Chapter 2 THE MADRIGAL
CHAPTER II: THE MADRIGAL
"Things will happen in your life that you can't stop. But that's no reason to shut out the world"
(Now and Then)
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"Pizza and soda please! And oh, I would like also a potato chips ." Laide ordered.
"Hi, what's your order?" The lady personnel approached her.
"Uhm, just give me an apple and, a bottle of water." She ordered and the personnel move quickly.
Seriously? An apple and water for lunch?" Laide asked.
"Yeah. I'm kindda full and I have a training later. I can't move freely while stomach is loaded."
"Really!? When did you became vegetarian? You dislike vegetables and fruits." Laide asked and chuckled.
"Since the vacation, I guess? Mom doesn't buy too much junk foods, neither ordering in some fast food chains since I started training. I just eat whatever she ate. She's on diet."
"I think I should practicing eating nutritious food too." Laide answered.
"Hey guys, here!" Ericson called them from the table beside the window. They place their food on the table and started eating while she's just staring to her apple observing how fresh and red it is.
"Brige, why aren't you eating your apple?" Tomas asked.
"I'm wonder struck on it's coloration. Didn't you find it so beautiful?" She asked. The three just stare at each other, sensing, and bust into a laugh.
"Brige, seriously, are you okay? Looks like the training affect you so well." Ericson consulted her.
"Yeah. Why are guys laughing at me? Is it something ridiculous?" She asked grinning.
"Note that Brige. You just say something ridiculous." Tomas stated and continue eating.
Too much introduction for a meal she realized, she bit her apple showing them how juicy it was and lecture them about the proper diet which turns into teasing as they know Brige dislike vegetables and sometimes fruits and now, she's the one preaching about the proper nutrition. Ericson started a conversation and share his epic moments on a vacation and so Tomas and Laide followed. She was laughing hilariously upon listening to their 'epic' story when a deep baritone voice spoke behind her.
"As far as I know, this cafeteria is made for all the students so will you minimize your noise? You're disturbing other people." And so they all went silent.
"Oh, sorry men. We're just having a great time but yeah, observe silence. Enjoy your meal." Tomas said.
The three look at each other and silently laughing except her. She wanted to just not mind it. To just free her heart from embarrassment. To not pay attention. But she couldn't. She slowly turned her head around and look whose behind the complaint. Little by little, she visualized it clearly and saw what she was expecting. It's him. He was behind her and he has three associates with him. The one looks so studious, the one is talkin to a girl beside him, the one is busy scrolling his phone, and other was playing his meal through putting a smiling face using ketchup on his steak. It's just him that is more look like rude. If he hates my existence, why would he sit behind me?-Oh silly Brigette, can it be just because he doesn't care about you and the fact that the cafeteria has no enough space for them to choose? Yes, right, right. She answered herself and again found herself being so assuming.
The bell rang informing that their break is finally over. She looked at her phone and check the time. It was already 1pm. 2 hours breaking period. Not bad. They all rise up and cleared their table before going back to their designated room. The sun was high as well as the temperature and so Brige started to fell uneasiness as sweat started to fall from her temple down to her face. She now regrets wearing such a thick sweater thinking the wether will be at least below 20°C. She search for her handkerchief and was overly devastated when she couldn't seek it inside her bag. She check her pocket but still it's not there so she just use her sleeves.
The instructor started discussing about different animals and how to give them a proper first aid that capture her interest. Although she already studied it before, she couldn't help but to be fascinated upon the topic. She couldn't missed a single detail. The instructor show them some animal vital parts particularly wild animals that is now in a sanctuary. They are now under fostering and was going to release when the personnel think the they are ready. Just like her mom, it touches her heart seeing animals coping from a nearly dying event of their life. Her mother is fond of bringing home injured animals and take care of them in her own way which motivates her to pursue this course. The last illustration the instructor showed is a picture of a big furry animal which she finds cute and amazing but is pitiful because of its wounds
"The animal is a Grey wolf. A wounded wolf specifically. When giving first aid to this kind of animal, make sure to observe first whether it is calm or not. Your safety is also important. Now, to tame it, make sure that you'll give it a snack and talk to it like a friend alright? Look at their eyes and let yourself know if they are risky or safe to come in a moment. After that, gently massage the wounded part, make sure to observed its reaction whether they are still calm or uncomfortable, when they are calm, you can easily perform your job well and when they are still wild even if injured, then better think twice. However, do you still remember the Newton's third law of motion? In every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction so don't doubt to help animals for even if they are not too intelligent species like humans, animals knows loyalty and sometimes can save you too from danger." She said.
