The Forest of Evergreen: Found in the Wilderness

by Teresa May B. Bandiola

  “Oh, no! I’ll be staying in my house.” Finally, Jericho broke his silence and winked at Nadine after saying it.

  “Really? You have a house here, bro?” At last, Alex spoke too, facing Jericho. Certainly, Sophia got questions of her own, too, but she couldn’t ask Jericho.

  Now, Enzo couldn’t help himself, any longer, from speculating that Jericho might be the one Sophia was referring to, in the park. He could guess, though, each time Sophia looked at Jericho. Then, from that moment on, he’d followed Sophia’s eyes and they never failed to confirm so. But, he wasn’t the only one noticing it. The rest of the family did, too, and this made Enzo want to grab Sophia’s hand and place it in his lap, gripping it so tight that she could feel the pain. She could pretend it wasn’t hurting, though, and she would manage a quick smile.

  When the dinner was over, Sophia quickly stood up and went to the front porch as Enzo expressed his appreciation for the wonderful meal.

  “Why in a hurry?” Enzo hurried, chasing her.

  “Because you were hurting me back there.”

  “Hurting you? Sophia, I wasn’t hurting you.”

  “Really?”

  “I was just touching your hand. That’s all.” Then Enzo eyed her with a flash of realization. “He’s the one you were telling me about, right?”

  For ages, Sophia did not provide any response, and she hoped he would just leave right now.

  “This isn’t about the tight grip of your hand, isn’t it?” Enzo now dared her. “This is about him!”

  “What are you talking about?” Sophia turned to him, wooden.

  “You still love him?” Enzo approached her with a sharpening look, like a wolf attacking a puppy. “I won’t leave unless we settle this tonight!” He tried hard to tone down his ragged voice.

  “There’s nothing to settle.” Sophia also sent him a fierce look, and turned even braver when she saw the frustration in his eyes. “I want you to leave now. I’m tired.”

  Incalculably, he was hurt, and he suddenly left in both rage and disappointment, which was too bad for the first day of their relationship.

  It was the worst moment for Sophia. Crying wasn’t sufficient to get rid of all the emotions plaguing her. She spun away from the house and walked without a sense of direction. She couldn’t be seen crying. She made her way through the sidewalks, with several people still out at night, then a truck harshly pulled over beside her. Jericho, who was on his way home, saw her and came toward her. He was cold.

  “What’s with those tears? Did your boyfriend just dump you?” His unusual conduct was not expected by Sophia, and she was provoked. He was obviously using this opportunity for a payback, for replacing him that fast.

  Frozen in disbelief, Sophia only looked at him. “How could you say that to me?” she said, her tone low, almost like a whisper. “How could you, after all of the things that happened between us? It would be easier for me to forget you if you hadn’t come back! I was trying to move on.”

  Despite all the bitterness, he couldn’t help feeling sorry with the way she cried out at him, because of how he had hurt her. It was too late to draw back his words now; they’d already escaped his cold lips. He was shushed into realizing how much of an idiot he was. Then he lifted his head to look at her again and caught the way she squeezed her eyes in pain and sorrow. God forbid, he was madly in love with her again.

  “Here,” he said under his breath and handed her a handkerchief from his pocket, still perfectly folded and unused. Too bad, for Sophia shook her head in rejection. And too late, he knew he’d been a complete ass.

  Sophia slid a mournful glance at him and left, having in mind that the engaging Jericho she used to know and had come to love had utterly changed.

  CHAPTER 16

  ________________________________________________________ † ________________________________________________________

  when the road that lies ahead

  seems right

  Francheska remembered the first time she felt Sophia’s kick in her belly. She was fifteen then, such a blossoming flower in the green meadows, with bees and butterflies all around. She had the world at her feet, with her face and voice of a country singer wanna-be. She had the biggest dreams of all. And the wildest dreams, even.

  There’d been so much anger raging inside her that she doubted she could ever accept her own daughter.

  But, right now, what wiped out the anger was an aching guilt. As Francheska emptied her glass of Mojito that midnight, it was so clear to her now she’d been wrong in leaving Sophia. She was the worst of all mothers, she thought, and she was now desperate to make up for Sophia—her dearest, forsaken daughter.

