CHAPTER 5

Since Brent joined us for dinner, we became even closer. For two weeks, I didn't go home with us every lunch because we would eat together at any eatery of our type. At first I was afraid that mom and dad might be angry with me. It turned out that they were only a threat because when Brent talked to them about courting me, the two immediately agreed and said that they would let me make a decision about having a relationship. As long as they hold hands, it's okay with them and Mom. I feel like we were meant to be, destined for each other. However, I made sure that my grades did not drop. As usual, Brent is still not listening to our discussions. If most people thought that Brent would change because of me, they were wrong. Because Brent told me, it's too late to get serious about his studies. It is content to pass and doesn't care about the grade it gets. Actually, Brent is not stupid. He's even smarter than me judging by the medals he received when he was still in elementary school. I don't know what his reason is and why he doesn't care about our last year in high school. I also don't want to ask him anything. I want him to tell me things himself. "Our js prom is tomorrow," Brent told me while we were in the garden for our Home Economics subject. "So? What's up with JS Prom?" I asked him. "If you intend to answer me, I hope it's now so that tomorrow will be happier." He replied, that's why the former was a little different. He's just really rude from time to time. "What do you expect," I told him, but the truth is, I intend to make it official tomorrow. I can consider him as a real boyfriend. "It doesn't matter, as long as we are together tomorrow." "Shhhh, sir is coming so let's be quiet," I said in a low voice. "Brent, can you please assist Michelle in her garden?" The teacher said. Brent looked at me before turning to our teacher. I can't stop him from going to Michelle's garden because the teacher will scold me. "Jamie, follow me to the office," said sir and immediately my classmates were looking at me. I wondered why he suddenly sent me to his office. "Yes sir," I said and immediately stood up and returned my bolo to the garden shed, washed my hands and went to him. I knocked before entering even though I knew it was always open. "Sir?" "Come in and sit here in front of me," he said in a very stern voice. I approached the empty chair in front of his desk. "I'm not going to hang around anymore, Jamie. Are you and Brent having a relationship?" I was shocked by what he asked me. "N-nothing, sir. Brent and I are really just friends." I don't need to lie because what I said is true. Yes, there were instances that we kissed on the lips, but it was clear to both of us what we did. "It's good that way. I noticed that you two are always together. You know, your future will be a waste if you only get engaged to Brent. I hope you don't give in to emotions and put your studies first." Sir preached to me. I don't know where I got enough strength to answer him. He has no right to judge Brent. Is not having good grades enough reason to be told that there is no future? "It's disrespectful, sir. But I guess it's not right for you to judge this person too much. If you were like that, I hope you applied as a guidance counselor here!" "Oh, you're such an unruly child! Do you even know yourself, Jamie? You weren't like that before. Can't you still see the effect on you of your friendship with that man?" Sir's voice Ruby and I knew that other students might have heard us. "You're wrong, sir. I've been like this before, there's just no reason for me to answer you like I do now. Maybe you won't drop me in your subject if I don't go in until our graduation?" I asked him. "Do it! If you don't want to be top one in your graduation, don't enter my subject. You can leave now," sir said angrily to me. "If you tell me to stay away from Brent to be top one, it doesn't matter. Just give your highest score to Michelle, sir." I stood up and walked out of his office and went straight to our classroom. I will just wait there for my other classes because I will never set foot in our garden again. While sitting in my chair, I repeatedly asked myself if what I did earlier was right. I imitated Ninoy Aquino's pose on the five hundred peso bill and Brent caught me in that position. "Something wrong? You never came back to the garden," he said. "No need, my crops are good there." I answered. "That's right. But why do you seem sad?" He started to get curious and I wanted to tell him about the discussion I had with our teacher in his office earlier. "So sad? Can't you just be bored?" I forced myself to smile because I didn't want him to ask me more questions. "Well, if you're just bored, I think I can help you." He said and winked at me. "How?" I asked because I really don't want to take cutting classes. "This," he said. He suddenly kissed me on the lips. At first, it was only a smuck, then suddenly it became torrid. Gradually, Brent became passionate and so did I. I felt the strange sensation in my belly even more when he inserted his tongue inside my mouth. We've kissed a few times whenever we had the chance, but what happened today was strange. More passionate. I felt him shudder a lot when he boldly felt one of my breasts. Here I came to my senses and I pushed him hard. "That's enough," I told him because our other classmates would arrive at any moment. We still have one last subject after H.E. I don't know why Home Economics and Physical Education come next to each other. "Did I scare you?" He asked me worriedly. Argh, those eyes! Why is it that