Darling of the Wild

Refreshing Breeze

I closed the car door when we finally reached the campus. My ears were hurting during the 15-minute drive to school with Morgan. At one point we’re talking about our brothers then all of a sudden, he will talk about how ‘handsome’ he is. I can help but roll my eyes every time.

“I need to go to the locker room first, Morgan. You can go ahead now” I told him hoping that I’ll get rid of him. I love my brother but sometimes he’s just plain annoying.

“Nah uh.” He shook his head and walked towards me, “I’ll walk you there” then he put his arms on my shoulders again. I bit my lip and tried my best not to show any sign of discomfort since Morgan might ask and I won’t know what to answer. I just let him pull me with him as we make our way towards the senior department building.

“I can handle myself you know” I blurted out and I quickly had flashbacks of yesterday where I got into a not-so-good situation when I try to prove that I am good of being alone. I swallowed the lump on my throat and wish for my mind to forget it. I can’t seem to move on.

Morgan chuckled, “Yeah, I know. I just wanted to check some hot girls there and see which one is the best to be my girlfriend for this week.”

I looked at him sideways, in disbelief, then I reached out for his stomach to pinch it, “That’s bad!”

He quickly pushed away my hand while laughing seeing my irritated face, “Ouch! I’m just kidding, sis!”

“Never try to be a playboy, Morgan. Your cocky personality is irritating enough!” I told him.

He just laughed at me then he put his arms on my shoulders again, I tried to push him away since he successfully got into my nerves, but he messed with my hair and added, “I won’t do that silly. I have a sister, I should not do something that I don’t want to happen to you”

“Absolutely!” I answered with my arms crossed not affected with his sweet brotherly words.

He just chuckled and we continue walking on the cemented sidewalk with the tall trees giving enough shade and refreshing wind. This university is really famous in our town because it’s the first school that was built here and they provide good quality of education. The traces of the past years can still be seen on the exterior of some building but there’s also a lot of renovation that happened in this school. Lennox, Maverick, and Lloyd graduated from here as well, so our family name is really known to the professors.

When we reached the locker room, he patted my head once again and messed it up, “I’m going now, ugly. See you after school!”

I fixed my hair and rolled my eyes, “Whatever!”

He frowned and pinched my cheeks real hard that I tried to stop, “Philomena has been really influencing you.”

“Ouch! Stop it, Morgan!” I complained because it is really his habit. My cheeks would be really red again.

He chuckled and removed his hand, I was about to hit him, but he quickly ran away while laughing.

“Ugly narcissistic Morgan” I blurted out in a low voice like it was a curse. He is really annoying!

“Good morning. . . Maia?” Chantal greeted in an unsure tone looking at my annoyed face.

I glanced at her and when I realized I was looking really unapproachable, I fix my hair, stood straight and compose myself then I gave her a small smile, “Good morning too, Chantal.”

I went in the girl’s locker room with Chantal to get the book that is needed for my first subject.

“Why do you look grumpy in the morning? Your cheek is red too” she asked as I opened my locker. She did the same. Our lockers are adjacent to each other.

I grabbed my book before I answered, “Morgan.”

“Oh!” she blurted out. I checked my whole locker, and I was surprised not to see a flower or a gift from that admirer. Well, maybe he’s absent? Or woke up late? It just became part of my routine to check if there is something from him.

“Philomena hasn’t arrived yet?” I asked Chantal after I closed my locker. I leaned into it as I waited for my friend to finish. She got a lot of books because among the three of us she is the most studious and wanted to have the book itself rather than to download it in her iPad.

Some professors require us to buy the book for their subject and some doesn’t so we just download it however, Chantal wanted to buy all the books because according to her she could study more efficiently when she smells the scent of the book.

“You know our friend, Maia. She spent more time on fixing her face than studying” she answered in a bored tone and organized her locker.

Well, basically, Philomena is the opposite of Chantal. She’s not really that serious on studying but she’s not failing. Just enough to pass. She’s more into fashion, makeup, and girly stuffs. I’m the neutral one. I’ve got good grades but not as good as Chantal. This girl is really committed on her studies.

“I could hear you bad mouthing me from outside of this locker room, Chantal” I turned my head when I heard the voice of Philomena. She’s holding her Chanel bag that matches well with her ‘popular’ girl outfit. She actually radiates the energy and fashion of Regina on Mean Girls or Sharpay of High School Musical.  

