Chapter 8

• “Peri, I heard Remrod whining the other day,” Denize opened the topic while the two best friends were at the cafeteria for supper. “He’s still hitting on you, isn’t he?”
• Peri didn’t answer. She just chewed the rice and the piece of fried fish in her mouth.
• Denize stared at her, holding the spoon in mid-air. “I’ve already told him to quit doing it if you don’t give him any chance or hope.”
• Peri nodded slowly.
• “Tell me, what’s wrong with my cousin? I think he’s good-looking and has a stable job. In fact, many girls like him. He just chooses to pursue you. I know he’s serious about you, Peri.”
• “I already told him the reasons. I just hope he’ll respect my decision,” Peri said, shrugging.
• “Hmm. About our friendship that might get ruined if you broke up in the end, is that it?” Denize guessed.
• “I just don’t want to complicate things. Besides, that’s not the only reason.”
• “Right,” Denize agreed, moving her head up and down. She then resumed eating. After swallowing the food, she asked, “But what if there’s someone who comes along?”
• Peri’s brows furrowed. “Huh?”
• “I mean, if you have another suitor, are you going to accept him or are you going to reject him just like you do with my cousin?”
• Peri thought about it for a moment. Her head tilted on one side while staring at her friend. “Most probably, I’d do the same.”
• Denize sniggered. “What if you really, really like him?”
• Peri grimaced. “I don’t think I’m up for any relationship right now. You already know about my family’s situation. Besides, I’m still studying, and I don’t want to get distracted as much as possible. Above all, I don’t have time for any kind of romantic relationship at the moment. Who would want to date a girl who’s studying and is always working when it’s supposed to be her free time? Right?”
• “Every relationship does need time to be cultivated,” Denize concurred. “If a couple don’t have time for each other, it’s as good as if they don’t date or have any relationship at all. So, quality time together is essential to have a strong relationship, to get to know each other more, to be happy, to be loving and caring for each other, to keep that special bond between them.”
• Peri hummed in agreement, delighted that her friend got the point.
• Denize took a deep breath, smiling and gazing at Peri’s face. “Are you sure you don’t want to be happy while studying?”
• Peri rolled her eyes. “What do you mean by that?”
• Denize giggled. “You know, most girls date to be inspired—inspired to go to the university and see their boyfriends. Mind you, they’re still able to get good grades.”
• Peri’s eyebrows rose. “Right, most girls don’t have to study and work at the same time, unlike me,” she pointed out. “Other girls don’t have a blind father and a grandma that might fall sick any time because she’s also working hard to help keep ends meet.”
• Denize pouted and whistled, murmuring to herself, “Crash and burn, Denize! You’re lucky you have a normal family.”
• Peri grinned at her friend while shaking her head. “Well, what about you? I know you have suitors. Why don’t you date one of them?”
• Denize rolled her eyes. “And the topic turns on my side.”
• “You’re the one who started it. So? Why, huh?”
• Denize made a face. “Well, if one of them is my type, yeah! Why not? The problem is, I don’t like any of them.”
• Peri found it hard to believe. “There’s a basketball varsity player who likes you a lot! He’s handsome, tall, kind, rich and humorous. Why isn’t he your type? He’s practically every girl’s dream!”
• Denize scoffed. “No, thanks. I heard he’s a playboy. Isn’t every handsome guy like that? He’s everybody’s boyfriend!”
• “Whoa! It’s stereotyping, and I suddenly smell vinegar!” Peri teased.
• “Hey, I’m not jealous at all. Why would I? He’s not worth it!” Denize sounded defensive.
• “Denize, it’s just rumors. Don’t believe in any of them.” Peri gave the man the benefit of the doubt.
• “Rumors tend to have bases,” Denize countered.
• “Well, there are also those so-called baseless rumors. Why don’t you try dating him and see if it’s true?”
• “Why should I date him and discover if the rumors are true? Wouldn’t I get hurt then?”
• Peri giggled. “Aha! Gotcha! You really like him, but you’re in denial!” She pointed the fork at her friend.
• “No, I don’t like him!” Denize insisted, widening her eyes.
• Peri still gave her friend a teasing look. “Hey, look. There’s your suitor,” she joked, nodding at the entrance of the cafeteria. “He’s coming over here!”
• Denize turned her head. When she discovered it was merely a prank, she hit Peri’s arm with a slap.
• “Aw!” Peri rubbed her assaulted arm.
• “You!”
• Peri stuck out her tongue childishly. “See? You’re blushing!”
• ***
• Peri stepped out of the public vehicle and walked toward their house. It was already late at night. A few bystanders blocked her way.
• “Hey, Peri. Want us to escort you home?” One of them offered.
• Peri could smell liquor on them, despite the meter or so distance from them. She tried to go around them, obviously avoiding any of the three men. Their faces were familiar. They were a bunch of jobless rowdy guys who still lived with their parents despite their ages close to thirty. She used to notice them playing basketball at the barangay basketball court in the afternoons and sometimes getting into fights. They were absolutely bad news.
• “No, no need. I’m fine, thank you,” she murmured, trying to get away as soon as possible. Thus, she started to run to escape.
• “Get her!” One of them yelled.
• The three started to chase her. She started to pant, but she pushed on. Her shoe loosened, resulting in her slowed pace. She winced when it finally separated from her foot, and she stepped on a sharp stone on the dirt road. She was forced to stop because of the pain. She hoped her foot wasn’t wounded. She had no time to inspect it at the moment.
• “Hey, Peri!” One of them yelled.
• She resumed running, despite limping. That part of the road was dimmer than the rest where there were lampposts with good lights. She stumbled but got up as soon as she could, grimacing in pain. A couple of headlights luckily lit her way and blocked her pursuers. When she looked back, she saw a tall man getting out of the car. His back was facing her, so she couldn’t make out who it was. The said man seized the first bystander and punched him in the face. The jobless man fell to the ground, clutching at his bleeding mouth. Two more others tried to gang up on the car’s driver. And yet, the two others were also beaten up with a couple of powerful kicks and punches.
• Peri’s eyes widened in fear. Afraid she’d get into further trouble, she continued to run home. She was almost there.