CHAPTER 6

2060 Words
Anthony clenched his fist when he tried to look back and hated himself for being a coward. When he saw Janna earlier, he just ignored her and left! Why did he do that? Throughout the day, he couldn’t forget about the hurt in Janna’s eyes when he chose to snub her. After the flag retreat, he decided to do something about it. He felt bad for being an asshole in the morning!             As he waited for her to take his call, he was worried to be ignored too. After several attempts, he almost gave up, and then Janna decided to pick up his call. “Hi. Where are you?” He asked.             “I’m already home, Anthony. Why do you ask?” Janna replied.             Antony noticed her tone, and he’s worried that she wouldn’t talk to her anymore. If ever it would happen, then he’s the only one to be blamed. “Hmmm, just checking. I’m sorry about this morning. Hmmm, I had no idea why I did it.”             “It’s okay, I understand. Are you still in school?”              Anthony looked around and saw one of his classmates eyeing him intensely. “Yes. It’s our schedule to clean the classroom,” he answered. “Can we talk tomorrow?”             “We are already talking now,” Janna answered.             Anthony let out a deep breath when Janna cut him off. “I mean, in person. Please? Can we talk tomorrow?” Anthony was desperate to talk to Janna in person. If only he could visit her house anytime, he would definitely do so.             “Okay, I’ll wait for you at the Forest Park tomorrow after lunch.”             After she ended the call, Anthony kept on smiling that his groupmate teased him nonstop. He’s already excited for April six to come because he knew that it would become a special day for him and Janna. He had never been this excited before, and it felt new to him that he couldn’t stop himself from grinning even if he saw Larissa coming towards him.             “It must have been your girlfriend,” she said.             Anthony smiled at Larissa and said, “Hmmm, my future girlfriend.”             “Do I know her?”             “I’m not sure, but maybe,” he replied. “Anyway, I should go ahead now.”             “Aren’t you going to join us? We’re heading to Vincent’s place for karaoke.”             “Next time,” he refused to join them because he promised his grandfather to get home early.             When he got home, Frederick Quileopas was at the store, and he could tell that the older man was cranky. Probably, one of their farmers provoked him, or it was something else. To not get on his bad side, Anthony proceeded to the garage and parked his motorcycle.             After he changed his clothes, he proceeded to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. Their cook has a family problem and couldn’t come to work. As much as he hated cooking, he had to do it. He took out the marinated milkfish from the fridge, and then he waited until the oil in the pan was hot. While he fried the milkfish in medium heat, he prepared the casserole he would use for boiling some eggs.             “I’m glad that the new cook will arrive tomorrow.”             Anthony was startled upon hearing Frederick’s voice. “I hope she will stay,” he said.             “I hope so because I want to eat something delicious,” Frederick replied. When their cook couldn’t come to work anymore, they had to make do with whatever they could prepare in the kitchen, and usually, the food was fried or instant.             “Perhaps you should raise the cook’s salary,” Anthony suggested.             “Maybe I should do that,” he nodded his head in agreement. He was about to help in cooking when his phone rang, and it was one of his labourers. “Yes, what is it? What? Are you sure? Okay, we’ll be there asap.”             Anthony furrowed his brows as he listened to his grandfather and wondered who the caller was. “Is there a problem, grandpa?”             “We’re invited for dinner; come on.”             Anthony turned off the stove before he followed his grandfather outside the house. “Where are we going?”             “Mario invited us for dinner. They prepared a little feast for his daughter’s birthday,” he replied.             “Vincent’s father?” Anthony asked.             “Yes.”             Anthony was taken aback at the information that they would go to Vincent’s place. Larissa asked him to go with them, and he refused, but he couldn’t say no to his grandfather, especially when the key to their pick-up was given to him.             When they arrived, Larissa waited for him to come down from the vehicle and escorted him into the area where his classmates had fun with liquors. “I don’t drink,” he refused the glass of beer that was given to him by Jeff.             “Are you shy because Larissa is here?” Jeff teased Anthony when he refused to accept the glass with beer.             Anthony glanced at Larissa, and she smiled demurely. “No, I’m not shy. I just can’t drink alcohol because I’m the driver.” He tried his best to avoid drinking, but his best wasn’t enough.             “Is that Janna?”             Anthony immediately craned his neck to check, but his classmates only teased him. He scowled at Jeff because he didn’t want his intention to court the young girl to be known to everyone. However, it already happened, thanks to Jeff’s nosiness.             “Janna Auxtero?”             Anthony turned to face Larissa, who casually mentioned the girl’s name. “Do you know her?”             “Hmmm, not really, but my brother usually mentions her at home,” she replied.             “Why does your brother mentions Janna?”             “I don’t know. Maybe he likes her,” she replied.             Anthony clenched his teeth upon knowing that someone else was interested in Janna. Suddenly, he’s worried that Rohan would get her first. “Tell your brother that she’s taken,” he announced.             The following day, he didn’t bring his motorcycle to school and asked Marvin to drive it instead. Upon arriving at the campus, he stayed at the gate and waited for Janna to come. He wanted to see her badly, and when he saw her approaching the school gate, he beamed with happiness. He walked towards her, but someone suddenly appeared in front of him, and he recognized the other guy as Rohan Dungog. He scowled at Janna for being extra friendly to Rohan, but he recalled that he had no right to be jealous at all. However, he shouldn’t forget that he already announced to everyone last night that she belonged to him.             Inside their classroom, Anthony was cranky and chose to sleep in the middle of the class. He refused to participate in the quizzes and recitation. He was so mad that he wanted to confront Janna right away! When his alarm went off at twelve, he rubbed his eyes from the deep sleep and joined Jeff for lunch.             “Are you sick?”             Anthony was surprised at Jeff’s question, but when he was about to respond, the bastard burst into laughter. “What’s funny?”             “Lovesickness, isn’t it?”             “You’re crazy!” He scolded Jeff, then he excused himself and headed to the Forest Park in a hurry. Janna agreed to meet him during the lunch break, and he didn’t want to be late. When he reached their meeting place, she hasn’t come yet. Anthony checked his watch, and the time was already thirty minutes after twelve.             Where are you, Janna?             Ten minutes later, he decided to get his phone to call her. However, he wasn’t able to do that when he saw her coming alone. She kept on looking back as if she feared that someone would follow her. Immediately, he smiled at her, and when she smiled back, happiness swept over him.             “Hey, I thought you’re not coming anymore,” Anthony said.             “I’m here now,” she replied shyly.             Anthony guided Janna to sit down on one of the benches and gave her a bottle of C2 apple. He bought it from the store to the park because he assumed that she would be thirsty. “I’m glad that you came, Janna. I have something to tell you, and I can’t say it on the phone,” he began.             “What is it?” Janna asked, although she has a hint of what he’s about to say. After lunch, she had to relax for a few minutes because she was afraid to embarrass herself in front of the campus heartthrob. As she waited for Anthony to speak, she tried her best to control the loud thump of her heart.             “Are you and Rohan in a relationship?” He asked.             Janna’s jaw dropped when she didn’t hear the words she expected to hear from Anthony. She thought that he would finally court her to be his girlfriend, and since last night, she rehearsed for her possible response. She frowned at Anthony and lifted her eyebrow. “Why do you want to know?” She chose to answer indirectly.             Janna’s indirect response offended Anthony, and he narrowed his eyes at her. “Because I like you!” He made himself clear.             Janna lifted the tip of her eyebrow when he announced his admiration for her. “Oh really? Are you sure? Hmmm, because I like you too.” She admitted.             “WHAT?” Her response dumbfounded Anthony. It was blunt and short. Nevertheless, it delivered the message he wanted to receive.             “Maybe you won’t believe me when I say this, but you are my crush since Grade 7,” she confessed. When she enrolled three years ago, she noticed him first. Who wouldn’t when he’s taller than most of the boys on the campus? Aside from his height, his eyes would make him stand out! Anthony’s eyes reminded her of the lead actor in Full House. They’re small and would usually disappear whenever he smiles.             For a moment, Anthony stared at Janna. While it wasn’t new to Anthony that several young girls liked him at the campus, he didn’t expect that someone like Janna was also interested in him. The grade 10 student was known to be smart and serious with her studies. Nevertheless, he appreciated her confession. “So, starting now, you are my girlfriend.” He said, and Janna nodded.             “Hmmm, let’s talk tonight about the rules,” Janna said.             “Rules? What rules?” Anthony asked.             “Rules while we are dating,” she explained.             He had no idea about rules because he had never been in a relationship before. However, he wouldn’t be against her idea of setting rules. They’re both young, and they shouldn’t be thoughtless! “If you say so,” he agreed. “Hmmm, can I hold your hand?” Anthony asked.             “Sure,” she replied, but while they hold hands as they walked together, she could feel the butterflies inside her stomach and tried to control them. “Can you let go of my hands now?” She asked when they’re almost at her classroom, but Anthony refused to let her go.             “I like holding your hands,” he said and smiled before letting her go. “I’ll call you tonight,” he promised, and she nodded her head.  
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