RELUCTANTLY, Zesiro slid his hand to hers.
He was about to open his mouth when Aoine interrupted him, “Let’s save this outside, it’s getting late. We might get in trouble if the guard found us here.”
He nodded and took the responsibility of closing the gym since Aoine already cleaned the gym for him.
They decided to visit the plaza, Zesiro’s treat in hopes of making up to all the times he set aside Aoine even though what he did will never be enough to make amends for the way he treated her.
The time they got into the food stalls, Zesiro caught Aoine eyeing for the barbecue stall.
He chuckled to himself at how adorable she was just standing there beside him—almost salivating.
“Let’s go there, babe.” Zesiro tightened his hold on her and pulled her there.
Who was she to object? It’s food and Aoine never defies food especially if someone’s treating her.
Soon after, Aoine earned ten sticks of barbecues from Zesiro.
“Thank you—” Aoine instantly covered her mouth when she burped.
Zesiro laughed at her and wiped the corner of her lips using his thumb upon noticing she left the barbecue sauce unattended.
They searched for available bench around hand in hand, Aoine swinging their hands together as they carried on with their inside jokes with laughter following.
When they are settled on the closest bench that they found, Zesiro stared at Aoine while she continued with her topic—she’s not really talking about anything, it’s just words and they don’t have to make sense, that’s one of the reason why Zesiro really adored her.
“Zero? What’s wrong?” Aoine was taken by surprise when tears pricked his eyes, Zesiro blinked them away at once.
He had to do it now.
“I love you—I really do but—”
“It’s her.” Aoine held his hand that’s on his lap. “I know it’s always been her.”
It’s out, finally, it’s out but that didn’t make him feel any better. His shoulders are tensed and the blockage in his throat worsened.
“I understand now.” She held her head low to their intertwined fingers, fiddling them together. “It was a mistake for accepting your confession before.”
Those words struck in his heart, the act of looking back at her was hurting his eyes, he forced them away from her. “You . . . think it’s a mistake to be with me?”
“Zero, I already know it from the beginning,” she confessed, “Almost everyone know you have a thing for her.”
Zesiro got a hard time accepting these words from Aoine. But he had to listen, he had to take them.
“I chose to ignore it which was my fault. I must have been too excited after knowing that someone like you will ever like me.” Aoine dryly laughed. “You know, even when we just started dating, she’s always the first person you’ll mention to me. She’s always our main topic and I never bothered caring because I like her too.” Aoine lifted his chin to make him look at her to meet her eyes. “I’m only realizing it now but I understand why you like her, Zero.”
Zesiro doesn’t know what Aoine meant by liking her, he knew she’s somewhat close to Hautea but the way she delivered those words—there’s something more about it.
“I’m sorry but . . . are you attracted to her by any means . . . ?”
“Yeah, wait! I don’t know!” Aoine placed her finger on her chin, reflecting on his question and Zesiro can see she’s getting disturbed over this fact until she snapped her fingers.
“Do you know whenever I see a glimpse of her I couldn’t help but follow where she goes? I don’t know—I don’t know! I love seeing her calm face—heck, I’ve always thought she’s cool—”
“Even cooler than Ashiro’s girlfriend?” Zesiro mentioned his older brother, smile began to stretch his lips.
Suddenly, the heaviness in his chest dissipated.
“Ooh! I have the biggest crush on Isle and I like Hautea too! I like her face and she’s hot!”
The both of them dissolved into laughter.
Seeing Aoine take it so easily amazed him, Zesiro never thought that this was how it will go.
Maybe he really doesn’t know her as much as what he thought he would.
“I’m sorry for saying it’s a mistake, Zero.” Aoine apologetically smiled at him. “This is how I think it is, I realized I just like the idea of being in a relationship. I’m sorry—I don’t know how to say it properly—”
“It’s okay, Ina,” Zesiro assured, “You’re still learning and I’m sorry for invalidating your feelings, I know where you’re coming from and I didn’t give any thought about it when I’m fully aware of what happened to you in the past—”
“Alright! That’s enough!” Aoine used her palm to cover his mouth. “We don’t talk about that here.”
