Her Sacrifice

Chapter II THE MADRIGAL

CHAPTER II THE MADRIGAL

"Pizza and soda please! And oh, I would like a potato chips also." Laide ordered.

"Hi, what's your order?" The lady personnel approached her.

"Uhm, just give me an apple and, a bottle of water." She ordered and the personnel move quickly

Seriously? An apple for lunch?" Laide asked.

"Yeah what's wrong?"

"Since when you became vegetarian Brige?" Laide asked chuckling.

"Since the vacation, I guess? Mom doesn't buy too much junk foods, neither ordering in some fast food chains. I just eat whatever she ate. She's on diet."

"Ohhh, that's explained why." Laide said as they got their orders

and paid it.

"Hey guys, here!" Ericson called them from the table beside the window.

They place their food on the table and started eating while she was just staring to her apple observing how fresh and red it is.

"Hey Brige, why aren't you eating your apple?" Tomas asked

"Nothing. It's just, I'm wonder struck on it's coloration. Didn't you find it so beautiful?" She asked.

The three just staring at each other, sensing and bust into a laugh.

"Brige, seriously, are you okay?" Laide consulted her as if something is wrong with her.

"Yeah. Why are guys laughing at me? Is it something ridiculous?" She asked grinning.

"You just say something ridiculous." Ericson said and again burst.

She bite her apple showing them how juicy it was. Too much introduction for a meal she realized. Ericson started a conversation and share his epic moments on a vacation and so Tomas and Laide followed. She was bursting upon listening to their 'epic' story when a deep baritone voice spoke behind her.

"As far as I know, this cafeteria is made for all of the students so will you please minimize your noise? You're disturbing other people." And so they all went silent.

"Oh, sorry men. We're just having a great time but yeah, we're going to observe silence. Enjoy your meal." Tomas said.

They look at each other and silently laughing except her. She want to just not mind it. To just free her heart from embarrassment. To not pay attention. But she couldn't. She slowly turn her head around and look whose behind the complain. Little by little, she visualize it clearly and saw what she was expecting. It's him. He was behind her and he has associates with him. It's just, him is more like rude. If he hates my existence, why would he sat behind me?-Oh silly Brigette, can it be just because he doesn't care about you and the fact that the cafeteria has no enough space for them to choose? Yes, right, right. She answered herself.

The bell rang informing that their break is finally over. She look at her phone and check the time. It was already 1 pm. 2 hours breaking period. Not bad. They all stand up and cleared their table before going back to their designated room. The sun was high as well as the temperature. Brigette started to fell uneasiness as sweat started to fall from her temple down to her face. She now regret wearing such a thick sweater. She search for her handkerchief and was overly devastated when she couldn't seek it inside her bag. She check her pocket but still it's not there.

The instructor started discussing about different animals and how to gave them a proper first aid that capture her interest. Although she already studied it before, she couldn't help but to be fascinated upon the topic. She couldn't missed a single detail. The instructor show them some animal vital parts particularly wild animals that is now in a sanctuary. They are now fostering and was about to release when the personnels think the animals are ready. Just like her mom, it touch her heart seeing animals coping from a nearly dying event of their life and so her mother always bring home injured animals to take care of them in her own way which motivates her to pursue this course. The last illustration the instructor showed is a picture of a big furry animal which she find cute and amazing but she pity because of its wounds.

"This animal is a Grey wolf. A wounded wolf specifically. When giving first aid to these kind of animal, make sure to observe first weather it is calm or not. You safety is also important. Now, to tame it, make sure that you'll give it a snack and talk to it like a friend alright? Look at their eyes and let yourself know if their are risky or safe to come in a moment. After that, gently massage the wounded part, make sure to observed it's reaction weather they are still calm or uncomfortable, when they are calm, you can easily perform your job well and when they are still wild even if injured, then better think twice. Remember, do not ever plan to treat a wolf that is walking. You're not gonna make it." She said. She continue the discussion until in reach 4 pm. Two subjects to go.

