number.
"Hello?"
"Drei! Jazz here," she said happily on the other end.
"Oh. What's up?"
"Nothing much. I just got a little bored so I got your number from Jonathan," she explained.
"Am I disturbing you?"I stared at my half-finished essay and answered, "No."
Then she went on chatting about her life before she dropped out from school. She was really
Jonathan's cousin. Though she does some things at the wrong time, I still enjoy her company.
After a good thirty minutes, she hung up. I could tell she was sleepy.
I went on with my essay and finished it after fifteen minutes.
I was about to call it a day when my phone rang again. Jazz, please go to sleep.
I answered without hesitation.
"Go to sleep Jazz."Then there was silence.
"Jazz? I wasn't telling you to sleep immediately. You could at least put the phone down," I scolded through the phone.
"Drei? It's Anthony," the caller finally spoke.
I froze. I stared at the screen, and his name was on it.
"Sorry Anthony. I was talking to Jazz all night---"
"It's okay. I was just wondering what your locker number is," he went on.
"My what? Locker?"
"Uhh yea," he answered hesitantly.
"317," I said, puzzled.
"I knew it. You got it because of the last two numbers," he said happily.
"What?" I thought about it. Last two numbers? 17? Oh.
"Of course not. I'm a transferee remember? And that was the only one left," I defended.
"Okaaay," he was obviously teasing.
"Go to sleep Anthony. Good night," I told him, trying to sound irritated, but I was definitely not.
"Sweet dreams, Drei." Then he hung up.
Reality is sweeter than my dreams, I thought.
~
I woke up later than usual the next morning. Nanny had breakfast ready when I came rushing
out of my room. I dashed out of the house after getting three mouthfuls of the food and Mr.
Champ rushed me to school.
I got to my locker and hastily got my things. I was in such a rush that I didn't notice a new book
in between the pile of my textbooks.
I reached class five seconds before the bell rang, and Kristine was looking at me in concern.
"You okay Drei?"
"Yea," I panted.Then the class went on.
I didn't notice the new book until third period. I looked at it and I opened the cover and found a
dedication on the cover. But it was not for me. It was for someone named Ria.
I didn't read the dedication. I examined the book further. It was entitled 'The Little Prince'. The children's book looked a little old.
I kept it inside my bag again and went on with my day.
The basketball team was on practice for the big game tomorrow.
Jonathan called me earlier and told me that Jazz wanted to watch the team practice. I was
starting to wonder if she likes one of them.
Jonathan, Jazz and I entered the gym and found Kristine on the seat behind the bench of the
players.
"Drei!" she called out to me first, with a big smile.
She then waved to the cousins behind me, but I saw something in her eyes again when she saw
Jazz talking to Jonathan.
I scanned the court and saw number 17 playing. I smiled at the memory of his call last night.
I also saw Carl too, who smirked at me almost immediately.
The team was on break and I saw Anthony, Kris and Carl walking toward us ahead of the rest of
the team.
"Hey guys!" Kris called out happily, eyes glued to Jazz.
Jonathan and I noticed it almost immediately.
"Hey. This is Jazz, my friend," Jonathan wrapped an arm protectively around Jazz, and I saw her frown at her cousin.
Carl introduced himself first, which made Kris scoff at him.
When Kris introduced himself, Jazz was obviously delighted. So he was the one she's watching,
I thought.
As I was enjoying the scene, Kristine nudged my side.
"Don't worry, I still choose you as a sister-in-law," she whispered. I sighed. Not again.
"Hey Drei!" Anthony was suddenly on my side, obviously calling out a little louder than usual.
Was he doing that for his 'fans' to see? They were on the opposite side of the gym, taking
pictures of Anthony.
"Uhh hi," I answered shyly.
I was expecting Kristine to talk to Anthony when Jonathan suddenly talked to her. Thanks so
much Jonathan, I thought.
Anthony was wiping his perspiration off when suddenly Carl was in front of us.
"You got the book?" he asked.
I blinked.
He was the one who sent it?
"Uhh---"
"So, you touring Jazz around?" Anthony suddenly cut me off.
I saw him glare at Carl and he went away. Was there something I didn't know?
"Yea. She wanted to see the team, so we joined her," I explained.
"Oh. I wonder who she wants to see," he smiled, looking at Kris and Jazz talking.
I smiled too.
"Kris really likes new girls," he went on.
I nodded. "That's why I wasn't worried when he was showing interest in you," he said casually.
I blinked.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said, getting up and resuming practice.
Jazz was suddenly beside me.
"Did you see that? Kris talked to me!" she said.
"Yea. I saw that," I answered, eyes on number 17.
***
Dearest Ria,
I apologize if this looks worn out.
This is my favorite book, and I would like you to have it.
Hope you would enjoy it as much as I did.
Take care of what's left of it.
Like what you did to me.
You took care of what's left of me.
Tony
I closed the book. I had no intention of reading the book just yet. Especially when I now know
that it was from Carl. I put it inside my bag again.
Unlike yesterday morning, I woke up unusually early today. It was Wednesday, and the
basketball team was having a big game this afternoon. They were one win away from entering
the Semi Finals.
I went down for breakfast earlier than usual, and Nanny was still cooking.
"You're early today, Andrea," she observed as I took a seat on the table.
"Yea. I woke up early," I smiled at her.
"This is almost finished," she assured me.
"Okay," I told her.I took out a notebook from my bag to check on the things I had to do in class today and I saw
