IT'S only Friday and the class was already stressing about the project that Mrs. Santiago introduced the other day.
Aoine was one of the students who's feeling frustrated because she doesn't understand anything from the book.
Like some of her classmate, she brought her own laptop to start the work too.
Usually during Friday, they only have six classes for the whole day unlike Monday to Thursday that generally have eight or seven periods.
That's why it doesn't hurt for Aoine to carry her laptop from the gate to the third floor of their classroom.
"What does this even mean. . . ." Aoine scratched her nape as her forehead wrinkled more while her eyes read the passage once again.
Aoine was trying her best to start something while it's still their vacant but half an hour already went by and she haven't typed anything on her laptop.
She had to admit, she underestimated their report a little because she thought it's easy to summarize it but after studying them today, Aoine doesn't know what are the right words to put on the PowerPoint.
Her head was starting to spin from the amount of times she read the sentence again and again, she was so ready to give it up until she felt a tap on her shoulder.
When Aoine looked up to see who it was, she saw Selatan handing her his book, he's looking back at her with disinterest as usual.
"I highlighted the important details, I finished it last night so it's not going to be as perfect as what you thought of me."
"It's not like I think of you as perfect." Aoine rolled her eyes.
"Of course you do, I'm one of the best student in this class." Aoine scoffed, she was about to accept his book when Selatan withdraw his hand. "I need the payment." He yawned.
Aoine flared her nose in incredulity. "What?"
She watched Selatan pull the closest chair. Aoine flinched when her shoulder got heavy, she inched over her shoulder, just enough to see Selatan's head on her with eyes closed.
"Just lend me your shoulder. That's all you need to do."
Her hands went cold and sweaty after feeling his hair trickled her skin, his forehead on her neck, his cheek on her shoulder blade.
It's not like a touch from the opposite sex was new to her, Aoine just never thought Selatan would be like this—especially to her.
Struana eyed her after seeing them getting too close, she gave Aoine a questioning look while she just gestured Struana that she doesn't know what just happened as well.
Selatan seemed cozy so Aoine just let him do his thing.
Aoine's jaw dropped when she checked every pages of Selatan's book with highlighted words, he really did finish them for just one night.
If Aoine did these alone, she'll take a whole day and will definitely ask for Kento's help. However, typing them was the fastest part for her.
Another hour went on, the teacher for their last period that afternoon was absent, some students finished their presentations, they only have to worry about how they'll execute the report so they won't get zeros from their AP teacher.
After Aoine shut down her laptop, she felt her phone vibrated in the pocket of her jacket. She already knew it's Zesiro.
Do you have plan after flag retreat? I'm not going to practice today.
For the whole week that Aoine ignored and avoided Zesiro whether it's personally or electronically—she still appreciated the fact that Zesiro leave messages to her even if it's just dumb or important, he still tell her how his day went.
He still does it to this day even though Zesiro already knew he won't receive any response from Aoine, what mattered to him was to stay truthful to her and he’s aware that she read them nonetheless.
Zesiro was a great guy, Aoine always say he's a perfect partner to her best friends since the start of their relationship, she once wished to have a guy like him and now that he's here, she couldn't help but to feel regretful.
Despite of regrets bubbling inside her, she's still thankful she met him because Zesiro will be one of the reason why she learned from her credulousness.
If it wasn't just for the time that Zesiro was starting to leave her behind for his best friend, Aoine would have believe that Zesiro was the man she’ll tie the knot with.
Now, she can finally say that Zesiro and Hautea are better for each other than putting Aoine and Zesiro’s name together.
Ina:
You're not going to ditch your club, donkey.
Zero:
OMG!
You finally replied!
But it doesn't matter rn!
Wdym donkey?!
The only donkey here is you 🤨
Ina:
Bruh—
That's it.
Goodbye.
Zero:
Nooo 😭
Comeback!
I'm just kidding!
Ina:
You tryna win my bad side? 😒
Zero:
I'm sorry 🥺💗
Ina:
Lol.
Anyway, I'll meet you at the student lounge, in front of the chapel.
Zero:
Okay, I'll walk you home then.
Selatan read the whole conversation before Aoine even turned off her phone when their adviser Mrs. Colosa called them to head to the ground floor for the flag retreat.
"You're still dating him?" Aoine failed to realize that Selatan was still laying his head on her. "It seems like there's no issues between the two of you."
So he knows something's up between me and Zero, huh? "Yeah. We're good friends before we even started dating, we never really had a problem before until last two weeks ago."
"Hmm. . . ."
Aoine fixed her necessities and when she turned her head up, Selatan wasn't behind her back anymore. She only saw his retreating form towards the door.
"Let's go!" Firence pulled her from her seat and began to head downstairs.
"What's up with you and Selatan?" Struana asked.
"I swear; I don't know either." Aoine stopped from walking, reason why her five friends imitated her action. "I told Zero I'll wait for him in front of the chapel after his club. You guys can go ahead of me."
