I Want You Given

I Want You Given: Seraphina's Suprise

I Want You Given: Seraphina's Suprise

Chapter 2

The locker door slammed shut with a satisfying click, echoing in the near-empty hallway. I tossed my PE bag inside, the scent of sweat and chlorine lingering faintly. "So, what are you going to do with Zander?" Ara asked, her voice buzzing with excitement. She was still reeling from my little prank earlier. "You know, he's been teasing you for ages, and you finally got him back!"

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "It was just a bit of fun," I said, but a smile tugged at my lips. "He deserved it."

We headed to the cafeteria, the familiar scent of fried food and coffee filling the air. I took my usual seat at our favorite table, the one by the window with the best view of the courtyard. Ara, ever the chatterbox, went to get food. I pulled out my lunchbox, the aroma of Maria's tinula (braised chicken) filling my senses. It was my favorite, and I couldn't wait to dig in.

"Seraphina, what is that?" Ara exclaimed, her eyes wide with curiosity. "It smells amazing!"

"It's tinula," I said, taking a bite. "Maria made it this morning."

"Can I have some?" she pleaded, her eyes sparkling. "It looks so good!"

I chuckled. "Of course," I said, offering her a piece. "Maria makes the best tinula."

Just then, Zander appeared, his face a bit flushed. He carried a tray of food, his expression a mix of annoyance and begrudging respect. He placed the tray down in front of us, his eyes meeting mine. "Seraphina," he said, his voice a bit strained. "I'm sorry about this morning. I was just trying to be funny."

I smiled, a mischievous glint in my eye. "Don't worry about it, Zander," I said, opening my lunchbox and revealing the tinula. "It's all good."

Zander's eyes widened. "What is that?" he asked, his nose wrinkling. "It smells...weird."

I laughed, taking another bite of the chicken. "It's tinula," I said, my voice dripping with amusement. "It's a Filipino dish. You wouldn't like it anyway. You're on a diet, right?"

Zander groaned, his face turning red. "Yes, I am," he mumbled. "I'm training for the track team."

"Oh, right," I said, my smile widening. "I forgot. You're going to be a star athlete."

Zander tried to hide his embarrassment, but I could see the blush creeping up his neck. He was always so easy to tease, and I couldn't resist.

"So, what are you guys talking about?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"We're talking about the project," I said, my voice softening. "We need to get started on the presentation."

"Oh, right," he said, his tone turning serious. "I have a few ideas."

Ara, who had been listening quietly, piped up. "Zander, why don't you join us?" she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "It's a group project, after all."

Zander hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay," he said, taking a seat at the table. "I'm in."

As we discussed our project, Zander surprised me with his insights. He had a sharp mind and a knack for problem-solving. Perhaps he wasn't as immature as I thought.

"So, Zander," Ara said, her voice filled with curiosity. "What are your plans after graduation?"

Zander smiled, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I'm going to Madrid to study medicine," he said. "I've always wanted to be a doctor."

"Wow," Ara said, her eyes widening. "That's amazing! You're going to be a doctor?"

"Yeah," Zander said, his voice filled with pride. "I'm going to make my parents proud."

"Well, good luck," I said, my voice sincere. "I'm sure you'll be a great doctor."

"Thanks," he said, his smile widening. "And I'll be back to get you back for that red ink prank."

I laughed, my heart light with the thrill of the challenge. "I'll be waiting," I said, my voice filled with playful defiance.

The bell rang, signaling the end of our snack break. We gathered our things and headed to our next class, ICT. Ms. Byte, our strict teacher, was waiting for us, her expression as stern as ever. She was Ara's aunt, and she always seemed to have a special kind of disapproval for Ara. I could tell that Ara was already dreading the class.

"Alright, class," Ms. Byte said, her voice sharp and authoritative. "I'm going to give you a surprise quiz today. It's going to be 1 to 50."

The class groaned, their faces filled with dread. Ms. Byte was notorious for her surprise quizzes, and they were never easy.

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. I loved a good challenge, but I knew that Ms. Byte's quizzes were no joke.

The quiz was tough, but I managed to finish it. I was confident that I had done well, but I still felt a twinge of nervousness as I handed in my paper.

"Excellent work, Seraphina," Ms. Byte said, her voice surprisingly warm. "You always excel."

I smiled, feeling a surge of pride. I had aced the quiz, and I knew that Ms. Byte was impressed.

"Ara," she said, her voice turning cold. "You need to work harder. You're not living up to your potential."

Ara's face flushed, her eyes darting down to her paper. She had scored a 40, a far cry from my 47. Ms. Byte's disapproval was palpable.

"I'll try harder, Aunt Byte," Ara mumbled, her voice barely audible.

Ms. Byte nodded, her expression unreadable. "I expect to see improvement," she said, her voice firm.

The class continued, and Ms. Byte reminded us about the upcoming project presentation. We were all nervous, but I was confident that we would do well. We had a great team, and we were all determined to succeed.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. I gathered my things and headed out of the classroom, feeling a sense of relief. I was glad that the quiz was over, and I was looking forward to my next class, General Math.

As I walked down the hallway, I saw Ara and Zander waiting for me by my locker. "Hey," I said, my voice warm. "Ready for lunch?"

"We're starving," Ara said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Maria's cooking, right?"

"Of course," I said, my smile widening. "Maria's always cooking something delicious."

Zander, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. "I'm driving," he said, his voice filled with a hint of pride. "My dad finally let me borrow his car."

"Wow," Ara said, her eyes widening. "You're so lucky!"

I smiled, feeling a surge of excitement. A car ride with Zander and Ara? This was going to be fun.

We piled into the car, and Zander pulled out of the parking lot. As we drove, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Today had been a good day, and I knew that the rest of the week would be even better. After all, I had a secret weapon: Maria's delicious cooking. And I had a feeling that Zander was going to be in for a few more surprises.