THE CADET

CHAPTER I

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

-The Author

I

What is love? I mean...why do people fall in love? Sometimes it seems like it just messes up people's lives. I think it's stupid, all the girls I see who obsess over their boyfriends and then fall apart when they break up. It all seems so pointless.

I've decided I'm not going to even date until after college graduation. All the boys at school are pretty much idiots, and I don't go out with someone just because they're cute. There's so many better things to do, and it seems like two people fall in love, they completely forget about those things. Then again, maybe that's because it's infatuation and not love? Ate says you know its the right kind of love when you feel like the one you're with makes you a better person (and vice versa)

I wonder if i'll know it when I see it or if I'll be just as stupid about as all the other girls in the world?

...

My name is TJ Morales, and this is my story.

"Gosh, TJ you are the only one who got a perfect score in Algebra! How do you do it?" My seatmate/bestfriend Faith said.

"I dunno, I just listen to the instructor I guess "

"Listen!? Are you kidding me?! She said puffing beside me while we climb the stairs to the library. "I have been listening to her for the whole semester but I really do not understand anything she says. "

"Haha you are unbelievable!" I said

Faith has been my best bud since June this year. She was the only one who talks to me. When I say ktalk, i meant talk talk. She is shorter than my 5'5". I guess she might be a 4'11" or something. She is chubby. She graduated Valedictorian in her Class in Tarlac. I was the valedictorian in mine too.

As we sat side by side in the library she noticed a swarm of uniformed men sitting at the table across us.

"Psst TJ, look at those guys." Faith said.

"What about them? I said not looking up from the task i was doing. Where did i put my library ID?

"Look! They are looking at you"

"Huh!?" I was lost in what she was saying. I was glad finally I saw my ID. I stood up and went to the librarian and showed my ID. .He nodded and i thanked him. Went straight to the shelves where they keep the science books. I was so concentrated on looking fir the book i wanted when Faith pulled me.

"The cadets wanna know your name." she said.

"Don't give. I'm not interested." I said not looking at her. She left before I could even say my litany. I don't wanna be bothered by boys. Don't get me wrong huh, i am not a lesbian but im not really interested. My parents Jules and Therese told me the business is not doing well so i should not be wasting t,me in college for they might not be able to send me to school in the coming years.

As I sat beside Faith, i noticed the cadets have left. She asked me if we could leave already. I said yes we could and left. Its Saturday and I am going with my parents to the party of my uncle Dennis. I asked Faith if she wanted to come and she said yes.

As we arrived at my Unvle Dennis' house we could see that the house is
already full of visitors. There is a long line of cars parked on the street near his house. My dad and mom got inside first and Faith and I followed after them. My cousins were shouting at me calling me to their table. I went with Faith and introduced her to them.

Faith with her funny character, got along fine with my cousins. Then suddenly all of them became quiet. My back was to the door so I did not see the object of their silence. Then my cousin Bart said, "NC here!"

I did not look at the person he called NC. I just continue eating my bowl of watermelon. I noticed Faith was smiling at the person too.

"Hi!" Said a male voice behind me. Before I could look up, three cadets sat on the empty chairs at our table. One sat beside me. The one called NC sat beaide Faith.

Then my cousin Bart started introducing them to us and us to them. NC the short chubby dark cadet, Joey the tall lanky one and TJ the one who sat beside me.

Everyone was laughng and teasing saying "TJ meet TJ"

We briefly shook hands. I sat there as if no one was around. I sat there silently amidst the noice of my cousins and the other guests. When i felt a soft nudge. I looked up and look at TJ. He said "sleepyhead wake up." Then everyone cheered. My cousins were teasing me about sleeping and daydreaming. I told them to back off. They laughed.

I stood up and went outside of the house. The cool September wind brushed my hair and cheeks. Aaaahhhh! Refreshng! "It feels like Christmas already." A male voice said.
I turned around TJ was standing a little of 3 ft away from me. I asked him what he was doing here.

"I wanted fresh air too just like you. Its stifling inside."

I turned and walked away from him. He followed. We stopped at the fountain in my Uncle's garden and sat at the swings. We sat there without talking. I was swinging my swng while he was just sitting there in his. We were both lost in our own world.

The silence between us was disturbing.

"So, do you have a boyfriend?" he asked.

"None of your business'" I said.

He laughed. "I was just asking."

Silence

We sat there for a long time not talking. I could feel that he was looking at me from time to time and I made sure I did not look at him. I did not want him to catch me looking.

"Mistah, lets go," said NC.

"TJ stood up and brushed the dirt off his uniform.

"See you around TJ," he said.

I just nodded at him.