Icon of the Indecisive by Mina V. Esguerra Read Free Book Online Page A

campus. Apart from being an athlete, he had that wild curly hair, perpetual anger thing that some girls (Sol included) seemed to go for. The rest of the students never saw him being nice and cozy with a girl though, and he was no doubt enjoying how the stares were making me uncomfortable. Especially since I had just outed myself as Robbie's girlfriend.
    "Well this is me," I said, at the Guidance Office. "I have to go."
    He smiled, and it was equal parts nice and evil. "Say hi to your boyfriend for me."
    "What are you talking about?"
    "Robbie. Nice guy. Finally made his move, I see."
    "Is he talking to you about this?"
    Diego looked smug, more so than usual. "You think he's naturally confident, New Girl? Or do you think he has a friend who's Team Robbie and helps make sure he does the right thing?"
    "Stop it," I said, "Don't mess with him."
    "I'm just helping. You like him anyway, don't you?"
    "You really don't want me with Quin that badly?" I blurted out, and was surprised that I did. I never once thought that, by the way, never thought that Diego was a rival to Quin, or at least never thought that whatever rivalry they had had anything to do with me.
    I just didn't think I mattered that much. I mean, I knew the prophecy, that Quin would love someone that much, but Diego once asked if I felt that I was extraordinary enough to be that woman.
    I didn't think so. I never thought so. Why did I just talk like I thought so?!
    But maybe it was the bad movie I watched, and the lessons in mythology I was picking up from unreliable sources...
    Anyway, I realized what I had just done, and it was embarrassing. But Diego enjoyed that slip.
    "Are we believing prophecies now?" he said, and he laughed a bit. "I like the improved self-esteem, New Girl. Maybe you're becoming one of us now."

Chapter 14
     
    Talking to Diego could be infuriating, but afterward I suddenly had the urge to do actual work. Like on my goddess project, which I kept setting aside. At least I could put in work hours and do research at the same time, because as student employee of the Guidance Office, I had access to non-confidential student records. I immediately called up a few: Jessica Torres, Justin Acapulco, Marlee Manansala.
    Jessica Torres, sophomore, apparently of the Torres clan so heavily invested in this town, where Ford River was located. Never visited the Guidance Office except to take the annual personality test. Five records for disciplinary action, no specifics in the non-confidential version, but they couldn't have been that bad because she was still in school. Unless the Torres clan influence was what kept her here. She was invited to the "academic adjustment seminar" twice, which meant she was twice in danger of flunking out —but she didn't show up either.
    Justin Acapulco. Junior, majoring in management, skipped his second annual personality test, member of the arts society, the wine club, and student government. The file on him was standard, nothing too controversial.
    That kind of student should have been normal in every other school, but ours had a higher percentage of Rich Kids that used Ford River as a safety school, and that meant a lot of them had "incidents" on their records. Like traffic violations around the campus, assaults, minor drug busts.
    Justin had none of those though. In fact, his profile was a bit boring.
    Marlee August Manansala. Sophomore, financial aid recipient in her second year. (How did she afford the first year, I wondered, as someone who also needed a sponsor.) Consistent dean's list honoree, writer, assistant essay editor at the literary publication. Five appointments at Guidance in four semesters so far. No details were on the record except that she was seeing Sir Gino (the other counselor, not Ms. Farrah).
    "She was always really sensitive," Jessica said, between sniffles. "Tough times growing up and stuff. She has an actual therapist, you know? Since she was twelve. She's harder on herself really than anybody."
    Good