The Clarity of Love (Montereal series #2)

02

Up until now, I'm still with this guy, and I don't know how to escape from him. He's holding my wrist with full of strength!

"Let me go! I will really shout loudly here. You'll see!" I tried to pull away from Ryder's grip, feeling my frustration and anger rising. But he only chuckled, seemingly amused by my threat.

"You're already shouting," he said, his smirk evident in his voice. Without giving me a chance to respond, he led me into the music room. I had thought we were alone, but to my surprise, there were other students inside.

As I searched through my bag, a sense of relief washed over me when I finally found my Chanel medallion tote bag. I carefully placed it on my lap, making sure to avoid any contact with the floor or any other surfaces. Yes, I was a bit particular about keeping my things clean and pristine, especially something as precious as this bag. Next, I rummaged through my bag again, this time looking for my trusty alcohol. I always carried a small bottle with me, ready to sanitize my hands whenever needed. I couldn't stand the thought of someone else's germs on my hands, and I preferred to take extra precautions to protect myself from potential allergies or illnesses. Some might call it being particular or fussy, but for me, it was just a matter of personal hygiene and being cautious. I've always been this way, and I saw no reason to change that. After all, it's better to be safe than sorry, right?

"Here, Señorita," Ryder said with a smile as he handed me a piece of paper.

My eyes widened in surprise as Ryder reached out and gently took hold of my hand. It was a gesture I wasn't accustomed to, as I had always been cautious about letting strangers touch me. But before I could react, he placed the piece of paper he was holding into my hand, leaving me momentarily speechless.

"What's this?" I asked, raising a curious eyebrow as I looked at Ryder. He had picked up the laptop that was sitting on the table, and there was a video playing on the screen.

"The Phantom of the Opera," Ryder said, excitement evident in his voice as he referred to the video. It seemed like he was thrilled about it. But what was it exactly? Was it a movie?

I tried to suppress my curiosity as I focused on finding the script he mentioned. "This is the script?" I asked, holding up the pages in my hand. He grinned, seemingly pleased with himself. "Yes, that's it. The script for our performance," he confirmed.

I looked down at the pages, scanning through the words and trying to get a sense of what the performance was about. "So, we're doing 'The Phantom of the Opera'?" I asked, seeking confirmation. Ryder nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! And guess what? You're my Christine, and I am your Phantom," he declared with a wink.

Upon discovering that "The Phantom of the Opera" was a classic story written by Gaston Leroux and even had a movie adaptation in 2004, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. I had heard of the story before, and it was indeed intriguing, but what bothered me was the fact that Ryder had assigned me the role of Christine and himself as the Phantom.

As we settled in to watch "The Phantom of the Opera" movie for rehearsal preparation, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The realization that it was a musical and romance movie made me slightly nervous. Singing? Well, I was confident in my singing abilities, but I wasn't sure about Ryder's.

As we sat side by side, Ryder pointed out the characters of Phantom and Christine on the screen. It seemed like fate or maybe the others' doing that we were intentionally placed together. I felt a bit uneasy with the situation, but I didn't have much of a choice.

"I know. I'm not stupid," I replied, trying to sound confident and unaffected by the whole situation. However, deep down, I couldn't deny the slight discomfort that lingered within me.

As the movie continued, and the scenes between Phantom and Christine unfolded, I couldn't help but notice Ryder humming softly to the music. I wasn't sure if it was him or someone else in the vicinity, but the sound of his humming added an unexpected layer of intrigue to the situation.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I risked a quick sideways glance at him. To my surprise, it was indeed Ryder, humming along to the beautiful melodies of the movie. There was a hint of fascination and appreciation in his eyes as he watched the on-screen characters, and for a moment, I found myself captivated by his genuine interest.

Were done watching movie. Ang iba ay bumalik na muna sa mga rooms nila, ang iba naman ay parang nagmememorize na sila sa mga scripts nila. I decided to go back na lang kay Mila since ayoko naman ng magstay ng matagal dito and ayokong makasama ang lalaking ito.

"Hep! Where are you going?" Ryder's voice interrupted my attempt to leave. I turned to find him blocking my path, a look of curiosity on his face. I couldn't help but raise a brow at his audacity to stop me.

"Now what? Do I still need to ask for your permission? Who the hell are you? Besides, we're not close kaya stop talking to me. Remember, you still owe me an apology." I couldn't help but let my frustration show as I confronted Ryder. His playfully smile and hands in his pockets only added to my annoyance. Oh, he had dimples too, but what was the sense of those dimples if his attitude remained the same?

