Chapter 2
"Holy crap!" He curses and jumps off the toilet seat, loses equilibrium, and flips back down.
"Who the heck are you?"
His deep voice booms in this big, empty toilet arena. He sounds a little embarrassed.
I open my mouth to say something, but my tongue is tied.
"Are you still standing there? Where the f**k did you come from? Get out!" he yells, trying to hide his little buddy.
Gosh. Why was I even staring at it?
"Erm...Erm..."
"So, you can't even talk," he cuts in.
"I'm Silvia. Silvia dela Cruz."
I know, I know. I am so stupid for saying that. This is no time for introductions. But I don't feel like leaving this sight.
"Really now? Like I care about your name? Get lost!" he yells.
I come to my senses, slam the door shut, and storm out. I walk across to another column and read the inscription: Females Restroom.
Really? Why didn't I notice that? I enter and find a stall. I didn't feel stressed anymore. It's as if the tension of that weird moment was swallowed up by the dragons awakening in my stomach.
Why am I always like this? Clumsy!
Not once have I imagined meeting my Prince Charming in that situation.
I thought the world would smile on me when I met my dream crush. Now he is furious because of my stupidity.
******
Peering through the classroom window, I see a teacher lecturing. I reach for my map to check if I'm at the correct room. I glance at my watch. It's 11:30 already. Oh my god. I am so late. I slowly turn the doorknob, open the door and push in my head. All eyes turn to me.
"And who are you?" the teacher says, stopping the lesson.
"Good morning, ma'am," I say, slipping in.
"There's nothing good about this morning. Who are you?"
"I'm Silvia dela Cruz. I'm new."
"Wow! You are a newbie, and you are late on your first day. How cool."
"I promise this won't happen again."
That was one promise I was not going to keep.
"Now stand here." She grabs my shoulders and turns me toward the students. "Introduce yourself to the class."
I remain mute, trying to figure out where to start. I look around at all the faces.
My heart explodes, pounding in my chest. There sits my crush. He is an angel surrounded by bad boys.
I couldn't look away. We stare at each other. Even from this distance, I can see the flame in his emerald eyes as he glares. I glance around and land on the girl I had bumped into earlier. She's sitting next to him.
Really? I have clashed with two classmates in one day? On my first day at school?
Woah! Great, isn't it? Anyway, just my luck. First my classmate and then my dream crush. Amazing. Thanks, Dad, for enrolling me in this school.
"Silvia!" the teacher yells.
I startle. It's possible she has been calling my name ever since I became dumbstruck at the sight of my crush.
The class bursts out laughing.
"Yes, I... I'm..."
"Go get yourself a seat," she seethes.
I head toward My Prince Charming. (You'll have to forgive me for always calling him "My Prince Charming." I don't know his real name.)
"In a lady's seat!" the teacher says, correcting my direction.
I locate a girl's seat and sit down. I lean on my desktop and turn to swoon at my crush like he's a movie star, drifting off to an imaginary world, one where my crush and I are standing at the altar. Just as the priest is about to pronounce us man and wife, I hear my name. It's coming from somewhere outside the imaginary church in my head.
"Silvia!"
It was a female voice followed by roars of laughter.
I startle awake from my daydream. "Yes, I do," escapes my lips.
More laughter.
I look up to see my crush. He isn't in his seat. He's standing in front of the class by the blackboard.
Oh my God! What have I done? I was busy worrying about him when I have a class to pass.
"Come here," the teacher points at me. I run to the front and stand beside him. He shifts away from me a little. I notice and shift closer to him. We keep doing this until the teacher calls my name.
"Silvia, what did I just say?"
Oh my god. This is the problem. I don't even know the topic.
"Uhm... You... you ... the last question is... no, you said..." I tap my finger against my head while looking at the board. I spot a heading: Family Planning.
"Yes! You said family ... planning?" I offer.
The whole class bursts out laughing.
Now I know I have made a fool of myself.
