't see Neil?" She gasped. She touched Pershey's face and forced her to look at her. "Do you know what's going through my mind?" Leighden asked. She shook her head. "How long are you going to chase him? Obviously, he doesn't like you," she said. "Look," she looked from Pershey's head to toe. "Do you think, are you his ideal girl? Will like you?" Pershey didn't say a word and looked down. "Look at me," she commanded.