C4 four

I sat there staring into space, lost in thought, while my groupmates chattered away. Sometimes I wonder why they never seem to tire of talking? Because sometimes, I feel like I've mastered the art of being lazy when it comes to speaking.

I glanced at the passing students, they were so amusing with their constant blushing! It's as if they're not seventh graders! And their movements, they're as lively as if they have springs in their waists! Seriously, it's like they haven't been disciplined with a hanger when they get home.

My attention shifted to the basketball players, acting like fools as they crossed the road without a ball. Are you guys okay? No ball, but it's like you see something. I hope you're the same when it comes to the feelings of the people you're playing with, huh? I hope you see that too! Oh boy! These people just get on my nerves.

"Oh Yoreh? Zoned out again," Sadnie Joy said.

She sat beside me and placed her folder next to her.

"Jealous? Join the club," I teased with a smirk.

We were now sitting on the bleachers, watching people pass by. My groupmates glanced at me when I suddenly spoke due to the arrival of my friend.

She chuckled and grabbed my hair. "Like mother, like daughter,"

I gave her a look and playfully tugged at her hair. "You're my mother,"

"You know what, you should help your groupmates instead of just zoning out. When I become a medical technologist, you'll be the first one I'll draw blood from," she joked.

I laughed. "When you have kids! I'll only give you ten pesos for Christmas,"

She was about to say something but our leader called me over and handed me a stapler. So, yes, I'm the stapler person again, what else is new? I don't really care about what's happening, and besides, I've already done my part, it's a good thing I'm still here even though I could've just wandered around.

"Oh, why are you here? Do you have some gossip already? Alright, girl, spill the tea!" I curiously said as I returned to my friend's side.

She just rolled her eyes before sighing. "Can you lend me some money for fare? My brother and I had a fight, he won't pick me up!" she said irritably and extended her hand.

Sadnie, your face?! It's so thick.

"Why are you two fighting?" I asked, being nosy. I could see the irritation on her face. Wow, I wish I could blush like that.

"It's because of my brother's bad attitude! We're four siblings, but I'm only close to two, then last year, he had a fit! He changed the wifi password, and all of us were left without wifi except him! Then when mom scolded him, he said he's the one paying," I was surprised by the irritation clearly etched on her face. "Ugh! It's driving me crazy!" she added.

"Calm down," I reminded her. "But how about the irritation?" I jokingly asked, so she tugged at my hair again.

"Just kidding!" I said, trying to stop her. "Okay, I'll lend you the money as long as you pay me back, okay? No scammers allowed, and let your brother be, you'll reconcile eventually," I said, handing her the money I took from my pocket.

"A peso? Seriously? Fine! I'd be happier if you swallowed it! Can I get 250?" she asked, holding out her hand.

"Wow, how demanding! We and Angel only give a hundred pesos for fare going to and from school! And you want 250? And your house is just two blocks away! It's like you think you're in the tenth block," I said, feeling annoyed.

"Duh! I'm going to buy milk tea and fries! Can you lend me the money? You're saying too much! I should really knock you out," she joked and flicked her hair.

I laughed. "You're flicking your hair like you have fare. Give that back, I'll grow it back if you don't return it soon," I teased and handed her the 250 pesos she borrowed.

She rolled her eyes. "Are you a loan shark now? You need interest when you lend money? Yoreh the bumbie, Is that you?" she teasingly said, taking the money with a smirk.

"Yes, Dear," I said. "Yoreh the bumbie? That's too much! Your short stature fits those words you're saying," I joked as I pushed her away while laughing.

She pouted. "It's just a breath! Okay, bye now, take care on your way home," she said and hugged me. Wow, she smells good, obviously hasn't skipped using deodorant.

"You too, be careful with the loiterers around, they might mess with you," I reminded her as she took a few steps down the bleachers.

She laughed. "You're too much about the loiterers! It's not like they're not informed about your apartment whenever your orders arrive, huh?" she playfully said.

"Salamat!" she said.

I nodded. "Say, Thank you Shopee," I joked.

