Her Miracle

CHAPTER 26

“I’m not Titus if I’m not full of surprises.” He winks at me.

“If someone sees you that you’re not a student, you’ll be dragged out,” I whispered to him.

“They’re all busy with their bunch of friends talking about rumors and all that petty stuff. See? Look around,” He gestures around. “Nobody notices me and are minding their own business.”

Not going to lie, Titus did blend in well. Those mysterious-looking baby face, hugging on his own hoodie. This time it’s not his green parka jacket that I’m used to. It seemed to be his favorite of all his jackets.

“Fine.” I narrow my eyes at him and still can’t find it in my heart to get mad.

“Someone’s in a mood.” He leans on the table comfortably like the rest of the people in the cafeteria didn’t matter.

“What?!” I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. I’m more surprised than mad. It took me time to comprehend what he just said. I gave him a small smile, “I’m even having a great day.”

“So… care to tell me what happened?” His voice is giddy like a girlfriend you want to share everything to. Instead of Izzy to be sharing all this. My confidant was now Titus.

And there it goes. I open my mouth without thinking and spill all the beans that happened to me today. Titus is just someone you can’t resist.

“I had breakfast with my brother, Aiden. But before that, I received a bike. It had a post-it on it with my name. Are you the one who gave it to me?” I answered him. If he gave me the bike, I’m returning it. It’s too much already after all the things he’s done for me.

“No... I mean if I were the one, I would have informed you beforehand.”

“You just said you’re not Titus if you’re not full of surprises.” I rolled my eyes at him.

He shook his head. “Ha! Seriously, Andy, No I didn’t give it to you. That move would probably be your brother’s or best friend.”

“Kai?”

“Yeah…”

“Well, I’m still going to talk to him about the thing that happened. Though, we talked about going here to the cafeteria.”

“I’m happy that you’re finally okay with him…” He smiled with a voice so soft and caring.

“Me too…” I looked down and smiled too.

“Go on, eat your lunch.”

“And you’re just going to sit there gawking at me while I eat? Want to have some food? There’s a lot to choose from.” I point to the food display cases.

There were sliced fruits in cups, apples, and bananas. Sandwiches, salads, and they sell their amazing tasting mashed potato, fish, and chips. But some of the students still prefer to bring their own lunches. Their parents supported them that much, unlike mine.

I still don’t know when I’ll be ready to finally ask Aiden what my mother said last night. She has always a say in everything and I hope it’s not being in denial anymore but rather the truth behind her absences.

“I’m good. I already had lunch with my parents before loitering around Castle Rock today. I was too bored so I sneaked in and paid you a visit.”

“Gee, alright. I’ll be munching on my food now.” I grabbed my sandwich slowly savoring it. I lost my appetite the moment Titus showed himself. It’s not a negative kind of loss of appetite. It’s more like I’m -too -excited -to -talk- to -you-that-the-world-doesn’t-matter-anymore-that-it- revolves-around-us kind of loss.

And like I remember, I could walk side by side with Titus with no conversation at all and still feel that comfort from him. It sounds unusual but it did start that day when we climbed up that hill that had the view of Castle Rock. I caught my breath that moment with the height we were going but the view was astounding. Much more when the sun was up and blessing the entire town.

Titus propped his right elbow and leaned in as he continued to stare at me while I ate. I avoided his eyes and looked down instead. My sandwich was almost finished. Calyx ate quietly. I turned to him. He had his own lunch. This is the first time I saw him after the scene he caused in the hallway with the girls who Izzy and I call the ‘desperates’.

But at least eating lunch alone is a good safe haven for him. It must be bothersome to have some people trailing on you just cause he’s new. Well, Titus is new but he’s like a person who’s all to me. I might sound selfish but he did stick up to me.

I took the last bite of my sandwich after letting my eyes roam around a few more times. There were no signs of Izzy. So after our friendship sort of went haywire, she’s also the inactive one and disappearing. She must be up to something new. Something Kai and I would never want or maybe she’s busy with her new beau. Unlike Kai, who I know who he likes. Izzy still hasn’t introduced the mystery guy.

