Dying Embers

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight: Periodic Table

"Stop bothering me, Chance!" I snapped at him since he had been teasing me non-stop since the incident at the cafeteria earlier.

He laughed as we walked down the hallway toward our first-period class in the afternoon. Unbelievably, that's Jilliana for you. She said she was just going to the library to review, but she went home without saying a word. I only found out when she texted me earlier. So now, I had no choice but to spend the next few hours with this guy, and he didn't leave me alone, following me everywhere.

"Aminin mo na kasi na kinilig ka."

"Really? Go wash your face to tone down your thick-skinned attitude." I shot back at him.

He chuckled. "Baby, this thick skin of mine is my charm. Without it, I wouldn't be your Chance anymore."

Your Chance...

I quickly looked away, feeling my cheeks flush. I reached for my cellphone to call Jilliana, but I couldn't find it in my pocket, so I tried searching in my sling bag but it wasn't there. My sling bag was gone! I had left it on my chair earlier, and I didn't notice it was missing when we left. Had it been stolen? It had been hours since we left there because Chance and I hung out near the field on the grass. It was so refreshing there because it had a shelter and was breezy. How could I forget my sling bag?

"Is something wrong?" Chance asked with concern. I turned to him, biting my lip.

"I think I left my sling bag in the cafeteria..." I grimaced, feeling embarrassed for being so forgetful.

Akala ko pagtatawanan niya ako. Pero nagulat ako nang magsalita siya.

"Pumasok ka na sa klase. Kukunin ko na."

"Huh? Pero malayo na ang cafeteria rito. Male-late ka, tsaka may recitation! Magagalit na naman si Mrs. Valdez." Sabi ko sa kaniya.

When it comes to recitations and if a student is absent or late, she gets really angry or keeps calling them out to recite.

"My girl comes first before anybody," he said with a smile and a wink before running off toward the cafeteria.

I was stunned by his words, but why did my heart feel like it skipped a beat? I watched Chance's receding figure as he ran away. My girl before anybody. It's like he's saying that I'm his top priority. Is that a good thing?

I stayed there, still, I should be in class by now, but I wanted to wait for him. Why do I want to wait for him? Maybe because he always greets me with that wide grin of his. So comforting and welcoming. I didn't even realize I was smiling.

My smile faded when I heard a familiar voice behind me. It had a tone that could ruin anyone's mood instantly.

"Look who's here."

I sighed and tried to calm myself down. Wala akong panahon para makipagsagutan sa kaniya. Lumingon ako sa kaniyang gawi, at nakita kong may kasama itong isang babae na hindi ko gaanong kilala, tiningnan ko lang siya ng walang emosyon at linampasan ito.

Pero nang makalampas ako ay napasinghap ako nang mariin niyang hinawakan ang siko ko para pigilan ako sa pag-alis.

"Don't you just turn your back on me, bitch!" she said firmly.

I faced her. "Get your hands off me, Myka." I was on the verge of losing my temper but opted to speak calmly instead.

"Stay away from Chance!" she shouted.

I sighed in annoyance and pursed my lips, trying to control my frustration. I'm tired of this. Can't she give me a break? Why can't she be more mature and understand that not everything she wants will come easily? Because that's not how it works!