Her Sweet Vengeance

Chapter 7 (Court)

CHAPTER 7 (Court)

They booked for a restaurant near the park. The ambiance was great and the tables were set up outside. The restaurant offers grilled meat, simple soups and vegetables. The cool night air seeped through my skin and I inhaled deeply the refreshing scent of fresh air from the nature.

“Is this PYOO?” asked Mariah. My forehead creased. What’s PYOO? Is it a dish?

“What is..” she cut me off by answering my supposed to be question.

“Girl, PYOO means Pay for Your Own Order. I heard in Filipino, its KKB.” Surely, Mariah knows a lot. I guess that is because she keeps on surfing the internet.

“KKB?”

“Kanya kanyang Bayad. So, is this PYOO or… who’s gonna pay?”

“Now that you asked for it, can you pay for the orders Mariah?” asked Jim. I was holding my breath trying to fight the urge to laugh out loud. I saw how Mariah held her breath too. Her eyes almost popped out and her face is beet red. Is she…

“PYOO or you pay for all the orders since you are the only male here,” Mariah replied. Woah! She composed herself that fast. It’s incredible. I think it will take me about a minute to compose myself. I really salute those who can compose theirselves in just a matter of seconds.

“Then, PYOO it is. I’m only buying food for Miracle since this is her party,” Jim said and he took the menu book. I was shocked. He need not to. It will be too much.

“It’s no party Jimmy. No worries, I will pay for my order. I brought money. Look! There is really no need to do that. You agreed to PYOO so that means I need to pay my share.” I replied as I was shocked. If they will pay then I must pay for my share too.

“Stay still, we will buy you the best foods here. It’s a welcome gift from us too. We can just collect the same amount to pay for it,” it was Jinny who said that. She flipped the menu book’s pages.

“It will not be fair for your part guys. I will pay for this dinner instead.”

“We owe you much more than you think girl. Instead, can you pay for the foods when you know, you throw a party on your birthday.”

“Uhmm…” Birthday party? I never had that in my entire life. I don’t know what to do at that parties. And where will I held the party? It’s not right if I bring them to the rooftop room because that place is not spacious enough to accommodate us all. This could be a big problem.

“Don’t say that you hesitate now. Come on!” Jinny whined. I looked at them and I know that they are really expecting me to throw a party. I guess, there’s nothing I can do. Can I ?

“Fine. The birthday party will happen.”

They all shouted in joy. I guess they love foods that much huh? I guess I need to save up a little amount for that day. I completely forgot how it feels to celebrate one’s birthday. I just remember the day but not the feeling of bliss that you were born that day. I know this is vain but I already thought before that my birthday is a curse. It was the day that I became miserable.

The foods arrived and our table fell silent as each one of us focused on eating our dinner. I admit, this is the first time after how many years; to eat in a table with someone. My tears fell on the soup bowl as I remembered the tormenting past. I was trying so hard that my sobs won’t be heard. I was just thankful that this place is dim and it is located in the far end. Me crying, will not be noticeable. I picked up the table napkin and wiped it on my damp cheeks.

“Oh? Why are you wiping your face with a table napkin girl?”

“Ah… this, uhmm… the soup. Yeah! The soup splashed on my face as I put the spoon.” They all nodded then continued to eat. Thanks heavens that they buy that old alibi. I don’t really know how to answer if their questions rain on me. It will sound odd; I mean my reason for being so emotional. It was already around nine p.m when we parted ways.

***

The school grounds were noisy as a lot of students come and go. Today is a typical day. At one of the benches at the Eco Park, sat Grey. He is holding a guitar and he strummed it slowly while his eyes were closed. The soft tune filled the air. He softly hummed a very familiar song.

The grasses swayed and the leaves of the tree rustled as the wind plays with them. The sun’s rays, constantly peeks at the spaces between the trees’ foliage. A soft footsteps were heard and then it stopped in fron of him.

“What are you doing?” asked a male voice. Grey opened his eyes only to see Mike, his childhood friend, now sitting in front of him.

“You can see it already. Why ask?” asked Grey. He put the guitar next to him and c***k his knuckles.

“I’m not asking what are you doing right now. It’s what will you be doing. Oh I know already? Wooing a woman’s heart? Tell me… is it her?” he pointed out the cheer leader who was walking with her friends in high heels. Grey shook his head in disapproval.

