Just Another Girl To You

Seven

Two months, two weeks, and seven girls Jaz courted and/or flirted with later; is the start of our COCC sign-ups and training, (and of course the beginning of another flirtation-ship for the aforementioned guy).

After successfully persuading our last period teacher to dismiss us early, I hurriedly checked my requirements and prepared for the orientation into the Cadet Officer Candidate Course, also known as the COCC.

We were called, assembled, and asked to sit in one of the vacant classrooms. There were about 40 eager soon-to-be-cadets in the room, most trembling with eagerness, others in fear.

The doors opened, the senior officers, also known as the First Class, entered, taking post at the sides of the room. They were silent and grave faced, seemingly not aware of our presence.

Five agonizingly slow minutes passed, and still, nothing happened. A few more ticked by, and the door re-opened.

A tall, gruff-faced, fair-skinned figure appeared. His face serious, his glare, chilling.

He, we later learned, was Ensign Luis Sotto of the Philippine Navy.

"Pulutong..." One of the seniors commanded.

We all briefly leaned back into our seats,

"Da!"

We sat at attention and stomped our feet on the floor.

"Magsi-tayo!" The command "all rise" was given.

And rise, we did. We stood at attention, not knowing what to expect, much less what would happen.

The greetings to Sir Sotto were given, and we were allowed to take seat.

"By being here, you have just signed a contract with the devil. I AM THE DEVIL!" Sir Sotto shouted at our shocked, somewhat scared, faces.

"So, what, there's forty of you now? I don't care. You think I value your numbers? I don't! If, all, and I mean all, of you quit or drop-out of this course, it would bring me immense joy. For I would not want sub-standard sissies in the corps." His lecture continued, as we all grew increasingly worried.

"All of you now, are worthless, faceless, pieces of coal. And you would be needing intense heat and pressure, in order to turn into brilliant diamonds.

"Remember your place: you are all in entry-level positions. You are considered lower than the dust beneath our ,(referring to him and the officers), feet. You are all no-good nonentities, that deserve the least attention as possible. You want a name? You want respect? Earn it.

"You shall treat all your higher-ranked officers with respect and courtesy. All misdemeanors would merit punishments. They would be called "DA" or Disciplinary Actions. Remember, you would receive none if there was no fault in the first place.

"Also, you are all part of one organism, the corps. The actions of one affect the actions of all. Thus, "The fault of one; is the fault of all." One mistake committed by your fellow-class men, would be held against all of you."

And after about a million other threats and lots of DA's were given, we were dismissed.

*** *** ***

No one really knows when and how Lei and Jaz started; they weren't even together, for crying out loud!

Lei was this girl he often flirted with. Long, thin, flakey, raven-hued hair, shorter than average height, ultra-thin build. She wasn't considered beautiful, to be honest. But there was just something about her that many guys found irresistible.

Ugh, men. I'd never understand them.

They've been flirting on and off for months now. Sometimes they act all lovey-dovey, sometimes they don't even acknowledge each other.

Even more bizarre, is that while they're coquettish, he would go around courting different girls, not only from our school, but also from others.

He would often go to her, sit beside her, stroke her hair, and all those other sickeningly sappy things people do.

Lei claims that she doesn't like him, and it's all him doing the dallying, and that she doesn't like it. But, hello, why would any girl in the right mind allow any guy to treat her like that, without her liking it? The only logical explanation to it is that she's a whore.

They'd chase each other, running around the halls, screaming profanities, he tickles her, she "hits" him; that's what they usually do. And after a few days of it, they wouldn't be talking, then we'd find out he has this new girl he's alluring.

Those two are insatiable, I tell you. Even if they're seated rows apart from each other, Jaz would purposely move and sit near, if not beside her.

Then there'd be giggling and whispering, and obvious mischief going on. Hand holding, hair grabbing, you name it, they've done it.

Disgusting, isn't it?

And there I am, "oblivious" to it all, seemingly "unaware", and I "don't care".

Me? Jealous? Pfft. Of course not.

I mean, I only like him right? So what if it hurts? It's just me anyway.

Although I felt strongly against her, I didn't want to start a fight, because firstly, she hasn't done anything wrong to me, and secondly, if I did, Jaz would take it against me.

And I didn't want that. If I could've have him, I'd rather be his friend, his comrade. Not only so I could know his conquests, but also to be there for him when he's let down.

So I let them be. I wouldn't interfere. For how long? Only time will tell.

All bias, lies, and caution aside...

I think I may be falling for Jaz...

Oh, who am I kidding? I already have fallen for him.

It all started with that first glance.

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A/N: This chapter's a tad longer than the ones I've previously published; oh well, there it is, the L-word.

Thinking how the hell could a person fall for another person without even being "together" first?

It's simple, really; you don't even know you're in-love. There's no point where you just decide that you are. It's nothing anyone has a say on. And as for me, it happened slowly, and once I've realized it, the consciousness of it brought it all over me. Sure, you may think it shallow, but who are you to judge?

Read on, comprehend, and maybe, just maybe, you'd understand by the time the story ends.

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Rawr 🍪