Searching for Love, Found Wealth

My driver came by seven. I was now chatting with the gateman out of boredom.

It was kinda fun as I heard some funny stories like of how he pranked his school teachers. He does regret it but it was a memory he smiled to.

I even found out that being a gateman was like an undercover job cos he ran a small business at Florida.

It wasn’t very successful yet so he still retained his job at our school.

My driver didn’t give an explanation and just apologized. I stubbornly said I’d forgive him if only he bought me ice cream. He agreed. Thanks to Chloe, I’m overdosing on ice cream.

Charles was home when I got back. Was this going to be his habit?

And why didn’t I even think of him coming to be my knight in shining armor when he’d rescue me from school?

“You’re late. Touring around Washington?” he asked brightly.

Like dude, you should’ve be worried.

“On the contrary, my driver had some problems. He ran late” I whooshed my bag in front of him. He made a short “hmm”. I felt he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to.

“I’m still your best friend. Tell me anything” I shouted while searching for my ice cream box I bought the other day. My ice cream addiction is worsening.

“Yeah, you are” he sighed, I slammed the fridge in response. Why the sigh.

“Nothing is wrong with me though” he added dismissively.

His voice bumped up again, “If I was having a problem it would be with that Samantha girl. She’s a headache. She was told to advertise for an upcoming cream brand and she said she’d have to use the cream for a month first before advertising. Who does that!”.

I faked a laugh and turned to him.

“Is that really your problem? Since you mentioned Samantha, is she trying to hit on you? Don’t resist. Give her a chance” I made the fake laugh again.

“Ha-ha, very funny. Samantha’s began dating her senior, Clara, older brother. And it has gotten so deep into her head that she wants him replacing me as co-model” he sighed again.

Oh, that was a problem. So I sent my former high school arch enemy to my best friend’s modeling agency and she wants to replace him?

“Are you worried about it?” I asked.

He shrugged, “The guy doesn’t have any interest in modeling and seems to me, he’s just dating Samantha cos she likes him. He’s not a bad guy or anything”.

I then remembered that Clara’s alma mater was my present school. I excitedly told it to Charles but he said he already knew.

“Her younger brother is your classmate too. Name’s Jackie” he informed.

I searched my head for someone named Jackie but I couldn’t place it. Maybe not in my class.

My mind reminded me of a boy that fitted Charles description. Always on blonde hair. Brown eyes and a scar on his left brow.

I hadn’t spoken to him much. I didn’t really like him. He was the guy who I once lip-read saying he liked Cara. It was during the beginning of my term here.

He was kinda popular as boys always surrounded him. But he wasn’t noisy and was part of the music department.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

He wouldn’t like Samantha, of course. He had a huge crush on Cara. But Cara and Samantha had similar traits, he’s just yet to see it.

“Clara wouldn’t allow her brother replacing you, right?”

Charles scoffed, “Surely. She doesn’t even like him around”.

I nodded, “That’s reassuring”.

I began my chattering of how Cara was humiliated today and about the rule of no racism. I concluded her aunt isn’t much of a bastard like Jane said.

A part of her stood for equality, it was just for her to know the part that doesn’t and help Cara stop being a freak.

Charles wasn’t as pleased as I was, his business anyway.

“Look, Cara has always been a jerk to everyone. Today she distracted our English class. Our English teacher totally tolerated it. And she wanted to buy a boys painting only to destroy it. She’s psycho” I tried to make my point clear.

“Listen to yourself” Charles sighed. I think he liked doing those these days.

“You are sounding just like someone who is full of hate to someone. Cara, I know Cara. You only met her bad part” he added.

I shook my head. We’d really be going down the lane of arguing about Cara. Like we usually did when we were younger.

Though it was the other way round. Charles saw the bad in people while I saw the good in people.

But then he left, and I met horrible people and heard horrible stories, I realized that people’s bad parts ruled them.

And before they’d realize their good part, they’ve already made a huge bad mistake.

Lucky for him he met people’s good part and accepted them for the hood they have, no matter how small and no matter how deeply inside their hearts it was.

Well, I wasn’t one to suffer casualties before finding happiness. I’d fight whoever.

“Cara is an angel then. Fine, I have homework to do. If you will excuse me” I strolled off and into my room.

I didn’t come out till mom came home and told me he left. I guess he only left when she came home.

I’d been busy with Chloe, giving me premium gossips and gist.

Feeling the friendship vibes and having someone agree with me on something; that Cara was a mean freak.

Mom made a quick snack for herself. I hadn’t even eaten anything. I hadn’t realized. She came upstairs to me with a plate of pancakes.

“So Charles was sitting on his own. And you were up here. Is something wrong?” she dropped the plate on my bed.

When I didn’t say anything, she took my phone from me and looked me in the eye.

I exhaled. “Mom, forget about Charles. Can I ask who exactly Martinez is?”

Her face frowned, “Was someone asking you for money or something?”.

My eyes widened. Is Martinez some big shot? Why would someone ask me for money only cos I bear the name?