Chapter 5: The Crazy Interview

Chapter 5: The Crazy Interview

"QUESTIONS and messages for Spiral for only fifty pesos," Rake read in a poster outside the Love Club. Rake frowned at Cee. "Heh, fifty pesos per question? Isn't it too cheap?"

Cee stared at the man. "It should be when a question is asked for you, it's just pesos. Or it's free since it's just you," he said and sighed.

"Hn."

They both entered the Love Club. First day of event at Brookeshire University. Because Spiral's answer to each student's question had to be broadcast, they negotiated with the Broadcasting Committee members. Fortunately, Ava's BFF is one of the members of the Brookeshire Broadcasting Committee so they agreed to use the broadcasting room.

The first person to join Let's Talk About Spiral — Mai came up with that name — was Patch. And now his voice and Jea's are hovering over the speaker.

"Question from LittleMissKia. Will you marry me, Patch?" that was Jea's voice. Though invisible, he knew his friend was frowning now.

"I'm sorry, Jea babe, maybe we'll just graduate," Patch replied.

He almost burst out laughing at his answer. Jea's ear is definitely smoking now.

"Like heck I will marry you, you ogre!"

He suddenly turned to Rake. "You!"

It pointed to itself. "Me?"

"'Don't make a fool of yourself when we are on-air because otherwise ..."

Rake folded his arms. "You're threatening me?"

He swallowed and slightly backed away with an emotion that passed through its eyes that he could not give a name.

"Y-yes so you better be good!"

"Whatever."

"Not because you are a member of the gang, I will be afraid of you!"

"Yeah, yeah."

He laid the things on his desk. "Leave your bag here too," he said and then added in a low voice, "it is also empty."

She froze when she felt hot air in her ear. At the same time, the heat wrapped around his back.

"Are you saying something, peasant?"

He swallowed. Why do his hairs grow on his arm and neck?

"W-nothing!" He turned to Rake. Bad move. Because the man was so close to her, she almost sank into his chest when he faced her. "U-move on and I might not be able to estimate you!"

Instead of moving away, he bent down to face them. He could smell its fragrant breath hitting his face.

"You still have a muta, peasant," he said. He stood up straight and laid the bag on his desk.

"Than stinky breath like you, porky!"

It raised an eyebrow at him. "I know of a way to prove that is not true."

"What, though?"

"I'll kiss you."

"No, thanks!"

"Oh, I know you want it."

It approached him again and he just closed his eyes as his face slowly descended towards him. He could have avoided it but he seemed to be pushed from his position.

Seconds passed by but the lips she was expecting to feel against hers was nowhere to be found.

"I changed my mind," Rake said.

She blushed at the same time as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Hmp. As if I want you to kiss me," he said to save pride.

"That's why-"

"Lika na nga! Jea and Patch are about to finish. We are the next," he interrupted whatever it would say that he knew would only cause annoyance in his system.

He grabbed Rake by the arm and jerked him out of the club room.

Without a word, the man pulled her.

They were just on the stairs to the broadcasting room when he heard Rake's voice.

"Peasant," she whispered to him.

"Why again, porky?"

"My hand is still a virgin holding hands, you are responsible for that."

Then she remembered that she was still holding the man in her arms. He immediately let go of his arm as if he had burned.

"In holding hands, your hand is only a virgin! Don't assume, ha! Your hand is yours!"

He smirked. She wanted to run and hide when she saw the evil and naughty glint on his eyes. "Peasant ..."

Uh-oh. He knew he would never like what came out of his mouth.

"Porky-"

"Did you know that this hand has been my best friend since I learned how to mast-"

He immediately covered his hands with both ears. "I don't want to hear! I don't hear anything! You're really rude porky!"

She quickly climbed up and left the man. But even with his ears covered he still seemed to hear its laughter.

Cee fell down on the empty sofa on the side of the broadcasting room. He folded his arms and frowned. That Rake is really ready for him!

Jea looked at him in surprise. He just shook his head at the friend. His eyes widened at the box containing questions and messages for Patch. About an hour has passed but the man is still chopped up with a message. Others are famous.

He will no longer wonder why Jea's face is frowning now. Even though he said several times that he had forgotten about Patch, he knew that at least he still had feelings for the man.

Not that she was an expert when it comes to love. He hasn't even been in love yet, eh. What she knew about love, she learned from watching movies, reading books and from the people around her.

It was just that she saw how in love Jea was with Patch. She even envied the relationship they had before. For him, that love does not just disappear. Maybe gradually decreasing but not disappearing.

