? TRUTH AND LIES?
(Mico and I)
Episode 7
Writer: Faith Lucky
I flin-ched and also looked at her.
“Dangerous?” I asked. “How?”
“Well, he’s a flir-t; a pla-yboy. The only thing he’s interested in is using and dumping ladies. He always wants to have s-x with every lady he sees and is attra-cted to.” Sandy replied.
I looked back at the boy and felt surprised.
So he was a pla-yer?
“He defeated Mico last year in the inter school basketball competition. MHS and bright stars had gotten to the finals and Jeremy was the team leader in Bright Stars and Mico’s team was defeated by them.”
“He attends a different school?” I asked.
“Yes. He does. He attends Bright Stars High school at Davao city. But right now, he’s here with Mrs Houston and two other teachers on a school project. So he’s receiving lectures from us for the meantime before he goes back.
“I know he’s charming, Alysaa, but too bad he’s a pla-yer. He’s actually my second biggest crush”.
I looked at her and scoffed.
“Really? And who’s your first?” I asked.
“Funny question. Who else? Mico, of course”.
I smiled and looked away . everyb©dy wants my Mico.
I stated at the Jeremy and found it shocking to know he’s a pla-yer. He’s really cute indeed. But Is that why he has to be a pla-yer?
Mico is also cute but he’s not a pla-yer. Even Nigel is 50% cuter than him.
Well, maybe 45% , or 40% or something like 38%.
Wait; why am I even comparing Nigel to him?
Crazy.
Sandy tapped me and we started walking away.
“Over there in Bright Stars” she continued. “He’s more like the all-ladies guy. Just like the way Mico is popular over here, that’s the way he is in Bright Stars.
“But he’s not re-ady to settle down with a girl. He just wants to have a taste of everyone.
“Even a cousin sister of mine over there is a victim. He sweet talked her to be-d and she couldn’t resist if and boom! He dumped her. She fell sick after that, but..what to do?”
Wow! So even her cousin sister over there is a victim yet she’s still crushing on him. Isn’t that stupid?
How I wish I could say it out.
“He’s very rich” she continued. “Like very rich. But uncannily, nob©dy knows anything about his family”.
I pu-ll-ed a muddled face.
“How?” I asked.
“Nob©dy knows anything about his background, like where he lives, his family, a relative or something. He hasn’t opened up to anyone and it seems he doesn’t even want anyone to know.”
Okay. This is really really confusing.
“B…but why?” I asked.
“Well, I don’t know. That’s just what I heard.
Seriously? Who could he be? How come nob©dy knows anything about him?
“I know you’re alre-ady drooling on him alysaa. But I’d suggest you stay away from him. You know you’re pretty and trust me, if he sets his eyes on you, he’s never going to rest until he’s kneeling in between your legs.” She said to me.
I opened my mouth in shock and closed it immediately.
That sounded scary
This sandy of a lady.
Well I’m sure nothing like that can happen because he’s never going to see me.
I mean, in this whole big Mico High, how can he run into someone like me?
We got to a very beautiful place and woah! It seemed to be the school cafeteria.
I looked in amusement as the entire place looked like paradise to me
Who could believe this was just a school eatery?
Will I even be able to buy anything from here? How much did mother even give to me?
With the way the cafeteria was looking, I’m sure the money I was having would only be enough to buy a spoon.
“Come on Alysaa, don’t worry. Bills on me” sandy said and my eyes beamed.
Wow!
I smiled and followed her happily into the hall and we found an empty table to sit on.
There were so many students there and they all kept talking and laughing.
Sandy left for a while and returned with two plates of the same meal – rice pudding.
How did she know I love rice pudding?
“Are you p@rt of the young miss beauty contest?” I asked as we started eating.
“What? He’ll no. I’m not re-ady for something like that” she replied, squee-zing her face a little.
“It’s meant for the br@niacs in school and I’m so not one of them. Although there’s no more space for new contestants, anyway.”
“the place is filled up?” I asked.
“Yes. There should be just ten contestants and they’re alre-ady up to ten. Four ladies from our cl@$$ are among – Alexa, Daisy Chloe and Ivy”.
Oh, so Alexa is among? That rude girl.
“Wow! They’re quite intelligent” I replied, nodding my head.
“Yes. And the winner here is going to repres-ent Manilla in the finals and trust me, it’s going to be super hot because then, Samantha will also be involved.”
I glanced at her.
“Samantha? Who’s Samantha?”
“Samantha Houston – the she devil. She’s the repres-entative of Davao city and attends Bright Stars High school, the same school with Jeremy.
“She’s the best in the school and when I say best, I mean no one has ever been able to defeat her. She’s also Alexa’a biggest enemy”.
Wow! This sounds quite interesting.
“Alexa’s the wicked queen here in Mico High but trust me, she’s nowhere close to Samantha. If Alexa’s the devil’s daughter, then Samantha’s the devil’s queen. She’s deadlier than a snake.”
“Sandy!”I called. “You make it sound like she’s very scarey”
“Well she is. Just pray you don’t get to meet someone like her. She’s actually Mrs Houston’s daughter”
“Mrs Houston? The English teacher?” I asked, surprised.
