Days had passed. I became more accustomed to Ervic’s cold treatment towards me especially during our Algebra class where he was my partner. Somehow, his behavior was improving because he is now answering the challenge activity before leaving our class. All I have to do was to review his answers which were mostly correct.

On the other hand, our grades remained tie on all our Math subjects. None of us committed a single mistake on either short quizzes or long exams. We also aced our graded recitation!

“I can’t believe it! The two of you have the same grade on all your Math subjects!” Ma’am Salazar was beaming as she talked to us in front of our class.

I noticed that Ervic tilted his head towards my direction. He was sitting three rows away from me. All of a sudden, our eyes met. His penetrating gaze made me lose my breath. I felt that my heart was drumming loudly inside my chest.

I dragged my stare back to the textbook that I was reading. I kept asking myself why I felt nervous. I just shrugged with that thought and tried to focus on our teacher in front.

After class, we went straight to the cafeteria. We took our food from the counter and sat on the nearest table. As I was eating my cheeseburger I overheard Liza and Geraldine’s conversation.

“There’s the weird kid!” Liza’s mocking remarks. I followed her line of sight and saw Mariah who was eating alone.

“Is she our classmate?” Carol asked the two as she twirled the spaghetti on her fork.

“Yeah, but I think she’s psychotic. She doesn’t talk to anyone in class. Weirdo!” Geraldine replied as she chuckled a bit. The braces on her teeth showed.

I knew Mariah’s behavior was out of this world. Somehow, I felt sorry for her when people called her names.

My flow of thoughts was distracted when Geraldine talked to me. “Kat, I have never been to your hacienda. I heard from dad that’s its really big!” she asked excitedly.

I nodded quickly and gave my reply. “We own rice farms and several fruits and vegetables plantations. My mother started to grow roses and sunflower farm too.”

Their eyes twinkled upon hearing my response. “Wow! Can we visit your house?” said Liza. She seemed so thrilled.

“Sure!” my cordial reply.

On our way to the next class my feet were cemented on the pathway when I saw a tall varsity player walking towards my direction. His right hand was holding a bouquet of red roses while his left hand was stroking his nape. His face turned pink as a riped strawberry. He seemed really shy as he doubled his footsteps to catch up on me.

My three friends kept on chanting to the guy wearing a basketball jersey with number “eight” and with the surname “Martinez” on top of his basketball uniform.

“Hi!” he greeted me nervously. My lips parted due to astonishment.

He handed me the bouquet as he tried to compose himself.

“My name is Marvin; a third year Business Management student. I hope that we can catch a movie some other time. If you’re not that busy,” he asked politely. We shook hands.

Liza kept on pressing my shoulder and cheering at me due to excitement. I knew I was blushing right now. I was sure that we had caught everyone’s attention. Students around us were whispering to each other while gazing at the two of us.

There was no doubt, Marvin was good looking. Based on his imported brand of rubber shoes and this grand bouquet, he seemed to come from an affluent family of this town.

“Ahm... I have to review on my Math subjects since I am preparing for the qualifying exam for the Math Wizard Tournament,” my shy reply.

He stood firmly while flaunting his charming smile. “It’s totally fine with me. If it’s not too much to ask, can we exchange numbers? So you can tell me when you will be free? I’m willing to wait for you Kat.”

I creased my forehead while gawking on his eager expression. I have second thought of giving my number to him but still I don’t want to humiliate him in front of these students.

I took his cellphone that he handed towards me. I typed my number quickly. All of my friends kept on teasing me with Marvin as we walked along the pathway.

“Oh my God Kat! Marvin is the team captain of our varsity team!” Liza screamed breathlessly to me.

After that, the three of them started to enumerate all of Marvin’s good credentials. They said he was considered as one of the hottest guys on our campus. Their family owned the largest rice mill on our town and so on and so forth.

“I’ll just put this on my locker.” I excuse myself from my friends and headed towards the locker area.

All lockers that were lined up along the hallway were locked with a padlock just to make sure that all student’s belongings were properly secured.

There were only few students at the locker area. My lips parted upon seeing Ervic on the opposite side of the hallway. I guess his locker was located on that side.

When he opened his locker, several envelopes and cards in different colors dropped from it. He picked them up one by one.

Were those letters of admirations came from his fans? I saw him open a red envelope and read the card inside.

I felt like a pitcher of ice was poured over my head when Ervic raised his head and gape at my direction. Good Lord! He caught me staring at him.

I thought I froze. I was so tensed that’s why I looked away to escape from his scrutinizing gaze. I put the bouquet inside my locker and locked it immediately.

“I can’t believe that there are girls who still accept suitors despite of having a boyfriend!” Ervic’s voice echoed along the four corners of the corridor.

I looked around just to make sure that it’s me whom he was talking to. I tilted my head to my left side and to my right side. But there was no one around. It’s just the two of us on this dim lighted hallway.

“Hey are you talking to me?” I asked him in a serious voice.

He just nodded. He folded his both arms across his chest and released a sharp sigh. He inclined his back comfortably on the locker behind him. I blinked once, slowly.

“Are you enjoying other guys’ attention? Your boyfriend was so ill-fated to have you!” his sarcastic remarks.

His last statement made me irritated. “What is your problem?”

He didn’t reply he just bestowed me his evil smirk.

“Are you referring to Stefan?” He nodded lazily.

My eyes widened. I decided to confront the brute thus I marched towards him. He was now towering over me.

“How did you know about us?” For a while, he looked at me without any expression on his face. I rolled my eyes because of his blank reaction. My temper started to boiled down.

“Are you stalking me?” I yelled at him. His mouth dropped open.

I never told anyone about my relationship with Stefan and this brute was insulting me like he knew everything about my personal life.

“Beside you have no right of throwing those harsh words towards me on the other hand isn’t it you Mr. Fuentabella the unfaithful one?” He didn’t reply on my accusation. His intense gaze was just fixated on my face.

I continued insulting him. “Poor Jasmine, her boyfriend is a playboy!”

His eyebrows were meeting halfway when he looked straight to my pair of mocking orbs.

“A manslut! A bimbo!” Suddenly my knees weaken as I met his piercing stare. He held my right shoulder as he closed our distance.

“Watch your word Joson!” he talked in baritone. His jaw suddenly clenched. I swallowed hard. A shiver went down my spine.

I was gasping for air because of our short distance. I can thoroughly smell his manly cologne.

“Watch your word or else I may find other way to keep your mouth shut!” his voice became rougher. Scent of mint enthralled my nostrils as he spoke those words. His intense stare was focusing on my Cupid’s bow lips. My whole body started to trembled.

Good Lord! Is he going to kiss me?

My heart jumped when I heard the bell rang. I pushed his chest until his back hit the line of lockers behind him.

I run as fast as I could as my heart galloped faster like a horse on a race track.