“So that’s the new guy?” Titus whispers forward, leaning close to me but has his head tilted to Calyx’s direction.

“Yeah, the new guy.” I nodded at him.

“Why is he alone? Not that I’m judging but usually a dude like him looks like he’ll have friends the moment he steps foot inside a new school.”

“Girls were following him all day long the last time I saw him. Maybe they’re tired of chasing him and Calyx doesn’t want to be annoyed? I really don’t know.”

I give him another closer look. Calyx did look younger than us. But the way he was muscled made him look like a junior or senior like my brothers. Just like the Lacrosse team, his plain white shirt hugged his toned arms to perfection, making the girls in Willoughby drool. I really haven’t had news if he’s playing this season since my source of scoop disappeared on me.

Maybe Calyx felt like some people were watching him in his peripheral vision. He turned his head in our direction and Titus and I swiftly turned our heads to the opposite.

“Ow!” I pressed my hand on my forehead. “My bad. Both of us weren’t looking.”

“s**t! Is your head made of metal?” He responded with his teasing voice.

“Hey! I know it hurts but I assure you my head isn’t metal! Maybe yours!” I tongued out at him like a 5-year-old kid.

Titus just burst laughing at me. While I turned my head to check on Calyx, he was putting all his stuff inside his bag and gave us the last glare. He then passed by us and scoffed like he couldn’t be heard, “Weirdo!”

I rolled my eyes at the comment of Calyx and answered deadly, “Loner!”

Like the usual Willoughby students, he was infected. At some point, I thought he would’ve been different. But people just don’t become the person we want them to be. Most especially, not some guy who you barely know and talk to. Calyx was just a varsity asshole.

“Woah, he’s that bad?” Titus commented.

“I actually haven’t spoken to him. He just thinks he’s so cool…” I replied with a joking face wanting to vomit. He was new but nothing new about his character. He must be living in those fancy houses, rich kids, and is a spoiled brat in his family. 

"Also, come on. I'll walk you out. Lunch will be over in less than 10 minutes. Not that I want to kick you out but I would do the honor than seeing some school staff do it to you." I chuckled. 

"I don't mind." He stood up and placed both his hands inside his front pockets. 

I cleaned my table and got rid of the garbage. Willoughby's garbage bins are so huge but the good part is they have strict segregation about the trash. There's this bottle drive that you can shoot it like a basketball so it goes inside this huge container for empty plastic bottles. Some students make fun of it though and just shoot random stuff towards the ring. 

Titus follows my lead as we get out of the noisy cafeteria. Before I finally exit, I look at Kai's table who was laughing carelessly with my brother and the rest of the team. I was happy for them. Aiden does need someone too other than being the house cook of course. Someone who he can confide to other than Zach who just says the opposite judgment. Kai was that home for him. Just like me, our house was just our terminal. A place to sleep and stay in but not really where we make memories. We go our separate ways not minding each others' business, spending time and making memories with people who aren't our relatives. Our friends were much more family. To top it off, Izzy wasn't anymore. 

We reach the doors out of school. The smell of the damp greens of Castle Rock embraced us out. The parking lot in sight and the desperates with their newly hired member who had her back on me, who just got out of the car. If we were in a movie, they were the mean girls but they weren't mean, the entire town was. The desperates were just desperate to date dudes who they think are worthy of them. Zach doesn't also seem to be interested. Phew! They just arrived? You can't leave Willoughby for lunch. Oh my god! They're not college students. 

"So here we are. Thanks for visiting me. It means a lot, Titus."

"Anytime." 

I reach for him for a good hug. He deserves one. The girls who were in the parking lot were boisterously laughing their asses with their high-pitched voices. I let go of Titus now and he waves off as he walks away. 

Instead of focusing on Titus who was walking away, murmuring his goodbyes, my eyes focus on the member who I didn't expect of the desperates. 

Speaking of the devil. I didn't get the hunch. She hated them. And I felt betrayed. Again. This entire time I was blinded by all that? She chose them instead of me. I didn't need an explanation. The sight right in front of me was the explanation I've been waiting for. 

It was Izzy.