Chapter 57
After the lunch in the cafeteria, Alex went with her friends instead. Her sister Angel is with Richard and Kim's group. But when Kim asked them to join them in watching Bryan's game, she wasn't able to decline as she does not like her friends to notice that she's really avoiding Richard. She also does not want him to notice as well.
The first match of male basketball for tertiary department was held in the CPRU College Department Gymnasium. The group arrived early, because Bryan needs to join his team for the warm up exercise. And of course, Angel needs to cover even the behind the scenes of the team's game.
As for Alex and the others, they proceeded to the stadium seats. Alex made sure that she's sitting in the middle of her three friends so that there's no chance Richard can sit beside her. And so, she's in between Sam and Steffi. But her victory was short lived as she saw Kim sat beside Richard. And worse, they sat a few steps in front of them, making her see them all the time.
Fortunately, her friends are there to somehow uplift her spirit. Though Alex still can't help but feel jealous and irritated.
"Ate Angel is so lucky," Issay said. "She can go in the locker room of the players. Is that how it is to be the girlfriend of a player?"
"That's not the reason why she can do that," Sam answered. "Ate Angel is a member of The Echo. Remember, the students like reading about the behind the scenes of the athletes during the intramural?" "Oh yeah!" Issay said as her aura improved again. "Then we stalk our crush athletes, right?"
"We? It's just you!" said the giggling Steffi.
"Hu! Remember, you used to stalk Joshua Ignacio?" Issay said to Steffi.
"That's not me! It was Alex who did that!" Steffi said.
Alex was suddenly alerted.
"Hmn? What?" she said, quite oblivious at her friends' conversation. She has been watching Richard and Kim carefully, who are chatting happily with each other.
"You used to stalk Joshua Ignacio before, right?" Issay asked her.
"Joshua?" Alex looked at Richard. An idea suddenly crossed her mind. "He was courting me back then, so I was curious about him."
To Alex's dismay, Richard does not seem affected with what she said. He even laughed at Kim's joke, which infuriated Alex even more.
"But you're neighbors, right? Why would you still be curious about him?" Steffi said.
Alex is not liking where the conversation is heading, but that's better than not talking and totally be drowned in her jealousy with Richard and Kim.
"I was avoiding him that time, remember? Of course, I don't want him to see that I'm interested in him. But of course, I needed to see how he really is as a guy and if he's really deserving for the love I will give to him."
Alex was suddenly dumfounded. She looked at Richard. He's not thinking that he's talking about him, right? It's very clear that they are talking about Joshua Ignacio.
"But he did not become your boyfriend," Issay said.
"I did not like him," she said straightforwardly. "He's not the type of guy that I would want to have as a boyfriend."
"So what is Alex Martinez' type?" asked Sam. "Come to think of it, a lot of guys already courted you, but you still haven't had a boyfriend."
"That's right!" Issay agreed. "Almost all our crushes courted you. How pitiful it is to be the friend of Alexandra Nichole Martinez? Your love life is doomed!"
"That's why I rejected them," Alex said. "Because I know you like them."
"Weh! Really?" Steffi said, unbelieving.
Alex giggled. "No, actually, I just couldn't find the right guy, I guess."
"And the right guy is..." Sam said.
Alex looked at Richard. This time, she wants him to hear what she's about to say.
"I just want someone who really cares for me. Someone who will do everything to be with me. Someone who will make me feel important. Someone who is sensitive enough of my feelings. That guy who doesn't have to hear it, but knows how I feel and what I like, what I don't like. Someone who's sensitive enough to know what to do when things don't go right."
"A sensitive guy... Hmn, that's why you can't find a boyfriend," said Steffi. "Because men, in general, are insensitive by nature."
"Wow! That is so harsh, Steffany Basilio!" Issay said.
"But it's true, right? That's why a lot of relationships fail because men are not sensitive enough to know how we girls feel."
"Wow! That's deep!" Sam commented.
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"So you're the love expert now?" Issay asked Steffi.
