chapter 3

I slowly walked into our house. I looked around, it was late and I knew if Dad was here. After class, Ryu and Haru and I wandered around.

I slowly walked to my room. When I stopped because Dad stood in front of me.

He glared at me, his eyes were so bad that he thought he was going to swallow me alive.

"I thought you had no plans to go home?"

"Dad, I'm tired," I said. I was about to pass him when he pulled me with all his strength.

"Dad!"

"Come here, let's talk," after saying that, he let go of me. We were in the kitchen away from their room. Because when he preached to me, I'm sure Mom would wake up.

"What have you done with your life?" He tried to lower his voice.

I looked at him, expressionless, "I'm studying like you want."

He taught me, "Yes you are studying, but not well."

"Dad, lecture me tomorrow."

"Where did you sleep last night?"

"Kila Ryu," I lied.

"I'll talk to your friends."

I closed my eyes because of annoyance, "Dad can you please stop bothering me."

I bravely passed him. But even before I was able to leave completely, I stopped. Something hit me right in the head. It hurts so much and I feel dizzy. I looked at what hit me, my lips parted when I saw that book.

"You have no respect Arden, you're growing up ignorant," he groaned.

Instead of paying attention to that, I walked into my room. I made sure the door was locked. I heard Dad's loud knock on the bedroom door. I just lay down and put the pillow over my face.

If only I could change my parents, I would have done it. Mom? Tch! That's one too, only my sister always takes sides. I still remembered that his sister always came first. Every time there is a meeting at school, there is a family day, and a card is taken. He didn't even come to my high school graduation. How about it, my sister had a pageant and that's what she went to.

Graduation was very important to me. But the ending of Haru's Mom is the one that won my medal. It's a shame because I worked hard to participate in the honors for them. But no one came to my graduation, not even a family member. So they can't blame me for treating them like this.

I don't hate my sister, in fact I love her very much. Whoever I should be angry with is my parents.

~

"Make sure you review. If you fail the assessment, I will hold the grade," Mrs. seriously promised. Bautista is our Managerial Economics teacher.

I called Haru after Mrs. left. Baptist

"Hey," I said.

"It's our break time, aren't you too?"

"Yes, come here."

"Is Fern there?"

"Yup," when I said that, he immediately ended the call. I walked closer to Fern. She was reading, so I sat beside her.

"Why?" She asked while her attention was on the book.

"Haru is coming here," I said. He just kept reading. "He will come to you," I promised.

She looked at me, "I don't like a man like you."

"She's kind Ms. Alcazar," I casually said. Haru is really kind. Ryu and I are the only bad influences.

"Oh what?"

"He wants to get to know you."

"Then?"

"Maybe you plan to flirt," I replied. Then suddenly she laughed like crazy. I arched my eyebrow in annoyance.

"Hahahaha! You guys are crazy!"

"I'm not joking," I said annoyed.

"I'm not joking too Mr. Claverya," he also promised.

I sighed, "Can't you give it to him? My friend just started liking that."

"So if he likes me, I should like him too?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Hey! I don't know about you, I just want to be taught, and then graduate without a boyfriend. You can be happy being single, you won't have to cry and you won't have to complain--" he stopped speaking as he focused his attention outside the classroom . I was surprised to look at what he was looking at.

I smirked when I saw Haru outside. The nervousness on his face was obvious.

"Hey Ms. Alcazar," I called Fern who was now looking at Haru.

I was surprised when he suddenly shook me. "That's the pogi, does it have a race?"

Was he referring to Haru?

"Is that the tall white one with the paper bag?" I asked. He smiled and nodded.

Tch!

"Your type?" I still ask.

"No, I'm just asking if there's a race."

"He's Haru, what I'm telling you," I said.

He gaped as he looked at me. His saliva will drip a little.

When he's handsome, women are stunned. Tch!

"Shocks! Nevermind," he looked back at the book.

"I thought you were the type?"

"No, because I know you're like that," he promised.

"What am I?"

He looked at me and moved away a little. He seemed to be thinking while I was waiting for him to answer. I couldn't avoid looking at his lips when he bit it.

"You're not a good student, you have a vice, walwal is your life, and you also like to kiss girls you don't even know," she narrowed her eyes at me and I rolled my eyes.

"Do you have a problem with that? Honestly, it looks cool," I promised.

He grimaced, "Your face is cool! That's a turn off. What are you? The star of a movie? The bad boy who is arrogant? Lol if in the movie you fall in love with that guy, but in real life he's a jerk."

He had a lot more to say so I just stood up. I left him without saying anything. I went to see Haru who had been waiting for me.

