C3 Her Weird Dream - A

Time passed and the students had to go home. Jay was in Steph's mind all day long. She was really starstrucked by him. She was intrigued with his personality. She knew that there's something different from him and she wanted to figure it out. Steph was the type of person who would get anything she wanted whatever happened. She tried to find ways to be near Jay. When she saw him packing his stuff, she approached him.

"Hi Jay! How was your first day here?" Steph asked while clinging to Jay's arm. Jay didn't respond and just glanced at Steph's hand on his arm.

"I hope you'd like the people here even though we don't speak Tagalog that much," Steph continued. He got awkward with what Steph was doing so he removed Steph's hand.

"Of course, it was all good. I don't think language will be a problem, besides, I can understand and speak a little. Well, thank you for your concern but I really have to go." As soon as he's done packing, Jay hurriedly left. Steph couldn't believe that, for the first time, someone rejected her. Most of the time she'd either reject or made herself feel important whenever she dated someone.

"Jay, wait up! Maybe I could tour you around the campus before you go home. It's still early anyway.… Hey!" Jay walked straight which made Steph so annoyed.

"So annoying! He didn't even turn around. Time will come and you'll fall for me. I won't stop until it will happen!" Steph angrily threatened.

On the other hand, Cissie left first without saying goodbye to Jay. She was worrying about giving him the wrong impression. She didn't want him to think that she's already feeling close or that she's chasing him. The humiliation that morning was already enough for her to keep her distance. Also, she was in a hurry as she had lot of house chores waiting for her. While she was walking, someone suddenly tapped her shoulder.

"Goodness! What are you doing? You shocked me to death. I thought you were a robber or something!" Due to shock, she almost hit Jay with her bag. Cissie stopped walking and calmed herself.

"Dead, right away? Can't you just faint first?" Jay was laughing while he was talking. But Cissie didn't buy Jay's humor. Cissie didn't mention a thing and that was when Jay noticed that she was really serious.

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's all because I saw you walking with such serious face. You didn't even realize that I was calling you, so I decided to surprise you," Jay apologized with what happened.

"I'm sorry too. I am thinking of all the chores that are waiting for me at home. Plus, we have a lot of homeworks, and I don't know anymore what to do first. And then we have an upcoming rehearsal? Uh, when could I rest? It was all because I wasn't born rich," Cissie whined.

"You thought rich people don't have problems? – They do! They also worry on how to spend all their riches, " and Jay laughed aloud. Cissie laughed at his joke too, even though it wasn't funny.

"I thought you're an introvert, You don't talk to our classmates, but I realized, you have this sense of humor."

"Not really. I am just really someone who is quiet, plus I choose the people I would talk to. I am a joker when I'm with my close friends, but I seldom give attention to people who wants attention," Jay justified.

"Oh, really. That sounds ironic. Hearing that from someone who is rich and good looking, it doesn't sound realistic." Cissie was even shaking her head because she couldn't believe what Jay told her.

"Nah, if only you know me, you will definitely like me," Jay defended.

"I'm sorry?!" Cissie got surprised with what the boy mentioned. For unknown reasons, her heart started beating fast.

"Whoa! I mean, you will like me as a friend. Don't be overly sensitive. By the way, our house is just nearby, by the tennis court. What about you?"

"I also live nearby, just on the street next to yours. I'll go ahead. Nice meeting you again," Cissie smilingly said.

"Nice meeting you too. It's good to know that we live close to one another. We wouldn't be having problems with the rehearsals since I can simply drop by your place."

"No, you can't! My boss will be mad. I can't stay out that long as they might kick me out," Cissie rejected the idea. She knew that it would be a problem if someone saw her with a guy.

"That won't happen. We can ask for permission. We won't be playing instruments that often anyway. I can take care of that," Jay insisted.

"Well, It's up to you then. I want to see you try that, so my boss would hang you on the ceiling. Bye, I'll go ahead." Cissie even tried to kid around before saying goodbye.

