I couldn’t sleep that night. Lyn’s word kept echoing in my head.

“Your grandfather took their land!”

I had no idea what really happened between our families in the past but remembering Ervic’s grudges towards me especially on the first day of school, I came to conclusion that it must be sternly painful.

The thought that they lose their main source of income while attending to his sick grandfather was heartbreaking. That’s why during weekend I planned out everything. In behalf of my whole family, I will give my heartfelt apology to Ervic.

***

“Ervic!” I called his attention when I saw him entering the main gate of our school. I have been waiting patiently here in the concrete shed for minutes.

He seemed surprised when he saw me waving at him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t know!” He creased his forehead as a sign of his confusion.

“W-What is it Kat?” Ervic asked, his voice was full of concern. We entered the main gate together. I couldn’t hear him clearly because of the noise made by the arriving students.

We settled at a concrete bench under the shade of a narra tree. He was looking intently at me. I noticed the crucifixion necklace that he was wearing. He carried a black backpack at his back. His familiar scent of manly cologne attacked my nostrils once again.

I bit my lower lip before as I began to spoke. “I didn’t know what my family did to your land. I’m really sorry! After my dad comes back from his business meeting abroad, I’ll promise that I have a word with him,” I explained cautiously.

His deep set of pitch-black eyes widened as if he was taken by surprise from my statement. He bit his lower lip. Somehow that move made me stared at his sexy and thin lips. I swallowed hard and tried my best to concentrate on the main reason why we have this talk. I gaped keenly on his eyes and blocked these unnecessary thoughts in my brain.

I heard him casting a deep sigh. He placed both of his palms on the top of his knees; his slacks slightly crumpled. He faced me; with orbs looking eagerly on my pair of brown eyes.

“It’s all in the past Kat,” he said in a serious voice. I couldn’t help anything but to crease my forehead and got frustrated.

“No Ervic, I need to do something! You had lost your land!” I stated more sharply while my both eyes were still fixed on him.

“I’ll ask my father for reconsideration. Maybe they can allow your father to pay us in installment so that you can reclaim your land once again.” He shook his head promptly.

“Don’t think about our problem too much. We can manage Kat!” I blinked once, slowly.

Ervic clenched his jaw thus it emphasized his strong facial structure. I didn’t know why despite of the immensity of our topic I got attracted on his manly features. His thick eyebrows, sun-kissed skin, pointed nose and enticing set of pitch-black eyes were one of God’s best creations I had ever seen. I swallowed hard to calm myself from getting too much attracted.

He glanced at his wristwatch and darted again his full attention to me. “I’d better get going. The members of my band were waiting for me at the music room. We still have thirty minutes before our first class. See you around Joson!” His halo-white teeth were exposed as he bid goodbye.

He stood up abruptly. He managed to grant me a thrift smile before heading to the direction of the music room.

Our conversation affected my mood on my whole day in school. I didn’t know why Ervic pretended that losing their land wasn’t much of a big deal for him. I just wanted him to be honest with me during our “talk.” Deep inside, I knew he was hurting and probably angry and vengeful towards my family.

***

After my “talk” with Ervic I had second thought of asking my parents about the issue. I love my parents so much and I didn’t also want to think ill thoughts about my family. As much as I could I will try my best to understand their reason.

Days had passed; Ervic and I remained civil with each other in school. We didn’t have a chance to interact that much; just only on our College Algebra class where he was my partner. Our topic was mostly about our subject like our challenge activity and assignment and nothing beyond that.

But there were times that I caught him staring at me during class. I just shrugged my shoulders with that observation because it was not only once that I caught him holding hands with his fan girls inside the campus and snaking his arms around Jasmine’s waist while they exit on our class.

I got busied during the last two weeks preparing for the Math Wizard Tournament. I had to decline two dinner date invitation from Marvin and a weekend getaway plan from Stefan.

I wasn’t sure if reviewing for the qualifying exam was the real reason behind my decision of turning down Marvin and Stefan. Because I knew in the past few weeks something had changed in me; especially in my heart. I just kept on denying to myself because I wasn’t sure if it was safe to entertain those thoughts and feelings.

I was so pressured thinking that the qualifying exam for the Math Wizard Tournament will happen two days from now. I locked myself inside my room for that whole Saturday. My wall was now filled with Mathematical formulas inscribed on posters. It served as wallpaper of my whole room.

I could not eat my breakfast that morning. I wasn’t sure if it was because of my lack of sleep last night. I kept on sneezing during the whole meal. My mother noticed it thus she ordered one of our maids to prepare chicken soup for me. She also advised me to just stay in my room. She will just let my breakfast delivered there.

