A Beautiful Mess

PART 12: A Time for Haircut

Part XII: A Time for Haircut  

"Busy week."  

"No, hell week it is," Liz corrected Allie. They were sitting on a bench on the school grounds. They just finished their last class and have a lot of things to do that week.  

"What can you call a week wherein you have to create a music video, do a review paper, create a comic strip, review for an exam, join that cleaning activity and community immersion program weekly, and have that charity event organized? And God, it's just basketball time, a time when the gorgeous guys come out!"

"Royal rumble."

They all laughed.

"So the games I guess is the priority?" It was Kirby.

"Of course! I already got the schedule of the games. We're against Raffy's original school." She smiled.

"I am cheering for our university, no worries."

"You have to. Otherwise, your dearest seatmate would kill you," Kirby reminded her. He was busy doing his sketches.

"And girls, don't worry about the tickets because the student council's president is courting my dear sister. I can reserve tickets for us, anytime," Allie told them.

"You've got sense sometimes. Save two for me," Kirby told her.

"One," Liz said.

"No need for me. I won patron seats from a friendly bet," Raffy said.

"Oh? From who?" Allie asked.

"You know Seb? The one from - "

"I KNOW HIM! Seb. He's the cutie guy who wears jersey number 17," Allie said as if she had known him forever.

"You know him?"

"Of course! He's my crush, okay? And I am not like you. I know a lot of players. You only know Ethan," Allie said. "How did you know him anyway?"

"He's Ethan and Seff's friend."

"Seff? Ethan's brother? The varsity player?" Liz asked excitedly.

"Yes, Seff Yu," she confirmed.

"How did you meet him?" Allie asked.

"Who? Seff?"

"Seb," Allie corrected.

"Both," Liz.

"Relax, you two. I went to Rockwell before and Ethan was with Seff so he introduced us. Then Ethan invited me one time to their home and Seff was there with Seb. We got introduced."

"Wait, wait," Kirby interrupted. "What were you doing on Ethan's house?"

"I help him review, remember?"

"You can review somewhere else but he invited you to his home?"

She nodded. "So what?"

"I smell something," Kirby teased her while Allie and Liz joined him.

"It's not what you think. He's being friendly. Just friendly," she said, emphasizing the word 'just'.

They were all laughing when Chad passed by and approached them. She introduced her friends to him.

"I'll see you at the game then?" Chad asked Raffy after spending a few minutes with them.

She nodded.

"Great! I'll see you guys around. Nice meeting you all."

Allie, Kirby, and Liz were all left mesmerized with Chad's charm.

"You need some haircut my dear friend," Kirby said, looking at Chad as he left.  

The next days have been busy for them. She started doing her comic strip and would allot time in reviewing for the exam. She made two copies and gave one to Ethan the following day. They had a meeting after their class to discuss their plan for the community immersion activity they have that weekend. Ethan is a part of their group but since he has a game, he was excused. They were doing a feeding program that weekend for thirty kids in a community that their instructor chose. They distributed the tasks among the 15 of them, 14 excluding Ethan.

"I'd still chip in," he said. He would attend meetings that he can. "I just really can't be there."

"Just win the game, Ethan. That's all we ask of you," Bea said, one of their group mates.

"Win it and the kids get cupcakes next week," Allie kidded.

"Raffy's mom bakes well," he said.

"His mom owns a bakeshop," Raffy told them, diverting the responsibility to him.

"Oh, so you know each other's parents then?" It was Kirby. Raffy kicked Kirby on his foot under the table. "Ouch!"

"Were you saying something?"

"I already forgot," Kirby retreated. The heels of her shoes hurt a lot.  

After the meeting, Ethan offered to send her home. They were talking about all the things they have to finish for their subjects and Raffy was writing on their reviewer some reminders for him. They were in front of her house after an hour drive.

"Thanks for dropping me home," she told him.

"You're welcome," he said. She was about to get out of the car when he stopped her. "Wait."

"What?"

He didn't answer right away.

"I really appreciate all the help."

"You're welcome."

"I mean, if it weren't for you, I would definitely fail and I can't fail. Mom would be mad. Studies should be my main priority and I might be stopped playing if I won't pass my subjects," he elaborated.

"I am glad I'm helping you out," she said sincerely.

"Thank you," he told her.

She laughed. "Ethan, you need not to thank me twice," she said. "Come on, I know you want to tell me something. Spill it out."

"How did you know?"

"I'm not stupid, okay? You could have asked me to tell them you'll chip in for our CIP but you stayed and joined the meeting even if you need not to. And now you're thanking me too much, prolonging my stay."

He smiled. "Fine. I just want to ask for your help."

"With what?"

"It's not really something different but I am hoping you can be my study buddy. You're already helping me out but I am trying to make it official and well... required of you to help me out."

She laughed. "Is that it?"

He nodded.

"Why didn't you ask Em?" she asked. "Why me?"

"You're not a scholar for nothing. Why not Emily, I already told you my reasons before."

"Okay, I agree. It's fine with me. I just want to ask you one thing though in exchange. You're going to be responsible still for yourself. I am just helping you out."

"Deal," he said and offered his hand.

She shook it.

"And, Seb gave these to me." He handed her the patron seat tickets. It was good for two. "Who are you going with?" he asked.

"I don't know yet," she answered. "Is Seff going?"

"I don't know."

She handed him one of the tickets back.

"Tell him I'll be waiting for him."