"See, you're also a joker. Ayt! bye, see you tomorrow, " Jay smilingly said, tapping Cissie's shoulders.

Cissie couldn't help but grin while walking, but she didn't know why. Was it because of Jay's jokes or because they walked home together? It was the first time ever in her life that a guy walked with her going home and she couldn't deny the fact that she enjoyed it. Cissie didn't realize that she was already at the doorstep. She bumped her head on the door as she didn't turn the door knob.

"Ouch! What the –" she even stared at the door. She even tried to kick the door when someone shocked her.

"If you weren't stupid… I know that smile. Continue being stupid for a guy or else, you'd find yourself in the swamps when you get pregnant," the old, antagonist maid snobbishly told her.

"Why do you think I'd be pregnant right away? You don't even know why I am smiling," Cissie defended herself.

"Who are you fooling, girl? I've been there, done that. At this age, I already have a lot of experiences in life. You have a lot to…."

"No wonder you're a single-mom,"Cissie whispered to herself which interrupted the maid.

"What did you just say!" the maid agitatedly asked.

"I said, thank you for the reminder," Cissie alibied. No matter how gruff the maid was, she's still older than her and had to be respected. Cissie chose not to prolong the argument.

"I'll go ahead. I'll leave everything to you. Fix your things quickly so you could prepare dinner. You also have a lot of clothes to iron later." The maid even left some tasks for Cissie before she left.

"I'll do as you said," Cissie responded. Then, she went inside the house.

Cissie's life always revolved around school-work, work-school. She didn't even have the chance to go around the town. She got up early in the morning to cook and clean the house. Afterwards, she had to give the elderly breakfast before going to school. She also rushed home at lunchtime to help the cook. After her classes in the afternoon, she had to cook dinner and iron the clothes. The only time she'd get to do her home works and projects were at around 9 in the evening, and get to finish everything and rest around midnight. If it wasn't for her determination to finish her studies, she wouldn't stay in that house for that long. She could actually endure all the hard work, but what she couldn't stand was the rude attitude of her boss who treated them as if they were cadets and always pushed their morale low. Nevertheless, her day today was different. She usually got annoyed every time class was dismissed, but this was something new, she couldn't explain the happiness she felt.

"Don't move if you don't want to die yet!" the man behind her snappily said,

"P-please don't. I don't have money to give you. I am just a working student," Cissie cried.

"I know! And I'm not after your money. Just try to escape and you'd sure be dead. Get in the car!" the man covered Cissie's eyes.

"Where are you taking me? Please let me live, I have a lot of things to do. I have a mother who is waiting for me. Please…." Cissie begged.

"Stop talking! You'd soon know once we get there. Calm down and chill." The man's laugh gave Cissie goosebumps. She felt like that was her end.

Cissie couldn't do anything but cried on her hopeless situation. They had driven far enough. She was praying hard when she heard a familiar voice. She was thinking that this guy, most likely, was the mastermind.

"Finally! I have waited for this day, for Cissie to be mine." His laugh was loud and creepy which made Cissie frightened.

"Baldo, is everything ready?" the familiar voice asked.

"Yes boss, everything's done," Baldo replied.

"Take her out!" commanded the familiar voice.

"Get out there, quick!" Baldo ordered while pulling Cissie. Cissie still tried to fight back.

"Please don't. Please," she begged while trying to fight back that guy who was pulling her out.

"Stop fighting back, you'd just get yourself hurt. Get out!" the man named Baldo yelled.

The man was really strong, Cissie couldn't really fight back as she was being pulled out of the car. She was then brought inside the room and removed the covers on her eyes. She couldn't believe what she saw. She couldn't understand what was happening.

"Mary? What are you doing here? I trusted you like a sister. Of all people, you are one of the people who kidnapped me? Why did you do this to me? Why!" Cissie sobbed that time.

"I can't do anything. I was just asked to do this. I really apologize. I hope you'd understand," Mary gloomily responded.