I took a paracetamol tablet after eating my breakfast. Afterwards, I slept for two hours before I got myself back on reviewing my Math subjects. I got the index cards on the top of the side table; where I list down my reviewer.

After two minutes of reviewing I felt dizzy. All the Mathematical formulas in my room seemed to dancing with each other. Good Lord I can’t be absent for tomorrow, it was the big day! I had prepared for the qualifying exam for this whole month. I didn’t want all my efforts to put into waste.

***

Never in my wildest dream, that I saw this one coming... When Monday came-the day of qualifying examination for the Math Wizard tournament, I succumbed with flu!

My Mom advised me not to attend school today. She was so worried that my fever will get high if I forced and strained myself too much.

“You should take some rest. I’m so worried!” she uttered dramatically.

Tears started to form on my both eyes. I almost cried when I made my pleading. “Mom, today is the qualifying exam. I don’t want to miss this chance. I’ve been reviewing for weeks,” I muttered under my breath.

My mother placed her one hand on my forehead. “You still have fever Kat!” she said more sharply as if she was strictly imposing her authority on me.

My tears fell like waterfalls. I felt that my heart was burning with fever too. It was really heartbreaking to obey my mother’s decision.

She heaved a deep sigh before facing me earnestly. “Okay, I’ll allow you to go to school but Minda needs to accompany you,” she explained even though I could feel that she was still a bit frustrated because of my request.

“She can stay at the waiting area near your school. Just text or call Minda if you got dizzy or something bad happened. Your Dad will be furiously mad at me if he will know about this Kat. He will think that I am spoiling you too much!”

I took one paracetamol tablet before I headed for school. My mother also reminded me to bring some at school. She even prepared freshly squeezed lemon juice on my tumbler.

During Trigonometry class our section’s advicer informed us that the qualifying exam will happen at one in the afternoon at the second floor of Engineering building. Our class for the whole day will still be ongoing but we will be excused from our class on 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM; that happened to be our Filipino class.

Ma’am Salazar was so serious on discussing about the Phytagorian Theorem. The attention of all my classmates was focused on her. She was writing on the white board when my head started to spin.

Suddenly, everything turned black. I placed my forehead above my overlapped arm. I rest my head carefully on the armchair.

It seemed that I caught the attention of Ma’am Salazar. “Miss Joson are you alright?” she said, her voice was panicking.

Even though I lost my sense of sight I could clearly hear the worried exclamation of my classmates.

“I think Kat loss her consciousness Ma’am!” yelled by Sonia- my seatmate. I heard chairs moving. Conversations erupted on the four corners of our classroom.

I felt a soft hand gently caressing my forehead. “My goodness! You’re hot as iron!” Ma’am Salazar shockingly explained.

“Mr. Fuentabella and Mr. Hernandez, please bring Ms. Joson to the clinic immediately!” She ordered the two lads. My sight was starting to get normal as I felt an arm carefully holding my waist. I smelled his familiar scent.

I tilted my head to faced Ervic. His eyes glanced at me with a combination of fierceness and worry. His emotions were transparent. He held my hand like it was a fragile glass. He seemed afraid that it might break if he held him it tightly.

I felt his cold hands as we made our way to the elevator. Our other classmate James remained at the back just continuing to tail us on our way to the clinic.

The school physician attended me immediately. Ervic placed me carefully on the bed. The nurse took my body temperature using a digital thermometer.

Ervic and James waited behind my bed. Intense concern was very evident on the way Ervic looked at me.

“You need to take a rest for three to seven days. Here is your medical certificate. You can excuse yourself from your class.” Dr. Lopez ordered in a concern tone.

I took the document that the physician handed to me. James already returned to our class but Ervic remained on my side. Somehow the medicine that I took earlier made my condition better.

I stared at the signed document with my gloomy expression. I slowly moved my head to face Dr. Lopez direction.

“But Doc, I need to attend school today. The qualifying exam for the Math Wizard Tournament will happen this one in the afternoon,” I uttered with full sincerity. Dr. Lopez looked at me keenly and he seemed disappointed.

“I’m sorry, but I think you need to ask for reconsideration from the school officials if you can still take that exam next week.”

My emotions became gloomy. I couldn’t utter a word because of my frustration.

After an hour of staying in the clinic Ervic accompanied me to the faculty room. I will ask for reconsideration from Ma’am Salazar.

All my hopes were gone; I thought I was going to get dizzy again when I heard her reply.

“Unfortunately, this is your last chance because we need to submit the name of the school representatives tomorrow. Tomorrow is the deadline given to our school by the province officials.” Ma’am Salazar was worried while explaining the whole scenario to me. My expression towards Ervic and Ma’am Salazar was unreadable because I spaced out for few seconds.