Unfortunately, the instructor on their next class cannot make it so they have a two-hour vacant before the last subject. Still, she was thinking on where did she put her handkerchief. Out of frustration, she put her hair on a messy bun, gather her things, put it in the bag and followed them.

As she was busy blubbering with Laide all way to their usual spot, a group of four broad men were just about to pass beside them. She was chuckling figuring her bestfriends situation when her eyes accidentally meet a pair of deep black eyes whose still look at her with no emotions. She look straight to the man's eye and leave it afterward never wanting to be swarm by the the dark, shallow gaze of him. They pass by beside her and felt something touched her arm causing her to be stunned in a moment.

It's cold.

"Brige, what happen?" Laide asked

"I felt something touched me. It's cold." She said offering her arm for Laide to feel how cold it was.

"Cold." Laide stated "There's no one around when you stop. Don't tell me there could possibly a ghost here."

"Nah. Let's go. Maybe it just something inside my body. A goosebump or something."

They continued walking until they found Ericson and Tomas below a big tree where they used to stay during freshmen year. They lounged on the grass resting their back on the big log Brige and Laide on the middle and while Ericson and Tomas beside them.

The friendship starts when they were freshmen, young, curious and dumb. Laide whose happen to carrying her project with wet paint, bump into a group of mean senior girls resulting to bullying. One day, as Brige was walking to the corridor, she saw the senior girls putting a paint on a pray gallon and was waiting for Laide to pass by. She quickly grab Laide's arm and told her what was going to happen if she pass by. And then, they saw the Dean heading to where the senior girls are. They was about to stop her but it was late already, the senior girl done the thing to the Dean made them to be spelled. Laide thanked her and offered friendship which she immediately accepted. As for Tomas and Ericson, they just tag along because no boys in the room wants to befriend them. Little by little, they just found theirselves being committed to the friendship where they belong.

"I miss this place." Laide said.

"We know. This place is your crying zone when Mathew broke up with you way back second year. You cried here like an i***t who would forget that?" Tomas said that make them all burst in laughter except Laide.

"Shut up Tomas and don't you dare mention it again. However, in case you all forgot, this is the place where Ericson dated Mary without him knowing Mary is psychopath. He nearly killed." Said Laide and again, the group filled with laughter.

"I don't know! It's like, I've been cursed! Oh man, it's my most traumatic date ever. I thought I would be dead that night." He said.

"I'm so glad Brige and I are very good student up until now." Tomas said.

"I don't think so. Remember when you two hide the class record of Ms. Heather, she look all around the campus crying!"

Ericson said that makes them hardly to stop laughing.

"I didn't plan it! Tomas put in my bag saying it is belong to him!" She said.

"Did you all see her face?It's priceless! I just can't accept she belittle Tutie that time. I miss my turtle." Tomas said.

A moment later, silence consume the place. Brige, whose happen to say a word stop when she saw the four man earlier walking to the woods and realize that one of them is the man she for now, can say, hated the most.

"A-are they new students? Isn't it prohibited to go the woods?"

"I guess so. One of them entered our room earlier. He thought it was the Literature floor. He's so handsome but so rude."Laide said.

Surely it's him, Brigette said on her mind.

"So he's in college of Literature." She said.

"Only Chase." She look at Ericson with confusion.

"You know them?"she ask.

"You didn't?"

"Am I going to ask if I already know?"

"Burn." Tomas said and again burst into laughter on how Brigette turn down the now poker-faced Ericson.

"Alright, alright. They are belong to the Madrigal's clan."

"You mean, the highest ranking family in Burgeon?" Laide asked.

"Yes and the most powerful one."

"Woah. I wonder why they chose to study here. They could afford high universities or even fly to the other countries." Tomas said.

"Do you know why Brige?" Ericson asked teasingly. She look at Ericson with annoyed face.

"Why are you asking me, I don't even know them." And so Tomas and Ericson laugh.

"Oh come on, he teasing you again." Laide said.

They stayed there just reminiscing memories together without thinking what time is it. Without bothering on what people say or how they look at them. They are just happy accompanying each other. Just happy because they have one another.