Loving Don Julio

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

After their practice, Aries opened his phone. There were plenty of messages. From his social media. Down to his contact number.

His innate charm and handsomeness drew all the people. He’s the campus crush. And his built was a bonus. Considering he’s the team’s captain.

“What are your plans tonight?” one of their teammates asked him. “Probably bring medicine for my girl,” Aries took off his shirt.

They are now changing clothes in the locker room. “Sasha’s sick again?” Tom asked. He bobbed his head. “Common colds, you know,” Aries’ phone vibrated.

“Look! It’s Hailey,” Tom opened Aries’ phone. “Damn bro. How come all the hot girls are thirsty for you?” he teased. They all laughed.

Aries snatched his phone back. “Stop it dude. I’m a changed man now,” he said. They all went silent. “I’m kidding!” Aries and his teammates cheered on that.

Nick asked a question. “So, now that Sasha is sick. And our school will be hosting a Valentine’s Day program tonight. Does it mean that Hailey will be your date tonight?”

The crowd went wild again. Aries flashed a confident smirk. One that implies he can get anything he wants to. Well, the perks of being born rich.

Born with privilege. Living life just to party hard. And burn money. “Guys, guys, chill,” he chuckled. “It’s for me to keep and for you to find out.”

And the school’s rugby team were teasing, speculating, and predicting already what would happen tonight. In contrast, Sasha was clueless about it.

After sending her boyfriend a message that she was sick. And asked him if he could come to his place and buy him some medicine. Sasha was faking it all.

It was just a ruse. To surprise him. She missed him a lot. And it’s Valentine’s Day. She wanted to be the one to make an effort this time.

Like last year, it was Aries. She’s beyond elated. Later, he agreed to go directly home to her place after their practice. But the happiness she felt was mixed with worry.

“Where are you, Aries?” she talked to herself. Sending him a new text again. Eight o’clock passed by already. And not even a single strand of his hair is visible.

She waited patiently. Until the food she prepared turns cold. And her eyelids went heavy. She checked what time it was. And noticed that three hours passed by already.

And inside her inbox was nothing. Sasha called him. Thrice. But her calls were directed to Aries’ voicemail. “He might be getting ready now. Or he probably fell asleep,” she said.

Sasha comforted herself with lies. But inside her head, it was chaos already. She felt that something was wrong. But she chose to be deaf and blind.

To keep her mind busy, she browsed through social media. “What is this?” her eyes squinted. Randomly saw their school’s live stream on her news feed.

She gasped. Hands were shaking. Eyes getting warmer. “N-No,” her voice cracked. The familiar broad shoulders of a man can be seen on the video.

Wearing formal attire, incorporating the school’s Valentine's night event. And tears started escaping from her eyes as the man turned around. And kissed a lady on the cheek.

“A-Aries,” she covered her mouth. Sobbing silently. She quickly stood up. Turned off her phone. And shook her head. “N-No. No!” she said.

“He won’t do that to me… not again! He promised me. You promised me, Aries,” her knees wobbled. She almost fell on the floor.

Sasha wiped her tears. And decided to see it for herself. She booked a cab and went to their school. The event was hosted at the school’s gymnasium.

She went there as soon as she stepped foot on the campus. The music was so loud. Laser lights and fog and haze were on the stage.

She looked for him while maintaining enough space for her not to be seen. Sasha wanted to catch them in the act. She was an intelligent person. Yet, blinded and fooled by love.

Aries was her first. All of it. And she had already lost count of how many times he cheated on her. And how many times she forgave him.

The music changed into a mellow one. Sasha had already found Aries’ table. And she recognized the lady beside him. She was the school’s captain of the cheerleaders.

Blonde. Petite. Curvy waist. She was gorgeous. It made her feel insecure. “May we request the couple or the participants to please make use of the stage and dance the night away?”

The emcee gave the que. Students were on the dance floor. Doing a sweet dance for your partner. Like a prom. And Sasha, on the other hand, stood still.

Shocked. But not surprised. It was so painful to witness it. It felt like a knife plunged directly into her heart. Over and over again.

Meanwhile, Aries and Hailey decide to leave the dance floor. Unbeknownst, someone was following them. Amidst the dark hallways, they still found a way.

Sasha trailed behind them. Until Aries and Hailey went inside one of the school’s restrooms. She gasped. And covered her mouth. Her chest tightened.

With her withered legs, she managed to enter the said establishment too. It feels like a bucket of ice was splurged onto her face.

“Aries. I’ve been waiting for too long for this!” Hailey’s moans echoed in the restroom. “You sure did. You won’t stop sending photos to me,” Aries responded.

And their muffled moans and kisses were a melody that Sasha never imagined hearing. She pushed the door and ran away.

It creates a sound that makes them pause. “Hey! Who’s there?” Aries asked. “Get away you perverted monkey!” Hailey clapped back.

Sasha cried while running. As her visions were blurred by her tears, she then tripped and fell. “Ouch!” she screamed. Noticing under the bright moonlight that her knees were scratched.

Nonetheless, it didn’t stop her from crying. Until she found herself standing in the school’s library. Where it is open and quiet.

With head down low, she entered. But Sasha bumped into something she thought was a wall. She fell onto the floor again with her bum first.

“Ouch! Argh!” she wiped her tears. “I-I’m sorry. Are you alright?” a man asked. Sasha paused. And held her breath for a few seconds.

The cold wind blew against her face. She smelled the man’s scent. And recognized the familiar voice. She slowly lifted her head.

And their gazes met. “You,” they both said to each other. As if they rehearsed it. There it goes again. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at him.