My lips was shaking, I felt that my world was starting to collapse. I have been preparing for this for weeks. I didn’t want to put my all my efforts thrown to waste. I should take the qualifying exam this afternoon by hook or by crook!

Ma’am Salazar asked me repeatedly if I could handle the one hour exam. I kept on assuring her that the medications that I took earlier somehow made my condition better.

After minutes of persuading Ma’am Salazar, she allowed me to take the exam. I noticed that Ervic remained in silence as we walked along the pathway towards the direction of Engineering building.

I cleared my throat before I focused on him. “Thank you Ervic. Actually, you didn’t have to accompany me the whole time at the clinic.”

His Adam’s apple protruded. Subsequently I noticed his eyebrows started to meet halfway.

“You missed Trigonometry and English class,” I uttered worriedly. He looked away after meeting my gaze.

“Don’t think too much about it. I can borrow notes from Marowe,” he assured me. I could still notice his apprehensive emotion.

He shot a brow up then his eyes narrowed. “Are you sure that you are still taking the qualifying exam this afternoon?”

I quickly nodded. “I just have to take the medicine that Dr. Lopez gave me, I know I can handle the examination.” my positive reply. He gasped a deep sigh and shook his head lightly.

“You’re so hard headed!”

He gently flipped his thumb and index finger on my forehead. My astonishment with his action was very evident. I just bestowed a thrift smile.

I still couldn’t believe that we were this close contrary to our first encounter in school when I almost punched his face.

***

I called my mother thru my cellphone to assure her that my condition was getting better. I decided not to tell her that I was brought to the clinic this morning. I knew that it will freak her out. She might call the official of this school or she might fetch me by herself instantaneously.

Our maid Minda remained on the waiting area during my whole stay in school. I sent a text message to her earlier to ask her whereabouts. She informed me that she already ate her lunch at a fast food chain nearby.

The numbers and algebraic expressions were rumbling in my test paper. I started to massage my both temple. All of the examiners were focused on their own test papers but I noticed that Ervic was staring at my direction. I tilted my head to meet his gaze. He was looking at me fiercely. I just shrugged my shoulders and focused on my test paper again.

After one hour of struggling, I was so glad that I had finished answering all of the exam questions on time. Ma’am Salazar informed us that we will get the result this five in the afternoon. I was so thrilled that I almost forgot that I was still sick with flu.

“Congratulations Kat you are this year’s representative!” My heart jumped with Ma’am Salazar’s statement. I was so pleased that all of my efforts had paid off.

A round of applause surrounded our classroom. My friends stood up from their seats to congratulate me. Some of my classmates cheered my name too. All of my excitement and happiness were gone when I heard my adviser’s next statement.

“Ervic I was so disappointed. You left the last twenty questions blank! Is there something bothering you?”

I was so shocked from what I heard. Ervic didn’t answer the last twenty questions? That was the easiest part of the examination!

I tilted my head slowly to faced Ervic. He just bowed his head while hearing our adviser’s sermon. After her announcement, she immediately dismissed our class. Ervic stood up right away and walk briskly towards the door. I quickly followed him. I doubled my steps to catch up with him.

“Ervic!” I said in a high tone. He passed by the corridor like a speedy wind. It was a good thing that I catch up with him near the elevator.

I cleared my throat. “About the qualifying exam, is that true? You leave the last twenty questions blank?” I asked without hesitation.

Ervic faced me with a serious look on his face. Afterwards, he stared at me impassively.

“Don’t overthink Joson!” I swallowed hard.

I continued to pour out my emotions. “If I wanted something in life, I really wanted to be deserving of it. Either it was an award or exam scores. I hated doing shortcut. Everything should be fruit of my hard work.”

He gaped at me for few seconds then he looked away. “Your scores are higher than mine, that’s simple!” he uttered more sharply.

I had kept this thought for quite some time but I didn’t want to believe it! But my inner self was telling me that Ervic sacrificed for me because he has feelings for me!

“Why did you give way?” my straightforward question. He seemed stunned with my words.

“I told you not to over think Kat! I didn’t know the answer to those questions that’s why I leave them all blank!”

He started to march towards the elevator. I followed him. We remained silent while we were inside the lift. When we exited the elevator I heard him spoke.

“I saw how you wanted to pass the exam. Maybe you needed it much. Who am I to remove that happiness from your eyes?” I couldn’t clearly hear his exact words because of the noise made by the students at the corridor. I walk fast to confront him again.

“What?” My eyes widened with my statement.

“Just forget it!” He said calmly while heading towards the direction of the music room.

“Ervic what did you say?”I asked him repeatedly. He just shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter. Just proceed to the parking lot, your driver might be waiting for you!” he said with certainty before walking away.