Dearest, Duke

Cassandra was in a coffee shop, lined up. She was about to order when suddenly someone called from behind her. "Cass!" she shouted and she immediately turned her back and saw Lizzy- she had been Cassandra's friend since they were still in middle school. "What's up, Liz?" she uttered in annoyance. "Guess who?" when this question intrigued the friend. Cassandra frowned as she looked at him. "What?" “He’s back!” she said and screamed, so other people inside the coffee shop looked at them. “R-Really? He’s finally back?" Cassandra asked cheerfully to her friend, who also nodded her head with a smile. Smiling, the two talked when a man suddenly backed away in front of her and caused her to be almost out of balance, but he noticed that there was a hand holding her back, guiding her not to fall. Cassandra could feel the warmth in his hands. Lizzy looked at the man behind them and her eyes widened when she saw his face. "Are you okay, Miss?" the man asked her and slowly lifted her back to stand. Cassandra turned her head at him and bowed. "Thank you." Their eyes met as Cassandra looked up. The man’s chest started to beat so fast while looking at her face. Cassandra was looking at him for a moment but she was surprised to feel the skips of her heartbeat while staring at him. She had never felt that way before with any other man but Clark. She shook her head and Cassandra immediately averted her eyes and ordered coffee. Lizzy’s eyes were still on the man behind them. She could not take her eyes off the man's good looks. The man had brownish hair, he had long legs, fair skin, and most of all, he was so damn hot! Cassandra then orders coffee and she immediately pulls Lizzy away out of the shop so they can chase the man she has been waiting for. They were already outside the shop when the man turned his gaze to the woman. The corner of his lips slid upwards while looking at her. "Let's go!" she said and hurriedly drank the hot coffee and threw the cup in the trash bin and started running towards the school. "Wait!" Lizzy gasped and stopped opposite the school gate. Cassandra looked at her with a smile. "I'll be ahead of you," she said, and continued running. Lizzy shook her head while looking at her. "Really crazy! I was even left behind by a man who couldn't see her worth," she said, and immediately walked to school. When Cassandra went inside, she was panting and gasping for breath. She looked around, and there she saw Clark, the man of her dreams. Smiling, Cassandra went inside and started walking, but her gaze was still on Clark. "Hi, Cass!" greetings from one of her classmates. "Hi!" She was already sitting when she noticed a lot of people outside their room. "What's up?" she asked beside her. "Clark is the reason why they're upset," she only replied, so Cassandra bit her lip and looked slightly in his direction. Clark was wearing his headphones so he couldn't hear the women staring and shouting his name outside of the room. She smiled again while looking at him. She couldn’t believe that over three years she hadn’t seen Clark in person. “Clark? Can we take a picture?” a woman asked him. "Sure" he replied with a smile and immediately took a picture of the women who had been around him before. It was their break time, so other women had a lot of time to flirt. Cassandra was smiling while looking at him from a distance. She feels content while staring at him, even when he is far away. "Hey! There you go again. Hiding towards him again. Can you just tell him? Maybe he likes you too, right? You should try it, Cass, it's not just like that. Always hiding. I’m having a hard time and I’m tired of looking and watching you like this,” Lizzy told her, but she didn’t listen because her full attention was focused on Clark. After a few more minutes, she turned her back with a sigh. “Should I confess? What if he doesn't like me?” she asked her. "Then, you should accept it." “What? Accept? I can't accept that I’ve been rejected by a man?” she scoffed. “Don't you remember? I am Cassandra Dela Cruz. Why would someone reject me? I have everything. I can make him mine too. I'm just looking for the right timing to tell him how I feel.” Lizzy looked at her as she shook her head. She knew what Cassandra's plan was. "Here we go again," she said, as Cassandra started walking towards Clark. "Clark!" "Cass!" "Good to see you again," she uttered with a smile. "You too." "Shall we grab a coffee together?" “I’m sorry I have basketball practice today. Coach called me,” he replied. She chuckled, “It’s okay. You can practice then. There’s always a next time.” “I’ll get going then. I’ll see you around,” he said with those damn smiles again, which is why Cassandra fell for him. Clark was walking away. Cassandra bit her lower lips and Misty's group immediately approached her. “Oh poor, Cassy. That Clark rejects you again? You’ve been doing this since we were in high school. Aren’t you tired of chasing a man who doesn’t want you?” one of her classmates said to her in a teasing manner. She grinned evilly, "Misty, right?" “Yes. Thank you for recognizing me, Cass.” "Who can forget you? You’re a piece of trash.” "What did you say!" she looked like she was going to kick her out of anger, but Cassandra responded with a smile to make her even more annoyed. “I’m a trash? Do you know what you are talking about?” blazing with her angry question at her. “Yes. I know what I am saying.” “Oh, you seemed hurt? I’m sorry I’m just describing you.” To be continued...