Chapter 4

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and turn." We cheered as we danced along to the beat.

Cheer stunts definitely add a lot of excitement to any routine, but they can be difficult to execute well. I rolled my eyes because I was tired and feeling thirsty.

Cassandra, Vettinah, and Ernisha are part of the cheerleading team, so I was forced to include myself. We started practising for the opening of the APSTAP Sports League. We still have two more months to prepare. It's just a bit of a hassle because our final exam for this semester is near.

"Water break," Miranda, the head of the cheerleading team, announced.

I was drinking my water when Vettinah approached me. "Leo has been eyeing you for a while," she whispered.

"You're just hallucinating again," I replied as I put my bottled water inside my bag.

"No! It wasn’t a hallucination. Cassandra saw it too! Right, Sandra?" She put her hands on her waist as she looked at Sandra.

"Believe it or not, but my eyes clearly saw it, too!" Cassandra concluded. Just thinking about that, though, makes me want to vomit!

"Look," Ernisha pointed to the half-court. "He is still looking in our direction," she continued.

Fearfully, I shifted my gaze and saw him looking at me. Amusement twinkled in his eyes and played with the corners of his mouth. He gave me a slight wave. But instead of waving back, I raised one of my brows and shifted my gaze.

My crazy friends are still teasing me, so I immediately went back to the centre. We continued practising some stunts like basket toss and superman.

I can’t focus on the steps. I was taken aback by his glances and suddenly feel conscious of my actions. I was afraid to make a mistake because I did not want to be embarrassed in front of him. I have this gut inside me that I need to impress him.

"Tatiana, are you still with us?" I bit my lower lip. After all, I could no longer follow because I also glanced at him.

"O-of course! I'm sorry," I apologized.

I tried to focus because the next stunt was a bit dangerous. When you prepare for more difficult stunting, it's important to prepare yourself physically and mentally.

If you are on a competition cheerleading squad, making difficult cheerleading stunts look easy is all part of the job. Whether you are part of the base or one of the flyers, practice and skill will make any difficult cheerleading stunt come off with ease.

"Finally! It’s over," Cassandra said with a sigh of relief, glancing up at Ernisha. We arranged our belongings and walked out. We were planning to eat somewhere.

"Boiling Shrimp or Samgyupsal?" Cassandra asked.

"Sammy!" We answered in unison. We laughed and continued to walk.

"Wait, Ladies!" Leo said as he grabbed my hand.

I withdrew my hand. I heard my friends whispering to each other. Obviously, they’re creating conclusion and issues again.

"What do you need?" I asked and raised a brow.

"You," he answered and chuckled softly.

“Step back, Cassandra! You’re stepping Tatiana’s hair. It’s too long!” Bettina joked as she jokingly pulled away Cassandra, who was next to me.

Leo shifted his gaze to my friends and gave them a light smile.

"I mean, uh, let's have lunch together," he asked shyly. “That is if you’re free.”

Lunch, my ass! We're not friends nor close to each other. I was about to disagree and reject him, but Cassandra proceeded me. "She’s free. She will join you; we assure you that." They jokingly pushed me towards him. “Just take care of her,” she added.

"Hey! I thought we would eat together?" I objected.

“Huh? What are you talking about?” it was Tanisha.

"Are we?" it was Cassandra this time.

“Tatiana and her excuses again,” and it was Vettinah this time.

I looked at Ernisha and tried to ask for help, but she was too busy typing a boyfriend's message.

“You have nothing to worry about. She is safe, as long as I am with her.”

They wave their hands and start walking away, but they shouted something that makes me feel embarrassed before they could get away. "Wear a condom! Safety first," Cassandra shouted.

"Stupid!" I shouted back.

"Where do you want us to eat?" he asked.

"I don’t know. It’s up to you, I guess." I replied.

"The vagueness of your answer," he said and took my belongings.

"Can we just eat somewhere else?" I asked.

He took me to the chicken corner where we first met and where I stole a kiss from him.

"Why?" he smirked as he asked that playful question to me. Jerk!

"I'm on a diet," I excused myself. He just chuckled and did not believe what I said.

"Diet? Or maybe you remember something-"

I immediately opened the door and entered chicken street without any hesitation.

"I didn't know you were a dancer." He chuckled sexily. I watched how his Adam's apple move, and oh! It was so damn hot!

“Is it necessary for you to know?”

“Of course! It is, darling,” he replied with a wink.

I distracted myself by finding the right angle. I love sharing my thoughts and trips on Instagram.

"Hey," he said, trying to get my phone and also my attention. " Wait! I must be handsome when you posted that. Retake it," he demanded.

I rolled my eyes and looked at him with disbelief. He thought I was taking a picture of him.

“It was the food, not you.”

“Oh, sorry!”

“You should be.” I fired back.

"Yes, I'm not a food, but I'm delicious too."

It just laughed when I pretended to be sick.

"You did not follow me back."

“Come again, please?”

“I followed you on Instagram and Twitter.”

“Hmm. So?”

“And you did not do the same.”

“I didn’t notice your name on it.”

“Oh! Really?” he teased. “Is that why you liked my topless photos?”

“Did I?”

“Yes, you did, darling!”

“It wasn’t me,” I lied. “But if someone did, don’t worry, I will dislike it after class.”

“If you don't want to like any of my posts, just like me, instead."

"I'm sorry," I apologized. He looked puzzled. "I mean, sorry for what I did. Uh, you know what," he laughed at my reaction. I can't say it completely because until now, I am still ashamed.

“Did you regret it? I won’t, to be honest.”

He looked at me with a hint of amusement. He reached for my cheeks and pinched them.

"I enjoyed it, don't worry." He added playfully.

"My ex cheater boyfriend was here at that time. I didn't know what to do, I was out of my mind, and then I was surprised; I kissed you." I explained.

"You keep on loving someone, but you do not receive anything in return. You keep on pushing yourself to be loved by someone who doesn’t care about your existence." he gave me a light smile, but obviously fake.

“Where’s the bill?” I asked to change the topic.

"No. It’s my treat," he said sparingly.

I rolled my eyes because I did not want to owe him anything.

"Let me pay for my bill," I insisted.

"Sorry, but I don't let my girl pay."

I closed my eyes tightly. "I do not want to be indebted to you," I harshly replied.

“I don’t let my girl pay,” he repeated.