"If you had been paying attention, you would see I am an English teacher. What you see written on the board is left from first period, which you missed."
"I'm sorry. I will be more attentive next time," I say, jamming my palms together.
"Of course, I will spare you because you are a freshman, but don't let this happen again."
I keep my eyes on My Prince Charming. Geez, I so badly want to know his name.
He concentrates on class. He doesn't give me a glance. A glance wouldn't have killed him.
"Now, go back to your seat," I think I hear the teacher say, but I stay planted in that spot. I don't want to leave this sight.
"How will you learn if you stay? I said go back to your seat," she repeats, this time in a higher pitch.
"Quit!"
His husky voice rings through my head as he spins to face me. I get lost in those green eyes. I wander through them like they're a vast forest.
"Stop staring at me."
His voice is as calm, but it's as if he is talking from the chest, rather than his mouth. Did an angel just speak? Is his voice even cuter than his face? Whatever. He's beautiful.
"Raymond, don't talk to the new student that way," the teacher barks. "Be friendly. As for you, Silvia, remain standing until the end of class. That's your punishment for interrupting class."
As if that's a punishment.
"Raymond" I whisper to myself.
"Raymond!" I blurt out loud.
"Yes, that's my name. Not everyone is permitted to say it," he says.
Really now? What a pervert. I roll my eyes and look away. I keep my mouth shut and obey the teacher's instructions. I had considered formally apologizing to Raymond after class, but with his ugly attitude, I decide I won't.
****
During lunch, I see Raymond among a bunch of boys. I stop eating to admire him. Even his laugh is kind of sexy, revealing deep dimples. I become so lost I don't realize I'm spilling food on my uniform.
"Crap!" I curse, looking down to clean my dress. When I glance back up, Ray and his friends were gone. I go back to my meal. Eating with bare hands is the only way to keep me from spilling more food on my clothes.
"Yes, that is her, uhmmm... Silvia dela Cruz, the girl who was acting up today."
I raise my head to see who is talking. Three hot bitchy girls. I spot the one I had bumped into earlier. She isn't saying anything, just folding her arms across her chest and glaring at me.
"Oh my, she's really a drama queen. Just look at the way she eats. Her tonsils are showing. She must be from the country, eating lunch with her hands," says the first girl.
They burst out laughing.
She adds, "I bet you she's eating like that because she got close to Raymond. It's in her blood."
"No way! She should know her place," another one says. "Raymond is far too classy for her. I can't believe you guys are the ones saying this."
It was the girl I had bumped into.
"C'mon, we are just kidding. Can't you see she is no match for you?"
That does it. The girls come toward me, and I stop eating. I fold my hand into a fist as if to punch someone.
The girl I bumped into slams her hand down on the table, knocking my plate to the floor. I purse my lips.
"Feels good how the world turns 'round, right?" she says, smiling.
I stay quiet, trying to avoid trouble.
"Remember? I was the girl you stupidly ran into today. You think you escaped, right? Well, let's say I forgive you for that. By the way, I'm Antonia Salazar."
She extends her hand for a handshake. I stare at her. She drops it back down.
"Well, there's no need wasting spit on you. I just want you to get one thing clear. Stay away from Ray. He is mine and mine alone. I don't share him with anybody.
"There is a limit to how you look at him or even get close to him. If you go beyond those boundaries, you will have to deal with me. I easygoing. Stick to my rules, and we will get along fine."
"And why should I listen to you?" I pout.
The trio glance at each other, shock and anger on their faces.
"Well, it's obvious you like Ray, but just so you know, you are not his type. There are lots of dumb boys you can hook up with. Don't even look at Ray. I'm warning you," the girl said, laughing.
I hold up my fist.
"And I am sure Ray has the right to speak for himself," I reply, turning to leave.
Soft fingers grab my arm and drag me back. It was Antonia.
"If I ever see you with Ray, you will have to deal with me," she said, grabbing my hair.