Secret Rendezvous

STORMES' ANTICS

Earlier, as soon as the boys left. I asked the cafeteria attendant to mix Sriracha sauce on Summer’s spaghetti and red pepper flakes on her fries. When the attendant asked me why, I told her I like my food spicy, winking at her. She must have believed me.

“I swear, Storme! I swear! You’ll get it back three folds! Come over here and eat this spicy spag and fries. You moron! Don’t you know I hate wasting food?”

“No way!” I shouted back, laughing at the thought of how her mouth fired up with how spicy the food was.

“What, no way? Stop pranking me! I’m telling you, Storme. You got to stop your childish pranks if not you will suffer. I will give you hell!” Summer said in the most threatening tone.

“Brennen!” I called him out loud.

“Wassup, dude!” Bren came up holding a Wii stick in his hands.

“Your lunch is on me for the entire semester if you eat ‘em,” I said, pointing at Summer’s food on the table.

“No s**t?! Are you for real? I won’t say no to that. Deal!” Bren replied.

Bren almost choked on his first bite. It’s probably too spicy that Summer’s face turned tomato red or her face burning in anger.

“Beb!” Summer hollered.

In a millisecond, Red immediately ran towards her. They whispered at each other. I watched Jared go to the kitchen. He opened one cabinet, which must be the pantry. He had a pack of noodles in his hands.

“Beb, Tonkatsu is fine? Do you like it plain or spicy?” Red asked.

“Plain, Beb. Please,” Summer replied, giving Bren a cold bottle of water.

I observantly watched Jared prepare Summer’s food. I stared at Summer. I’m standing in the kitchen corner near the boy’s den. Her angelic face and the way she put a smile on her face made me think twice. Should I change my plans? When we were young, she used to enjoy wearing dresses like a princess—my princess. We used to argue, but I always took aback when I saw her cry. It’s been her defense mechanism to win over me, and I let be. I wanted to see her happy. I adore seeing her sweet smile. Nine years have passed. Recalling our childhood sweet memories, Summer differs from my Sunshine. The Skylene Summer I used to know was a sweet and very charming girl.

The Summer I met is feisty, aggressive, hot-tempered, yet caring and overly protective of her friends. Despite her boyish style, I find it challenging to be in a relationship with her. I want to make fun of her until she falls for me. It’s my silly way of getting her attention. I researched how to make a girl fall for the boy they hate. Pulling silly antics on her might workout and I gave it a shot. Risking my chances, but I need to do what I need to do for the sake of my family.

If things don't work out, I will need to draw my last card. But then what if she gives me hell? It won’t bring any good and my parents will kill me. I should be close to her, but what I am doing now is making her hate me more?

Why do I feel this sharp pain inside me, watching Jared and Summer so sweetly with each other? Why does everyone believe they are not in a relationship? Why do I feel different? Why does it feel like they are but no label? They look comfortable with each other.

“Stop staring at her. Why don’t you tell her the truth? It may change how she feels about you?” said Dhrim.

“How? Do I tell her we are getting married and it’s all about the money? Would that make a difference, Dhrim?”

“At least you will be honest with Skye, bro.”

“You are telling me about the truth. Why can’t you tell Summer we were best friends?”

“She doesn't remember that part of our childhood Storme. Let’s leave it the way it is.”

“How? Why?”

“I’m not the right person to ask, Storme. Aren’t you close to her parents? They often visit you in San Francisco, why don’t you ask them? I don’t know exactly what happened, bro. When we met four years ago, she didn't recognize me anymore,” Dhrim explained.

“But you stayed here. Don’t you see her in the school?”

“No, bro. She was homeschooled for nearly three years.”

“Homeschooled?” I repeated.

“Yes, Storme. Homeschooled. Don’t you know what it is?”

“I know what’s homeschooling, but why?”

“You have too many questions, bro. You should ask her parents. If I were you. Better yet, ask your parents.”

“My parents know?”

“Of course they know. I suppose you know the real reason? The reason they sent you to California, right?”

“No, bro. All I know is my parents can’t take care of me. They are so busy with the business that they forget to take care of their own son.”

“Storme, I know a different version of the story. It’s better you talk to Skye or find out with her parents. Enough with this conversation. Come with me. Let’s set up. We have to practice at least a couple rounds before the student assembly starts.”

I was about to follow Dhrim, but I saw Jared and Summer hugging each other. Jared kissed Summer on her temple and it was nothing to her. Summer even giggled. I hate to see her happy with someone else. It should be me in his shoes. It must be me! Nadine frowned, suddenly she looked like her tears ready to drop.

“Get a room lovebirds!” I shouted.

“Mind your own business, moron!” Summer yelled back.

Stella ignored the commotion and continued reading her book. Dhrim was staring at me, shaking his head. From the look on his face, he’s telling me I made a wrong move. Did I say anything wrong? Bren continued eating the spag and fries like it wasn’t spicy at all.

“Hmm. Spicy spaghetti is not bad,” he said after emptying the plate.

“Don’t forget your promise, pretty dude. My lunch is on you!” added Brennen.

“Yeah, I promise! Hang around with me all the time so we don’t miss a lunch date.”

“Ew! Lunch date? That sounds so gay!” Nadine commented.

“You’re jealous, Nadz. Why don’t you ask Jared to take you out on a date? You’ve been staring at him. He’s melting!”

“Shut up, piggy-foodie! Why don’t you take Stella on a date instead?”