“Yes. and I know Mrs Houston is kind but her daughter is way too evil. Sometimes, I think a DNA test is necessary”
I laughed and shot her a stare. She’s so funny.
Just then I noticed some guards coming in and I looked in amusement and oh, my God! It was Mico!
My Mico!
He was walking with two guards in front of him and two behind and everyb©dy’s attention had turned to him.
Students were alre-ady taking pictures with their phones.
? It’s Mico…”
?Look at him…”
? Oh my God!
? Can he see me?
? Look at his shoes…
The students were alre-ady aching like they wanted to die.
Can you imagine? If they like they should die.
“Oh, Mico. He’s so cute” Sandy said to me, holding my hand and I gawped at her.
Mtcheww.
I took my eyes back to him and he was alre-ady sitting on a table with his guards behind him.
Wow! So this is how students of MHS get to see him everyday? They’re so lucky and now, I’m also lucky.
Oh, Mico!
He whispered something to one of the guards and immediately, the guard walked up to the middle of the cafeteria and announced:
“Sorry for the inconvenience, but sir Mico wants the hall cleared. He wants everyone out”
A wild grumbling ran across the cafeteria as all students were shocked and disappointed.
How can he do something like that?
Why is he always pushing me away?
Oh, God! Give me the strength to stand up to this guy one day.
All the students were mumbling and gro-an ing as they all started arranging their foods. Some were alre-ady on their feet.
I looked at Mico and there was no remorse on his face. He was just going throu-gh his laptop which was on the table in front of him.
“Why does he have to s-end us out?” Sandy groused as she started packing her food.
I also arranged mind and we stood up together.
I struggled to hold my bag, the food and my bottle if water. And we started walking out together.
I looked back at Mico and smiled; my prince charming.
There were so many students trying to go out throu-gh the door and sandy and I were at the back and suddenly, I heard a someone call my name from behind:
“Alysaa”
Everyone stopped and turned and wait; it was Mico; like, Mico that called my name.
Hell; whoever said it was me? I never knew I had a namesake in here.
But who’s she?
It seemed everyb©dy was surprised as well as they all stopped to see whom he was calling and why.
His eyes were still fixed on his system.
“Alysaa Ramos” he called again and this time, he was looking at me.
Okay; I think I’m beginning to hear songs like “London bridge is falling down” pla-ying in my head.
I looked left and right and nob©dy was coming out.
He was still looking at me.
“S…s…s…sir, me?” I asked, pointing to myself and I think the number of ‘s’ I did must’ve been upto sixty.
My angsty multi-plied when I heard him say:
“Yes, you. Come and have a seat”.
***
All the students g-asped. My mouth was agaped. My head was turning and turning.
The students looked at me with confusion and the guards signaled them to move on and they all left.
Mico and I were the only ones left in the cafeteria.
I swallowed ha-rd and walked slowly and nervously towards him. My heart was beating so fast like there was a p@rty going on inside of me.
Why was Mico calling for me? How did he even know my name?
Oh; was it Possible he recognised me as the waitress who spilled drink on him?
Oh, God! What if he expelles me from the school?
So many weary thought kept flashing throu-gh my mind as I walked and finally got to hus table. I remained standing and he just kept operating his system.
“Sit” he said in a serene tone and I wandered if he wanted me to sit on the floor.
Was it possible ill actually be staying close to mico; like, sharing the same seat with him? Someone like me? Ordinary Alyssa?
I kept looking stupidly at him and he rose his eyes and shot me .stare.
He looked at the seat and looked back at me and I un-derstood he wanted me to sit.
I took a very nervous step and sat on the chair facing him and oh, God! My legs were shaking. I was sitting in front of Mico Salvato-re.
How did this happen?
Two attendants in the cafeteria walked up to our table, putting on hand gloves.
“What re your orders, sir?” They asked, bowing their heads a little.
“What would you like to take?” Mico asked me and my nervousity increa-sed.
I couldn’t even stare back at him. I just kept my gaze on the table.
“I uhm…Water” I replied unconsciously, forgetting I was having water with me.
Mico looked back at his system and scoffed.
“Do you consume water that much?” He asked and that was when I realised I was still having water with me.
I looked at the two female attendants and they were gawping at me.
I don’t even know what to say. What can I order for?
The only thing ringing in my head was Mico, mico, mico. And I’m scarred I might end up requesting for him.
“Uh…St…Strawberry drink” I replied and the attendants nodded and faced Mico.
“Just get me what she asked for”:he told them and they nodded and left.
Oh, my God!
Did mico just ordered for the same thing I ordered for?
Is this a dream or something?
He finally closed his system and that was when the real anxiety increa-sed. He was now staring fully at me.
Oh, God! I think I might fall off this chair at any time.
“So,” he said, his voice coming our cool and nice.
“You’re Alyssa, right?”
“Y…Y…Yes, sir” I stuttered, staring at the table as usual.
“And…you’re the waitress who spilled drink on me the other night, right?”
He recognised me!
