Ready to Love

MR. ASSISTANT

The ANY girls woke up early to fix theirselves and their things. They decided to go home early since Avery will attend the church mass.

"Don't you, girls, want to eat breakfast first?" Mrs. Izumi invited them to breakfast but they just shook their heads.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Izumi, but I'll have my breakfast after the mass together with my family."

"Okay. Take care. The car is already ready outside." Yuna and Avery hugged Neria and her Mom before they went outside and they saw Mr. Izumi waiting for them.

"Did my Dad really told you that boys are not allowed?" Avery asked after they drop-off Yuna.

"Yes, we talked over the phone, 30 minutes before I arrive to pick you up."

"Dad is very sensitive when it comes to me having boyfriends."

"Well, all Dads are like that. We know how their young minds work." Mr. Izumi said without taking his eyes off the road.

"What if Neria will have a boyfriend without you knowing it. What will be your reaction?" Neria's Father broke an awkward laugh as he scratch his eyebrow. He seems that he can't describe what's running inside his head.

"I'll be mad, of course. What makes a Father mad is that he felt that his child don't trust him. Having a romantic relationship is normal especially for a teenagers like Neria, Yuna, and you, but you should always consider your folks no matter what decision you will make."

.

Avery was wearing a plain gray, sleeveless dress with a cute white ribbon as its belt that matched her floral sandals.

She and her family went to the church where thay usually go every sunday morning and they were surprised to see that it was locked.

"What time is it?" Her Father asked.

"9:12 am."

"Why is it still lock? The mass will start anytime soon."

The church's door is also lock and there were no signs of anyone.

"Maybe the priest is not available right now. We can try the other churches." Avery suggested.

"Avery, you're a Youth, right? Haven't the priest or any of your churchmate told you that there will be no mass today?"

Avery quickly opened her phone and she made a face palm when she read their groupchat.

THERE WILL BE NO MASS TOMORROW BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN EMERGENCY. THE CHURCH AND THE PRIEST ARE VERY SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

"Sorry, I didn't opened my phone last night. We can go to the other churches to see if there's an available mass."

.

"GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESSPASSED AGAINST US~" Avery sang as she intently stared at the guy who was singing with the choir.

Her eyes never left Ivan's innocent and charming face. Even when Avery lined up to eat the Holy Bread as her eyes never left Ivan.

"Amen." She answerred to the Lay Brother before eating the holy bread.

She made a sign of the cross before kneeling down and not closing her eyes. She saw how Ivan smiled while singing. His smile reached his eyes which make him satisfying to watch.

"Are we going now?" Avery asked her Mom.

"We need to wait for your father. He's talking to his colleague. Well, you can go to the car and wait for us there."

Avery went to the parking lot to wait for her parents and brother there.

"Hey." She looked around to see who's calling her. Her feet froze when she didn't expect that it was Ivan.

"I-ivan." She whispered under her breath.

"You're Avery, right?" She quickly nod her head without a second thought. She took a fast glance behind Ivan to see if her Dad was done talking. She doesn't want to get caught talking to a handsome guy.

"It's the first time I saw you attend the mass here."

"A-actually.....ehem." She cleared her throat and took a deep sigh of courage to continue talking. She literally feel uncomfortable and she felt her knees trembling.

"Theclosestchurchtoourhouseisnotavailable."

"Hey, hey. Slow down." Avery wanted to cry when she heard his adorable laugh. She wants to go home and scream Ivan's name in so much flush and shame.

"Breathe in, breathe out." She took a gulp and force herself not to show a smile when Ivan held her right arm. He started to inhale and exhale for Avery to do the same thing.

"Okay, okay. I-i'm fine now." She said when she finally took off the intension away from her.

"W-we usually don't attend masses here but the closest church to our house was close because the priest is not available." She straightly replied but still trembling.

"Ohh, is that it? I never knew that you're a catholic." Avery was alarmed when she saw her parents walking towards her.

"You will never know unless you ask. Well, gotta go." She immediately got inside her Dad's car using the car key. She gave Ivan a wave before closing the door.

She looked at the window and she feel nervous when she saw her parents' stares followed Ivan.

"Just relax, Ave. He's not your boyfriend. You don't have to worry." She reminded herself.

"Who's that guy?" Her Dad asked as soon as he entered the driver seat.

"He's my schoolmate. He's a senior, actually." She tried her best not to feel nervous. Her parents are quite sensitive when it comes to boys talking to Avery.

"He is handsome." She turned her head and saw Arthur who was smirking at her. A 9-year-old naughty boy whose mission is to always get Avery into trouble.

"If he's a senior how did you two met?" Her Mother asked when her Dad started to drove away from the parking lot.

Avery bit her lower-lip as she grasp her dress cloth tightly.

"He's a famous band member in our school."

"He's famous? Why did he talked to you?" She sighed because of the continuous questions which she really hates.

"He knows me. Some of his bandmates has a crush on Neria and Yuna, maybe." She looked up and she saw her Dad on the rear mirror, seriously staring at her.

"Just the two of them?"

"Of course, Dad. Who's gonna like me, anyway?"

"Yeah, Avery is right, Dad."

"Zipped your mouth." Her Mom strictly said to Arthur who immediately closed his mouth.