  *****

  When Tuesday morning emerged in Sophia’s gray flashes of previous happenings, she hurried early for school to avoid additional family conversations involving Jericho. She knew they’d been planning things for him. Fortunately for her, yesterday—Monday—was a holiday, and this gave her more time to mull things over.

  Enzo had not been calling her nor sending her messages. The house had been too absorbed by the entry of a new family member, and now, Jericho had treated her as if she were debris in his newly-erected empire of vengeance.

  Sophia couldn’t handle her own emotions and she drove her own car without asking her parents. She had always been like this, as though leaving was always the best way out of every dilemma.

  The school grounds were empty as she parked her red mini Cooper. She turned the radio on and switched from one station into another until she found comfort in the company of mellow rock tracks. And as she closed her eyes and pacified herself, there suddenly played Jason Mraz’s I Won’t Give Up. Its stream and message moved her to cry even more. She was back there again, to that exact moment when she had her first kiss with Jericho, after the accident. And that last moment—last night—when she wasn’t sure Jericho had completely given up on her.

  It was all raw, and stinging. She was falling into this dungeon with no known depths and limits.

  Then a knock on her window swept her floating thoughts away. There was Enzo, waiting outside her car with a sign of relief in his eyes. He must have been searching for her.

  Sophia opened her window with doubts and wondered if she was already forgiven. She knew she was rude to him, the last time.

  “Hey,” Enzo greeted, his appearance alight with glee. At this, Sophia didn’t know if she ought to feel embarrassed or privileged. She knew Enzo deserved so much more than what she was giving him. “I’m sorry I was a jerk last time.” To her surprise, he was the one apologizing, and she worked hard to meet his eyes.

  “No, I should be the one apologizing.” Sophia stretched all her nerves in saying it, but Enzo asked her to step out for breakfast.

  “It’s too early for our first class. Let’s grab some pancakes, shall we?” Enzo invited her and closed the car for her. Sophia couldn’t help but feel shy and agree.

  Enzo took her to The Metro Vent, just across their school, as the hutch for well-off students. Sophia was astonished when the receptionists greeted Enzo as if they knew him for a long time. And as she watched him exchange words with the waiters, she realized the restaurant could be Enzo’s.

  “Is this place yours?” She asked him as a waiter pulled a chair for both of them.

  “Yes.” He was meek.

  “Have I been here before?”

  “Aha, in fact this used to be your favorite classroom.” Enzo was starting to give her some clues. “Back in freshman year.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t need any effort to order because Enzo had already settled everything for her.

  “I wished to surprise you,” he smiled at her, and she could only utter an oh. She looked around and watched customers come to the balcony. Beside them there was a line of men in black suits, browsing today’s newspaper. Sophia tried to snoop and read the headline: US President Obama’s first visit to the country. She guessed the heavy traffic in the city would b
e much worse tonight, and their school was near the government offices and The Domian Fortress. (The country’s presidential mansion was named after Domya, now spelled as Domia, the native chief who killed the earliest set of Spanish invaders in the country, and it was also the name by which Philipdomia was named, after combining his name with King Philip II’s of Spain).

  “I guess, I should really start calling you peaches.” Enzo then uttered, and looked at Sophia’s blushing cheeks.

  “What?” Sophia reacted, disagreeing. “It sounds—old—like we’re in the 90’s or something.”

  “Oh, you don’t like it! I’ll call you Kat then, because you really have a long name. Sophia Alessandra Katarina Vabueritti.” Enzo was giggling, as he said her exceptionally lengthy name. His face looked too self-indulgent and suddenly, she felt edgy.

  Sophia looked at him, dumbfounded, and was distracted by a burst of laughs from fellow costumers, who were seated at the table behind her.

  “Who named you that long, by the way? You must be exhausted just by writing your name.” Enzo was grinning from ear to ear.

