Chapter 5

chapter 5

Your Teacher

"The shipments of wine from Italy will arrive tomorrow. I will personally supervise it," Papa announced while we were having dinner.

"Do you want me to accompany you, darling?" mommy.

Papa gave him a sweet smile.

"No need, Valen. You and your friends have something to talk about tomorrow, don't you?"

"Oh, yes. We'll talk about the charity ball next month."

They talked about something else but also came back to our winery business. I was quiet while eating and couldn't follow the topic.

two days have passed since the incident that happened outside the mall. With shame and a little sulk, I avoided meeting Sir. In class, I don't make eye contact with him. He didn't even plan to talk to me.

"...so we will have dinner with him this Saturday night. You will join us, Jean."

"Yes?" I asked in shock when I heard Papa mention the name. Effect of not listening to the conversation earlier.

"Are you okay?" He looked worried. "Mr. Gregorio Cua and his son will be joining us for dinner this Saturday night."

"Gregorio Cua is one of the top hoteliers in the country, Jean," Mommy added because she must have noticed my silence.

Papa took a sip from his wineglass before speaking.

"He is a potential client. I think you know of his son, Alec Von Cua. He graduated from Ateneo."

I checked the memory. As far as I remember, I was in first year and Alec Von Cua was in fourth year. He is popular in the university because of his handsome appearance and being a womanizer.

"I had seen him in school. But I haven't met him personally," I said.

"He is just three years older than you. He comes from a successful family. You should meet him and maybe, you know, you and him can develop a..." said Mommy. from what his eyes showed I knew what he was planning.

"He is not my type, Mom," I said bluntly, placing the spoon and fork on the table.

He took a deep breath and acted shocked.

"I didn't mean anything by it."

I didn't say a word and just prepared myself to say goodbye because I was done eating. But before I could open my mouth, he was ahead of me.

"What's your type in a guy then?" He raised an eyebrow. "Losers?"

"Valena," Papa scolded. "Why did the conversation become like this? it will only be a business dinner with the Cuas."

I bowed down in shame. Not for myself but for the mother.

"I'm done and going to sleep," I said when I got the courage.

Dad nodded at me. Mommy can't look at me. I stood up and left the dining area.

I called Lolo when he was in the room to say hello to him in the province. We did a video call because the last time we did it was when he came from the province.

"Are you really okay, JC?" he asked again worriedly.

I smiled to reassure him that I'm fine.

"Yes, Lo. I just did a lot at school. How are you doing there?"

"It's fine. Busy with my pets."

"Why don't you just accept Mommy's help to hire people to help you? It's a big land and you can't manage it alone."

His face immediately became grim. Didn't like me ranting about it anymore.

"I've been taking care of it by myself for ten years and I've been able to do it! I don't need a partner anymore. and what does Valena know? He hasn't set foot here since he left to become an actor."

"Lo, you're seventy years old. Your physical condition is changing and it's not like it was before."

"I can do it," he firmly asserted.

he changed the subject and just said hello to Pepe. I didn't insist on what I wanted because I knew he would only get annoyed with me if I did. I also said goodbye to him later because I had school the next day.

"I'm really in love with you, Miss Jean Caitlyn Villarejas! Just kidding, you haven't mentioned Sir Mendez for almost a week. Though, it's obvious that you haven't moved on yet because I still catch you stealing glances at her from time to time," Hope babbled.

We were at a café near the university. we didn't have time with Sir Mendez because he was attending a teachers' conference. It will be gone for two days.

I played with the mango juice straw and swirled it around inside the glass.

"Because I don't know what to say to him. I'm still ashamed of what I did in our last conversation. It's like I realized that I'm not in the place to react like that."

"You got hurt because of that.even if you say that you have no right because you're not his girlfriend, but as a girl who has a crush on him, of course it really hurts, no!"

I just sighed. He continued.

"I'll go home with you, ah. Because Mommy can't pick me up today because of her meeting with your Mommy for the charity ball."

"Okay. No problem."

I glanced outside the window of the cafe and saw Jok walking towards a car. He has a beautiful woman with him. Hope also looked outside.

"I thought there was no spark?" he muttered to himself.

"You know, it's just delayed," I shrugged.

He sighed violently.

"Boys will be boys indeed."

We didn't spend too much time hanging out at the cafe because I immediately texted Kuya Benj to pick him up. Hope went with me because we were just passing their house.