"I know boys, Ave. I just don't want you to end up getting hurt."

"You don't need to worry about me, Dad."

.

"Goodmorning, G10-3!"

"Goodmorning, Mrs. Ventura." They greeted back.

"Well, for the school's 68th Foundation Day. There will be a Fun Run activity. When? It's on June 20, saturday. Where? The run will start at the plaza and ends here in our campus." The three made a high-five.

Eversince 7th grade, the three will go shopping after the fun run and the other programs every Foundation Day.

"The registration fee is 200 pesos. The deadline of the payment is on the 19th Day of June, if you can register and join the Fun Run, I will give you a plus points for your Mapeh Subject."

Everyone in the class was smiling widely after hearing what the teacher said.

"Use your p.e t-shirt when joining the run, aside from that, there will be a surprise program for the students."

The students started to shout in excitement even the three girls. Avery is excited to see the Masculine Beauty where the contestants are all gay while Neria and Yuna has an hidden agenda and that is to see The Liss perform again on the day of their Foundation Day.

.

"Quick, quick."

Avery followed Neria, she quickly copied all of Neria's answer in a one-fourth sheet of paper. Avery forgot that they have an assignment for their History Class.

"Let's go." she said before grabbing her bag and went to their 1st period class in the afternoon.

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"Miss Jackson will be the one to check your assignments, kindly pass all your assignments to Miss Jackson." Neria and Avery immediately smiled. They're so fortunate that it is Yuna who will be checking their assignments.

"Wrong Spelling wrong, Miss Jackson. Kindly be strict." Yuna nodded to their male teacher and started to discuss their lesson.

"Ave." Yuna called her.

"Hmm?"

"You mispelled a word on number 5. Give me your black ballpen." Avery handed her black ballpen to Yuna when their teacher was busy writing something on the board.

"Done. I changed your Aristole to Aristotle."

"Thanks." she whispered back.

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"We'll just see each other after dismissal."

"Let's meet there, infront of the library."

"Okay, bye."

Avery went to the Cookery Department for her TLE class. While walking down the hallway, she felt someone staring at her. She turned around and she didn't saw anything suspicious.

She continued walking until she reached their classroom. She was first to arrive and waited for her classmates and Sir Jess.

Just a minute later, she wave at her classmate who just arrived. Avery thought that maybe they went to the cafeteria because of the burger wrapper she saw on their pockets.

"Goodafternoon, everyone." Avery and her classmates quickly stood up when Sir Jess sudden arrive who was walking very fast until he reached the Master's table.

"Goodafternoon, Sir Jess."

His face look so worn-out because of the sweat that was flowing from his forehead. Avery also noticed that Sir Jess was catching his breath.

"Get your notebooks and kindly write down all the cooking terms you know as we wait for my assistant to arrive."

Avery followed as Sir Jess' ordered. She write down all the cooking terms that she remembered from last year's lesson.

Such as Dollop, Dot, Dredge, Drippings, Drizzle.....

She suddenly stopped from writing when she remembered that Sir Jess was waiting for his assistant. Avery wondered who it may be, she recalled her experience last year and remembered that a Master Assistant should be a Senior Cookery Student.

"Glad you still came. You're 10 minutes late. You should be a good role mode--"

"Yeah, yeah."

Her eyes widened as she instantly dropped her pen when she saw who it was. She can't believe what she's seeing right now.

It can't be.

He is now wearing a clean white polo uniform with a green perfect tied necktie and a brown neat pants.

He looks a like a decent student.....

He's a student here in Beethoven Academy?!

"Xanthite will be Sir Jess' Assistant?!"

"I'll be motivated to learn Cookery now."

Xanthite?

Avery looked at the guy whose hair is black as a raven. His emotionless electric blue eyes that would make any girl kneel. He stood 5'8 in height, he has masculine and firm shoulders. Avery's eyes went down and she took a gulp when she saw the transparency his polo can be. She can sense an eight-pack hiding under his uniform.

If he's the Bully that everyone used to know..... Then, I'm one of his target?

"Introduce yourself." Avery could hear the strictness in Sir Jess' voice.

"Xanthite Anderson, 18. Can we now proceed?" He seemed so bored. His eyes roamed around the kitchen and his eyes met Avery's.

Avery immediately looked away and pretend to write something on her notebook.

"If you already wrote down atleast 10 Cooking terms you can pass your notebook to me while Xanthite will be discussing some things to you."

Avery immediately stood up while holding her notebook. She went to Sir Jess to pass her notebook. She saw Sir Jess' smiled at her as he receive her notebook.

Avery immediately turned her around when she heard a sudden boom and she saw Xanthite stopped from discussing. Her view went down to Xanthite's hand, she can see his veiny arms and his hands that turned into ball of fists that was resting on the vacant kitchen island.

"Is there something wrong, Xanthite?" Sir Jess' asked him.

"Absolutely, nothing is wrong." His baritone voice brought shivers to Avery as she went back to her seat.

"I want everyone's eyes and attention as I discuss our lesson for the 1st Quarter. Don't even smile if you don't want to get out." Xanthite glares didn't escape from Avery's view as he looked away and started lecturing.

What a rude assistant!