His Punishment Page 2

  “Okay, meet you out.” I cut her short. I am most definitely not interested in Mr. Fernal’s menopausal rages so I cut her mid-sentence and went out of the room.

  “What’s with the urgency?” she said when I found her outside my room. I almost forgot to say that her room is beside mine.

  “We need to get out of here. SOON!”

  “Why?” Lyn asked confused. “How much do you owe them?”

  “What?!” Tara asked, perplexed at her best friend’s question.

  “You sound as if you’re running from a debt collector,” she laughed.

  “Whatever! Now you choose where to go.” I lightly pinched her arm while asking for her choice of the three malls we usually hang out at.

  “Is Asia Mall not any of the choices?” she asked as she suggested a different mall from the ones we used to go to.

  “Hmm, I never thought of that. Come to think of it, of all our U-breaks, this will be the first time we could spend it there.” I answered with glowing eyes.

  Asia Mall, aside from Metro Alabang is our favorite mall. We always go out every weekend, as if not tired of seeing each other’s faces for the entire week. But what can I say? I just can’t get enough of my best friend. Especially now that I am on my last term and will soon be off to work while Lyn will be staying behind because she’s taking up accounting and it has a couple more terms than mine.

  “Okay, Asia Mall it is. Would you like to eat lunch buffet at Delicioso?” I asked her.

  She loves eating there, though I don’t. I feel like vomiting after eating there because since it’s all-you-can-eat, we eat more than we could. The food is yummy and we both love Spanish and Japanese dishes, so we are the ones to finish up all the salmon sashimi and lengua in the buffet table every time we go there.

  We’re both petite with curves here and there, but definitely in the right places. I think my best friend is sexy, but she thinks I’m sexier than her just because my breasts are a cup size bigger than hers. We both have slim stomachs and good plump behind because we do work out twice a week at Fit Exclusive. Our membership with the posh gym with wide-range exercise equipment helped us achieve our beautiful figures now.

  I do need to have her good side to me now, so I am suggesting her favorite restaurant.

  “OK!!! I missed it while I was away,” she exclaims too excited and now walking faster. “But wait, I don’t have my car with me today, so you’re driving?”

  We’re out of the parking lot in no time.

  “Of course, I didn’t think you’d drive to school today, you’re still adjusting with time and sure I’m guessing you’re dizzy.” I said.

  We head to the mall. Our parents gave us our own cars when we had our 18th birthday. Aside from the birthday celebration thrown by her mom at Makati Centuria Hotel which was really pricey, she got a car from her dad. Her parents were already separated long before I even met her. So she got two separate gifts from them.

  I, on the other hand, to cut a long story short, just had an SUV as a gift from my parents.

  Lyn and I are both spoiled. We both don’t have any siblings to share our parents with. That explains why we got everything. We both come from upper middle class families, her dad is the vice president of one of the biggest telecommunications company in the country and mine has a chain of resorts in the country so money is not much of a problem.

  After a very quick fifteen minute drive, we arrived at the mall. We we’re lucky traffic was light going there.

  I stopped at the valet parking station just in front of Delicioso in Asia Mall, handed my keys to the parking attendant, and rushed to the entrance of the restaurant for reservation as it’s always in full swing during lunch and dinner.

  Just when we got there, the receptionist was entertaining a guy so we waited. And then when the receptionist said that the table is ready, I saw the guy turn his head back just a bit above our heads.

  “Matt, go call James and Howard, our table’s ready,” then he suddenly noticed two astonished faces staring a little below him. He smiled at Lyn. It was Christian, James’ best friend.

  He’s eating here too? Oh my! Now how can I eat?

  “Let’s go.” Christian said, nodding at someone behind us.

  There were three guys who passed us, one stopped in front of me and looked before entering the restaurant.

  “Oh Shit!” James said immediately right after he saw me. I noticed that his jaw clenched the moment his words left his mouth. He stormed past us not looking back.

