Alvierra's P.O.V.
"Good luck," I said with a smile to Rade.
"I'm nervous, Alvs," he said.
"You got this. You're the best," I asked.
"I hope we win," Rade said.
I gave him water and gave him a thumbs up. He went into the court, and I sat at the end with Raileigh.
"My boyfriend is so handsome, right?" Rai asked, pointing to the guy on Rade's opposing team.
"Our section versus your boyfriend's section," I said.
"Yeah, but Raiden's going to be your boyfriend too, so you should say 'your boyfriend's section versus my boyfriend's section'," she whispered. I just rolled my eyes at her.
"Vierra!" a girl's voice shouted, so I looked for it. I saw Sammy in front of us. The three of them were waving, and it looked like they were inviting us. Rai elbowed me, and she was the first to go down to sit there.
"Just in time for two seats. Alvi wanted to support her section's team," Rai said.
"Yeah, Deya forced us to watch. Raiden's playing," Farrah said.
"Do you have a crush on Raiden?" Rai asked Deya.
"Oh yeah, totally!" Farrah said.
"Hey, you're so chatty," Deya said. I just laughed to pretend it didn't hurt.
I just watched, and Farrah and the others were cheering for Rade's team. I lost my appetite to watch, so I just left the court. Rai called out to me, but I didn't look back and just kept walking out of the court.
I went to the library to hang out. There were only a few of us here because almost everyone was at the court watching the game.
I read a few books so I could answer our Final Examination.
I had already read two books, and I checked my watch. It had been almost five hours. I decided to go back to our room because I was sure everyone was already there.
When I entered the classroom, I heard noise.
"We won, but you played differently today, Rade. Look, you got hit by the ball twice," Wilson said, holding a handkerchief with ice on it. It was on Rade's head, so I was confused.
"What happened?" I asked when I reached my seat. Rade immediately turned around, and I could see that he wasn't okay. They won, right? He had no emotion on his face as he looked at me and stood up. He left our classroom, which confused my classmates.
"Why? What happened?" I asked Nash.
"I don't know, they said he got hit by the ball twice and his game wasn't as good as their practice," Nash said.
"Why?" I asked.
"I don't know. Ask him," Nash said. I stood up and followed Rade.
I saw him sitting on the floor next to a classroom, looking up.
"Rade," I said. He sat up straight and didn't even look at me.
"What happened to you?" I asked.
"Where were you? I saw you leave the court earlier," he said.
"Library," I said, looking away. I left because I was jealous to see Deya cheering there. I kept hearing the words 'Hey Deya, your boyfriend scored, cheer him on.'
"You didn't watch my game. I thought you'd support me in my game? You said you were my friend, you'd watch me win. Yes, we won, but you weren't there!" he said angrily, and you could hear the annoyance in his voice.
"Why are you angry? Deya was there to cheer you on. And I remembered that our exam was coming up, so I reviewed at the library," I said.
He stood up and walked past me. I grabbed his arm, so he stopped.
"Why are you angry? Tell me what's wrong," I said.
"Nothing," he said and quickly pulled his arm away from my grip.
Is he mad at me? But why would he be angry? He acts like I'm his girlfriend who didn't support her boyfriend's game. Shaks, what am I saying?
When I got home, I was surprised when Mama slapped me.
"Ma, why?" I asked, touching my cheek.
"You're so young, and you're already flirting?! Vivian saw you with a guy at the park the other day! I told you, you're not just focusing on your studies!" Mama shouted. She grabbed a cane and hit my arm with it.
I cried while begging her to stop hitting me because it hurt.
"Ma, he's in my group. We're all going to meet there, but it turned out that Leo and I were the only ones there." I said.
"You're still talking back, you little brat?!" Mama shouted and hit me on my side. I cried while dodging Mama's hits. Mama threw the cane. "Next time I catch you with a guy, you won't just get that!" Mama shouted and pointed at my temple.
I cried while holding my arm and side. I explained, but she still didn't believe me.
I went into my room and covered myself with the blanket. I just cried and cried while slowly touching my sore arm.
When I heard the door to my room open, I pretended to be asleep.
"Ate?" I heard my brother ask. I didn't say anything. "Ate! You're home already."
I was surprised when Vince sat on me and hit my arm. I stopped myself from screaming because of the pain. I just cried silently and was thankful when Vince left.
"Papa! Ate's asleep," I heard my brother say. The door was open.
"Oh, okay. We'll give her, her pasalubong later," Papa said.
"Don't give her anything. I spanked her because Vivian saw her with a guy at the park. This girl, she's so young, she already knows how to flirt." I heard Mama say.
"What are you doing, Shei? You believe Vivian more than your own child? You didn't even let your daughter explain." Papa said.
"I know she's just going to lie. What does she want? For me to listen to her explanations that are all lies? Vivian saw it. Look, the same thing happened to Coleen before! She lied, saying it was just a friend, but what happened? It turned out to be her boyfriend, and she got pregnant! She's buying milk at a young age!"
Don't compare me to others because I'm not them. I just cried and fell asleep because I was tired.
I woke up when I felt the sting. I saw Papa and Vince beside me.
"You're awake now," Papa said. "Don't move, I'm still cleaning your wound."
Vince was holding a box, and it contained a first aid kit.
I saw the wound on my elbow. I almost screamed when I felt the pain. I just bit my lower lip. Vince put ice on my side and near my shoulder. I smiled at Vince and Papa.
"Thank you, Vince. Thank you, Papa," I said.
"What really happened, anak?" Papa asked.
"It was Leo who Ate Viv saw with me. I'm the assistant leader, so I went there early. It turned out Leo was there, he's in my group, so we talked while waiting for the rest of our group. That's probably what Ate Viv reported," I said.
"Vivian really is a troublemaker. She's Mama's inaanak, that's why," Papa said. "Vince, anak, get your Ate's food."
Vince nodded and put down the box. He went out and got my food.
"Thank you so much, Papa," I said, crying.
"Sorry, Papa couldn't do anything," Papa said and wiped my tears.
Papa is the only one who understands me. I'm so lucky to have him.