---------------*the year 2001*---------------
"Epi!" a guy holding a camera ran towards us. "Mr. Gonzales is looking for you. There will be a photo op of the casts. Let's hurry or all of us won't have additional grades!" my cousin Primo pulled Epi away from us.
"Wait! Wait! Take a picture of us first! Please?" Epi gave him beautiful eyes that not everyone could resist. Except for me.
"Agh! Okay! Strike a pose, you three!" Primo is finding the right angle to take a picture of us. Epi is in the middle, separating Jacey and me. When Prim is about to click the shutter of his camera, he gave me a deadly stare at first—as if he's giving me a signal to at least have a thin smile.
But I'm so pissed.
That damn Jacey is wrapping his arm to Epi's shoulders as if he owns her or they're already in a relationship. Prim is in a hurry so he didn't bother to convince me more. After he showed us how the photo looked, he and Epi ran as fast as they could to where the other casts are.
We were left behind and were told by Epi to stay because she'd be back in no time. Out of nowhere, the extra guy finally opened his mouth and initiated a conversation.
"So, Adrienne Louivisse, I'll cut to the chase. You and Epi are just childhood friends, am I right? Nothing more, nothing less?" what an arrogant way of asking. He put both of his hands in his pockets and casually leaned his back on the mural painting wall.
"It's none of your concern." I quickly replied.
"Why wouldn't it be? I think I like her, and I want to formally ask for her permission to go out with me. The only thing that is keeping me from stepping the line is the relationship between the both of you." He took out his cigarette and started smoking, "What's the real score between you and Epi? I want to hear it coming from your pale and chapped lips."
He started losing his grip and finally lashed out his frustration by throwing his cig and angrily steps on it as if he was stepping on someone—on me, to be specific.
So, this is the true color of Jacey Georghiu? Though I'm not surprised because I could sense that he's a goody-two-shoes from afar. He's the so-called most handsome guy on campus that every girl wants to be his woman. When did this famous bastard laid his eyes over her? Never in my wildest dreams had I ever imagined Epi talking with other people outside of our class.
There must be other motives why he wants to date her. Could it be a dare? A bet? Or is he going to use Epi to make someone jealous? And then that person might start a fight between her and Epi? And then Epi might come home injured again, not just physically but also her heart because she was betrayed?
Wait...why am I overreacting? Erase, erase, erase.
I took a deep breath before answering him, "We're simply friends and both of our parents run a business. That's why we're tied knots right from the start." I hope that my answer eases his insatiable hunger for a concise explanation.
"Oh, is that so?" he started taking a few steps away from me, creating a two feet distance between us, "That's good to hear. See you around." He immediately left after hearing my answer. I was kinda nervous because I might cause trouble for Epi if I said something inappropriate.
After I lose sight of him, I saw Epi running towards me. She already changed her clothes into her school uniform. I could smell the seductive scent coming from her. There's no mistake about it— she did use her recently bought perfume that costs almost her two weeks allowance. She's using that perfume for that damn guy? What a waste.
After catching her breath due to a long run, she looked beside me with a disappointed face. "Where did he go? I thought I told the both of you to wait for me." He basically left, do you think I know why?
"I don't know. He didn't say where he is going." You will probably go look for him and leave me here alone.
"I think I know where to find him. See you after school!" She immediately ran away after figuring out where did that guy went.
"Wait, I bought you Yakult!" I don't want to bring this with me because for sure, other people might ask for this.
She pauses running as if she's on a video clip and came back to grab her favorite drink.
When I'm about to go and look for my cousin, she yelled my name, "Ah, Adi!" I looked back in her direction without hesitation, "May I borrow one hundred pesos? I'll give it to you later, promise!" Don't tell me you're going to treat someone with this borrowed money? And that someone is that damn guy?
I bring out my wallet and gave her the money. "Thanks! Adieu!" She pinched my cheeks and hurriedly left. Now I can go look for Primo and ask him to eat lunch with me.
After spotting him sitting with a bunch of girls inside the cafeteria, I grabbed him by his collar and took him with me without saying any word. He waved goodbye to the girls and started spitting some bad words towards me.
"I hate you, bro. Can't you see I'm living my dream? My dream...So long..." He's now being dramatic.
"Sit and eat lunch with me. I'm all alone." He's still making faces.
"Where is Epi? I thought you're always eating lunch with her." Why do you have to find someone that's not around?
"She's with that Jace guy." Now I'm pissed again.
"Oh, why do you look so pissed? Your eyes have murderous intent." You don't have to point it out, you idiot. "Maybe you're pissed because she chose him over you..."
"Huh?" I raised one eyebrow at him and unconsciously clenched my fists.
"Easy there...relax...chill, I'm just kidding." This man really knows how to piss the shit out of me. "I'll buy you food so just stay here and make up your mind."
He went to the cashier and ordered my usual lunch. He said he's paying so I bet he won't buy me drinks. I stood up to get us a cool and refreshing drink. I asked the lady beside our table to look after our table and tell anyone that it's already occupied. After getting some drinks, I thought of having ice cream too because I know that she'd like it; then I suddenly realized that I'm not eating lunch with her.
This feeling...I'm not used to it.
There's a group of people coming inside the cafeteria that made other girls scream. I think I know who they are judging by the ladies' reaction, it's that damn Jacey's group. I did not bother to look at them and just focused my attention on my cold drinks. The moment I turned my back to the cashier, I saw Jacey casually walking with someone with his arms around that person's shoulders. I almost drop the drinks I'm holding when I got a glimpse of who's that person is.
It was Epi.
I started seeing other girls whispering with each other and I bet that they are talking about that damn Jacey and the person he's holding. I went back to our table and Primo is already there waiting for me.
"Woah, cool! Thanks for the drinks!" I handed him his favorite Gatorade blue bolt flavor and he's wheezing because of joy.
"That would be thirty-five pesos. Pay me later." I'll tease him a bit to ruin his happiness.
"Hmph, cheapskate!" See? It worked. "Ah, hey! I saw Epi with the guy I took a photo with you earlier here. I think they're eating lunch too." What an awful timing to bring up that topic again.
"Yeah, I saw them." Now it bugs me again.
"Do you think Epi likes him too? Because I think...the feeling is mutual." We turned our attention and observed what they are doing. My eyes clearly saw Epi happily handing the one hundred pesos she borrowed from me to that guy. I think that's what made Primo think that their feelings are mutual.
Out of nowhere, I said something on a whim, "If Epi were to eat lunch with us, she won't have to bring out any centavo in her wallet." He won't shut the hell up again for three days because of what I've said.
"I mean you're right, we always treat her because we know how hard life is for her. But most of the time, you got her back." Primo easily agreed.
Epi is being raised by her single mother and the only source of their income is our family's small dine-in restaurant business with them. Sometimes Epi helps her mother by doing other people's assignments and gaining profit with it and doing our neighbor's laundry every Saturday morning. Her dad abandoned them for another woman when she's only eight years old, that's why I find it hard to believe that she's going out with someone when she has these trust issues and immeasurable hatred towards men. I think that the only men she has her full trust are me and Primo. But why is this guy is acting lovey-dovey with her? Did she finally learn how to trust other people than us?
I hate it.
I hate to think about her with somebody else— it feels like there's something sharp that's stabbing my chest.
Wait...what am I feeling again?
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