THE time that Aoine prepared for her date with her boyfriend for today just wasted after Zesiro messaged her he had other plans.
I’m so sorry, babe. I promised Hautea that we’ll get our PETA done together this afternoon at her house.
Aoine couldn’t count how many times she had read that message from Zesiro, it wasn’t surprising but she’s disappointed.
From all the times Zesiro ditched their plans for Hautea was making Aoine feel more betrayed and hurt, she had to put an end for this, she can’t do this anymore.
Maybe dating a tenth grader with a girl best friend isn’t going to work.
Aoine slowly sat down on her bed, eyes still glued on the screen as she followed the words she received from Zesiro for the umpteenth time.
This is high school. . . .
Ina:
Oh. . . .
Why did you make plans for us if you already made plans with her?
Zero:
We just planned it a few minutes ago.
Ina:
So, basically, you’re canceling on me.
Again.
Zero:
Huh? Wdym ‘again’? I’ve never canceled on you for her before, it’s just that today we have to finish our task.
Ina:
Ha? Are you serious?
Remember last week we were going to devil’s mountain for our picnic date?
But you said Hautea needs you to take her to Wansoy to get her check to Tatang Francing because she’s sick.
Last Friday, after flag retreat, we’re supposed to go to plaza but you took her out instead.
This morning, I asked you to come with me to the beach because I have to get my uniform to Aling Manet but you decided to see her instead.
You told me you’re going to take me out this afternoon to make it up for me and now you’re going to her house to study together.
Do you want me to remind you more?
Zero:
I didn’t realize it’s happening this much.
I’m sorry.
I promise I’ll make it up to you.
Ina:
Zero, I’ve been told that countless times already.
I’m starting to believe that I’m not your girlfriend.
Zero:
Promise, I’ll be better this time.
Ina:
Really?
What are your plans for tomorrow?
Zero:
I’m going to have dinner with Hautea after practice. . . .
Ina:
Wow.
Why do I feel like I’m competing for your attention?
I feel neglected.
Zero:
There’s no need to compete, you’re my girlfriend.
Ina:
I didn’t know after courtship; you’re going to abandon me after.
I can’t keep doing this.
I don’t want to be treated this way.
You shouldn’t have dated me if you love her, Zesiro.
Zero:
Hey, stop.
I love you.
You’re the one I love.
Ina:
It doesn’t feel like that sometimes.
Zero, I don’t want to be put in this position where I have to feel unimportant, it seemed like I’m just a decoration in your life.
I’ll give you time to reevaluate your feelings and I need time to heal.
Please be certain who you want to be with.
Zero:
Babe.
No.
You’re the one I love.
I’m sorry.
Please, answer me.
Aoine decided to turn off her phone and just let Zesiro do whatever he like for the rest of the day.
No questions of what he’s doing, not telling him how her day went, just nothing, no communication and she’ll keep it that way until it’s the right time to discuss if there’s still a future for them.
A deep, heavy sigh slipped out of her lips as she changed from her jumper skirt to over-sized shirt.
She went on with her routine, there was some time when she’ll stop reading her book just to stare at the ceiling to rethink every choice she did in the past that she eventually regretted after.
One of those was accepting Zesiro to court her after knowing that someone like him—a star student and a well-known volleyball player will take an interest in someone as average as her.
Now that Aoine thought about it, it seemed like she only loves the idea of being in love, how can she accept him right away if it wasn’t? Aoine might have gotten excited over the fact that a guy will actually like her.
But it still hurt being stepped aside like that.
That’s the worse feeling she had ever experience since she had a history with her best friends before and she doesn’t want to feel that way again over a guy.
Starting Monday, Aoine avoided any particular spot of the school just in case she bumps into Zesiro, she wanted to give it a rest so Zesiro can be able to feel the real score of their relationship.
Aoine already have an idea what will be the outcome but if it didn’t turn out to be what she expected, then she had to finish it.
When Thursday came, Aoine saw Zesiro waiting for her in front of the chapel of their SACA school. Aoine managed to get away from him thanks to her best friend Struana.
