THE MAN WO CAN'T BE MINE

Chapter4

Cheska

We arrived at school quickly because it was still early and there wasn't much traffic. As we entered the gate, we passed Minchie, Tyler, and Clarisse walking. They must have just arrived as well.

"Hey! You two come together? Yiee, ship!" Tyler teased us. Ouch.

"And it looks like they had breakfast together too. Yiee!" Minchie added. I just smiled to hide my true feelings. Tyler's name should be changed to Tyler Ian 'Clueless' Gonzales! That should be his name!

While we were chatting, a woman and a man approached us to ask a question. "Hello, do you know where the STEM building is?" the woman asked us.

"Ah, yes. Who are you looking for?" I answered.

"Ah, our child left this behind." She showed us a flash drive.

"Tito Raymond, is that you? I'm sorry, I didn't notice it. Someone called me." I was surprised when Tyler suddenly spoke. "Ah, guys. This is Coleen's dad," he introduced.

"Coleen? The small one?" I whispered, but Tyler nudged me, so I turned to him, annoyed.

"That's her dad, you know," he whispered back, irritated. Luckily, Coleen's parents didn't hear because they were busy talking.

"Well, then she's tall, tss!" I hissed.

"I'll just give it to her. I'm her partner anyway."

They talked among themselves, and I was left out. After they finished talking, Tyler returned to us. What's even more annoying is that he kept talking about Coleen. He's acting like a fool. I'm here with him, but he wants to see someone else. You're a terrible companion, Tyler!

When we got to the room, he immediately sat next to Coleen, and I was left standing there like an i***t, just watching them.

"It's okay. It's okay," I whispered to myself.

"Hey, babes! Let's go out later?" Jack invited me.

"No, thanks," I answered listlessly.

"I'm getting sulky with you." He pouted like a child who didn't get what he wanted.

"Not now, Jack, please?"

"Let's talk later," he said seriously, but I just rolled my eyes at him.

Class started, and I forced myself to listen to the lessons our teacher was teaching. It's supposed to be just a happy crush. Why did it suddenly turn out like this? God, please help me remove these unwanted feelings.

"Let's go?" My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Jacob invited me.

I just stood up, grabbed my wallet and phone from my bag, and then went with him. We passed Jack, and he just smirked when he saw me. What's his problem? He didn't do anything to me.

"You okay?" Jacob asked me carefully. I just smiled at him to avoid worrying him, or whatever.

"Tyler's just really friendly, so don't be jealous of Coleen," he whispered.

"If I could just order my brain not to be jealous, I would have done it a long time ago," I said bitterly, and he fell silent.

"Cheska?" I looked at him when he called me.

"Just know that I'm here for you." Then he smiled.

I just nodded again, and we walked to the cafeteria.

Coleen

"You should try this." Tyler put blueberry cheesecake on my plate.

I smiled weakly because he kept putting all sorts of food on my plate. I also feel awkward with his presence and the eyes staring at us since we arrived here at the cafeteria. It's like they want to pull my hair.

"By the way. We're having a small get-together at our place later. You should come, okay?" He looked at Shan and Lyn.

"Sure!" Shan happily agreed. Oh, wow. Why didn't they ask me first if I wanted to go? Whatever.

Shan and Lyn are my friends, and they both like Tyler for reasons I don't know. I mean, yeah, he's cute, but I don't want to get my hair pulled by his fan club. I'm happy just being like this, having few friends rather than feeling like I'm going to get into a fight anytime we meet someone because I'm with him. He's no good to me.

They talked among themselves, and it only ended when we were on our way to our room because Shan and Lyn are in HUMSS. We only saw each other during lunch and dismissal. The atmosphere became awkward again because it was just the two of us again.

"You'll come, okay? I'll be expecting you." He smiled cutely and winked.

Only two subjects left, and it's dismissal time, but I'm really sleepy, and my brain has no energy to listen to what our teacher is saying. I even saw Cheska look like she was about to cry when I glanced at her. Why? She looks so down. I suddenly wanted to hug her.

