Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Sunny

The moment the bell rang after the first half of our class, I stood up and looked at Steven's chair. I could already see that he was clearly avoiding my eyes and trying to look at the other side.

"Oho! Who is this man who is trying to avoid me and my eyes? I heard his name was Steven Andre Rendezcah." I said, acting as an announcer. "We will start our plan today, right?" I asked him, but he was not answering. "Right?!" I asked and stood where he was looking. "Do not even try to avoid me, Steven. This is it. This is the day we will make friends. Do not delay it anymore, man up!"

He sighed and started to clean his table. Putting his things inside his bag, he finally took his wallet out. "Call Shiela. Let's eat together, and also my treat." He answered, sounds weak.

I saluted at him and yelled, "Shiela! Come with us!" I invited her. Shiela quickly made her way to us. "His treat! He just told me today!" I excitedly whispered the good news.

"That is why I like you! You are doing a good job!" Shiela told Steven.

We started walking towards the canteen and saw Marco. I was about to call him when Steven called Marco.

"Marco." Steven called.

Marco made a fist bump with Steven. "Why? Do you want me to come with you to the library? Sunny hates the library now. She believes that the ghost is living there." Marco asked and was teasing me too.

There was no day that he would not tease me about that library story. I am starting to hate this man now. I think pulling his hair is not enough now. Should I punch him or kick him in the future so that he will not bother me?

Steven shook his head. "Do you want to come and eat with us?" he finally invited someone. "We are headed to the canteen, and this is my way of making friends, or else Sunny would not let me live quietly." he shared.

Marco laughed after hearing the reason from Steven. He nodded, "Okay, okay. I think I can help you with that. You should also try to talk to our classmates. We are all waiting for you to approach or talk to us. It's been weeks since you studied here, and yet you only talk to Sunny and Shiela." Marco replied. "It is the first time I have seen or met someone like you. Are you really this introverted? Are you just shy or not comfortable? social anxiety? something like that?" he asked.

Steven shook his head once again. "I think I am just uncomfortable." he answered. "I do not talk that much." he honestly replied.

I nodded to his answers. He is not really talkative.

It was also the first time I had met someone like this. I am not used to people who do not talk too much. It feels like I will just waste my saliva, but after my experiences with Steven, I think it is bearable in a way.

That is why I am forcing him to make friends. I know forcing is bad, but I think he really needs some push from me. He really needs to.

"But you know, there is a good chance of making friends. That is why I also think that what you are doing today is right and just." Marco said, laughing. "In this way, if your closest friend is not here or not available, you can still ask for help from the others. Trust me, it is useful and you will be able to use it." he added.

Steven nods his head. "I also think that you are right. I am starting it today." he shared.

When we reached the canteen, we quickly followed the line to buy our food, and after that, we went to a vacant seat and took a seat.

"So, how are your studies here? Are you happy here or does it not satisfy your expectations?" Marco asked as he was opening the buns he bought.

"That's correct.We never asked about it. We need to know if you are happy to study here." Shiela commented.

Steven opens his bottled water and says, "I am satisfied. The university is clean and they have everything I am asking for." he said.

"Why? What are they?" I asked and tried to open my bottled water too. "And why is this too tight?" I asked when I could not open my bottled water. "Help." I said, and gave it to Marco.

"I was hoping about the quality of their education and so far I am satisfied. The professors here are better and more intelligent than I expected." he shared. "And I especially like the library. They have books that are worth reading." he added.

"What a bookworm." Shiela commented. "No wonder you are brainy." she added.

"Let me taste your food." Marco said and tried my food. "It's good. Taste mine, it is worth buying too." he said.

I tried the buns he bought and tasted them. It has chocolate inside that makes the buns good and better!

"It is good! I will buy this one tomorrow." I told him.

"I told you!" Marco replied. "Oh right, about Mr. Prile. Have you heard any news about him?" he asked.

"No, I never heard of him after that day. I do hope that he won't do that again to his next students. That would be bad if that happened." I said.

"Let's pray for that," Shiela commented. "Oh right, Marco. Were you really hurt that day? Did you know that we were about to act if you never happened to do that? I was ready to cry and act as if I could not do it anymore and that I was close to fainting." she added.