A few minutes later I was home. I got up from the chair when I saw Sir's apartment. I usually do this every time I pass by. While looking outside from the car window, I saw an old woman walking on the side of the road. He was carrying a bag full of vegetables and fruits. In one of his hands is a white cat.

in an instant the cat jumped up and got out of his hand. He quickly crossed the middle of the road so that maybe his cat could follow. Fortunately, Kuya Benj braked alertly and did not crash the old man. He just let go of the bag, which is why its contents were scattered on the road.

I was very surprised and almost fell on my face. In a mixture of shock and nervousness, I grabbed my chest.

Kuya hurriedly got out of the car to check on the old man. I quickly took off my seatbelt, opened the door, and got out of the car.

I saw that Kuya Benj was currently attending to the old man and checked if he was okay.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt, mom?" I asked confused as I approached them.

The old man shook his head but his gaze was busy at the edge of the garden. He bent down and picked up the sack from the road. While watching him I thought that he seemed to be more worried about the escaped cat than himself.

I picked up some scattered vegetables on the ground to help him. Kuya also helped so we quickly put them back in the bag held by the old man.

"Please find the cat, Brother," I begged the driver because I could really feel the old man's concern for the pet.

Kuya Benj quickly took action and left us first.

I looked around.

"Where are you going, mom?"

He said nothing and just pointed to Sir Mendez's apartment. I looked at him from head to toe again because I was getting curious about his personality.

"You live in that apartment? Are you Sir Mendez's mother?"

Instead of answering, he just looked at me back. Kuya Benj also returned immediately, now holding the old man's cat. I extended my hand and presented.

"Give me." my skin felt the soft fur of the cat when he handed it to me.

"Go home first, Big Brother. I'll just bring mom."

Kuya Benj seemed to be having second thoughts and looked at the old man again.

"Are you sure, JC?"

"Yes brother. We are also close to the mansion. And then she's my teacher's mother so it's okay."

Kuya scratched his neck and convinced me to get in the car. We pulled over to mom's side to let the car pass.

The old man came to the gate of Sir's apartment and I followed him holding the cat. I saw the key he took out of his pocket. When the gate door was opened, we went inside.

"You're alone here at home because Sir has a two-day teachers' conference in Davao, right?" I'm babbling. Abandoned by the silence that surrounded us.

The old man nodded again and now it was the front door that was currently being opened.

maybe Sir inherited his quietness from him.

I didn't say anything and just quietly followed him into the house. I looked around. My lips parted in it. Because the space is very big and there is not much furniture. except for a single large flat screen TV, a gray sofa, and a broken center table.

The old man placed the bag on the center table. I also let the cat jump down from my hand. I felt like it made the place familiar.

I was about to say goodbye because I feel like it's bothering me and he's not talking to me but I just stopped because he handed me a cell phone. Even though I was surprised, I still accepted it and read what he wrote in it.

I am not Lake's mother. Do you like him?

I feel like I'm in awe of what I read. I quickly looked at him. I understood why he hadn't spoken before. It's because of disability.

"W-Nothing," my voice croaked.

He smirked and took the cellphone from my hand again. he made a quick tick that seemed to be long then gave it to me again.

Lake does not eat too many sweet foods. He avoids it because his family has a diabetic family. The next time you do it, you'll do better. It's his favorite.

after reading what he wrote I lost the ability to speak due to shock and amazement. Does he know that I gave cake and cookies to Sir? When the cellphone was handed back to him, he left me in the living room. I didn't sleep because of this last night.

Mommy and Papa continued to have dinner with the Cuas. I didn't get stubborn because I knew that Mommy wouldn't let me down if I didn't agree. We ate at a well-known restaurant in the city.

The Cua father and son arrived first. I was not surprised by their appearance because I knew they were of Chinese descent.

We are in the last course of the meal and it is about to end when Papa and his friend Gregoria Cua talk about business. Sometimes Mommy goes with them.

"How's Ateneo?" began Alec Von Cua sitting next to his father who was across from us. He was leaning on the backrest of the chair. He holds the wineglass in one hand.

"Still competitive," I replied sparingly.

he grinned and it only defined the narrowness of his eyes. There is no denying that he does have a look that makes women fall in love with him because of his charming appearance.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked directly.

Sir Mendez's appearance suddenly came to my mind.

"I have someone I like," I simply replied.

"Okay..." He couldn't remove his sly grin. He slightly brought his face closer to me as if to whisper something. "Just so we're clear, you're not my type either. I don't like prim and proper kind of girls."

I glared at him while he calmly returned to leaning back in his seat.

Of course! Because you like them wild! In my mind but of course I didn't voice it.

"You go to law school, right?" I mentioned the question that had been burning in my mind since Papa mentioned it earlier in the car. "Do you know of someone named Lake Jacobe Mendez?"