Zesiro could only frown at Aoine after Struana told him Aoine doesn’t want to see nor speak to him, it wasn’t oblivious to Zesiro when he saw the dark circles gracing under her eyes, it’s way more prominent than it was before.
Aoine was indeed exhausted but she’s trying her best to flush it out of her face.
As Aoine and Struana clambered up to the third floor where their St. Thomas room can be located, Struana pointed out her concern, “Are you okay? You look like you need sleep.”
“I don’t feel sleepy but I feel tired,” Aoine admitted, “Ever since I ignored Zero my sleeping schedule worsened again.”
“Oh, from those nights that he helped you sleep, you should have at least gotten used to sleeping early by now, Ina. Whether he’s there or not.”
“I don’t know, he somehow helped me get a better sleep every night but it didn’t cure me fully.”
“At least you’re now sleeping before midnight than only getting three hours of sleep before. Don’t worry, you’ll get your original sleeping pattern soon, just don’t be stubborn like you were in seventh grade,” Struana reminded.
“Yeah. . . .”
Their adviser Mrs. Colosa was already starting their new lesson the time when they arrived.
Aoine didn’t have the energy to give snarky remark to her teacher and just let Struana have a short chitchat with Mrs. Colosa—they’re just too comfortable to be like this because Mrs. Colosa is Sashea’s older sister who’s also Aoine and Struana’s best friend.
Aoine carried on for the first and second period even though there’s some instance of nodding off while she made an effort to listen to the lectures for two hours before break time, she’s starting to feel sleepy, definitely not the best time since she still had two hours more before they’ll get their afternoon break.
“Aoine, Kento from St. Albert class is asking for your presence right now,” their class president Tori informed, Aoine low-key recoiled at how she’s trying to sound formal to her.
I thought I’ll get some sleep for a moment but oh well. . . .
She immediately closed the door so she wouldn’t get some complainants from her classmates if she let the door open for too long or else they’ll say the air from the air-condition will get out and whatnot.
“You don’t look so good today; didn’t you get a good sleep last night?” Aoine immediately winced the moment she heard Kento’s monotonous voice for today.
“Yeah . . . no, I didn’t.” Aoine already know where this conversation will lead them so she continued, not giving Kento a chance to open his mouth. “I know, I know, I need to prioritize my sleep so I wouldn’t face problems in the future but I’m really trying! It’s just hard to keep on track,
“I know I can’t use the time I got sick for two months in seventh grade as an excuse of ‘it cannot be helped’ because what you said all the time, I’m responsible for what I’m doing to myself. But don’t worry! I’m doing my best to be healthy!” Aoine raised her hand as a sign of promise.
Kento stared at her face for some good seconds, just to determine if Aoine was genuine about her own faults and when he got satisfied, he ruffled her hair before handing her a cute green wrapper that Aoine assumed to be a bento inside.
“Evi prepared this for you, make sure to finish it so you’ll gain more energy until your classes end.” Kento waved at her, ready to head to his classroom. “Take some rest after school, alright?”
“Okay, thank you!” Aoine watched Kento walk away.
She really loves Kento, she really does as much as he loves her cousins. Her grandmother from her mother’s side adopted Kento after Evionne’s mother found him—she doesn’t know the whole story and they rather won’t tell them what happened, all they ever said was Kento is part of the family.
But Aoine knew very well there’s something more about Kento, she doesn’t have proper knowledge yet but soon she’ll be able to find out his backgrounds.
“Ina!”
She panicked upon seeing Zesiro approaching her. Aoine wasn’t ready, especially the state she was in. She opened the door as quickly as she can and said, “Zero, please, not today,” Aoine whispered, just enough for the two of them to hear.
“Okay . . . I just want you to know that I already made up my mind.” Zesiro gulped. “I’ll be waiting for you.”
After Zesiro said that, Aoine closed the door and began to eat. She lazily unwrapped the bento until she saw three bread rolls inside.
For once, Aoine was thankful that Kento wasn’t the one to prepare her food for the day—it’s because Kento always pick green foods for her which Aoine immensely dislike but she just couldn’t complain since she’ll only receive another lecture about why vegetables are healthy.
