Chapter 3 - Three Red Roses

I had a good sleep after I talked to mama. She had told me again how she and papa met. Their love story was my favorite, and I would not get tired of listening to it. In my 22 years of existence on earth, no one dared to court me. I did not know if there was something wrong with me or if there was something off about me. Yes, I was not like those girls who were so passionate about the latest trends or fads. I did not wear sexy shorts nor thick makeup. I just wanted to live freely, far from mess and distress. And simple living was enough for me.

The next day.

"Kae?" I heard Maya's voice from behind. I was busy writing the assignment that Professor Toriko had given us. My attention was on the whiteboard, and I was not ready to face her because I was not done writing.

"Yes?" I was not facing her yet.

"Could you look at me?" Mayb's voice was so calm and soft.

"I'm still writing, Maybe." Professor Toriko just went outside to do some stuff, and she told us to copy our assignment that is to be submitted the next day.

"Just turn around, and I'll give you something, please." I was busy writing, but I could not just ignore Maybe.

"Okay-okay. I couldn't resist your charm." I was shocked when I saw her right hand. Flowers.

"From your suitor, Maybe?" I asked confusedly. I did not have any idea of why she was holding those three red roses.

"They are from your suitor, HAHA!" she teased me.

"Aishah. Lower your voice. They're looking at us." I did not want to get the attention of my classmates.

"Don't worry cause Zen, Diego, Marc, and Lura are not here. They're in the cafeteria," she whispered.

"Just lower your voice, okay? And please sit down here." I pointed to the chair next to me. The one who was sitting on the vacant chair just went outside to buy something in the cafeteria.

"Okay-okay, madam." She sat down with the three red roses in her hands.

"Are those really for me?"

"Yes-yes!" she exclaimed.

"And those are from you. I know you're just kidding." I smiled at her.

"Hmmm." She rubbed her hair and smiled at me. "No."

"What?! Then, from who? Who gave that to you?"

"They are really from your suitor… Just kidding. I don't know. I just saw these on top of your locker. It is from a guy, I guess!" And who was the insane guy who would give me three red roses, huh? Who?

"Put it back there, Maybe. We don't know who that person is. Maybe he or she is just fooling around." I could not help but to doubt the identity of that person.

"Or maybe he is your admirer for real!" She seemed so happy about that though, she seemed so happy for me.

"I don't have any admirer, Maybe. Stop it."

"Just accept these." She handed me the roses with a wide smile on her adorable lips, but I did not accept those. I just could not. "Maybe those red roses are the start of something new, Kaede Guzman!"

"I won't, Maybe—"

"Ops! They are coming! Keep those roses!" Maybe immediately ran towards her chair and sat down because Zen, together with the others were approaching our classroom. Gladly, they were not able to catch Maybe talking to me. But unfortunately, the roses landed on my lap she disappeared near my side. I hate you, Maybe!

I looked at the roses that she left. "What would I do with these?" I whispered softly after I held the three roses. "Should I keep these?" I asked myself.

"Professor Toriko is coming! Keep quiet, everyone!" said Miyara.

I kept and put the flowers inside my bag because I did not want Professor Toriko to see those with me. But I knew that Zen had seen that I received flowers from someone. I was just hoping that she would not mind those. I did not want any trouble. I did not want her to make any mess just because of it. Those flowers brought me no good.

"Class dismissed." Professor Toriko's voice brought me back to reality. She was already in front of us and was ready to leave the classroom.

I just watched her leaving the classroom. Soon, another teacher would enter our classroom and start another lesson for another subject.

Minutes had passed, but our next professor was not arriving yet, and that made my classmates roam around. I just opened my Facebook account to look for new posts from my papa's relatives. I almost forgot that it was prohibited to use cellphone inside our classroom. Luckily, Miyara did not see me using my cellphone because she was also busy typing something on her cellphone.

I was about to put back my cellphone inside my bag when I perceived someone behind me. "Why are you here?" I asked.

"I just want to give you this." He showed me a white envelope. He was holding a white envelope, and it was pretty simple. Simple yet mysterious.

"Is that from who?" I simply peeked on Zen's chair, and our eyes met. There was a fire in her eyes. The dragon is jealous!

"I just saw this on top of your locker," he said shortly.

I just grabbed it from his hands and put it inside my bag without looking at his face. "Go back to your site and don't talk to me again."

I was able to breathe when he left me. "Why you came near me, Marc? Zen would surely spitfire!" I whispered hopelessly. My eyes suddenly closed because of so much annoyance.

"But what's inside the envelope?" I whispered.