"Maybe I do...or maybe I don't," he answered mysteriously. "Is he the 'someone' you've mentioned you like?"

I looked away and turned it to her hair with a very short trim on the side but a long one in the front that was used to part the hair to the side. Same with Sir Mendez.

"Is the Ivy League haircut really required of those of you in law school?"

He couldn't answer my question because of the sudden ringing of his cell phone. He apologized and briefly left the table to answer the call.

I couldn't help but glance at Mommy and see her staring at me. he raised an eyebrow and there was a question in his eyes. I ignored it and then took the glass of pineapple juice and drained it. Alec Von Cua never came back.

I spent Sunday making pandesal. even though I didn't fully know the old woman who was not Sir's mother, I still believed what she said. I have a feeling that he knows my teacher better.

Coming out of the first batch of pandesal that was placed in the oven was raw. I tried again and thought it would last longer inside compared to before. By the way, when it was taken out, it was on fire. I even got burned because of the heat.

I didn't stop. It's the last time I'll do this for Sir, so I'm giving it to you. Maybe the saying 'Third time is a charm' is true because on the third try it was successful. Not raw, not burnt, not too sweet.

"Are you really sure, JC, that you're just going to put his pandesal here?" Manang must have asked this question for the fourth time. he was now holding both ends of the plastic bag to open it.

I started putting pandesal in it.

"Yes. I'll just waste the container if he doesn't accept it again."

"You're a negative child."

"Manang, it hurts to be rejected."

He frowned. "But you said, it's his favorite. Maybe he won't deny it."

"Sometimes, acceptance is not in the giver but in the giver."

after placing the ten large pandesals inside, I tied the bag. I also prepared myself for delivering it to Sir's apartment. My news is that his colleagues returned from the conference this morning so he must have been in the apartment.

I was only wearing a gray sweater and jogging pants because I didn't bother to get dressed. I tied my hair in a bun because of the hot feeling. One of the reasons I didn't change my clothes was to use jogging as an alibi. pretending to have just passed by and thought to be nice again. I just don't know if he will believe it.

I paced back and forth three times as I customarily passed the front gate of his apartment. Even at four o'clock in the afternoon, the sun is still warm. I bent down because of my breath when I stopped in front of his gate.

I straightened up immediately when I heard the door open. The old man I met the other day came out of it. He was carrying a small garbage bag in one hand.

I stood up straight and smiled at him.

"Good afternoon!"

He nodded and placed the garbage bag on the side of the pole. Later he turned back again and walked into the gate.

"Is Sir already there?!" I was quick before it was closed. Nervously squeezes his own fingers.

He watched me for a few seconds and looked down at my bag.

"Uh... I baked bread... it's pandesal," I said shyly.

There was a secret smile on his lips. For the first time I caught a glimpse of his gentle face.

he opened the gate while gesturing inside. I took this as an invitation to enter. I was glad to follow his wishes and go inside.

We entered the house straight away. I tightened my grip on the end of the bag when I saw Sir Mendez coming down the stairs. He stopped for a moment when he saw me and I noticed the shock on his face.

"Good afternoon, sir!" I greeted with a smile as if I didn't sulk at him.

He nodded and continued the descent.

"I was let in by—" I shuddered to say because the old woman suddenly disappeared when I looked back.

"What's that?" he said while pointing to the bag I was carrying.

"Ah! I baked pandesal. Then I jogged outside. there's too much so... I thought I'd bring... mom," I excused myself.

"You jogged with a plastic bag?" There was a hidden smirk on the corner of his lips. Because of this I confirmed that I really don't know how to lie.

I still stood by the alibi and boldly nodded.

"If you don't want it, I'll take it home."

Now the corner of his lips lifted. My heart seemed to fall again because of his handsome face. I'm not used to seeing him smile. this is the first time.

"I thought that was for mom."

I blinked because I was fried in my own oil.

"I-I said..." I violently handed him the bag. "Just give it to him!"

He accepted it. "It's my favorite. can i ask him?"

"For... it's really for you," I admitted in a small voice.

He just stared at me for a few seconds. I tried to reciprocate, but his simple stare seemed to drain my courage. My knees are slowly getting weak and it might be a while before they give out.

He tiredly took a deep breath.

"I'm your teacher, Miss Villarejas," he said softly.

Even if it was just one sentence, I got what he wanted to convey. loud and clear.

"I know," I agreed with difficulty. I slowly closed my eyes tightly and prepared myself for what to say next. "That's just because...I really like you."