Vapor: The Tagaytay Timeline

Chapter 32

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Chapter 32: Black Eye Blues

It was a typical Tuesday at school, and Vapor couldn’t shake the feeling of mischief brewing inside him. After all the drama surrounding Irish, Valore, and Skye, he felt it was his duty to tease Irish about her new girlfriends. Little did he know, his playful nature would backfire spectacularly.

The day started normally, with Vapor walking to class alongside his friends. His eyes darted around as he spotted Irish sitting with Valore and Skye at their usual table in the cafeteria. They were whispering and giggling, the kind of whispers that usually made Vapor’s ears perk up with curiosity. He couldn't help but roll his eyes.

“Hey, look at the lovebirds!” he called out, strutting over with an exaggerated swagger. “What’s it like having two girlfriends, Irish? Are you the queen of the harem or something?”

The moment he said it, he noticed the flush creeping up Irish’s cheeks. She shot him a glare, clearly unamused. “Shut up, Vapor,” she snapped, but the laughter from Valore and Skye made her tone less threatening.

“Oh come on, it’s funny!” Vapor continued, leaning closer with a smirk. “What’s it like trying to keep your love life a secret while juggling two girls? Must be exhausting!”

“I said stop it!” Irish snapped again, but Vapor was undeterred.

“You’re just jealous that I’m not part of your little—”

Before he could finish, Irish stood up abruptly, fists clenched at her sides. In a flash, she swung her arm back and landed a solid punch directly into Vapor's left eye. The impact was unexpected, and Vapor staggered back, a hand flying to his face as shock registered on his features.

“Whoa, Irish! What was that for?” he gasped, his voice wavering.

“You’re a total idiot!” she shot back, crossing her arms defensively. The laughter around them had died down, and all eyes were now on Vapor, who was standing there stunned, his eye swelling with a dark hue.

“Ow! My eye!” Vapor exclaimed dramatically, half-laughing, half-crying as he stumbled away from the table, clutching his face.

The cafeteria filled with snickers, and as he made his way to the bathroom, he could feel the eyes of his classmates burning into him. He avoided mirrors, afraid to see the damage done. “I’m such a wimp,” he muttered under his breath, fighting back tears of embarrassment.

After splashing some cold water on his face, he finally took a breath and looked into the mirror. A swollen black eye stared back at him, and he couldn’t help but feel like a total loser. His pride was hurt more than anything else.

As he walked back to the cafeteria, he ran into Irish in the hallway, looking a little frazzled and guilty. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, they shared an understanding of the chaos their interactions had created.

After receiving some ice for his eye, Vapor returned to class, trying to ignore the whispers of his classmates. He spotted Irish again, this time being called into the principal’s office alongside Valore and Skye. The principal’s voice echoed through the school, announcing, “Irish, Valore, and Skye, please report to my office immediately.” Vapor’s heart raced, knowing they would be facing consequences for their public displays of affection.

After school, Vapor walked home, still feeling the sting of embarrassment. He knew he had crossed a line with Irish, and the punch had been a wake-up call. As he opened the front door, he was greeted by the familiar scent of dinner wafting from the kitchen.

“Hey, I’m home!” he called out, trying to sound cheerful despite the throbbing pain in his eye.

His oldest sister, Esper, was in the living room, and she immediately noticed the black eye. “What happened to you?” she asked, crossing her arms with a mixture of concern and amusement.