She just rolled her eyes and walked away. My groupmates called me again to staple some more papers together. I glanced at my wristwatch to check the time, it was only 4:30 and I had agreed to meet Cyrus at 5. I don't know why our professor suddenly got lazy.

"I thought your dismissal was at 5?" a cold baritone voice said.

I knew it was him just from his voice, so I looked up at the guy in front of me. Some of my classmates even turned to look at us, as if they couldn't believe that such a handsome guy would talk to me. Well. I stared at him, almost stumbling because of my nervousness. Stupid! I don't know why, but why do I suddenly feel so close to Cyrus? He looks interesting, like an attractive painting in an art exhibit.

"I-I thought so too, and we're not leaving until five. We still have something to do," I said, my heart fluttering and pulse racing.

Was it my fault that we were dismissed early? Not really! But wait, is it normal to feel this way just from looking at him? It's like he could melt away my feelings at any moment. Wait. I don't know why? Why am I suddenly nervous? Why are my words all jumbled up?

He chuckled and crossed his arms. "Stop stuttering your words. Hurry up and help your groupmates so you can finish and we can leave," he commanded with raised eyebrows.

My groupmates don't complain, and here he is complaining?! No.

"Okay," I agreed, eating my own words.

He just nodded, his sharp gaze fixed on me. I almost stumbled again because of my panic. Idiot! I don't know if stapling these papers together and complying will be of any help. I suddenly remembered Kim Chui saying "sa classroom may batas daw ay pwede na pala ikaw lumabas" I'm not sure if those were her exact words, but never mind, as long as we can comply now. So that our grades can "be allowed to go out" they might be blank if we don't act.

"Do it properly, Yoreh Selene," Cyrus ordered irritably.

I wanted to retort with 'Are you the leader? Then you should be the one stapling these, it's not as easy as you think! And they're all so thick!' But I just nodded because not a single word came out of my mouth.

I looked at him with disdain. Did he know my name?! Is he stalking me?! He just rolled his eyes and looked at my ID as if he knew what I was thinking. I also glanced at my ID and bit my lower lip. What an idiot! Yoreh Selene Antares is such a big name! Of course, he would read it.

"Oh my god, Yoreh. Are you friends? Can you introduce me to him?" Elica whispered while putting on some face powder.

So, I just rolled my eyes. Well, Elica is pretty and nice, but as far as I know, she just broke up with her boyfriend, he was probably caught cheating again. What does cheating achieve?... I mean, it doesn't lead to anything good in life, so why cheat? But then again, it's their decision if they want to cheat or not. Stupid decisions.

"We're not friends and can you please stop putting on that face powder. Can you help instead of just trying to look pretty?" I said, irritated, so she returned the face powder to her pouch.

"You're so mean," she replied irritably and placed the paper I just stapled into a brown envelope.

"Well, I have a side job," I said and didn't bother to look at her again.

She asked what kind of side job and why Cyrus was involved. If she could join too. But I just ignored her because I was getting annoyed. A few moments later, our leader told us to go home and said he'd talk to the professor about other questions. We just agreed.

As we walked towards the parking lot, some people smiled at me with strange faces. I wanted to approach them and ask, 'Are we friends? So you can give me those suspicious looks?' but I just ignored them and continued walking.

I looked at Cyrus, his hands were in his pockets, and he was looking straight ahead as if he were alone. What? Just because I agreed, he won't pay attention to me anymore? I feel like a STALKER or HEAD OVER HEELS for him because I keep following him. But him? He's acting like nothing happened.

He looked at me and gestured for me to get into his car, so I just nodded and got in. I don't know what kind of car this is because first of all, I don't care, they all have wheels anyway.

"Where are we going? And what are we really going to do? You promised payment, right? Time is gold. Tell me where we're going so I'm aware and look, I'm in uniform, is it okay if I look like this? I might look stupid wherever we're going? Maybe I should change into something else at the apartment because--" I panicked.

He cut me off. "You talk too much," he said irritably.

"Oh, sorry," I apologized with a shaky voice.