Someday Soon, With You

Chapter 25

Aro

“So, Dad chose his wife over you?” Aro asked his mom.

“I didn’t made him choose, I just disappeared. He’s in love with someone else and it’s not like I’m in love with him” his mother explained.

“What about raising me alone? That couldn’t be easier. You’re a single mom, and you almost gave me everything I want” he asked again.

“I can’t take the credit alone. Your grandparents helped” she answered.

He thought about it. “She must have been very beautiful to be chosen instead of you”

“She must have been” she answered. “Just not the same way as me. It only meant your father is someone who look beyond what the eyes can see” his mother smiled at him. He smiled back.

I am happy

I am happy you’re back

I don’t want to light you candles every November. I don’t want to bury you

I am very happy you’re back again. I missed you the whole time

The voice of Alpha still resounding in his ears. It’s been hours since he came back from the reunion and from Alpha’s house. He threw himself to bed and shut his eyes hard. He saw the look on Mira's face, speechless, utter shock and pain. He never thought about taking Alpha away from her. He doesn’t want to be the reason for someone else’s pain.

He woke up early and started to prepare. It’s his first day to work after all. After taking a bath, he went to prepare his clothes but saw it already ironed and ready to wear. He smiled. It’s his mother. As soon as he finished preparing, he opened the door of his room and saw his daughter just standing in front of his room, wrapped in her favorite yellow blanket. He smiled.

“Where are you going?” she asked with a serious look on her face. He silently laughed. He carried her down and went to the kitchen. “You’re going out again?” she asked again.

“I am going out” he answered her softly, almost a whisper.

“You can’t!” she shouted.

“Why not?” he asked. He sat near the table, his mother put tea in front of her.

“No going out today! If you’re going to play, you can play here!” the little girl demanded.

He laughed. “Baby, I’m not going out today to play. Daddy is working so we can buy milk” he explained to her smiling.

“Can't we just, not buy tea instead?” he asked. Even his mom laughed at her question.

“We can't. That's Daddy and Mama Dolly's medicine?” he answered.

Ara looked at him sadly, she didn’t speak. “You have to go straight home after work, okay?” she asked instead.

Aro laughed at her and kissed her head. “You have to be good here, always listen to Mama Dolly, okay?” she nodded.

After eating breakfast, he took a cab to the university. He looked at his schedule and saw CAS main-Room 223b. Where the hell is this? I should’ve looked around yesterday, he scolded himself. “Hi” he greeted the first group of people who walked near him. They’re students, based on their IDs. The girls looked at him and smiled. “Can you tell me how I’ll get to 233b from here?” he asked smiling at them.

The girls were smiling and giving each other meaningful looks. “Go inside that building” one answered him. “The first floor are all Room 100s. This room is 200s so they’re on the second floor, you can look for it from there” she explained.

He looked at the building the girl pointed. “Thank you” he smiled at them. He can feel the girls giggling behind him. He can almost feel himself smile. It’s been so long, he thought. It’s been so long since college girls have been screaming for him.

He looked around the room as soon as he entered. The room hasn’t filled half of the chairs. It’s still 6:32 and they still have twenty-six minutes before the class starts. He sat on the chair nearest to the door and put earphones. He's teaching this class Biology 1-Lecture, he still has two more lectures and three labs to teach that day.

At seven o’clock, he stood up and walked in front of them. He took off his earphones, took his notes and white board markers. He looked around the room, he didn't smile, and all eyes on him. Good! He thought. He needs to establish himself, they’re not friends and he means business. “Good morning” he greeted. Still not smiling.

“Good morning, Sir” the students answered. It’s good that Filipino students are taught to be polite to their teachers.

“I am Katharos Panemorfi Montenegro, and I’ll be teaching you Fundamentals of Animal Biology or Bio-1 as you call it” the students started taking out their notes and pens.

The first lecture turned out good. He dismissed the class at exactly one and a half hour. The students are starting to go out when he called, “excuse me, how many floors is this building?” he asked.

“Two, sir” one of his students answered.

“Where’s Room 408A?” he asked again.

“It’s in CAS-annex. We’re having our next class there, you can come with us” they offered.

He saw William at the door looking. “Thank you, but I have to talk to someone. You can go ahead” he declined.

“You’re good at teaching” William commented. “Although, you can smile from time to time” he added.

“How long have you been standing there?” he asked.

“Long enough” he answered.

“You shouldn’t make a habit out of it, it’s creepy” he told him. “Where’s this?” he showed him his schedule and pointed his next class.

“It’s in the annex” he answered. “Let’s go, I’ll take you there” as they walked out of the room. “By the way, do you want to meet the varsity players?” he asked.