"As always," Steffi answered.
"But you see, Steffi has a point," Alex said. "Men, in general, are insensitive. They are not aware that they're doing something that their girlfriends do not like, or the girls they are pursuing. They don't know if what they're doing is still right. Sometimes, they're doing too much already, like they're being too much nice to another girl that their girlfriend is getting jealous already. But they don't know that because they're dumb!"
Alex is on beast mode again. It seems like whatever she says has no effect on Richard. She knows he can hear her, because they are only two steps down from their seat. But it seems like Richard is really not affected as he continually laughs with Kim and her friends.
"That's true," Issay agreed. "You know when they are too gentlemanly with other girls? Like he's Superman when he treats other women. It's okay if he's friends with that girl. But they just met and he acts as if he can do everything for her." "Maybe he's really just a gentleman?" Sam asked. "Like, do you want him to be a gentleman towards you, but not to other people? I don't think that's right. It's discreet selfishness."
"But not on that level," Steffi said. "Like, you don't know who is his girlfriend and who is just a friend."
"You know, you're too hard to please," Sam said to her friends. "So if that's what you want, you really won't be able to find a boyfriend."
That time, the players are entering the court-side because the game is about to start.
"I already found him," Alex said as she watches the entrance of the players.
"If you already found him, how come you still don't have a boyfriend?" Steffi asked Alex.
"Well I guess, the perfect guy is not the one for me."
"Huh?" Steffi followed Alex's gaze. "Oh my! You're right."
Sam also looked where they are looking, and she immediately realized who they are talking about.
But Issay seems left out again. "Hey! Who are you talking about?"
"You really have those slow moments, you know," Steffi said to Issay. "Bryan de Vera, your crush!"
Issay also looked at the players, who are now settled at the bench area inside the court. The others are warming up and stretching, while Bryan de Vera is talking to their coach.
Enter Angel Martinez. She's looking at her DSLR camera, and when Bryan noticed his girlfriend, he left his coach and went to her. Angel smiled at Bryan, who seemed to have said something to her that made her glare at him. He chuckled as he put his arm around her shoulder, accompanying her to the area reserved for the publication staff members.
"Bryan de Vera..." Issay looked like she's melting.
"Where can we get another Bryan de Vera?" asked Steffi.
"Well unfortunately Girls, he's unique. And I won't allow anyone to steal him from my sister!" Alex said.
"Aren't you jealous of your sister?" Sam asked. "It's like she has the most perfect boyfriend."
"Of course I also want to have someone like that. But I'm happy for Ate. I'm happy that she's happy, and that she's loved by a guy who's worthy of her love, too," Alex answered. "It's just a pity that there's no one like Bryan de Vera. But, who knows? Maybe the right guys for us are just out there waiting for the right time to come to our lives."
Alex once again glanced at Richard. He's looking at Bryan. She could not decipher what his reaction is at what she said.
"Well Girls, in the meantime, let's just enjoy this game," said Steffi.
"That's right!" Issay agreed. "Let's cheer for the Green Tigers to inspire them. Go Green Tigers!"
"Oy, I can't join you. I'm wearing purple, see?" Alex said as she showed them her shirt.
"Then, just cheer for Bryan de Vera," said Issay. "As your sister's boyfriend, right? Go Bryan! Go Bryan! Go Bryan de Vera!"
Alex giggled, though she did what Issay told her. "Go Bryan!"
And because they are the only ones who are cheering, everyone heard them shouting. When Bryan saw them, he smiled and waved at them.
"Oh my God! He waived at us!" Issay seems like she's about to faint.
Alex laughed at her friend's reaction. She looked at Bryan's direction, but instead caught sight of her sister. Angel was smiling at her. She smiled back. She knows her sister is glad to see her happy and laughing again. Well, thanks to her friends, she was able to smile again. She was able to enjoy life again. She was able to forget even just for a moment what was bugging her. She's aware that Richard was now looking at their direction, but because of her friends, she was able to ignore it and not look back at him.