I can see Fern from inside. He was looking at Haru and me while still whispering.

"Just give it to him," Haru handed over the paper bag. I peeked at it, it was filled with chocolate.

"Why don't you give this to her?"

"I can't, I'm shy," then he scratched his neck.

"Are you serious about that Fern?"

"Yes," he said quickly and blushed.

I couldn't believe his reaction. I just saw Haru become like that. So I'm sure he's serious.

"Next time you come to him," I said before finally entering the classroom. My classmates looked at me as they approached Fern. I immediately put the paper bag on Fern's table. A reason for our female classmates to cheer.

Fern grimaced, "Guys, you're thinking wrong!"

"Yeeee! Fern and Arden ah!"

"Hey, what's wrong with you?"

"It's going to be a mess later hahaha!"

I laughed at their jokes.

"Hey! You whore take that off!" Fern's threat. Instead of listening to him, I put the paper bag on his thigh.

I smirked, "For you, with love."

"Yaks Mr. Claverya," said irritatedly.

I moved closer to her, our classmates cheered.

"Don't waste my friend's effort," I whispered. After that, I straightened up and gave him a wider smile.

"Enjoy those," then I winked. She glared at me, she even made our classmates stop teasing.

I returned to my place.

"Are you flirting with the new student?" Moymoy asked.

I took the bottled water on his table. I drank the entire contents of it, as if I ran out of water in my body.

"Nope," I replied after Moymoy's water ran out.

"You're awesome, I just bought it," he growled.

I patted his shoulder, "Buy again."

~

"Hi Ms. Alcazar," I greeted Fern. He just kept walking. I just followed him.

"What do you need?"

"You," I replied. He stopped and looked at me.

"Aren't you tired of walking your friend with me?"

"No,"

"I don't have time for him!"

"He's already making an effort."

"Is that called effort? I was just given chocolate, is it effort?"

"Yes," I said boldly.

"You can't do anything to me, stop me."

He was about to walk away when I quickly pulled him closer to me. Our eyes met when he faced me. I felt a strong pounding in my chest. I even let go of his arm when we looked at each other. I couldn't move immediately, when we got closer to each other.

Her eyes were darting torches.

And... it makes me feel--

"Kadiri," my spirit woke up when he suddenly spoke.

"Huh?"

"Maybe you're expecting me?"

"What are you saying?"

"Grunt! Stop me! Follow me, I'll hit you," he threatened.

I just watched her struggle. I was still holding my chest.

What's that?

Haru and Ryu and I were in the cafeteria. Haru and I had a rather long break, Ryu didn't attend a subject just to be with us.

"Bro," I looked at Haru when he handed over a lunch box.

"What is this?"

"Eomma cooked it, I gave it to you," he replied.

I looked at the contents of the lunch box. That's Ddukbokki or spicy rice cake in English. I smiled because it looked delicious.

"Devil men! What about me? Aunt Tessa's trick," Ryu pointed out to Haru's Mom.

Haru's Dad is Korean, who has now stayed here in the Philippines. We are not that close to Haru's Dad, Mr. Jung Min Joon. Aunt Tessa is the only one Ryu and I talk to often.

"Next time, it's yours," Haru promised with a laugh.

"Aunt Tessa is favoritism," Ryu growled.

"Let's just share," I said.

Ryu shook his head, "I don't like sharing."

"It's your art," I said. We looked at Haru when we noticed that his attention was not on us. We looked at what he was looking at.

I suddenly smirked when I saw Fern eating alone.

"You baby Haru," Ryu snorted. Haru blushed causing Ryu and I to laugh.

"Dude, Fern hit you really hard," I said.

He looked back at us. "Yes, straight to the heart." He was still holding her chest.

The corny...

"Form it, you'll be right next to it," Ryu convinced.

"I'm ashamed," said Haru.

Just now, Haru was really embarrassed by a girl. So I'm sure he's serious about Fern.

I just focused on the food. When Haru suddenly touched me.

"Why?"

"Get her phone number," Haru smiled widely. Ryu could almost burp what he was eating.

"You're terrible Haru, you should be the one to take why Arden?" Ryu said.

"I'm so ashamed!"

"Okay, just wait for me," I just stood up before hearing them argue.

I feel like they are watching me as I approach Fern. I sat beside her without even saying goodbye.

"Hey miss, can I have your number?" I said in a deep voice.

Her eyes widened and stopped eating. "Bitch are you threatening?"

I laugh silently, "No, I'm just luring you."

"Olol, the deep voice doesn't suit you. You look more like a demon."