  Two words! He said two words to me! It was a first and definitely a good sign.

  “Oh my God! Hon, are you okay? You want to eat somewhere else?” Lyn asked as she looked at me stunned.

  “He said two words to me Lyn!” my shock turning into a big stupid smile.

  “What?! Are you really crazy?” Lyn tugged at my arm as if wanting to wake me up from a nightmare. “He hates you hon. We have established that three years back.” She tried to remind me.

  Flashback

  “Tara, we have a meeting with the coordinator for your debut party later. What time will you be home?” my mom asked as I leapt downstairs.

  “Mom, I’m not sure, I have to drop by the sports complex today.” I was trying to escape my mother’s obsessive compulsive tendencies.

  “What? But school is closed. It’s a Saturday.” My mom said, knowing that I didn’t have any business to do at school.

  “Yes mom, but I need to check something.” I neither lied nor told the truth. Is there something in between?

  “Tara, you have to be home by 5:00 p.m. The coordinator will be here at 5:30.” Mom gave in for she knew I will not be kept in the house.

  “Okay mom, it’s just 3:30, I will try to be back by then.” I said stopping at the bottom of the stairs then turning my back to leave.

  “What! Come here. Talk to me first before you rush out.”

  I didn’t notice she was already at my back and holding me by the arm, making me follow her to the living room.

  “Tara, there are a lot to do. We need to do food tasting at the hotel for the menu for your party. Then, we need to schedule your initial gown fittings; it’s only two months away. We need to schedule your pictorial for your invitations, and I don’t know what souvenirs you want to give out to your guests…”

  “Mom . . . Okay. I will be home by 6:00 pm, that’s the latest. OK?” I stopped her mid sentence because I don’t want her to come to the “choosing my escort” part. She has actually chosen three already, and she wants me to pick one. And I don’t like any of them, that is why I must get out of the house and ask my soul mate to escort me to my 18th.

  “Be sure to be home by 6:00 pm. I will just run over some things with the coordinator later while waiting for you.” She kissed my cheek before she let me go.

  ***

  “Hi Matt. Have you seen James?” I asked running out of breath, as I leaped two steps at a time in the staircase to reach the third floor of the sports complex. I hate the traffic. It’s Saturday and took me more than an hour to get here!

  When I arrived, one elevator was still at the fifth floor going up and the other elevator is off since it is Saturday and only few students come during this time. So I decided to use the stairs. I really have to settle this thing before I go home. I have to get James as my escort so my mom won’t recruit someone else.

  “Tara, right?” Matt asked.

  Of course he doesn’t know me. None of them knew me, except James.

  “Yeah, it’s Tara. Where is he?” I asked looking around.

  “On top right of the bleachers, I think he’s on the phone.” He didn’t hesitate telling me but he emphasized he is busy on his phone.

  I didn’t mind his discouragement and walked quickly making sure I’m not running towards the bleachers. Oops, I forgot to thank Matt, I looked back but he was not there anymore.

  “Rhea, I’m really tired now. You know the game is opening on Wednesday and the team will be playing on the first da
y. We really need to practice.” I heard James say as I reached the top of the bleachers.

  Rhea who? The cheerleader?

  “Yeah I know, but you have practiced your routine since start of the year. You have done it so well. But basketball is different. We have to check other game plays and practice really hard so we could stay on top and be champion again.” I heard him say.

  Routine? Okay so it’s Rhea the cheerleading slut.

  “No, I’m not with girls. I’m here at the sports complex with the team practicing. We just took a break to refresh then we’re back one more go on the court.”

  I looked at my watch, its 5:00 pm and I have to be home at 6:00 pm. I think I have to start asking him now.

  “James…” I called and he didn’t hear.

  “Yes, yes. I promise.” he speaks on his phone again.

  “James!” I said louder and he looked at me surprised.

  From the look on his face I know he’s listening to this girl she called Rhea, and then he frowned.

