Love Is Second Best — Chapter 32: LOVING THE MOMENTS

Carmella's POV

"We'll be crossing the bridge when we get there. I can't tell right now."

"Well, you should be taking it into consideration too."

"It would always depend upon the approval of my mom. You know her pretty well, right?"

"So, you will let her control your life forever? Like, hello? Who the fool could ever perfect every quiz, exams and even recitations with no errors at all?" In a few minutes, there was silence until I could hear a low chuckle on the other line.

"Oops, I forgot you're that fool...hehe" She even added. I frowned as I got annoyed all of a sudden.

"Wait a minute til I get there. You'll surely be dead."

"Sorry, alright? I'll just keep quiet to save myself. I almost forgot you're an old maid in the making." She chuckled and before I even reacted, she ended the call already. Kara is really one, silly best friend you'll ever wish you have and hate at the same time.

I tried sleeping that night three hours after Adrian sent me home. I turned side to side but I failed to sleep. Kara had a point, though. There's a possibility that I am not even sure about.

What if he will really confess his feelings to me? What should I answer? How would I even react? This is way too impossible. I closed my eyes to rest my head. I have to put this in mind so that I could prepare and be ready if that is the case.

The next day came and today is the deadline for the submission of the money that we decided to give to our adviser. It's a simple gift for her birthday which is tomorrow.

"Hey, Kams, is your mom okay with the financial problem she has recently had?"

"She's dealing with it." I said as we walked side by side as we went to our respective seats.

"By the way, about that birthday thing...How much is it?" Kara is scratching her head as she leaned closer to me.

"It will be 200 each." I whispered back and it made her smile.

"Whoa...why is it that costly?" I poked her arm to prevent her from saying the next words aloud. She chuckled as she gave the bills to me.

Kara is only complaining but the truth is, she's rich among all of us. Well, I have to say it is Hope. I experienced going to their house and she has two maids at least for her own. However, she is not vocal about herself that's why Kara is always treated as 'queen' inside our room.

'Well, our adviser had a dream dress and it cost at least eight thousand pesos. We have to give it to her to make her happy at least." I told Kara that she nodded in agreement right away.

"That seemed reasonable." I handed the total number of money that I collected from Hope and Kara to our class treasurer. I smiled at her but she just rolled her eyes. Oh,I remembered she's one of Thelma's best friend.

She walked away from me and walked towards her group of friends. Three minutes had passed and our class began. When our class for that subject is over and our teacher went outside the room, our class president Eliera stood in front of us.

"Jess, can I have the money now? I have to buy it right after our class." Jess smiled at our president as she held her pocket at the same time.

"Oh, no! I think the envelope is missing!" Jess cried in panic. Everyone murmured as they looked around. Thelma even helped her find the envelope by opening her bag and emptied everything but they couldn't find it.

"Where would it go? I am just here inside the room when I completed all of it to hand it over to you." Jess started to cry because she's being blamed by almost everyone around her.

"Don't be a fool, it's not your fault! Someone stole it! That's for sure! To whom did you last talk with before you returned to your seat?"

"I talked to Carmella before I sat on my seat." She said between sobs as she wiped her tears.

Suddenly, everybody's attention is on me. To my horror, they went around me and started whispering to each other again. Some of my classmates even started throwing crumpled papers as they made fun and even cursed me to death.

Kara and Hope stopped them by standing in front of me. Some of my classmates stopped from what they were doing after seeing my two, respectable classmates and my best of friends.

"Hey, I guess it is not also proper to just put the blame into someone innocent."

Thelma suddenly stood up to Jess' defense.

"Oh yeah," She put one of her hands to her hips and raised one of her eyebrows.

"Why don't we check Carmella's bag for us to really find out?" Denise stood beside Thelma as she grabbed my bag on my chair. She started unzipping it and everyone gasped when an envelope fell from my bag.

"Why did that envelope get in there?" I asked out loud that made most of my classmates angrier even more.

"See, Hope? You don't even know who you are trying to defend in the first place. If I were you, start eliminating Hope from your friend's list to get you out of trouble." Thelma said as she smirked. My heart really beat fast as tears started to fall down on my cheeks. I ran as fast as I could, out of our room. My other classmates were too shocked they haven't got the chance to follow me.

----

The commotion continued inside the room. Kara and Hope stood up from where Carmella left. Kara started to cry while Hope closed his two fists.

"Thelma, you will never get the chance to get away from this, I promise."

"Oh, yeah? I don't even understand how you treat Carmella as a dear friend when all she does is to bite you back."

"I will report this to our principal. I know you're behind this. I saw you awhile ago opening Carmella's bag." Everyone gasped and whispered words to one another while others started to throw crumpled papers to Thelma.

She swallowed as she looked around. Most of their classmates got really mad and annoyed at the same time.

"T-That's not true!"

"Do you still want evidence?" Hope said in a warning tone. Kara waved her phone as she smirked.

"Everybody, please listen," Hope calmly said as she hovered her gaze around the room. It made everyone gather closely as they turned their focus to her.

"Bullying someone for your own satisfaction is not funny. It will never be funny especially that you're already hurting someone in the process." Thelma started to cry as Jess was hugging her.

"But hating someone for doing it for a longer period of time is also bad, isn't it?" Most of their classmates nodded.

"Let's not let this issue reach the principal's office to maintain the reputation of this section."

"Okay, Elise Hope. What you think is good will be okay for us."

"Guys, I am really sorry. I really am. I just want to make fun of Carmella. I never thought it will end up this way."

Everyone, are you willing to forgive Thelma?"

"Yes, Elise Hope." Most of their classmates nodded as they looked at Thelma.

"Of course. However, I couldn't forgive her that easily. Your apologies should not end from this room alone." Hope smiled as Thelma met her gaze. She tapped her shoulder and she let Thelma face her.

"Y-Yes, Elise Hope. I will follow Carmella right now and apologize to her."

"You have to. And please, never do it again. It is not right to just make fun of others for your own satisfaction. It is not even funny in the first place."

Thelma ran outside the room. Even if she's still crying, she followed Carmella to where she's heading.

"You know what? I never thought Thelma is that bad..." Most of their classmates murmured as they formed themselves into their groups of friends.

"Guys, let's not make this one a big issue. Nobody deserves hate. Let's try to forget everything and move on."

"Wow, Hope, you know what? I admire you so much. You make everything easy."

"You're everybody's dream."

"Stop it, silly." Kara chuckled when Elise responded to one of their boy classmates. It seemed like he's very interested in her, he's able to say those words. Sadly, I guess he's simply not her type of guy.

"You got Hope-ted!" Elise and Kara laughed out loud and their classmate chuckled, too. Kara is also full of humor, that's why everyone loves her being around. Thelma apologized to Carmella but she's always into her and on how she'll have her revenge. She always knew she could, and she'll have to make sure she'll not get caught by anyone, not even Elise Hope herself.