“Not her. It’s someone I have recently met. She’s beautiful. Her eyes sparkles under the light of the sun and her heart is golden, for short, she’s kind. A beauty with a heart,” he smiled as he imagine Miracle.

“You’ve gone mad don’t you? This lady with a beauty and a heart might not even like you even a bit.” Sarcasm drips in every word that Mike says.

“Don’t rain on my parade man! That’s why the word ‘trying’ was invented. I can try and try until she falls for me,” he answered with determination.

“To what extent huh? Until you get rejected for a hundred time? Thousand maybe? I sometimes don’t get what’s running in your head.” Mike shook his head while his eyebrows furrowed.

“You can’t really. Because she keeps on running on my mind, 24-7.”

Mike shook his head and threw a dead leaf on him. Grey brushed his polo as the leaf was stuck there.

“Aigoo! Suit yourself Grey. It’s not like I am the one who will end up broken hearted anyway. Clearly, from the description you gave me, this lady is not easy to please. Just don’t call me one day and you will be needing my advice or my presence too drink your pain away.”

“Why are you speaking so ill of my soon to be love life?” Grey placed the guitar back to it’s bag.

“It’s pure illusion.”

“I don’t care. I will court her no matter how many times she rejects me.”

Around 5:15, at the school gate, Grey patiently waited for Miracle to show up and his long wait was not put in vain as she appeared among the horde of students who were taking their exit. Miracle was holding her bag’s strap and her hair was done in a ponytail. When she saw him, she smiled brightly and went to him. He was trying his very best not to stutter or shake in nervousness as she went near him.

“Hey! You’ve been here for a long time already?” asked she. Miracle was still catching her breath.

“Uhm… no. I was actually here just a few minutes ago.” Of course it was a lie. His last subject was done already at 4:45 p.m.

“So, you’re off to?”

“I’m off to Granma’s place. Well, I… she c-called me. Yeah, she called me earlier and said that I should check her… uhmm potted plants. You know that she’s gone to a beach with pink sands with her friends.”

“Was it pink sand beach? As far as I remember, she told me that they will go to a certain cave that has rock formations inside and some healing water and herbal plants that she will propagate.”

“Ah… that was a day… a day before. She told me earlier that they go resort hopping so she ended up at the pink beach with her amigas.” Grey was sweating bullets as he was trying to make up some stories. He was silently praying that Miracle will never notice his white lies.

“Okay. She never called me though. She might have forgot to tell me.” Grey let go of his breath as Miracle was convinced by his alibi.

The both of them started walk on the street. Grey was just actually buying time so that he and Miracle will be together longer. He was readying himself for the confession he is yet to make.

“So, how’s school?” he asked her.

“School is fun like I imagined it to be. There are less bullies. Maybe because they start to get matured and students deal with their problems more than they deal with other’s lives. I am busy with all those major subjects but it makes me happy since everything is new and interesting. I heard that the examination period is three weeks from now.”

“Really? It happened so fast.” Grey faked a shocked expression even though he have known about the upcoming tests weeks ago.

“Time – you won’t realize that it already passed by. I admit it too. I’ve been here for three months now. And I never felt any changes. Is it because I am always busy? I don’t know really.”

“I think this is enough time to have it.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Miracle curiously.

“Uhm… I will tell you later okay?” Miracle just nodded. The only thing they can hear now is their footsteps on the cemented pathway. When they were already in front of the house, Grey’s nervousness doubled.

“Won’t you come inside? You said earlier that you need to check the new plants.”

“Ah yes. I was about to do that.” Grey nervously chuckled as he followed Miracle who lead him to the garden after closing the iron gate.

“These are the newly potted plants that your Grandma have. This one is a new variety of snake plant, this pot contains some r**e flowers, that one is daisy and thunder lily…”

“Stop.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for narrating their names. I thought you were interested.”

“I’m sorry too. This was not the reason why I actually came here.”

“But you told me…”

“That’s a bluff. An alibi just to buy some time. There’s no point in prolonging this Miracle. I know it’s been how many months since we met each other. I know that it is too fast and this is somewhat shameful for…”

“I know what you will say.” Grey was startled at what Miracle replied. She was smiling while talking to him.

“How? Wh-what will I say huh?”

“Aish! You need not to be ashamed you know. Easy boy, okay? Are you asking me to include you to my birthday party? My colleages and I planned it already. Of course, you can come.”