A FRIEND AND A PROTECTOR
The Angelic Instrument, The Rise of The Angels
The atmosphere was still morbid the next morning. Mocking eyes of everyone in the room were looking at me. I could hardly concentrate on what Topher was saying to me.
“Hey, best. Why the gloomy face?”
“Uhmm…”
“Hey!? You hear me?”
“Oh what?! What were you saying?”
“Hey are you okay?”
“I’m fine Topher. I just feel a little tired.”
“I’ll bring you to the clinic if you want.”
“No, I’m fine. Thanks, don’t worry. Ok?”
“Ok.”
But still, the worry in Topher’s eyes were still eminent. He really knew me a lot. He knew when I was sad, when I got pissed, and when I’m worried. And to think that I always bullied him when we were kids. Then suddenly he messed my hair. “Aw!”, I moaned. He snickered. “You look awful.” , ”I know, right?”, I replied with a smile on my face. I arranged my hair again. This person never fails to make me smile in times of distress. I’m so lucky I have him. A friend I can keep forever. A friend that will be behind me and will help me every time.
And the bell rang. The sign of recess. My feet were wiggly. I couldn’t stand up so much. Minna and Andy came to our seats.
“Hope-chan! Let’s go!”, Minna said while lightly pulling my hand
“Uhmm, Minna. You go first. I’ll catch up.”, I replied letting go of my hand
“Is there something wrong, Hope?”, Andy asked
“No. I just feel a little weary.”
“We’ll take you to the clinic.”, Topher said
“No, thanks. Its no big deal. Just go. I’ll follow you, really.”
They all agreed and went to the cafeteria. I was about to stand up when I saw a boy in front of me. He had black hair. Tempting black eyes. Thin pink lips. Fair complexion. He also had an athletic build. He reached his hand to me.
“Well, can I assist you to the cafeteria?”
“Uhmm… su-sure.”
I was caught by his charm. I got his hand and I walked with him. He was friendly. He was also very fun to talk to. And above all, he was cute. My eyes were glued at his face. I just looked away when he was looking at me. There was some kind of urge that made me feel connected to him. But I just met him. He was also a transferee. But he didn’t entered school yesterday and I didn’t paid attention to his introduction the session before recess.
His name was Lance Fuentabella. He is a native here in the Philippines and doesn’t have any foreign blood. His family owns several branches of music shops nationwide and worldwide. He was a football player in his previous school, that’s why he has an athletic build. We reached the cafeteria after a long walk. We got our trays and were served. We went to Minna, Andy and Topher’s table.
“Hey guys!”, I greeted
“Hope-chan! Do you feel alright?”, Minna asked while hugging my waist
“I’m fine. Oh guys, I’d like to introduce you to Lance.”, I gestured to Lance
“That’s why you’re ok.”, Topher said with a different tone, looking away from us
“Uhmm, don’t mind him Lance. He’s just under that state of idiocy.”, I said elbowing Topher
“That’s fine. Can I sit here with you?”, Lance asked while showing a very cute expression
“Sure.”
It was a recess of laughs and jokes. Minna, Andy and I were laughing at Lance’s jokes. But, Topher was quiet the whole period. After eating we were still laughing, I was going to put my tray of dirty lasagna dish and unfinished juice to the depositing section when suddenly… Heather got hit of my tray. Her pink Bench tee shirt was stained with my leftover. Everyone was laughing. I almost snickered.
“SHUT UP!!!”, she screamed
Everyone went silent.
“Sorry. I…”
“You did it on purpose.”, she said glaring her red eyes at me, fiery with anger
“I really didn’t mean to do it.”, I said while wiping the stain off with tissue paper, which made the stain worse,
“Oops!”
“YOU WITCH!!!”, she said while gesturing to hit me
I was glued. I couldn’t move. Like some kind of force was disallowing me to move. But out of nowhere, a hand stopped her attack. I looked and saw Lance beside me. She was also held by Topher at the back to stop her.
“Maybe you should respect your peers much more.”, he said still clutching her hand
“Bastard!”, she exclaimed, letting go
“She didn’t do it on purpose you know?!”, Topher said, letting go of his hold
“You’re all going to pay all of this!”, she said pointing at us 3
Then, Alice stood from her seat, eyes closed. After taking a deep breath and fixing her hair, she opened her eyes and looked at Heather.
“We better leave now, cousin. Next period is going to start.”
“Bu-bu-but!”
“No but’s Heather! Let’s go.”
“She destroyed my newly bought shirt!”
“Well, is that the case why you would destroy our civilized state cousin? For such a childish reason! Now go!”, she ordered her, sternly
Heather drastically made her escape. Alice then turned to me.
“I would like to apologize for the misbehavior of my cousin. She’s just a spoiled brat.”
She then turned and walked away. But before she could go any farther, I caught her attention.
“Alice!”
She stopped walking
“Thank you very much.”
She breathed deep and continued walking. Amber then stood and looked at us.
“I’m also sorry for the naughtiness of my cousin. Let me introduce myself, I’m Amber. Amber Dela Nuezca. You’re
Angel Hope Park, right?”, she reached her hand out
“Yes. Just call me Hope. Nice meeting you, Amber.”, I shook her hand
“Uhmm, I think we’re going to be good friends. Oh, I better go. Alice is going to search for me.”, she said letting go,
and running away.
“Thank you.”
“Who? Me?”, asked the 2 boys on the either side of me
“The both of you.”, I clarified
“Oh, that’s much better.”, they again chorused
Minna and Andy then appeared behind me.
“Amber has the kindest heart of the three, though she’s an emo.”, Andy explained
“Alice has the greatest class and patience. She also has a kind heart.”, Minna said, holding my arm
“Do you know anything why Heather is like that?”, I asked
“No one knows. She is just known for being a social icon and a spoiled brat.”, Topher replied
Then the bell rang. We hurriedly went to our classrooms. I reached my seat. Topher was going to his when suddenly Lance appeared and sat at Topher’s seat.
“Hey dude, can I sit here?”, Lance asked
“Uhmm…”
I was looking at Topher, with a pleading expression. He looked at me and breathed deep.
“Yeah. Enjoy yourselves.”, he replied and immediately walked away
Topher was near Minna and Andy now. And I was with Lance. The rest of the day was very good with Lance. He
was really nice to talk too. And he was just breath taking to look at. He was like a Roman God of some sort.
Sometimes, I held glances to Topher. He was quiet. Andy and Minna were always talking to him but he was frozen quiet.
Later at dismissal time, Topher got out quickly. I ran to him but I couldn’t get with his pace and lost his track. Minna and Andy appeared in front of me.
“Hope-chan! What are you doing?”, Minna asked
“Have you seen Topher?”
“He got out first. We haven’t seen him after.”, Andy replied
“Topher…”
“Hope-chan, will you come with us this Saturday to the birthday of Andy’s brother?”
“I would love to but I’m no friend of his.”
“Aw… please come with us.”, Andy invited me
Then suddenly Lance showed up beside me.
“Oh Lance.”
“Mind if I drop you home?”
“Oh don’t. I’m going with Andy and Minna.”
“Please! I’m calling my limo.”
“Well, uhmm…”, I said looking at the two
“Don’t’ worry Hope. We will be okay.”, Minna said with clear jealousy
“You sure?”
“Well if that’s the case then let’s go!”, Lance said after pulling me
I could see Minna’s sad face while I was pulled away from them. I couldn’t explain it but there was something…
…STRANGE.
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