Thinking about Evionne and Kento together made Aoine realize their similarities—except Evionne still have some soft spot while Kento . . . he’s rather scary than sweet.
The bell rang, meaning, they’ll be moving on to their next period.
Aoine was still munching her bread roll in her cheeks when their AP teacher—Mrs. Santiago, the teacher that majority of students despise caught her eating.
In the end, Aoine got humiliated in front of the class for not following the appropriate time for class hours and break time.
She tucked herself on the desk after the tormenting minutes of getting yelled at by the terror teacher before she went on with their new topic for today.
“I’m so embarrassed.”
Minette—Aoine’s seatmate which she considered as one of her best friend heard the bitterness of her voice. “Don’t mind it, they’ll probably forget it at the end of the day.”
“Well, yeah. They will but this is one of those moments where I’ll be reminded of how lame can I be.”
The whole time Mrs. Santiago discussed at the front, Aoine kept her head low.
Chewing her cheek constantly to cope from the humiliation until Mrs. Santiago announced that there will be an upcoming project which will go by partners before the end of second quarter.
Definitely their last project for the second quarter and probably will be the requirement for this subject before the start of examination.
“Please sit beside your partner once you hear your name,” Mrs. Santiago instructed.
“Ma’am, is this random picking or it’s numbering?” one of the student asked.
“I based this from your class ranking but I separated the list for the boys and girls to be fair. I’m expecting everyone to pass this project on time since I’m going to pair the highest and the lowest.” Mrs. Santiago cleared her throat before starting with the highest and the lowest like what she said, the name calling goes on.
“Did she mention it will be reporting or it’s just presentation for the topics?” Aoine nudged Minette’s arm.
“Not that I heard of. . . .” Minette answered.
“We’re only eighteen girls and the boys are eighteen too . . . I ranked sixteenth from the girls’ list. Which means. . .” Her eyes searched for a certain boy with middle-parted bangs, slightly combed hair with few strands sticking out.
Only to find out that the boy she’s looking for was already looking back at her boringly while he propped himself up on one elbow. “. . . the third from the boys’ ranking is Selatan.”
Aoine perked up from her seat when she heard her last name alongside Selatan’s. “Ms. Arcillas and Mr. Leycano, your topic will start from araling twenty-four to araling twenty-six. Page three hundred to four hundred fifty-six from the book.”
“Shit, that’s so long and it’s only run by partners.”
Sashea answered Aoine, she’s beside Minette so she had to lean closer to them so her message will reach Aoine. “You know how ma’am gives us school works.” Sashea expressed a sigh. “I heard from the St. Albert class that ma’am gave some of them zero after not meeting her expectation.”
“How can we compete to the star section if even the highest students there got zero?” Struana suddenly joined, not surprising since Struana was just in front of them.
“Evionne was one of them who got zero from their report, she’s not one of the highest from St. Albert but yeah, I still can’t achieve that,” Aoine agreed.
Their other best friends which are Firence and Musika who’s sitting from each side of Struana shared their part in the conversation too.
“Really?” Musika asked, “Does that mean there’s a high chance we’ll get zero too?”
“Firenze said ma’am just wants us to explain the topics not just by reading the book. I think we’ll be fine,” Firence assured.
“I’m not even good at reporting!” Aoine whined.
“I can do the presentation but reporting is just—ugh!” Sashea followed.
“The fact that majority of us in this circle—except me, Struana and Sashea are planning to be an educator just makes me laugh.” Musika chortled.
Aoine shot her eyes at the front, the second row to be exact where Selatan was sitting.
She doesn’t know if he’s just waiting for her to come and sit beside him or not because he’s facing the blackboard.
Just looking at the back of his head sent shivers down her spine.
Selatan was known for not contributing when it comes to project that’s perform by groupings or partners.
Aoine haven’t tested the theory that she usually heard from the other kids in the class since she never interacted nor been in a group with him before but she really hoped he’ll do his part for the project, he’s the class’ top five after all.
Aoine fixed her stuffs before dragging her feet towards his seat.
When Selatan hung his head up to her, the bags underneath her eyes was the first thing he instantly noticed.
“Whoa, you look like shit.”