“I told you, I don’t want to coach them. I’m busy settling Kathara here, I’m fine teaching her” Aro said.

“But with your skills, it will help improve the team” William convincing him.

“I’ll pass. I even need to buy a car” he continued.

William stopped walking and stared at him for a while. Aro stopped as well. “Do you need a car? My cousin’s migrating and he’s selling his car. He just bought it three months ago, you’ll save a lot. And it’s still in good condition” he offered.

“Really? Sure, sure! I’m interested” he can also drive Kathara around.

After five, they went to William’s cousin to look at the car. William didn’t lie, it’s still in good condition. It’s a white Toyota Camry. No scratches, complete paper. He gave half the payment. They agreed that he’ll give the other half as soon as the papers are processed. “Want to test drive?” William asked.

“Sure” he answered. “Let’s go the complex” referring to the gym they always practice. They got in the car. “This is so nice” he commented.

“It is. They were rushing to sell this car, his whole family is migrating to Canada” William explained.

“Good for them, and good for me” he smiled. William smiled back.

They arrived at the complex and went straight inside. William followed him, it will be so weird and funny bringing him to practice, everyone in their team, Harold and Mathew included, hated him.

“Hey, you guys!” he greeted.

“Hey, man!” Harold greeted back. His eyebrows lifted up as soon as he saw William. “And someone who follows Aro, hello” he greeted William.

He chuckled at Harold’s greetings.

“Hey” its Alpha.

“Hey” Aro greeted back. His memory of last night suddenly flashed his mind. He went to talk to Harold to get it out of his head. He heard them talking but didn't bother to join.

“Oh, you bought a car?” Alpha asked him.

He was about to answer when William cut in. “Yeah, we bought it just now”

“Really? You bought it with him?” Alpha asked him again.

“Yeah” William answered. “I'm surprised you weren't there. You're not mad I came with him, right?” he asked Alpha.

“Of course not” Alpha answered him. Aro nodded at Alpha, telling him that they did bought it together. He then continued talking with Harold but he’s all ears to Alpha and William talking.

“I’m also convincing him to co-coach our varsity players, it will be good to have him show his skills” William telling Alpha smiling.

“I’m sure it is” Alpha answered.

“So, you’ll really work with him?” Harold whispered to him.

“I know, it’s weird” he answered. “I haven’t told him I’ll teach his players” he was telling Harold when they heard the sound of punching behind them. Alpha and William were going at it, Mathew went to help stop them. William’s a little bigger than Alpha, but it’s hard to stop to buff men fighting. They were still stopping them when Mira suddenly came between them. Alpha’s side lip has blood on it, there were cuts in William’s face. “You have to get him home, Mira” he told her.

Mira didn’t even look at him. “Let’s go, we’re going home” she told Alpha. “If you want to hurt him you will have to get past me and hurt me too! We’re going home” she shouted. Alpha seemed to calm down after hearing Mira. He followed her out of the building. She didn’t even get her things, he saw Yuan taking them.

He also called William after Mira and Alpha left. They were inside the car, driving in silence. “I’m sorry about what happened” William apologized.

He didn’t know how to respond. Alpha isn’t the type to start a fight. “You antagonized him, didn’t you?” he asked.

“I always antagonize him. I always antagonize you. How’s today any different?” he reasoned out.

“It doesn’t matter, just stop it. You two almost hurt Mira” he added.

“That’s why I’m apologizing” he quickly responded.

He glared at him, eyes squinted. “You antagonize me right now” he irritably said.

“I’m sorry, I will stop” this time Aro felt that this is a real apology. “So, that girlfriend of his, why is he so irritated of me hovering at you when he’s already taken?” he asked. Aro didn’t answer. “Does he still like you?”

Boy, if only murder is legal, he thought. “Maybe” he answered.

“Really? Then why—”

“William, it’s complicated. But one thing is for sure, I don’t like you that way, so please” he said exasperated. William stared at him, he immediately felt guilty about what he said but he can’t take it back now. “I’m sorry, we can be friends but that’s just it” Aro continued.

“Oh” William said looking for words. “Yeah, uhm no” he started. “I do like you, but not that way, no” he laughed awkwardly. “I know I always irritated the both of you, and I tried to take you for my team out of pure respect of your skills. You’re good. Plus, I always felt jealous at what you and Alpha have, because I didn’t have that. My only best friend is my father. For a long time, I crave for something I will cherish, like a best friend. And I would like to be your friend. But, yeah. No. That's just it” he explained with a bit of smile. Awkward smile.

“Good. We can be friends” he smiled. “But don't antagonize Alpha. He's off limits. And you don't call him Alpha, just Archi” he said.

“Noted!” William laughed.