Chapter 5

"I’ll need you to get an exclusive interview with the owner of the farm you featured on your project," Ma'am Aquino began.

I held my breath, fearing she might add more requirements. She could do that, but I couldn't afford it. I already had too much on my plate with all the other tasks.

"Of course, ma'am. Noted. I’ll secure a document and a short video for the interview," I replied. She seemed pleased with my response, and after wishing me good luck, she dismissed me from the faculty. Yeah, I needed that.

I released the breath I'd been holding as I exited the faculty. I can handle that. Editing the video would be easy as long as I had enough clips. But that meant I had to go back to Oxem's house.

After our class, I immediately informed Yeshua and asked her to accompany me for the interview. Unfortunately, it turned out that they were working on their own project that day, so I was the only one available. Fortunately, Kenneth offered to come with me and handle the video while I conducted the interview.

"Are you sure you don't need our help?" Sam asked. "It would be awkward if only you two go."

"It's really okay," Kenneth replied. "We're just doing an interview. I'll assist Bivianne, and besides, you guys have training for the upcoming intramurals, right?"

I agreed to Kenneth's proposal. Yeshua and her cousins were participating in the competition, although I wasn't sure which sport they had chosen. It seemed like only Kenneth and I weren't part of the team.

Moreover, I could handle this with Kenneth. Actually, I could do it alone. But Kenneth insisted, saying he had nothing else to do, and it would be better to have a helper. It would lighten my workload somewhat.

We rode in silence on the way there, and I decided to brief Kenneth on the questions I would ask. I gave him the questions I planned to ask, and he took care of planning the shots. I trusted his judgment, so I didn't want to interfere with his preferred shots.

"How would you have managed this alone if I hadn't come?" he asked.

"It's easy. Besides, I already know the questions because I was the one who made them."

"Even so. If I were the only one doing this, I'd probably run out of energy."

He was right. I could handle everything, but I'd likely get tired. However, I couldn't afford to get tired. I needed my energy for studying until the early morning.

In the days after the midterms exams, my schedule would likely ease up again, especially since we were going on vacation and graduating.

"That's why I'm thankful you're with me today. It makes my job easier."

He scratched his head shyly. "It's nothing. This is for all of our grades, right? Besides, you've done more for the whole group."

"As you said, it's for our grades. You know how competitive I am when it comes to grades, right?"

He chuckled softly. "You're going to be the future valedictorian of our batch. I almost forgot. I need to do well to get a high grade from Ma'am Aquino."

I laughed at his words. He knew Ma'am Aquino, and her standards were quite high. She often failed students, even if she knew they were graduating and gave them a chance to save their grades.

That's probably why she assigned me this interview. She might have seen something in my grades that she didn't like, so she gave me a chance to improve before the grades were released. Another friend of my mom whom I didn't know how she met. My mom must have a wide circle of friends.

We arrived at a computer shop where some people were playing online games. Some of them were noisy, acting as if they were far apart when, in reality, they were sitting next to each other.

I scratched my head at Yeshua's information that Oxem was here. We were supposed to interview him for our project since he knew the ins and outs of the farm, not his mom or dad.

But I didn't expect to find him in this noisy place. I thought he was a college student. He should be busy by now, especially since it was still early. He should be at school or something.

"Oxem?" I called when we got closer. But because he had large headphones on, he couldn't hear me.

I called him again and tapped his shoulder. He quickly looked at me before returning his gaze to the game. His fingers paused in their rapid pressing of the keyboard and mouse as if he suddenly stopped.

"Oxem!" his cousin next to him exclaimed. "What are you doing? Why did you stop? I can't save you from the enemies. They're approaching. Hey!" And various curses were heard after he said that.

Oxem almost fell off his chair as he turned to face me, his eyes wide like he had seen a ghost while staring at me.

"Bivianne?" he asked, seemingly unable to believe it. He even rubbed his eyes before facing me. "What are you doing here?"

"What the fuck, bro!" his cousin exclaimed again, throwing his mouse that hit the monitor. "We're dead. What are you doing?" He also looked at me, and that's when I noticed it was Peter, another cousin of his. The noisy and hyper one.

"Yeshua said you should be here," I explained.

"That girl is really messing with me," he whispered, not loud enough for me to hear. "It's not your fault. I should apologize for what my cousin did."

"Is it okay if we do this tomorrow instead? We didn't know you were busy playing."

"I'm sorry," I said. "If you want, we can reschedule for tomorrow. It's okay with us."

"No. It's okay. Let's do it."

I nodded slowly and called him to join us in the car so he wouldn't have to pay for transportation. We were all headed to the same place anyway.

He sighed before following me. Okay. He's really mad. But what can I do? I already offered to do it tomorrow. He's the one who insisted on doing it today. He's so confusing.

I sat in the passenger seat, and the two of them sat in the back. Neither of us spoke until we reached Oxem's house. I felt uneasy about going here because of his earlier behavior. What if he's not really available, and he was just forced to come because we were already here?

Tita Kelly welcomed us when we arrived. It seemed like Oxem had already informed his mom that we were coming, so there was no surprise. Oxem still seemed to be in a bad mood, so I didn't know how to start the interview. Maybe later when the atmosphere lightens up, I thought.

"Why don't you have some snacks first?" Tita Kelly suggested while we were in the living room. "I cooked pancit for Oxem and his cousins, but there's so much left. It would be a waste if it just piled up."

"Thank you so much, tita," Kenneth said before getting a plate for himself. He turned to me. "Do you want some too?"

I nodded, and he was about to get a serving for me. But instead, he handed me the one he took for himself. I was about to protest when he said, "You look like you're lost. I got this for you."

I was about to eat the forkful Kenneth prepared for me when I noticed Oxem's gaze. I nearly choked on my food due to the sudden observation. It seemed like he was angry because of the deep frown on his forehead. Awkward.

"I remember when I was still studying," tita shared. "One of the things I disliked was interviews, especially if I didn't know the person I was talking to. Why don't you talk while eating to make you feel more comfortable with each other?"

It seemed like Kenneth was succeeding in making the atmosphere lighter, and soon we began our interview. I breathed a sigh of relief once it was over. I quickly grabbed a glass of water and drank it all. Speaking for hours had dried out my mouth.

"Are you okay?"

I almost choked on my breath when I heard him whisper in my ear. I could feel his breath on my neck, and I knew he was too close. Too close for my comfort. I quickly moved away from him and went straight to the living room, where Kenneth was arranging his shots.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be okay?" I still couldn't look him in the eyes.

"I don't know. You've been avoiding eye contact with me since earlier." I shot him a look. Kenneth might misunderstand our exchange of words.

"So what if I can't look at you? Is that a big deal? I just can't look people in the eye. It makes me uncomfortable."

"I am making you uncomfortable, am I not?"

My mouth dropped open at his words. Okay. Even though it was true, there was no way I was going to admit it.

"You have no problem looking at Kenneth whenever you talk to him, right?" Kenneth was now facing us. "But why won't you look at me? Did I do something wrong? Do you hate me?"

I didn't answer him, caught off guard by his words. What the hell is wrong with this guy? He's making my heart beat so fast.