Unfortunately, the instructor on their next class cannot make it due to its important matter, so she have a two-hour vacant before the training begin. Out of frustration, she put her hair in a messy bun and let the small hair to just hang.
As she was busy blubbering with Laide all way to their usual spot which is in the garden, a group of four broad men were just about to pass beside them. She was chuckling imagining her best friends epic situation when her eyes accidentally meet a pair of deep black orbs whose glance at her. As soon they already passed beside her, she felt something touched her arm causing her to be stunned for a moment.
It's cold.
"Brige, what happen?" Laide asked.
"I felt something touched me. It's cold." She said offering her arm for Laide to feel how cold it was.
"Cold." Laide stated "But, there's no one around when you stop. Don't tell me there could possibly a ghost here."
"Nah. Let's go. Maybe it just a goosebumps or something."
They found Ericson and Tomas below a big tree where they used to stay during vacant since freshmen. They lounged on the grass, resting their back on the big log Brige and Laide in the middle and while Ericson and Tomas beside them and gaze upon the tree that witnessed their anger, pain and happiness.
The friendship started when they were freshmen, young, curious and dumb. Laide, whose happen to carrying her project with wet paint, bumped into a group of mean senior girls resulting to bullying. One day, as Brige was walking to the corridor, she saw the senior girls putting a paint on a spray gallon and was waiting for Laide to pass by. She quickly grab Laide's arm and told her what was going to happen if she passed. As she was busy explaining, they saw the Dean heading to the upper floor to where the senior girls are. They are about to stop her, but it was too late. The Dean was fuming that time resulting to the senior girl to be spelled. Laide thanked her and offered friendship which she immediately accepted. As for Tomas and Ericson, they just tag along because no boys in the room wants to befriend them. Little by little, they just found their selves being committed to the friendship they never knew what is capable of not, until circumstances passed them by.
"I miss this place." Laide broke the silence.
"We know. This place is your crying zone when Mathew broke up with you way back second year. You cried here like an idiot who would forget that?" Tomas said that make them all burst in laughter except Laide.
"Shut up Tomas and don't you dare mention it again. However, in case you all forgot, this is the place where Ericson dated Mary without him knowing Mary is a psychopath. He nearly killed." Laide reminded and again, the group filled with laughter.
"I don't know! It's like, I've been cursed! Oh man, it's my most traumatic date ever. I thought I would be dead that night." He said.
"I'm so glad Brige and I are very good student up until now." Tomas said.
"I don't think so. Remember when you two hide the class record of Ms. Heather, she looked all around the campus crying while shouting 'it deadline tomorrow!" Ericson said copying Ms. Heather's voice that makes them hardly to stop laughing.
"I didn't plan it! Tomas put in my bag saying it is belonged to him!" She defended.
"Did you all see her face? It's priceless! I just can't accept she belittled Tutie that time. I miss my turtle." Tomas said.
A moment later, another silence consume the place. Brige, whose happen to say a word suddenly stop when she saw the four man earlier walking to the woods and realized that one of them is the man for now,she can say, hated the most.
"A-are they new students? Isn't it prohibited to go to the woods?" She consulted.
"I guess so. One of them entered our room earlier. He thought it was the Literature floor. He's so handsome but so rude."Laide said. Surely it's him, she said on her mind.
"He's in college of Literature huh?"
"Only Chase." She looked at Ericson.
"You know them?"she asked.
"You didn't?"
"Are you nuts?"
"Burn." Tomas said and again laugh on how Brigette turned down the now poker-faced Ericson.
"Alright, alright. They are belonged to the Madrigal's clan."
"You mean, the highest ranking family in Burgeon?" Laide asked.
"Yes and the most powerful one."
"Woah. I wonder why they chose to study here. They could afford high universities or even fly to the other countries." Tomas said.
"Do you know why Brige?" Ericson asked teasingly. She looked at Ericson with an annoyed face.
"Why are you asking me, I don't even know them." And so Tomas and Ericson laugh.
The group just stayed there reminiscing memories together without thinking what time is it, without bothered on what people say or how they look at them. They are just happy accompanying each other. Just happy because they have one another.