“I’m broke right now. I can’t take her on a date. She likes expensive stuff that I can’t afford.”

“Are you complaining?” said Stella, hands on her waist.

“No! I’m just sayin’,” Bren answered back.

“Then find a cheap girlfriend. We’re done!” said Stella, her eyes misted with tears.

Why suddenly the atmosphere changed? I can feel the tension starting.

“Woo-hoo! Stop it, you two! Relationships shouldn’t be about what each other can give you. It’s about the memories and the time you can spend with each other. Life is too short to waste it on your silly nonsense arguments,” I said, stopping Stella and Bren.

“Look-Who's-Talking? Do you know anything about relationships, Storme?” Summer barge in.

“Yes, I mean no!”

“See? You don’t know. Why do you give advice? You haven’t had a serious relationship in your entire life. Because the last time I checked, you ran away from it. You left and weren’t brave enough to face what was coming.”

“Are you referring to us? You and me?” I asked Summer, my eyes fixed on her.

She looked away and continued slurping her noodles in the most disgusting way.

I walked towards her and said, “Let’s talk.”

“We’ve got nothing to talk about,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Dude, she’s not in the mood. You guys talk some other time,” said Red.

“Step out of our issue, Jared,” I replied, looking at Summer, “we have a lot to talk about, Sunshine.’’

“Stop calling me ‘Sunshine' or ‘Princess’ because that girl died a long time ago. I am no longer the girl you used to love, Storme. So, please, stay away from me! I have given you a chance earlier, but you blew it away.”

“I’m sorry,” my voice laced with concern.

“Your sorry is not enough to mend the pain you caused me,” she said, giving me a hard gaze.

Her eyes are red, watery before I even held my hands to her,a whopping punch landed on my face. It shocked me. Adrenalin rushed, I give Red a punch, but he is quick. I find my fist on Dhrim’s right eyeballs instead. He blew a hard punch on my left eyes in return. Bren, Stella, and Nadine meddled stopping us. All of this happened because of Summer. Why Red and Dhrim defensive of Summer?

I looked around. Left on the table was a half-eaten bowl of noodles. She’s gone. Summer is no longer seated where she was a few seconds ago, “Where did she go?”

“Oh, my god! Guys, hurry before she rides her bike,” Stella screamed.

All of us storm off the elevator. We ran to Summer’s garage only to find her bike still there.

“Why are we rushing to find her, Stella?” I strangely asked.

“Because she will disappear again. Bestie deals with her personal issue by hiding.”

“What do you mean hiding?”

“You have a lot to learn about our best friend, Storme. If I were you, I will do careful research before doing any stupid antics on her.”

Nadine, Stella, Bren, and Jared walked away from me. Dhrim stands back, tapping my shoulder. “I warned you, bro.”

“Dhrim, I am bamboozled right now. What’s happening? I don’t understand.”

“No one understands Skye except for Red.”

“Red! Red! Jared Villaluna! I intend to wipe him out of my way! What is it with that guy that Summer is so attached to him?”

“Jared is Summer’s knight in shining armor since they were in intermediate. They were friends long enough. You can’t break the special bond they have. Summer treats Jared as an older brother. Jared is overprotective of Summer since that day he found her locked in the janitor’s room, almost lifeless. You can’t do anything to change that, Storme. Jared is more attached to Summer than his half-sister, Stella. Summer might have loved you before, but Jared filled up everything that you could have been doing for her. Storme, let her be. Skye is not ready to let you in. She’s kind-hearted despite her being aggressive and hot-tempered. She has a big heart. Of all people, I know that. She loves her twin sister so much that she hides who she really is for the sake of Snow.”

It left me more puzzled. What happened while I was gone? Why did she hate me so

Much? What had happened after I left? Why my parents did not tell me? Why does it feel Summer suffered so much? Why am I feeling this hatred for her? I shouldn’t be.

“Storme, let’s go. We’ll be late for the student assembly.”

At the assembly hall . . .

My mind is thinking Summer vanished like how she does when we were kids. All of her friends are freaking out worried. I acted like it was new to me but it’s not. An hour of searching we saw her at the assembely hall. I should be mad to see Summer with Red but I rather have her here than she disappears. I could endure the pain seeing her with Red. Summer is holding an ice pack on Jared’s face. I wouldn’t lie. The sight of them together is killing me. I’m jealous! What should I do to be in your shoes, Red? I walked towards them. They left three empty chairs in the front row. There was a sign taped on the chair that said ‘Reserved. The Halo Band.’ I sat on one chair towards the corner.

“Nadz, can you hold this for me?” Summer said, winking at Nadine as if nothing happened a couple of hours ago.

Dhrim walked in with Snow, Chantelle was following them. I saw Summer’s mood changed when she saw Chantelle walked in. She was all smiling happily, joking with Jared, and suddenly she’s in a beast mood again. I was thinking another war was about to happen when she walked towards Chantelle giving her a death glare and said,” I don’t want to see your Pontiac parked there tomorrow. Do you understand? My words are rules in this campus if you are not aware of that yet. I am warning you or you will be in hell, miss!”

What happened to Summer? Why does she seem to be a troublemaker? How did she become part of the student council when she has the stinkiest attitude? Professor Malaniton is right somehow. My thoughts of her put me back to reality when she opened her palms with an ice pack on them.

“You look like a panda bear. Meet me at the rooftop tonight at seven sharp,” she said emotionless and walked away.