  “No. I’m not with another girl,” he told Rhea.

  I looked at my watch again, I have to be out of here soon or mom will kill me.

  “James, I need to ask you something important.” I said while he’s still looking at me questioningly with more creases in his forehead after his frown deepened.

  “No. No. Wait…” then he stared at his phone. I think Rhea dropped the line.

  “WHAT?!!” he asked me furiously while he slipped his mobile phone in his duffel’s side pocket.

  “Uhm, James, I’m sorry, but I really have to ask if you could escort me to my debut party in two months?” I asked nervously.

  “TARA! You came here just to ask me that?” he shouted at me.

  I was petrified. It was the first time I heard him yell and it was directed to me. I started nibbling my lower lip in nervousness.

  “Of all the times you would talk to me, you picked this moment?” he continues glaring at me.

  “I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation but I really have to be back home in an hour, so I was kind of desperate to ask.” I said still looking at him and trying to extend my apologies with my low shaking voice.

  “DESPERATE! Its desperate you’re asking me to escort you to your party when you know how much I hate your guts!” He said still glaring at me.

  “But…” I wasn’t able to finish my sentence when he interrupted.

  “DESPERATE you are for sending me a love letter in the locker room two months back! DESPERATE that you asked me in that letter to be your boyfriend when we’re not even friends! DESPERATE that every time I go out with my friends you are there from afar following me like a stalker! DESPERATE that you go jogging with your friend every week-end in my street and stopping in front of my house for rest! DESPERATE that even after I have confronted you and told you to stop following me, you still do. DESPERATE that you got my number and texts me and calls me like a hundred times a day!”

  I was shocked. Yeah I know I’ve done all that. But what can I do? I like him. A lot. More than a lot, actually. And I feel we are destined to be together in the future. He is my soul mate! I just wanted to make him realize that.

  “PLEASE! For the last time Tara! STOP your illusions that we can be boyfriend-girlfriend!”

  I am almost in tears and I couldn’t respond. I felt his two hands gripping my shoulders.

  “I don’t like you! I will never do! I hate your guts for approaching me! I hate that you are the one proposing to me! I just hate you! Don’t you get it through your thick head?!” he’s already shouting at me with his face just inches away.

  I looked around the gym, seeing that the whole basketball team is there. All his friends are there. Even the team’s coach is there.

  “GO AWAY TARA! And please never ever talk to me again!” he let go of my shoulders.

  I couldn’t move. My feet were like stuck to the ground. I don’t know what to say. I just looked down in shame. I didn’t notice he moved towards me again and held both my shoulders more tightly it hurt.

  “Look at me!” he ordered and shook me.

  “You will get away from me or you will regret knowing me at all! You understand?!” he asked angrily.

  “But…” I said again.

  “No buts Tara! I don’t like you. You are definitely not my type. I don’t go for silly girls like you. I hate chinky eyes! I hate very white girls! I hate brats who think they could get everything they want! I hate tall girls like you! All in all, Tara, I don’t like you, not even a bit. And I would die in shame if I ever like someone like you at all!” he finally finished speaking and went down the bleachers leaving me behind.

  I wasn’t able to answer back nor did I intend to. I just ran back down the sports complex and to my car. I don’t know how I arrived home in one piece. But that was the day I told my mom that I’m cancelling my debut party.

  End of Flashback

  “Earth to Tara!” I was suddenly bolted back to reality when I heard Lyn.

  “Sorry.” I told her.

  “Don’t go spacing out on me again, I feel stupid talking alone.” She’s half scolding me but still holding my arm. “Come on Hon, let’s eat somewhere else.”

  “No.” I said firmly. “We’re eating where we want to and I don’t care whoever is here!”

  I had enough. Ever since that incident at the sports complex, I decided to stop following him, to stop stalking him, just as he ordered and just as a mature person realized how stupid it is to have a crush on the biggest jerk in school. Though I still secretly thought of him, I am not looking at him like that anymore, okay except when they are playing in the dome every UAAP season, I still watched him.