  Again, Sophia was speechless, disregarding the thought that Enzo could be this exasperating. She’d barely touched the Egg Benedict that they were served, although it was complemented by other dishes …dish-names she couldn’t remember. But there was no doubt there was the whiff of mushroom soup and pepper salsa.

  Enzo was looking fondly at her as he flapped his spoon and fork over his own plate, and each time, she didn’t know how to react. There was still that feeling she wasn’t at ease yet with him. Her mind raced, thinking if her letting Enzo into her life was even sensible.

  The second they’d finished, Sophia excused herself to go to the lady’s room and calmed herself. If she’d let this go on, she had to pay the price. She worried so much for school, knowing her friends and her brother didn’t like Enzo.

  She washed her face and fixed her hair in a high twist, then headed back to him. Enzo was already waiting, with this grin that turned sunnier. He grabbed her waist as they crossed the street, and Sophia had to put his hand away every single time.

  “What?” Enzo retaliated. “Come on, you’re the prettiest girl in school. Let me feel the moment of winning the trophy!” he added, way too serious, which finally upset her.

  “You mean, I’m just a trophy to you that you can flaunt to everyone?” Sophia frowned and had the thought of leaving him.

  “No, Kat! It’s not like—” Enzo tried to stop her.

  “You know what? I don’t—” She squeezed her eyes with disappointment. “I should hurry. It’s almost time for our first class.”

  “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean what I said,” Enzo persisted. “Look, it’s not what you think.”

  “I have to go.” Sophia finally hurried to leave him, and the other students seeing them, poked fun at Enzo. But Enzo didn’t mind, for his focus was only on Sophia.

  “If you truly care for me, please leave me alone. Just for today. You hurt me,” Sophia told Enzo, when he kept on delaying her.

  Sophia was half an hour late for her Social Science class, after spending some time in the lady’s room. She knew Mrs. Matthews was really strict with punctuality but it could not be helped.

  “I’m sorry, I’m late,” she apologized as she entered the class, but to her surprise, Mrs. Matthews called her for a recitation.

  “Ms. Vabueretti, what is your point of view regarding teenage pregnancy? It became such a huge social issue in the country today and it needs to be addressed…” Mrs. Matthews was trying to smile, and Sophia knew she was just playing it nice. Mrs. Matthews was always known for her sarcastic facial expressions.

  And as she remained standing, adjacent to her chair, Sophia straightened to her full height, manifesting her sensual figure, and answered the question without further ado. “Teenage pregnancy destroys people’s lives, not only the teenagers themselves but also everyone around them, especially their family. It creates stigma…” As she turned her head, she noticed everyone’s interest, “… this stigma that leads some teenage moms to a traumatized phase of their lives, so they don’t go to school anymore. The shame and judgments of an unforgiving society… of course, who would not be destroyed at such a loss of dignity?” Then she sat down immediately, quite uncomfortable with the burst of her words, but her answer connected with Daniella. After running through her diaries again last night, Sophia got to know her old friend better.

  A march of applauses and whistles filled the air for a moment.

  “I wanna “teenage pregnancy” you, Sophia.” A male voice came from the back. “I swear you’ll be the hottest mama!” Someone added. It was Roderick, their too-self-possessed-classmate who thought that sunrise on earth was impossible without him.

  “Eww! In your dreams, Roderick!” Zarah defended Sophia, who was now flushing hot and cold in her seat. As much as possible, she didn’t want any attention centered upon her, especially from the guys. Some girls might turn against her, again.

  Mrs. Matthews fell in silence with a smattering smile. Perhaps, she was, at some point, impressed.

  “Look, Mrs. Matthews just smiled.” Zarah elbowed Sophia, who was still red as blood with her face. “I guess you just impressed her.”

  “Well, how about you, Mr. Lopez?” Mrs. Matthews referred to Enzo, who arrived in class in the middle of Sophia’s recitation.

  “Oh! Teenage pregnancy!” Enzo let his breath in a hiss and scratched his head, thinking. “Well, I agree with Sophia. It creates this stigma but my point is more on the teenage dads,” he paused, and shared a look with Sophia. Then he continued, “Teenage dads must also be responsible for what they’ve done. I mean, it takes two to dance the tango, right? So both must be responsible and brave enough to face the consequences of their actions.” Enzo was gesturing as he spoke, to fight the tense reactions from the guys.

