11: A Call

“You’re so persistent, Dee,” Louie said.

“She isn’t dubbed the ‘Great Rebel’ for nothing, duh!” Litty’s imbecility is striking again. It’s too early for her to ruin my mood. She’s a stupid hag.

“There you go again with that rebel thing,” I complained.

I snatched my bag up after putting their father’s gift in the refrigerator in the kitchen in our HQ. I zipped the bag close before drooping one of its slings on my shoulder.

“D-T,” Key called.

Lazily, I held up my head since she’s on the 2nd floor, her territory. She’s standing tall with pride at the other end of the staircase.

My eyebrows crawled up instantly. Throwing her a questioning look. “Yow?”

“Just wondering. Why did you ask for the image of my necklace last night?” Key crossed her arms under her chest and leaned on the railing.

“Nothing. Just interested,” I answered, shrugging my shoulders noncommittally.

My thumb made its way past my shoulder as I referred to the only way out. “I gotta go. Review is on my top list today. Ya know, quiz. So, bye!” My fingers danced, waving at them as I bid goodbye, then turned around.

I’m presently in our classroom and solely scowling at the whiteboard. My mind wanders and delves deeply into the puddle of thoughts. From time to time, my abdomen twinges, which makes me want to retch, but I pay no attention to it, despite something restricting my throat and twisting my tummy.

I passed by Gwen’s classroom and she wasn’t even there earlier. I ended up asking her classmates if any one of them knew her whereabouts or she was present, but no one could give the response I wanted to hear.

My deep thoughts were discontinued when someone patted my shoulder using their fingers. It turned out to be my seatmate.

‘What was her name again? Mary? Marian?’

“Are you alright?” she asked, inner brow thrust upwards. “You keep locking eye contact with Sir Joseph,” she added, “Do you like him?”

My brow lifted as I slightly shook my head from side to side. “No. I don’t bear a little crush on him. Why’d you ask?”

“He keeps glancing at you, then avoids your gaze. Look.” She indicated to our instructor, who wore thick specs, using her pouted lips. “He’s been a blushing mess since earlier.”

Mister Rowen’s eyes landed on me before he lowered his head, acting like flipping through a book while discussing. I cocked my head to the left gently, furrowing my brows as I watched his strange movements.

‘What’s his problem?’

I shrugged my shoulders, sitting straight. “Maybe he wanted to confront me but doesn’t want to?”

“It seems–”

She got cut off when I lifted my hand in the air to stop her. Head bowing down to look at my buzzing phone in hand. The caller’s I.D was no other than Gwenneth Ronquillo.

“Hold up,” I said tersely. She nodded in return.

I raised my hand high, stealing Mister Rowen’s attention. “Mister Rowen, excuse me!”

He looked at me, flinching a tad obvious, his ears were red. “Yes, Miss Versiocho? You need somethin’?” he asked, stuttering a bit.

I bobbed my head a little. “I have to take this,” pointing at my phone that was vibrating, “my Auntie’s calling.” Showing the screen that somebody was calling as of the moment.

He nodded in assent to my request. “Sure. Go ahead.”

I get that as a hint to leave the room using the back door as I swipe the green button. Once the door was closed, I shifted the screen of my phone in front of my ear. “Hello?”

“Demian! It’s– It's me, Gwen!” Her voice was broken and high-pitched. She’s stuttering as she speaks. “Help me– Hey! If you wanna see your friend, come to the Triple X Bar. Oh! By the way, I have the necklace you’ve been looking for.”

Based on their laugh on the other line, they seemed tons to be handled by only one person. Someone is wailing and that's Gwen for sure.

My jaw tightens, fingers curled, forming into a fist. “Don’t you ever hurt her. I’m going.”

I swiftly strutted to the HQ but needed to stop since the President blocked my way.

“It’s still class hours. Where are you heading to?”

I breathed deeply. “Out of my way, Markus.”

He stared at me jadedly. “You know that–”

I pulled his collar, digging daggers using my eyes into his dark brown eyes. “If something happened to her, you’ll die. So, move,” I commanded, putting heavy stress on each word that left my mouth.

Forcibly pushing him aside, I proceeded to walk. Only halting a few meters away from him, I turned around abruptly and pointed at him “You can nag me when I get back.”

I unbuttoned my blazer to let me move freely when I began running the remaining distance from the main building and HQ. As I ran, I tried to call Litty while my lungs were getting squeezed. Restricting air from coming in.

“Sorry, busy at the moment, can’t take any calls. Just leave a message.” I cursed under my breath after the beep. Her phone isn’t off. That’s good enough.

“Ly, I’m heading somewhere. Kindly pick up my bag before you go home and leave it at the HQ. Thanks.”

I called Key next. A few rings passed, yet she wasn’t answering the call. “Answer the goddamn call, Key.”

Once arrived at my destination, I abruptly removed the pieces of my uniform. Blazer, vest, polo, and skirt. Just leaving the jogging pants.

“The number you have–” I ended the call.

Things get intense as my wristwatch ticks loudly and that’s all I can hear. “Damn it!”

I dialed Lou’s number, placing the phone on the table as I wore my extra white shirt. “Answer my call, please,” I begged, changing my school shoes to sneakers.

I’m running out of patience and I can barely control myself. I fucking need to calm down my senses or things will lead to something worse.

“The number you–” I almost threw my phone away. Luckily, I didn’t.

“Fuck this!” I shouted, losing the little patience I have.

I need to do this on my own then. With the things I needed, I went straight to the school’s parking lot.