Classes ended quickly, so we went home immediately. When I got home, I changed clothes and lay down to sleep, but I hadn't even closed my eyes for 15 minutes when I heard Shan and Lyn laughing downstairs, so I was forced to get up.

"What are you doing here?"

"Duh, picking you up," Lyn answered, and I noticed that she was all dressed up.

"Tyler told us to pick you up because he knew you wouldn't go. You looked so uninterested earlier while we were talking," Shan added.

Okay? So this was planned.

"I don't want to." I was about to go back upstairs when they spoke again.

"We'll pay for your transpo."

In the end, they forced me to go with them. They wouldn't stop pestering me if I didn't go. I’m so tired listening with their reasons.

When we arrived at Tyler's house, I almost felt small because of the number of people. I thought it was just a small get-together? This is a party.

"Oii, you're here!" he said excitedly. "Come on, I'll introduce you to them."

"This is Dolly, our school SSG secretary. And this is Nadine, Zannah, Anne, and Marie," he introduced to the girls he approached.

The Zannah and Anne he introduced looked at us from head to toe and then whispered to each other. I didn't know how to react, so I just chose to look away from them. Face-to-face humiliation, nice!

"Pleasure to meet you, guys," the girl named Marie said with a smile on her face.

I smiled too, but I didn't say anything because I didn't feel good anymore, and I just wanted to go home. I didn't have the energy to socialize with them. I knew it was the wrong decision to come here. I should have just stayed home and slept.

"What do you guys want to eat?" Tyler asked.

Shan and Lyn answered for me because they seemed to have noticed that I wasn't feeling well, and I knew they felt the same way. We sat at the table he set for us, but I barely touched my food. I couldn't see Tyler anymore.

"We're going to the CR," they excused themselves.

I was left alone here, and when they didn't come back, I decided to stand up and leave. I'll just call Papa.

As I was walking away, someone put their arm around me, none other than Tyler.

"You're going home?" he asked, and I just nodded. "I'll take you home, okay?"

"I'm getting picked up, so you don't have to." I smiled at him and removed his arm from around me.

"I insist. I invited you here, so I'm responsible for you." I just let him do what he wanted, and I called Papa so I could go home and rest.

"Hello... Yes... Can you pick me up at... Where is this again?" I whispered to Tyler and slightly moved the phone away from me.

"Gem's Exclusive Subdivision," he whispered back.

"At Gem's Exclusive Subdivision... Yes, I'll just wait for you at the gate... Ah, yes. I'm with someone..." I looked at Tyler awkwardly when Papa asked who I was with. "It's Tyler."

"Give it to him first," Papa ordered. I was hesitant, but I gave it to him. They talked quickly, and Ty handed my phone back to me.

"What did he say?" I asked while we waited for Papa.

"He said to take care of you." He smiled at me, and I paused because of that smile. "You look good, by the way."

I look good? Is he kidding me? I'm just wearing a t-shirt and jeans, and he's praising me like I'm wearing a gown in his eyes? I hope he's alright.

"I'm telling the truth," he said and laughed. "You look like you don't believe me."

"Oh, sorry," I said shyly. He didn't say anything again, so I didn't bother trying to start a topic.

We waited for 30 minutes before Papa arrived.

"Ty, My papa’s here now, thank you." I gave him a genuine smile and waved.

"Take care." He waved back.

When we got home, I rushed to my room because Papa might give me the third degree. I already know those smiles of his from earlier when he saw Tyler and me. Sus, Papa!

I went online on i********: to chat with Tyler and thank him, but I didn't expect to see a message from him when I opened it.

Gtyler: You home yet?

Chelle: Yeah, safe and sound.

Gtyler: Good! See you, Shorty! Goodnight.

What?! Shorty? He's the tall one.

Chelle: Okay, Mr. Angry Bird, goodnight.

Starting today, I'll call him Angry Bird. It suits him though. I laughed at my own thoughts.

~To be continued...