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It all felt heavy. I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders while walking in the hallway, feeling down about what happened last night. I walk towards the school board office, expecting to see Miss Ram del Carmen and the other teachers.
The voices of students whispering about the incident are the only sounds I hear in my head, I guess word got around. My face stayed numb, emotionless with hints of disappointment. I turned left, on my way to the office.
"Savelle?" Missis Vaun says in surprise, well technically not that surprised. For sure they already anticipated me barging in. "What brings you here?"
"About the post." I said, they all looked at me. Every single one of them inside the school board office stared at me. "We don't know who posted it but this person must really hold grudges against the school."
"Yes, and we are trying our best to find out who posted that claim." A man with deep voice came in, I turned around and I felt nervous. He's wearing a suit along with a black tie, this man seems to be in his late 40's. If I'm not mistaken, he's Alvern Jimenez, founder of Sapient University. "Good morning, I came here to personally discuss the matter."
"Good morning sir, you should have told us that you're going to visit so we could've prepared." Miss Ram says. "This is Savelle Elviera sir, she's S.U campus president."
"So you're the one who orchestrated the entire S.U fundraiser for this year?" He asks with his arms folded in front of his chest. I nodded. "I'm impressed Miss Elviera. Don't worry, your hard work won't go to waste, I will make sure of that."
"Thank you, sir." I said before leaving the room, giving time for them to talk. I felt more at ease, as long as I know they're finding ways for the event to go on, I'm already satisfied. I proceeded to the lecture room.
Our lecture started the minute Miss Vaun came in from the meeting, she informed everyone that the founder and school board made ways just for the fundraiser event to turn into reality. Vry and I looked at each other with smiles on our faces, I just know that it's Miss Ram who fought for what we believe in, what the students worked hard for. What we promised the children.
The day went by smoothly, it's lunch time at the cafeteria with my friends. We are extra busy now, Amee and Theia constantly contacted the food stall owners making sure the arrangements are fixed. Vry, Kor and I started picturing what the stage would look like if we decorated it, Venylie handled the rehearsals and the performers. I wrote the entire program, even made brochures for people who aren't students of S.U.
Wednesday, a few more days from now and it's already the fundraiser event. I might be pressured, but I'm doing my best to make things work especially for this event.
"Sav, you should eat first." Korics handed me a croissant. I looked at him, and grinned before shaking my head and turning down his offer. "I don't care if you're busy, you should at least eat something."
"Okay okay, thanks." I took the croissant and slowly ate it while still looking down on the sheets, writing the program so that the emcee, Theia, won't go through any difficulties during the program. "Guys, I'll go to the office, I have something to ask Miss Ram."
I shot up from my seat and walked out of the cafeteria. I'm going to ask Miss Ram about the event and about the issue, also to suggest that the school's page should take that post down to stop attracting any attention that may affect the fundraiser program and yes, the university's image as well.
It's a head-scratcher, I have been trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together for quite some time, thinking about what the person's intention for posting that. Is it indeed cyber libel? Or is it facts? Was that person trying to warn us about being used for the founder's own personal wants? I don't know, and that's why I'm trying to figure out, I'm prompt to do anything just for this fundraiser to happen because I made a promise.
"Savelle Elviera?" I got startled when I heard a man's voice, I was looking down and I could only see the man's shoes and when I looked up I was staggered! It's Mister Alvern Jimenez. "It's you again."
"Sir, it's nice... seeing you again?" Why did I say that?! I sounded so awkward! I cursed myself in my head for countless times because I felt embarrassed.
"I adore your dedication for the fundraiser program." He says with a warm smile emplaced on his face. He seems like a nice man. "Don't worry about the post, the school will take it down. Yet I won't disregard the case, I'll find out who's the owner of that dummy account. You and your friends focus on the event."
"Yes sir Jimenez, noted."
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go."
Weird. I sat in front of Miss Ram after going in the office, she's busy filing up reports and fixing her lesson plan. She looked tired, as tired as all of us. The officers, I just can't wait for this week to end. A breather! A lot of people dislike Monday, but for us this Monday is going to be great! It's the fundraiser event, and after this, everyone both teachers and students are given breaks. A chance to have a vacation.
My friends and I planned to go on a weeklong trip! It's undecided where we'd go, but it's certain that we're going to travel together the next week. After the S.U fundraiser event. If I were to decide, I'd definitely choose a beach trip. Isn't lovely how the sunshine showers upon you and how the refreshing wind would cripple through your hair.
After my three other classes for the afternoon, Korics and I decided to head to the park to get some fresh air. We're also waiting for Vry and the others since they went off to buy iced coffee. Kor and I sat on the bench, admiring the trees around us.
