Chapter 4: UNPLEASANT ENCOUNTER
CHAPTER IV: UNPLEASANT ENCOUNTER
"Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues."
-Confucius
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'SOMEONE'
"Father! She needed to go home! Let her go home! She needed to transform the fifth eclipse or else she would die!" A woman pleads.
"I gave her a choice and she chose to take another path."
"You're punishing her too much! What else can't you accept? That she chose that life instead of ruling this clan!?"
"Yes!"
"Father you know her! If being responsible is what you want her to be, then you should be proud of her because she did! She did father. Only in a way you didn't want to, but she did."
'BRIGETTE'
"Good morning Miss." They all greeted.
"Do already hear the news regarding the killing of animals in Burgeon's forest?"
The class shared their theory and instinct about the tragedy upon what happen. Some of them says it's not just a killing but also a disease for it is spreading, the other says the hunters might put something on the stream causing the animals to weaken, and so they could be an easy target. The time that supposed to be for the discussion only went on to Burgeon's forest animal killings and how the animal center responded to the problem. One of the student from Burgeon says even local residence are now helping, making their house as a temporary shelter place for the animals except those risky wild animals. The news was all over the television, the radio and even in the newspaper. She just hoped the people receive a reliable one. The instructor leave thirty minutes before the time and still, the conversation runs to the killings.
The bell rang at exactly 11 am. They all fixed up their things and head to the cafeteria where a load of students were eating. Out of the rumors regarding the killings, she put her earphones and play a song, minimize the volume in which she could still be heard when someone calls her. As soon as they are already at the cafeteria, the killings is what she could be heard. Tomas and Ericson ordered first ordering pasta bacon cheese and went to the vacant table for four near the glass wall. This time, she ordered not just an apple but also a baked Mac and soda. Laide ordered the same. They went to where Tomas and Ericson are and started eating quietly.
"It's just a second day, but rumors are wild spreading again." Tomas said.
"My dad already foster two platypus."
Ericson informed them and yawn.
Brige and Laide didn't say a thing and focus only on their meal. She still didn't get off her earphone for it was not pleasant for her to hear the killings of animals while taking a meal. Guess music is going to her best friend for the rest of the day. Sighing, she rested her back on the chair and felt something soft and cold behind her making her to sit straight and gaze at her back meeting a pair of brown eyes and a smiling face.
"I'm so sorry." She said.
"No, It's fine really. I love the smell of your hair and the music is so nice. I also noticed that you're not comfortable to the topic." He said smiling, and she smiled back awkwardly thinking how weird the man just said.
"Okay? I-I'm going to continue my meal." Uncomfortable, she beamed at him and so as she was about to look away, she found herself being captured by a gaze of a black pair of cold eyes. She looked at the table and realize that who she just communicated is one of the Madrigal.
"Oh yes, sure. Enjoy your meal, Miss Brigette." The man said, and so she slowly turned her face to her friends who are eyeing her skeptically. She eyed them back eagerly wanting to tell them to 'act normal' in which they all figured out.
'Iris'
She nearly drops her utensils when she heard someone calling her by second name.
'Didn't you feel it?'
Due to curiosity, she removed her earphone and look at her friends who are busy checking their mails and scrolling something in their phones. She surrounds her gaze preventing to look at the group behind her. Everyone is busy having their own business. Who is that? She asked.
A couple of seconds, she returned her earphone and was glad to didn't hear it again. They all decided to just stay in the cafeteria for the rest of the hour. The Madrigal already walk their selves out and only few students left. She removed her earphone and turn off her phone before looking at her friends.
"He knows you." Laide said. Confusing, she asked what is she talking about.
"I mean the guy in your back earlier, he knows you, he called you by your name didn't you anticipate?"
"Uh, no?"
"Brige is too preoccupied to notice. Spill the beans Brige maybe we can help." Ericson suggested.
"I don't have any secrets, but I'm honestly curious about them. Why are they in here and, and the color of their eyes is different."
"What you mean by different?" Laide asked.
"The one I talked to earlier, his eyes is gold. It has something different."
"Come on Brige, those men are very wealthy. Didn't you think they can't afford a contact lens? Maybe they just want something different in the way they look." Laide commented. "They're so freaking hot." Laide added.