Marco's eyes wided. "Trust me," he said, making a cross sign in his chest. "That day morning, I was already running and doing some things. Add the long, extreme running in our PE for an hour and a half. My legs are wobbling. I thought I could still run in a few minutes, but it failed me. I just fell and I cannot even feel my feet anymore." he shared. "I thought I would not be able to walk again. Our classmates, Philip and Mark, helped me ride a taxi on my way home. I almost crawled for two straight days." he added.

I cannot help but pity him. We can feel what he went through that day.

"The next day, my legs were sore and I could not even walk properly. It feels like someone hit my legs and made it hard for me to walk." I also shared my experience. "I am like that every time after our PE class with Mr. Prile."

"Same here. It is much worse than our cheerleading practice. I was absent for two days because of the same reason. One of our members had the same situation with me. It is a good thing that our instructor knows about Mr. Prile and let us rest." Shiela said, sharing her experience too.

I turned to Steven, who was quietly listening to us. "How about you? Were you okay that day? How was it? What did you feel when you were confronting Mr. Prile and what happened afterward? You seemed relaxed and collected. Did you not get nervous at that time?" I asked.

"You became my idol after that day, Steven. I almost ran and hugged you to thank you for saving us." Marco said, laughing. "If you did not do that, I do not think we are mentally fine after that." he added.

Marco is right. Even I was already getting crazy from the thought of doing that even it is only happening once a week. That was tiring! there is no way I can manage that stress if it takes too long!

"At first, I do not have any plans to do that. After two or three visits to his class, I already know how it feels. I am pretty strong and I can endure those kinds of things, but I do not think you guys can endure them. That is why I decided to confront him after you collapsed." Steven shared this after taking a drink. "If you, a man, collapsed out of energy, how can it be more for the girls? I also do not think it is safe anymore. I have been observing Mr. Prile since then and he is not that Professor you must look forward to meet. That is why I invited the principal to come see what was happening."

"But why are you still calm that day? If it was me, I would have died in my position already. I might even collapse in front of him!" I commented.

Who can still be calm in that situation. Even though I was not the one who confronted him, the sweat from my forehead is no joke. It looks like they were crying out of fear. I might also cry too. I can not handle those kinds of people.

"Mr. Prile is not the only person who has that kind of personality I have met. In our place, there is much more to be afraid of. He cannot even reach my father's wrath. He is not enough to make me shudder from my position." he shared information about him.

Was his father was that scary?

Is he that kind of strict father?

No wonder why he is like that.

"Was he scary?" I asked out of curiosity.

He shook his head. "No, he is one of those chill type dad. It is just he has this kind of position in our place and he is the one who managed everything in our organization. Dad is different when he gets mad. Our family came from the line of battling war." he shared.

Right, his grandparents are in that kind of work.

"That explains your calmness that day. I thought you are just built different." Marco commented. "Is your parents not living with you?" he asked.

Steven nodded his head, "They are staying where we originally lived. Because of our studies and his work, my brother and I decided to live separately." He explains.

It was the first time I heard him share things about himself. And it was also the first time he talked this long. Isn't it new?

After our break, we went back to our room. Our president and vice started to check if we had any assignments for the last two subjects. We only had one now.

"Who has notes for our first subject now?" the president asked.

Some of our classmates raised their hands. "But I was not able to jot it all down." she explained.

Even my notes. Ma'am. Maala talks faster and she does not rely to any visual aids. She said we must learn and broaden our listening skills.

"I will try to ask other sections if they have notes..." he stopped talking and staring to one direction. "Ahh...yes, Steven?" he said that made me look to Steven's direction and saw him slowly putting his hands down.

"I have notes from our lesson last week. You can take a photo of it and send it on our group chat." he suggested.

YES! HE DID THAT!

NO ONE TOLD HIM, AND I DID NOT FORCE HIM AT ALL!

IT WAS HIS OWN ACCORD!

"Really?!" The vice inquired, her eyes widening. "Have you taken notes since the start of our lesson? What in the world was that?" she asked.

Steven nodded. "If you need notes about our lessons, I can show them to you. As long as my notebook comes back neat and clean." he replied, with warning included.

"I will take a photo then and send it on our group chat. You are a blessing in disguise, and we are glad you are starting to open up to us." President said and smiles cutely.