But what did he know? He is not the one who loved, hurt and was left behind.

He was blown away by the wind as the door opened. That spilled Rake.

It stood right next to him. He moved away from it because of his grin.

"That's the end of Let's Talk About Spiral: Patrick Lopez segment. Up next is Let's Talk About Spiral: Raider Avila segment. If you have questions and messages for Rake, go to broadcasting office now. Questions sent after eleven o'clock in the morning will be answered tomorrow. Only fifty pesos per question. Remember fellow students, you can only ask questions and give messages to the members of the Spiral once so it's a hat. What a chance. "

He was just shaken by what Jea was saying. It 's like selling goods in the market if the woman can promote.

Jea turned off the speaker. He even laughed when he stared at Patch before approaching him.

"I don't know why there are so many messages for this monkey," Jea said with a frown and pointed at Patch.

"I'm that great, babe. I can't blame them. How handsome I am?"

"Do you have ammonia there, Cee?"

Surprised by Jea's question, he just shook his head. "What for?"

"To wake up to the fact that this monkey."

"Continue your flirting outside. If you don't notice, peasant wants to marry me," Rake said as he flashed her a smirk.

"Hmp! 'I'll just see you in the club room this lunch, Cee," Jea said goodbye then left the room followed by Patch smiling.

Rake and I just kept quiet while waiting for the airing time of their session.

"Peasant," Rake called to him.

She turned right at the man when a package fell on her lap.

Cereal! And he still has a favorite brand!

He gave Rake a suspicious look. The Sprite he gave her in the cafeteria was still in his mind. Does he know if there is a cockroach inside this cereal even though he thought it was a bit impossible.

"It's expired, what?" After saying that, he immediately looked at the expiration date. Not yet expired. "What nonsense are you thinking again?"

He flashed her an innocent look that didn't match the glint on his eyes at all. "I just want to give you that, that's all. If you don't want to-"

It was about to grab the cereal so she pulled it away from the man. "It's mine, you gave it to me. There's nothing to lose!"

He was surprised when it suddenly squeezed his nose. "Peasant, don't make it too obvious that you are a PG," he said.

He slapped it on the arm. "Shut up." But because it squeezed his nose, 'Shadap' came out of his mouth.

He looked at the clock. "It's time," she said.

But before starting, she opened the cereal first. Why, it's hard to resist the call of cereal, 'no!

Swallowing he turned to Rake. "We don't have a script, porky. But when I talk to you, you will answer politely, huh? Yes, your answer should be clear."

"Yeah, I'm not deaf," he said.

"Just stupid," he whispered then turned on the speaker. "Good morning, fellow students! Vitamin C here. We are going to start our Let's Talk About Spiral: Raider Avila segment. If you have any questions and messages for Rake, just go to the broadcasting office ..."

As he spoke he motioned for Rake to hand him the box that had just been entered by one of the staff they were guarding outside the room.

When he saw that it was full of paper, he stared at the man. He knew his head would only grow bigger.

"Here's Rake with me. Say 'hi' to your fans," he said and pretended to be embarrassed. Fans my ass!

"Hn."

He glared at Rake. "The first question is from ChipipayGurl. Rake, do you have a girlfriend now?"

"Nothing."

"There is still a follow up question. Wait, did it pay one hundred pesos ?!" Not waiting for an answer, he read the next question, "Can I apply?"

"Someone will be jealous," he replied. And based on the look it gives him, it seems like he is the one he is referring to be jealous. 'Its thick, ah!

"Question from LittleFairy99. Rake-oppa-"

"What's an oppa ?!" Rake suddenly asked.

She sighed. "It's an endearment used by girls in Korea. It could mean older brother or boyfriend. There, trivia is for you, listeners." Fortunately, Ava was addicted to that Korean-chuchu so she answered Rake's question.

"Ah. Call me oppa from now on," he said while smirking.

"Oppa your face. Kupal, you can." She gasped when she realized that they were still on-air. He just needs to measure himself. He affects Rake so much! "It's just a joke, of course," he suddenly recovered. It's hard for its fans to follow, 'no!

"Call me oppa," still smiling its persistence. He knew it was just making him trip now.

"Here's the question, Rake-oppa." He almost vomited. "What's the size of your brief?"

Her cheeks flushed as the question sank into her brain.

"I'll leave it to your imagination," he drawled, that ever annoying smirk was still plastered on his face. "Oh, why don't you answer that question, Cereal?"

Why oh why does my name sounds so good coming from your lips? Why ?!