Oh, God! I knew it.
It’s over for me.
I’m out of Mico High.
Oh, Alyssa. Why did something like this have to happen to you?
“Y…Yes sir,” I replied fearfully.
Just then the two attendants returned with our orders.
They arranged them on the table for us, bowed and left.
Mico took his own gl@$$ immediately and drank from it. But I couldn’t even think of doing same. At that moment, the strawberry was looking like blood to me.
“I’m…I’m actually very sorry for that night. I…I had…It…It was a sli-p of hand; a terrible mistake. I…I didn’t mean to, sir. plea-se forgive me” I said in a pleading tone, trying very ha-rd not to weep.
Mico chuckled and drank from his gl@$$ again.
“How did you get a free admission here?” He asked and I heard about whistle go off in my head.
Horse racing started in my heart.
Could he be looking for a way to s-end me away?
“I…I d…don’t know. I was told it’s…from the school management” I stuttered, myl-ips shaking.
“You don’t know? Seriously?” He asked.
“So you just accepted an offer without knowing whom it’s coming from?”
Oh, heavens! someone save me plea-se.
He chuckled and leaned on the table.
“Anyway,” he said. “I uhm…want to apologise for what happened the other night. Sorry for raising my voice on you and ma-king you lose your job. Am I forgiven?”
The horse racing finally seized in my heart and this time around, as well matter of fact, I wasn’t even sure I was breathing anymore.
I looked at him – something I hadn’t been able to do – and Oh, God! It feels just like a dream to me.
Did mico really apologise to me?
Did he just say he was sorry for what happened?
Did…did he just…or, am I imagining things?
“Am I forgiven?” He asked again and I blinked severally and took my eyes to the table.
I was speechless and confused.
“I…I…I…Y…Yes, sir. Thank you, sir” I faltered, bowing my head.
He nodded with a light smile and leaned back on his chair
“I guess we’re good, then?” He said.
He didn’t say anything again and with the way my b©dy was alre-ady shaking, I felt I might collap-se at any time.
“C…Can I take my leave, sir?” I asked.
“Yes of course”.
With my head still bowed, I stood up with my bag and tired to leave.
“You didn’t tou-chyour drink” he said and that was when it actually occurred to me.
I decided to take it along me, but as I took it from the table, my shaky hands failed me and it left my hand and fell on the floor.
Alyssa!
Again?
But it wasn’t real my fault. I was so not myself at that moment.
I bec@m£ more confused and tried bending down to pick the gl@$$ p@rticles.
“Don’t worry, the cleaners will take care of it”:he told me and I nodded and stood up.
“T…Thank you sir” I replied very nervously, bowed and left.
I kept walking slowly until I got to the door and immediately I got outside, flashes from different phones and c@m£ras almost blinded my eyes. At the moment, I thought it was paparazzi.
Uncountable number of students were all outside and just as if they had been waiting for me to come out, they all started snapping and videoing me.
“is she the one…”
“oh, my God, can’t believe it…”
“Mico had lunch with her…”
“He s-ent everyone’s out just to have lunch with her…”
“She’s so pretty…”
“Who’s she…”
I was becoming fogged by all the flashes and everything and started wandering how I’d be able to walk p@$$ the students. They were crowding me.
“Are you Mico’s girlfriend?”
“Is he the one who gave you a scholarship?
“What did you two talk about?”
“Did he k!ss you?”
Oh my God! Have I just become a celebrity?
Finally, it was Sandy that showed up and rescued me from the ‘press’.
She took my hand and ran off with me, taking me to a more quiet place. Thank goodness.
And guess what? Pia c@m£ running to us as well. The spoilt br@t with bulgy eyes.
“Hey, what’s going on between you and Mico?” She asked immediately.
“What did you two talk about Alyssa?” Sandy also asked.
They both lookers at Me with a gush of curiosity.
“N…nothing” I replied, stating at the floor.
“What do you mean nothing? Were you just staring at each other the whole time? What re you hiding from us?” Pia asked but my head was too muddle at that moment to even think about it. The whole thing was still like a shock to me.
“I’m sorry, I…I nee-d to go” I said and ran away and I’m pretty sure they must’ve been very shocked.
Well, I couldn’t help it. I just wanted to be alone so I could rethink everything again.
School was over for the day – for me – so I ran home.
The unknown pov:
Oh, my God! I can’t believe that’s Alyssa. I can’t believe she’s still alive.
I mean, she shouldve been dead by now – she and her miserable family. I killed them not long ago. Yes, in that fire incidence
How come she’s still alive? How did she survive it?
I know you must all be wandering who I am and what I’m talking. But that’s none of your business for now.
The only thing that’s important right now is the fact that I nee-d to kill Alyssa. Yes, I nee-d to finish what I started. I can’t let her return and take everything away from me.
She’s alre-ady getting close to Mico now. He had even given her a free admission into his school. I still can’t believe it.
Alyssa doesn’t deserve to be alive. Coming to Mico High is going to be the worst thing she’s ever done in her life.
So I nee-d to kill her right away. Yes, immediately!
TBC.