"I heard you encountered the founder?" Korics started a conversation. "What's his name again? The juniors said he's pure terror."
"His name is Alvern Jimenez. He seems like a nice man, but he's intimidating." I stared at the clouds, trying to form objects in my thoughts using them. "It's my first time seeing him in person. Do you think he has kids? He looks lonely."
"Why do you even care?" We both laughed.
"What are you guys laughing about?" Vry sat beside me holding cups of iced coffee, she handed Korics a cup, she handed me the other one too. "Hey, I payed for these so thank me."
"Thank you madam Vrylle Gaia." Korics and I said in sync before laughing hard.
Venylie, Theia and Amee arrived, also holding iced coffee cups. They sat on the bench in front of ours. I suddenly had the idea of calling Gaeb so he'd build a bond with my friend group, after all, Korics is the only guy we hang out with. Gaeb seems nice, but also mysterious. Like he's got a lot of secrets.
"Miss Elviera? It's a surprise you called." Gaeb's same, old chuckle. "Do you need anything? Perhaps, me?"
"Mister Flores, aren't you being a little too assuming?" I laughed, Korics stared at me with his arms folded on his chest. "Just called to ask if ever you wanna hang out.."
"That'd be great."
"So, where are you?" I asked.
"In Wright High. Where are you?"
"Park, Third bench."
"Copy. See you." He then hung up.
A black Volkswagen pulled up in front of us, it was Gaeb. Vry and the girls stared in shock, Theia smirked saying it's "her type" I don't even know to where she's referring, the car or Gaeb. Anyways, when he went out there's this aura I always notice. You know, when somebody randomly walks near you and he manages to make everyone's head turn.
Gaeb, with his smug face sat on the bench near Amee. I could feel the tension between them, just like that time in the cafeteria, when I first introduced Gaeb to them. Amee kept ignoring him the entire time, and now, she's doing it again! It makes me wonder if ever they know each other for a long time already.
"Nice ride." Korics says, we all looked at him with wide eyes. This was the first time we ever heard him compliment Gaeb or something that Gaeb owns. It was amusing. "Your parents gave you that?"
"I bought it myself." Gaeb says proudly. Korics was taken aback, even I was too! "Hmm, Ameelya Triz Vison."
"What?!" Ameelya says in pure annoyance.
"Woah, chill." Gaeb smirks, Vry and I were enjoying the tension while Kor, Theia, and Venylie sat there confused and all mixed up. "Aren't you going to tell them about us?"
We all sat there in shock, I looked at Amee who's all red now. Gaeb never took his stare off of Amee, it looks like he's having fun seeing her this way. He is weird.
"What's wrong with you?!" Amee said in aggravation, she even clenched her fists. "I don't know you and you know nothing about me!"
"Are you sure? Just tell them I'm that guy you met from Wright High." My lips parted in shock! Venylie started teasing them while Vry, who's slow most of the time, was still busy processing what Gaeb said. "That guy you met on a dating site."
"So that's why your surname was so familiar, Gaeb!" I shouted in excitement, Vry finally understood. Kor was still shocked and I could sense him trying to stifle a laugh. "When Amee didn't want to tell us your entire name, she only said 'he's a Flores'."
"Girls, stop it." Ashamed, Amee says while covering her face with both hands.
"Hey! I have a crazy idea!" Theia says in exaggeration, we stared at her blankly. "Oh come on! Just let me share this!"
"What?"
"Why don't we bring dates in the Sapient University Fundraiser Event!" We all exchanged gapes, Gaeb already claimed Amee. She didn't even get to say something, even one word, he already concluded. "Hmm, I'll look for a date later. Hey Gaeb, do you have any friends in Wright High? Maybe you could introduce me to one of them.."
"I'm going to look for mine, later." Vrylle says. "Or maybe Gaeb could lend me one of his friends."
"If you're all going to rely on Gaeb in finding a date, then might as well rely on him too." Venylie says with sass, we all laughed. "So, Theia and Vry, let's go date hunting later."
After talking about the fundraiser and Theia's "crazy idea" We all went our separate ways. Gaeb offered to take all of us home in his Volkswagen but I refused. The girls did accept his offer, I decided to go with Kor in his motorcycle. We drove away, he made me wear his helmet, again. When we arrived, I waved goodbye and thanked him.
I was about to go in when he jumped off his motorcycle and held my wrist. I lost my balance and struggled to stay still, I almost fell but he was able to catch me and my head rested on his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, which made mine beat fast too. I felt shivers down my spine, or was it butterflies? I don't know.
"Sav? About Theia's crazy idea?" He asked.
"Yes? What about it?" He smiled, the most genuine smile I ever saw. My heart was fluttering, and so were the butterflies in my stomach.
"Well then, will you be mine?"
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