  But hey! I support the school okay! It’s not about him! Okay, I tried to convince myself there. But at least I stayed far away from him as much as possible, and I stopped with the messages.

  Until today in the classroom. But it wasn’t my choice. I didn’t know we had that change of schedule. I was sure my block mates are happy they don’t see me now. It was no wonder that no one told me about it. I am now more certain that they really want me out of the block.

  I don’t know why people don’t like me and Lyn. We’re both cute girls with very cheerful personalities. But we don’t have much friends and I am really clueless of the reason. I am definitely not blaming James for that, but I know that the rumors have spread faster than high speed internet about the way he rejected me at the bleachers.

  “Stop it Tara! Come back!” I heard Lyn say again.

  “I’m sorry. I’m really, really preoccupied.” I apologized one more time.

  “Your table is ready ma’am.” The usher approached Lyn and walked us to our table.

  Once we’re settled inside, we got food from the buffet and went back to the table and started talking.

  “Lyn, there’s something you should know.”

  “What is it?” she asked while chewing her California rolls.

  “I got de-blocked.” I confessed.

  “What?” Lyn looked at me alarmed, “What did you fail? How did you fail?”

  I can’t help but laugh at her reaction.

  “No. I didn’t fail anything. Remember, I was at Samal Island most of our summer and I didn’t have internet access for the last two weeks before school started?” I reminded her.

  “Uhuh..” she answered dunking some tamago in her kikoman and then chewing it while looking at me.

  “Well, I didn’t know that they changed the schedule of my block with James’. My professor this morning said it was to accommodate some subjects that the other block is taking this term, and for UAAP season purposes.” I continued talking just as she urged.

  Lyn just looked at me frowning as if not understanding what I’m telling her.

  “Well, I wasn’t informed that they will change the schedules so I’m kind of stuck with the other block.” I dropped the bomb.

  Lyn almost choked from her iced tea, and stared at me blankly.

  “Wh
at are you gonna do now?” she asked.

  “Nothing. I was given the option to drop all my subjects and to re-enroll in my block, but then, what’s the point? We’re taking the same subjects anyway. And I’m used to my classmates hating me for nothing, so I’d just stay and not go into the hassle of a drop-add subject.” I was trying to sound as if I actually weighed the pros and the cons.

  “Are you sure that’s just it?” my best friend can smell something fishy about that decision. Her instinct tells her that she is right. She won’t be called my best friend if she can’t deduce a simple arithmetic like this.

  “Okay, it’s going to be my last term here, and after that it’s goodbye James forever. So I just thought it won’t be that bad if I allow myself to look at him for my last three months in school. Please?” I pleaded at Lyn who I know will be the first and only one to object.

  She kept silent, eyeing me like a specimen in the microscope. She continued chewing the salmon sashimi in her mouth.

  “Please Hon. I won’t do anything! I promise.” I asked with my hands clasped with each other.

  “Okay, but make sure you won’t act stupidly infatuated with that jerk again right there.” She said in between her teeth.

  “Yes I promise.” I raised my right hand as if taking an oath.

  “Something’s telling me this is scary.” Lyn was bothered.

  “No! Trust me. I won’t put myself in the same situation I was at, three years back.” I touched her arm as if trying to reassure her that her blessing was right.

  “Make sure you can keep your promise.” Lyn tried to sound threatening.

  “I promise that I will keep my promise. Come on, let’s get dessert.” I said happily.

  “You go ahead. I’ll just finish my Salmon.”

  “Okay, I’ll go get some ice cream.” I said as I stood up and carefully placed my table napkin down on my seat.

  On the way to the ice cream bar, I saw some sansrival on the dessert table beside all the other delectable cakes. I got a plate and went back to where my favorite dessert was, surprised to have found something else, or rather someone.

  He turned his head after he got his slice and saw me. Then he stared with a very dark expression on his face.