"You didn't even know their names, Laide. Stop daydreaming them." Ericson tease and chuckle.
"And who says I don't? I had a little stalking-thingy last night so, don't me. The one that Brige bumped, it is Aiden Madrigal. The most humorous of them all. He is known as friendly and joyful person, and he is in College of Businesses. Age and birthday, no one knows. Beside Aiden is Maxton Madrigal. The most playboy of them all and taking the College of Medicine. Age and birthday, no one knows. How I wish I could also be his girl." Laide said dreamily.
"I bet he doesn't so please continue." Tomas said annoying Laide, and she just rolled her eyes.
"We'll, across Maxton is Lennox Madrigal. Just like Aiden, he is friendly and approachable person. He like sports, and he is also good at academic. He is in College of Humanities. Age and birthday, no one knows. And last but not the least, the most fearful one, Chase Madrigal. The rudest of them all. No one can approach him except for his cousins only. He doesn't socialize nor attending camaraderie. He is mysterious for me really, and he is in College of Literature. Age and birthday, again, no one knows."
"Great information." Tomas said sarcastically.
"Where did they live?" She asked.
"In Burgeon near the forest."
Hours passed, and they were about to go back to their respective room for the afternoon subjects. She was busy typing on her phone messaging her mom when she felt something flowing 'in there'. Nervously, she told them to get along and quickly run to the nearby comfort room she knows. She entered a cubicle, lock the door and search for her sanitary pad. She quickly unwrapped, do it nicely and fix her clothes until she is already satisfied and comfortable as ever be. Feeling safe upon any stains, she open the door and stunned to see that the broad, Chase Madrigal is in front of her occupied cubicle, looking cold and rude the way he is. She looked at the door making sure she entered the right place, and she was. It is the lady's comfort room.
"You need anything?"she asked yet ten seconds past, and he's still not responding. She felt a little uneasiness to the warmth she felt, the same warmth she felt yesterday and uneasiness knowing it is Chase Madrigal the rudest.
"Stop lurking my mind." He said looking directly straight to her eyes. She looked at him unbelievably and laugh in terms of annoyance and embarrassment.
"Excuse me? Do you hear what you're saying? I'm not lurking your mind. I have my own mind to deal, I am carefree and most of all I'm not interested in you so keep off." She said in the most intensive way, leaving him where he stood. She was marching all the way to their room and sit violently, heavily breathing.
"Hey, are you okay? What happened?" Ericson asked.
"How can someone think too high of himself?" She asked furiously.
"I bet it's the Madrigal, am I right?" She looks at Ericson's suspicious eyes.
"How'd you know?"
"I saw him following you right after you run. Honestly Brige, I always caught him staring at you since yesterday and earlier at the cafeteria. Do you know him?" He asked.
"No. He's a complete stranger. A total jerk who think high of himself. What are him, some sort of majestic? Not because they're rich mean he can control anyone wherever he goes. I hate him."
"Are you sure of that?" Laide smile teasingly.
"Yes! Let's just stop blubbering things about him. It's not worth it."
She calm down herself move her gaze directly in the window. The wind blows nicely, and so she close her eyes let herself swarmed by the cold thin air making herself felt like in the middle of somewhere peaceful. Minutes later, their instructor appeared from the door.
"Yesterday, we tackle about the proper first aiding. Before we continue our lesson, let me give you, your first semester project in my subject. As the news of Burgeon's forest animal killing has already wild spread, an idea came to my mind. Now, your first project is, Saving and Documenting. You are going to seek any sicked or injured animals that is just rounding in the street or where ever place you go, take them with you, foster them and make a documentary about it until your patient goes better. After that, you can look for an any voluntary owner or if you want, you can keep it with you. What important is that you are going to make a documentary about the progress of that animal and the deadline will be at the end of this semester. If the animal is fully well completely had progress until the submmition, it is counted and if it died, then look for another one. Are we clear?"
"Yes Miss." Answered by all.
The rest of discussion went very smooth for everyone especially the instructor has a great sense of humor. She easily forgot her annoyance, and found herself concentrating to her lectures, which she always kept clean, neat, and has the assured information. The bell rang, and the instructor went out. She lay her back to the chair, sighing, and just anticipating about the rest of the day.