"It hurts to speak," I arched my eyebrow.

He ignored me and continued eating. I just looked at him so he stopped again.

"What else do you need?"

"That's your phone number," I casually said.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Why?"

"Haru said," I replied. He looked at Haru's behavior. I also saw my friend suddenly turn away because he was shy.

"I'm not really interested in him," Fern said annoyed.

"Only once will you really like my friend, stand by it."

"Stand your face!"

He immediately stood up and tortured me before leaving. He left the uneaten food. I went back to my friends and said mission failed.

"Are you pissed off?" Haru asked as he looked at me.

"No," I replied.

"Told you that you talked to Fern," said Ryu to Haru.

I nodded aggressively, "Yes! It's so I won't look like a fool when I'm near your chicks."

Haru sighed.

"Let it go! Let's go to the club tonight," Ryu suddenly suggested.

I was happy when he said, "I'm G there!"

We looked at Haru. He simply ate as if he didn't hear us.

"Hey dude, you're the same, I miss cuddling," Ryu whispered.

Haru shook his head, "No way."

"Do you have a quiz?" I asked.

"I'm going to change," he replied.

Ryu and I laughed at each other. So we almost blew up the cafeteria. Everyone is looking at each other but we don't know anything.

"Hahahaha! What's that?" Ryu asked still laughing.

"I'm going to change," Haru repeated.

"We're not doing anything wrong, huh? Why would you change?" I asked innocently.

Instead of joking with us, he was serious. "The drinking, the night stands, the smoking and not studying hard. Isn't that bad? So I have to change all of that."

"Why?" Ryu asked.

"For Fern," he replied.

I stopped and looked at where Fern was walking earlier.

Haru is dead, he's already in love.

"Are you serious?" Ryu asked more.

"Yes! I really like him."

I sighed, crossing my arms, "Let's let him Ryu if he'll be happy there."

~

After class I simply followed Fern. I intend to convince him to talk to Haru. Because that friend of mine insisted that I help him.

I don't even know why I can't say no.

I stopped suddenly when he entered the comfort room. I leaned against the wall while waiting for him. There were students looking at me but I just ignored them. Until I saw Kesha going to where I was.

Because he didn't want to see me, I quickly entered the comfort room and locked it.

That girl is constantly nagging me. I'm getting tired of him. Honestly, I prefer to taste something new. It's always him, it's boring.

"W-what are you doing here?"

I immediately turned around. Fern looked at me in surprise.

"Are you the only person here?" I asked.

"You followed me?"

"No!"

"Why are you here?" That's when the tone of his voice got louder.

I sighed, "Kesha is outside."

He raised an eyebrow at me, "Oh what's your problem?"

"I'm hiding from him."

"Because?"

"He's teasing me," I replied.

He was about to open the door when I quickly stopped him. I grabbed her arms and pushed her against the wall. His lips parted at what I did, I also saw his panic.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Don't go out yet," I whispered.

"What if Kesha sees you?"

I bit my lower lip, "As usual, he will invite me to talk..." I stopped because I didn't know if what I was going to say was right.

When I couldn't continue what to say, he pushed me away from him with all his strength.

"Don't blame me," she said. I even heard Kesha's voice from outside. He knocked on the door.

"I'm going out, goodbye!" Fern said while still awake. He opened the door. Kesha came up to us, she was surprised to see us. But Fern didn't seem to care because she walked away.

"Arden?"

Instead of paying attention to him, I walked out.

"Arden!"

"What?" I turned to him there.

He was about to cry, "Why are you with a girl inside?"

"What's the point of knowing?"

"W-because you're flirting with me?"

My eyes widened at what he said. I can't believe that's how he thinks about everything I do to him.

I scoffed, "Really?"

He came to me and held my hands.

"We're both kissing, and flirting. What do you call that?"

There I laughed, "That doesn't mean anything to me Kesha."

"W-what do you mean?"

"I don't really like you, and honestly I'm just flirting with you so that someone can do my assignments," he answered without hesitation.

A tear rolled down her cheek. I smiled at his reaction.

Now she's crying like a baby... and I don't care!

She's really something. Does he really think I'm flirting with him?

"From now on, don't come near me. Stay with Deigo," I said.

I was annoyed by what he did next. He immediately hugged me. "T-Did Deigo scare you? I don't like him Arden because I only like you! Ignore all of Deigo's threats to you. I will protect you from him."

I pushed her away causing her to sit on the floor. I also sat and played with her hair.

"He didn't scare me, I just don't really like you," I muttered seriously.