"Huh, what are you saying?" Ryder raised an eyebrow in confusion, acting as if he had no idea what I was talking about. I couldn't believe he was trying to play innocent after what he did.

"You grabbed my wrist earlier!" I shot him a death glare, hoping to convey just how irritated I was with his antics.

You're unbelievable, Señorita," Ryder couldn't contain his laughter.

"And you're unbelievable too, Señor! Don't you dare to touch me again or else I will kill you!" I declared, my frustration evident in my tone. Clutching my bag tightly, I turned to walk away, making sure to give him one last show of attitude. Before I could pass by Ryder, I flipped my hair dramatically, a parting gesture to express my disdain for him. It was my way of asserting that I wouldn't let him get under my skin, no matter how much he tried to provoke me.

I continued walking down the hallway, grateful that Ryder didn't follow me. Maybe my threat had some effect on him, or perhaps he simply didn't want to deal with my fiery temper. Whatever the reason, I was relieved that I didn't have to endure his company for a while.

As I made my way to the school's exit, I couldn't help but chuckle at my earlier outburst. Threatening to kill him was definitely an exaggeration, and I knew I wasn't capable of such a thing. I was not a violent or malicious person, and the thought of getting into trouble or going to jail was far from appealing.

"What's with that face? Oh! Ryder? You should be happy my dear, Clara." As Mila continued to gush about Ryder and how lucky I was to have the opportunity to work with him in the play, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. It was as if she was living in her own fantasy world, where Ryder was some sort of prince charming who could do no wrong. Little did she know that behind that charming facade, there might be a different side to him.

"Mila, you really need to stop daydreaming about Ryder," I finally said, unable to hold my tongue any longer. "He may seem nice and charming in public, but who knows what he's really like behind closed doors? People can put on an act, you know."

She looked at me with confusion in her eyes, not understanding my skepticism. "But Clara, he's so sweet and friendly! I saw how he treated his fans earlier, and he was really nice to them."

I sighed, trying to find the right words to explain my concerns. "Yes, he may be good at putting on a show for his fans, but that doesn't mean he's genuinely kind and caring. Some people are just good at playing the part they think others want to see. I'm not saying he's a bad person, but I just don't want you to get too carried away with your feelings for him. You barely know him."

Mila pouted, clearly not pleased with my response. "But Clara, you don't understand. He's different. I can feel it."

I shook my head, not wanting to argue with her any further. I knew how headstrong she could be when it came to her feelings. "Okay, fine. Believe what you want."

We were about to walk when suddenly this guy came. My heart pounded in my chest as I found myself trapped between the wall and this infuriating guy's arms. I tried to push him away, but he held me firmly, not letting go.

"What do you think you're doing?" I hissed, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear and anger bubbling inside me.

I could feel my heart racing as he stood there, his face mere inches away from mine. His presence was intimidating, and I could sense that he was trying to get a reaction out of me.

"Are you trying to make a scene? Tskk!" I raised a brow, trying to maintain my composure despite the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

He just smirked, seemingly amused by my reaction. "Relax, Señorita. I just wanted to talk."

My heart pounded as he moved closer, and I could feel my breath quicken. "What's with you? You look serious, but sorry, you can't get away with that kind of behavior with me," I said, trying to sound confident despite the fluttering feeling in my chest.

"Tsk. I'm going to use you for my sake." His eyebrows raised and lowered. What does that mean? I couldn't decipher his intentions, but one thing was clear – he was not to be underestimated.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, trying to mask the unease in my voice.

He smirked, enjoying the effect his words were having on me.

As I walked away from Ryder, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Seeing that disappointed look on his face was a small victory for me. I knew he was used to getting what he wanted, especially from girls who were swooning over him. But not me. I was not going to be just another girl in his collection. "Sorry, but I'm more precious than the other girls, so you can't use me. Sorry not sorry, Señor," I called back to him, flashing a smirk over my shoulder.

I could see his surprise and frustration, and for a moment, it felt empowering. I had always been the type of person who valued my independence and didn't want to be just another conquest for someone like Ryder. I wasn't going to let him play with my feelings or use me for his own amusement. I continued walking confidently, not looking back, and tried my best to shake off the lingering feeling of his arms around me. It was true that he had a certain charm that could draw people in, but I wasn't going to fall for it.

My heart skipped a beat as his hand made contact with my arm, halting me in my tracks. I turned around to face him, my eyebrows furrowed in irritation.

"Let's use each other then."