every time he stares at me, I feel like I'm drowning and sucking my soul. Next time, if Brent dares to repeat what we did earlier, maybe I won't be able to hold myself back any longer and will tolerate it forever. I hope not. "A little," I replied. "Ahhh, it's you. Why can't I stop myself from touching you?" He even blamed me, ghad! After saying that, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it firmly. It's obviously still chilling. "It's better that we just prepare for the next subject." I suggest to him. "It's even better, so that I can be distracted from you for a while. You're chilling, you know that?" "Stop it," I scolded him. I took my PE uniform and told him to just change. "Let's go together," Brent hissed at me. Carrying my uniform, I came out of our classroom. Kendra and I met outside. "Or where are you going?" he asked me even though he knew I was carrying my PE uniform. "Of course, changing clothes." "You're always so busy with Brent that you don't know the latest," he said, making me wonder what the latest is. I asked him. "Our PE Teacher has to go home because she suddenly felt dizzy," Kendra answered. "Is that so? Thank you. If you don't tell me right away, my classmates might laugh at me. So how, can we go home now?" I asked Kendra and when she nodded, I suddenly smiled. "Of course. I'll just get my bag inside and I'll go home. I still need to go to the salon for the prom tomorrow. So, see you tomorrow." He hurried inside and when he got his bag, he came out again and told me to go first. I went back inside and told Brent the good news that we could go home early. We were putting our things away when the other classmates arrived. Like me, they were busy putting things away. The crowd is excited, especially since it's Friday. I'm sure they will go for a walk in the plaza, the others will go to the salon for tomorrow's activity. "Let's go," Brent said to me after I put my stuff away. I nodded and followed him. When we left the gate, I asked him why he left his motorcycle inside. "Starting today, I will no longer ride a motorcycle to walk with you," he said. I smiled at what he said. It's also a long walk from school to the corner that I will pass on my way home. As we walked down the road, we talked about something. After a while, some women noticed him. "I think it would be better if you were on a motorcycle," I absentmindedly told him what I had observed. "Why?" He wondered. "How come, there are girls paying attention to you," I complained. "Are you jealous?" Brent seemed even amused that I was jealous of the girls who wanted to pay attention to him. "Hmmm I don't know, but I don't want another girl to flirt with you." "Eh, what should I do? It's really hard to be a good looking," he jokingly told me while imitating the dialogue in the Master Cleanser commercial. "Answer me because it's for us," he said. "Is that still necessary? It's like we're the same, ah." I answered. "Of course. But if you really don't want to, I'm ready to wait. There's nothing I can do, I'm dead to you." "Gosh, you're really good at flattering. You're good at strategizing. Wait, where are we going?" I didn't notice that we were taking a different road, and it wasn't going to the corner to our village. "This is a shortcut to us. I'll just change clothes, then I'll take you to the corner." "Ah, okay. It's up to you." I can't explain why I trust Brent so much. I don't care about the reputation of this bastard, womanizer and worthless. We were too young for me to think about his negative qualities. When we entered their house, we found one of the servants. It is busy watering the flowers in the garden. "Sister, we'll be here for a while. Brent is just going to change his clothes," I told her because I didn't want her to think we were going to perform a miracle. It just nodded and then continued what it was doing. I followed Brent but only as far as the living room. I just entertained myself by reading the magazines that were on the coffee table. When I noticed a family album, I took it and opened it. There were only pictures of Brent. I laugh at how he looked when the boy was young. It's so cute and silly. I was busy flipping the album's pages when I heard him shout. I stood up on my own and searched for the room where Brent's voice came from. Luckily it didn't lock the door and I was able to get in easily. "Brent?" "There's a cockroach," there was fear in his voice as his whole body was wrapped in a comforter. I only saw a man's head. Gosh, it's cool and then it turns out it's just a fear of a small cockroach. I took a book from his bag and threw it at the cockroach who was enjoying a stroll on the carpet. "There, the cockroach is dead. Get out of there, aren't you hot?" I just looked at him as he removed the comforter from wrapping his body. And when he emerged from that thick fabric, oh my, I closed my eyes and looked elsewhere. How come, the man is not wearing his clothes. Yes, and I have seen men among us who don't really wear a top especially in the afternoon, but Brent is still different. "I'll wait for you outside," I said after I left his room about face. But Brent was quick and he reached for my one hand, he pulled me and made me face him. "Thank you," he said it sincerely and my heart melted in front of him. I saw how his face came down towards me and he suddenly pressed a kiss on me. I closed my eyes and felt his lips nibbling on mine. "Brent...," I moaned to him when I didn't know what to do, I was like grass that was slowly consumed by fire and burned. "We must stop now or else," I told him when he let go of me.