"We'll wait with you," Firence proposed.
"But he said he'll walk me home."
"We just want to make sure he'll show his face."
Aoine laughed at Struana. "But his practice is until six, are you sure you'll wait with me?"
"Of course."
"But what about our service—"
"We can tell him to fetch us before six, he'll be okay with it!"
"Okay." Aoine was grateful that her friends won’t leave her behind, she just hoped their friendship will stay the same way as they get older. They're valuable and she will never trade them over anything else.
Flag retreat wasn't long as flag ceremony, it just took them ten minutes and everyone was already leaving.
Her best friends kept her busy as she waited for an hour for Zesiro's practice to dismissed but it's already past six and it's starting to get dark outside.
Aoine's friends was getting restless, Zesiro was not showing up.
They must have thought that Zesiro will stood her up but Aoine know him, she’s positive that her Uncle Lanzo—which was the volleyball boys' coach just didn't dismiss them on time.
"I'll go to their gym, I'm really sorry I kept you waiting," Aoine apologized.
"Are you really sure, Ina? What if the gym is already close?" Sashea asked.
"I'm certain, don't worry, you can go home now."
"Update us, okay?"
Aoine and her friends exchanged goodbyes then she made her way to the gym a little faster as if she's running late.
Deep down, what her friends said affected her. What if they're right? What if he's not here anymore?
By the time she arrived at the entrance, the air that Aoine didn't notice she's carrying in her chest broke free when she saw Zesiro's figure.
"Oh, you're here!" Hansol enthusiastically greeted her.
"Is he . . . overworking himself?" Aoine returned her gaze on Zesiro, she flinched when she heard the volleyball slammed on the floor, it sounded painful.
"He's been at it for too long actually," Haruto butted in, "We couldn't close the gym because of that boyfriend of yours."
"What happened to him?"
Jascha was the one to answer her, "He got into a fight with Lennon."
Aoine gasped. "Physically?!"
"No! They just yelled at each other then—" Jascha slapped his palms together to create sound effect. "Bam! Now they hate each other—"
"Ooh! What's that? What's that? Who hates each other?" Hansol asked but no one paid him attention.
"Idiot! Stop making up stories!" Haruto smacked Jascha's back before turning to Aoine. "Their argument was rather silent, you should get him home, he's not stopping any moment now."
"Okay, I got it from here."
"Here!" Jascha tossed the key of the gym to her and she easily caught it. "Take care, shorty pie!" Aoine glared at Jascha for calling her short.
"See you, Aoine!" Hansol waved at her with both of his arms above his head, Jascha and Haruto waved their hands for her too.
"Be careful on your way home!"
She shifted her head to Zesiro who refused to acknowledge her presence, he just kept on serving the ball to the other side of the net.
Zesiro wasn't the type to overwork himself. He knew his limit; he knew when to stop. His problem with Lennon must have distressed him to be this excessive.
"Zero," she called but he only gave her a glance and tossed another ball before he jumped for a serve.
Just like earlier, it slammed harshly on the other side.
Aoine spotted the redness of his palm. "You've done enough today; you still have tomorrow." Aoine started to pick up some balls and returned it in the cart.
"Give me a few more."
She shook her head, Aoine knew he doesn't mean that. She placed another stray volleyball in the cart and moved it aside, away from him.
He went to grab another ball only to realize the cart was not beside him anymore.
"Let me play more—"
"No, Zero. It's getting late, you should be resting at this hour."
"Ina, please. I need more time." Aoine doesn't know if he forgot they're supposed to talk today or it's just his emotions overwhelming him.
Aoine pushed the cart when Zesiro attempted to grab one again. "Give yourself a break, you're done for today."
He wiped his forehead and leaned on his knees. "I don't want to argue right now."
"We're not going to because you're going home," Aoine finalized and pushed the cart further until she reached the storage room.
Zesiro was restricting himself around Aoine, he knew to himself that he can control the anger that was brimming in his chest. But even so, he's trying to cage his exasperation—not here, not in front of Aoine.
When Aoine came back, she saw him sitting on the bleacher with towel on top of his head while drinking.
Aoine shouldered the mess of the gym, not wanting to bother him anymore.
Aoine never like sports but there's times that she visits the gym after class if Devoria told her to go with her cousins when she's not home.
That's why the corners of the gym are familiar since her cousins are volleyball players—her Aunt Sunniva was the club adviser and her Uncle Lanzo was their coach.
"I'm done." Aoine removed the towel from his head to wipe the remaining sweats that he failed to dry.
After Aoine finished drying his sweat, Zesiro circled his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, pressing his face against her chest.
A rapid, beating thundered her ears by the swift move that he pulled but she eventually run her fingers in his locks that's normally disheveled.
Zesiro was so in love with Aoine, that's why it's going to hurt him so much.