Chantal just gave her a quick look and went back on organizing her things on her locker, then sarcastically blurted out, “Nice! Your ears work well.”

“Whatever” Philomena rolled her eyes and didn’t argued back. She knows she can’t win against Chantal. These two bickers a lot but I know they love each other.

After Chantal finished doing her thing, we all went out of the locker room and made our way to our class. While we are walking in the hallway, she asked me about yesterday.

“What time did you go home yesterday?”

“Huh?” I was taken aback with her question. I wanted to tell them about what happened but I don’t know where to start. I started to feel a little panic in my head. What should I say? Can I tell it to them? What would happen if I told them? These are some of the questions that filled my head.

Chantal fixed the way she’s hugging her book and iPad, while giving me a curious look, “Did your brother came as soon as I left?”

I bit my lower lip as I find the words to say. Okay, this is harder than I thought.

When I finally decided to talk, “About yeste—”

“OMG, girls! I forgot to tell you” I got startled when Philomena cut me off with her excited voice as she clung her arms on mine.

I didn’t want to talk, so Chantal asked ‘what’ without even trying to sound curious or match the energy of Philomena.

“Well, you know, the captain of the football team is hitting on me, right?” she started talking but I frowned at her and even though what I was about to say a while ago got cut off, I got confused of what she said.

“I thought it was the captain of the basketball team?”

She scrunched her nose and flipped her hair, “Nah! That was last week. I stopped talking to him because I got bored.”

“When did you start talking to this captain of football team?” Chantal asked and gently clung her arms too on mine. I was in between them even on talking. I decided to tell them what happened yesterday later at lunch. It would be great for me or it would be helpful if I could share this on my friends.

“Uhm, this morning? Before I went to the locker room?” Philomena answered like we should know that already.

“Just this morning?” Chantal asked again, not believing and shocked at the same time.

My other friend rolled her eyes, “Duh, yes! But that wasn’t the point. He invited me for a party at their mansion on Friday which is. . . “she stopped and counted, “. . . two day from now. And guess what!” she happily added.

“What?” I calmly asked.

“I’m gonna bring you two!” then she clapped her hand and jumped which made uncomfortable since her arms are still clinging on mine. When she stopped, she looked at us, “So what do you think? Shopping later?”

Chantal sighed like she got her time wasted, “No thanks. I’m not interested.”

“What? No! Come on, Chantal! This would be fun” Philomena tried to convince our friend.

“I don’t like parties” then she walked faster and enter the classroom first, showing that she doesn’t really want to come.

“Hmp” Philomena groaned and stop walking. I stopped as well and stared at her.

“You know that parties aren’t Chantal’s thing” I explained to her so she can be reminded that our dear friend doesn’t really like that.

“How about you? Will you come with me?” then she gave me her puppy eyes.

I tired to avoid her with my eyes, but she cupped my face and make it face her, “Please?”

“I, uh, I don’t know if my brothers would let me” I answered.

She pouted but shrugged after, “Well, it is better. There’s a chance that you might come” she blurted out then clung her arms again on mine and pull me to enter the room.

During lunch time, Philomena needed to check something for a project and Chantal needed to go to the faculty first. So, I have no choice but to go the cafeteria on my own and get a table for all of us.

There are a lot of students who are walking near me, but I can’t help but to feel a little bit of fear that I might bump into the group of guys from yesterday. I tried to calm my nerves and looked around wishing inside my head that I will not bump to any one of them.

When I finally got into the cafeteria, what I was really scared of, was there. Two of the guys that approached me yesterday was standing near the counter. I think they are Dashiell and Hugo. I got their attention and they smirked at me.

I know the fear I was feeling showed in my face. I didn’t think twice and turned my back to leave. I’ll just message my friends and tell them I will wait for them somewhere else. Although there are a lot of students in the cafeteria, I won’t feel safe.

I looked around hoping to see my brother but today is Wednesday, and they all have classes up to one o’clock in the afternoon.

I chose to sit in one the benches near the field and there is a big tree giving shade to it. I did my best to calm my nerves. I glanced behind me to see if they followed me but luckily, they didn’t. I leaned my back on the bench and made myself comfortable.

The soft gush of wind and the smell fresh air helps to ease my fear. There is a distant chattering of students away from me. I closed my eyes and feel the refreshing breeze.

“Can I sit with you?” I was startled with the deep voice behind me. I almost ran but when I saw who it is, I let out a small smile.

“Sure, Aiden” I answered.