A Promise of Love

Chapter 3

“WE CAME from an audition in the Little Theatre,” Barbie answered happily.

“What kind of audition?” Kurt asked.

“An audition for the Rondalla,” Barbie replied as she raised her bandurria.

“Oh, okay. C’mon, get inside the car and I will bring the two of you home,” Kurt answered back.  He opened the door of the car. “Hey, bro, will you sit at the back?” He told the guy who was sitting beside the driver’s seat.

“Oh, no!  You don’t have to do that,” Barbie interjected when she saw the guy getting out of the car.  “We will just walk.  Dorm 5 is just nearby.  It must be awkward on the part of your friend,” she added.

“Don’t mind them.  They were just hitchhikers,” he said nonchalantly. The guy who was sitting in front went out of the car.  He opened the door at backseat of the car.

Barbie saw that there were two other guys who were seated at the back of the car. The guy who just alighted squeezed himself with the two.

“Do you think we will fit at the front seat?”  Barbie asked wondering.

“This is the only space left for both of you. Don’t worry, you and you friend are both sexy,” Kurt said while smiling playfully.  He then took hold of the bandurria that Barbie was holding.

Barbie tried to put her hand away. “Don’t bother.  I will just hold this one.”

“No, I   will just put it at the trunk of the car, So, you and your friend can sit comfortably,” Kurt reasoned out and took hold of the bandurria.

Barbie could not protest anymore.  So, she just gave her bandurria to Kurt.  Then she entered the car first and sat at the vacated space.  Genevieve followed and sat beside the door.

“Are you comfortable in your seat?”  Barbie asked Genevieve when they were both seated.

“It’s good that we don’t need to walk again going to the dorm,” Genevieve said while smiling at her.

“Besides, it’s already late in the evening.  You are not supposed to be roaming around the campus at this time,” Kurt answered when he sat back at the driver’s seat.

Barbie kept silent.  When she looked at the rear mirror, she noticed that the guys at the backseat were also quiet.  She felt guilty. Although, these guys were not complaining, she was still ashamed that this thing happened. If only Kurt was not so imposing, then she would rather walk with Genevieve even if it’s already late at night.  There were some students who are also walking home. They could walk with them.

A few minutes more had passed when the car stopped in front of Dorm 5.

“Hey, why don’t you open the door?” Barbie told Genevieve.

“Wait, this car has automatic lock,” Kurt explained. Then he pressed something.  “You can now open the door,” he said.

When they were out of the car, the door at the backseat also opened.  Then they saw one of the guys, alighted from the car.

“I will just get your bandurria,” Kurt said and smiled at her.

Barbie was contemplating to follow Kurt, but Genevieve pulled her.  She was shaking her head.  So, Barbie just waited for him.  She saw his friend went back to his previous seat in front of the car.

“Thank you very much for driving us here to the dorm,” she said when Kurt handed her the bandurria.

“You’re very much welcome,” Kurt said while he was smiling. “The next time you will come home late or doing other things at night, just call me and I will fetch you.”

Barbie’s eyebrows furrowed.  Kurt took out his cellphone from his pocket.  He pressed something on the cellphone before handing it to her. “Here’s my number.  Just call me if you need help.”

Barbie could not believe his words.  She looked at him and back again to his cellphone.  She didn’t know what to say.  Is he serious when he was offering his help?

She could feel Genevieve’s elbow pressed into her.  When she looked at her friend, Genevieve was handing her a notebook and a pen.  She put down her bandurria and took the notebook and ballpen.

“Can you just dictate your number?” Barbie asked Kurt when he looked at her.

Kurt dictated his number slowly.  Then he repeated it one more time.

“Thank you for the ride,” Barbie said when she was sure that she got the numbers correct.

“Alright, I will wait for your call. Good evening!” As soon as Kurt blurted this out, he went back to his car.

“That was awesome!  You were so popular with him,” Genevieve blurted out when the car was gone.

“Oh, you might be mistaken.  Maybe he was just being nice to girls.”  That was the only logical explanation why Kurt offered his help.  It was impossible to think that he might…like her?

“ARE YOU sure that you can do it alone?  Would you like me to come with you, so that we could go home together?” Genevieve was worried when Barbie told her that the Rondalla will have a rehearsal.

“No need for that.  I will be alright. I don’t want to impose on you.  You are not a part of the Rondalla.  I will just walk home together with the others,” Barbie explained.

This is the first day of her rehearsal with the Rondalla that is why she is excited.  She does not want to think that there will be a problem when she comes back after the rehearsal. That is not what bothers her.  She was worried over the rehearsal itself.  Is the trainer kind or strict?  Will she get along with other members of the Rondalla?  Can she follow what the trainer will teach them?  Those things are bothering her and not what Genevieve was worrying about for her.  

“Are you sure of that?  Why don’t you just call Kurt?  Ask him to fetch you.  Anyway, he volunteered to bring you back to the dorm if you will go home late,” Genevieve suggested.

She rolled her eyes towards the ceiling and scratched her head.  It’s been a week since the last time she saw Kurt. She no longer saw him passing by after their PE class, just like before.  So, she was thinking if Kurt really meant what he said about offering his help.

“As if Kurt was serious by what he said,” Barbie replied with sad tone.  She doesn’t want to give herself false hope.  She knew that Kurt was good-looking and popular in the campus.  He would not devote his time to an ordinary girl like her.  He must only be showing his gentleman manners so, he told those words to her.  For all she knew, he might have a girlfriend after all.

Ouch!  That hurts!

What is that?  Why is it that she felt like someone pinched her heart by that thought that entered her mind?  Is she jealous?

Oh, no! Does she like Kurt?  That can’t be.  She would surely get hurt.  Besides, Lola Matilda said that she should not have a boyfriend.  Surely, even courtship is not allowed.  The only thing that might be possible is for her to have a crush on Kurt.  Then if she is only infatuated with  Kurt, then she should not be jealous over his girlfriend, right?