  “Oh, yeah! Are you sure about that, Enzo? Do you even have a girlfriend?” Roderick, once again, hurled some ridicule in the air.

  Enzo was about to strike back when Mrs. Matthews warned them. “Mr. Roderick Guttenberg, one more inane word and I’ll send you to the detention room.”

  The class, in one fell swoop, turned quiet.

  “All right, let’s proceed!” Mrs. Matthews now made sure she got all ears listening.

  During the class, Enzo’s answer troubled Sophia. Responsible and brave enough to face the consequence of their actions? Wow! Sophia couldn’t help but admire his answer. Then suddenly, she felt guilty for not defending him at the attack—his having no girlfriend. He has a girlfriend now. It’s you, Sophia! How come you remained silent as he was mocked by everyone? Her sense of right and wrong struck her now.

  From moment to moment, Sophia gazed at Enzo. He did the same thing. Their eyes kept locking and they couldn’t wait for the class to finally come to an end so they could apologize to each other.

  In their last class, PE, Zarah felt sudden PMS as they grabbed their gym uniforms from their lockers. It was time for the indoor games.

  “You want me to take you to the clinic?” Sophia saw how Zarah howled to release the pain.

  “No, I can do this!”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah.” Zarah tilted her chin and straightened her back. “You’re ready?”

  “Yeah, just as long as you’re ready, too.”

  “All right! Let’s go and kick some ass.”

  They gathered their hair in a ponytail and wore their blue volleyball uniform stitched with the image of an eagle, their school’s animal symbol. And as they crossed the floorboards of the gymnasium, Sophia kept asking her best friend to be nice to Enzo.

  “All right, I’ll give him a chance.” Zarah tried to be supportive.

  “Thank you.” Sophia was speaking when Enzo came near. He was in his basketball uniform.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hey,” Sophia replied, nervous, and got saved when Zarah bestowed Enzo a nice approa
ch.

  “Hello there, pal,” Zarah said and left them for a while. Somehow, this gave them a moment to be forgiving to each other until Coach Ramirez blew his whistle and called everyone’s attention.

  “Listen up, people! There are changes,” he announced. “The ladies will be divided into two today and will compete with each other for volleyball. And then, there’s basketball later, for the boys.”

  The crowd sounded agreeable, and the boys finger-hooted, as this gave them a chance to watch their girl-bets.

  “You know what? I think I should suggest to the admin to change the school’s female gym uniform,” Enzo told Sophia, right after Coach Ramirez made the announcement.

  “Why is that so?” Zarah, joining them, raised an eyebrow. Too bad for her, Alex belonged to a different class, and so, she had no partner.

  “Guys can’t help but stare. Your pants reveal your legs too much,” Enzo defended himself and then proved it when Roderickacross the floorboardeyed every girl he saw.

  “What are you? A pastor now?” Zarah almost laughed.

  “I’m just saying…”

  “You know what? I think you should join your team now.” Zarah then suggested, seeing the other boys were in a circle to cheer the girls on.

  Coach Ramirez divided the ladies into two teams. It happened that Sophia and Zarah belonged to the same. But Sophia seemed in torment—she was not that good in volleyball. She knew it herself.

  “Thank God we’re on the same team. Rescue me just in case I don’t hit the ball,” Sophia expressed, giggling to Zarah.

  The boys, as the audience, finally settled down, then found themselves a seat and placed their bets. Some began cheering for their girlfriends just as Enzo hooted for Sophia. After the tossing of coin, it happened that Sophia’s team was the first to serve.

  “Sophia, you first!” Janna, their selected team captain, ordered.

  “What? Why me?” Sophia disagreed, looking too desperate.

  “You can do it! Go girl!” Janna insisted, as Zarah shouted approval for her.

  Sophia’s skin evidently blushed. Her face showed she would fail the first serve, yet she hoped for the best. Her teammates seemed ready and watchful, and the moment she heard the whistle, she wished for a successful serve.