She grunted. She won't give him the satisfaction of answering that question, thank you very much.

He has read other questions and messages. He was no longer aware of the time. Between Rake's teasing, innuendos and grin, he just wanted to go home and sleep.

When the door opened he looked there. Spike and Snow entered. This is the next one.

"This will be the last message for today. If you have any more questions, it will be tomorrow." He pulled out a piece of paper from the box. "This message is from Trisha. Hello, Rake. Since we can't approach you and talk to you, can you give me a simple message for 'min? I love you, Rake! That's a capslock for you to feel. Vitamin C, please read this message with feelings for Rake to feel. Thank you. "

"You should read it with feelings. She requested it," said Rake.

Her eyes widened. He would say 'I love you, Rake!' with feelings pa para lang madama nito ?! Why, this sender is abusive! Fifty pesos for this shame and for Rake's happiness? Aba, aba!

"Do it, Cereal."

Please, don't call me that. Too good to hear, I was deceived.

He took a deep breath and said, "I love you, Rake! With feelings and everything for you to feel!" And then added, "from Trisha."

It covered the hand over the mouth to probably stop laughing.

"Your message seems to be porky," he said to himself.

This is serious. There was not the slightest emotion in its eyes. He did not know but as he stared into its eyes, his heartbeat suddenly quickened as if there were racing horses there.

He opened his mouth and she was really expecting to hear a serious answer from him.

Then he said, with his oh-so serious facial expression, "Hart hart."

Her jaw dropped. Did he just say what she thought she heard right now?

"Did you just said-"

He did not answer but stood up. Even before it finally came out of the broadcasting room, it left a grin.

She totally despised the words 'Hart hart' for a reason she could not decipher herself. Maybe because the words were overrated in her opinion.

But coming from Rake ...

She should be grossed out because he was a guy but it sounded so sexy-she admitted with eyes closed-and just plain sexy coming from him. Why?

I don't know!

He collapsed on the table and screamed in pain.

What is Rake doing to her? Is there a potion of cereal that it gave him ?!

"CONGRATULATIONS, Cee!"

Cee turned to Crea in surprise. "Why? I'm not getting married and especially I'm not pregnant!"

It kicked him. "Gaga! Magna cum laude ka kaya!"

Her eyes widened. She was hoping for this. He burned an eyebrow and did not neglect studying because this is his dream, their dream. And hearing that he fulfilled this dream of theirs, he could not stop the tears from forming in his eyes.

"R-really?"

Crea nodded. "It has been posted on the bulletin board of our department. We're so proud of you, Cee!" he said and hugged her tightly.

"C-can I see it?" She wasn't doubting herself. He knows his grades. But it's different when you see the evidence, isn't it?

It pulled him onto the bulletin board. He read in his mind what was written on the paper.

MAGNA CUM LAUDE - Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineering (BSECE)

DELA CRUZ, Cereal GWA: 1.35

"Dela Cruz, Cereal," he read in her name. He turned to Crea and hugged her tightly. "Thank you lord!"

"You deserve it, Cee. Even though you are pure cereal, you are really smart and hardworking. We are very proud of you, Cee. I know he is proud of you now."

He immediately wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Wait. I'll tell him this good news! I won't go to the second part of our activity today. Please?"

Crea jokingly slapped him on the arm. "I'll take care of your shift. Go."

"Thanks, Crea! You're the best!"

"MOMMY! I magna cum laude as I promised you, as your dream for me," Cee said to her mommy.

She could not contain the happiness she was feeling right now. Maybe to others, he was superficial. But it's not just because it's a simple medal, it's not just because it's a dream, it's also her mommy's dream. This is what he promised his mommy.

If there is one thing she cares about besides cereal, it is her mommy.

"Are you proud of me right now, mom? I did it. I enjoyed my college life like your advice and at the same time, mom, I reached your dream for me." She smiled and at the same time shed tears on both cheeks. "I did it, mom. I did it for you," she cried.

He stroked the cold marble on the floor and read the name engraved on it.

It was the name of her mom.

Since no one could see him, he then took off the mask he was wearing. She shed all her tears, all her sadness, even her longing.

She wasn't the easy-going and cereal loving Cee anymore.

She was Cereal. The Cereal who abandoned everything because she loved her mother so much.

"I miss you, mom. I hope you are here to hang a medal for my graduation. I miss you so much, mom."

He lowered his face to his palms and wept bitterly.

After this day, he will return his mask again.

But now, he let himself be weak first.

Because this is the real him.