“Damn, I’m sorry!” She removed her hand on his face when he came out muffled. “I said too much, I’m sorry!”
“Okay! I forgive you! Now let’s go home because ma is asking for my presence!”
“Sorry! Why are we shouting?!”
“Stop apologizing, chemistry nerd!”
Like what Zesiro proposed to her, he walked her home and they still bantered and gave snide remarks to each other until they reached Aoine’s home.
“So . . .” Aoine grabbed her bag from Zesiro’s shoulder. “. . . let me say this officially—”
“I’m breaking up with you—ow!” Zesiro rubbed his abdomen that Aoine punched. “What was that for?!”
“I should be the one breaking up with you! You did me wrong!”
“I know! But you don’t have to hit me that hard!” Zesiro composed himself and pulled Aoine by her head for the last hug, one that lasted longer than all the other ones. He caressed her hair. “I’m so going to miss your long hair.”
“Too bad, I’m planning to cut it.”
“Ha?! Don’t do that!” Aoine pulled away from their embrace but she instantly got hauled back in his arms. “We’re not yet done!”
“Okay, geez . . . .” Aoine snuggled her head to his chest, inhaling his natural scent in a loud manner. “I’m going to miss how you smell, even if you’re sweaty and shit.”
“Just my smell?”
“Just your smell.”
Zesiro chuckled at that and gave their body a teeny distance. “Now, for the finale.”
Aoine’s lips twitched when Zesiro attempted to kiss her, before their even lips touched, she already blocked him using the pads of her fingers. “Dumbass! Save your lips for Hautea!”
“You don’t want our last kiss?” Zesiro’s brow quirked up.
“Go!” Aoine playfully pushed him by his chest. “Go home, it’s really late.”
“No need to push me away!” Zesiro captured her hands and dropped a quick kiss on the corner of her lips. “That should be enough, I can now leave in peace.”
“Tsk, whatever.” Aoine kicked his leg but he dodged it. “Bye, ex-boyfriend!” She waved at him.
“Don’t mess up your sleeping schedule, okay?” Zesiro waved too but soon halted from his track when Aoine didn’t answer. “Hey! I said don’t mess up your sleeping schedule!”
“I’m not promising! But I’ll try!”
“That’s good to hear. Bye, ex-girlfriend!”
Aoine could only giggle to herself as she watched Zesiro’s form slowly fading through the dark alley.
When he’s now out of her sight, she gave herself a pat on the shoulder for overcoming this episode of her life.
Aoine just hoped she’ll feel genuine feelings the next time she’ll engage with her possible love interest.
Once Aoine entered her room that night, she slowly sat on the edge of the bed. Feeling sorry for herself and for Zesiro.
It was an eight months of relationship and it would be strange to her not seeing and hearing anything from him starting this night.
Monday came like an arrow from a bow and it wasn’t a surprise for Aoine if the news circulated already in SACA.
The first person that she met in front of their school ID scanner was Lennon.
“Don’t ignore me just because you split up.”
“Why would I? It’s not like we’re on bad terms when we part ways! You’re still my friend!”
She got confused as to why he gave her the talk about her and Zesiro’s recent break up, the last time she heard about Lennon was the time he and Zesiro argued but maybe they reconciled right away after their fight.
After they turned to opposite directions, Aoine somewhat felt at ease after talking to Lennon.
She may be closer to Zesiro but hearing that from Lennon made her happy knowing that he considered her as his friend.
Aoine expected Evionne and Siobhan will be her shoulder to lean on but when they saw she wasn’t affected in any way, they didn’t mention Zesiro and just let her be.
They just assumed she’ll find it tedious and irritating for being asked what happened.
She also prepared herself from some words of consolation from Azalaeious and Azelarius even though it’s dumb and useless since the separation didn’t damage her that much.
When the twins made an appearance, they just gifted her a hug without saying anything—she appreciated that of course, she preferred not hearing them comfort her and hugs somehow made her lighten up.
Her friends made a fuss about it the moment she got in St. Thomas room but they later on stopped asking after being contented with how Aoine and Zesiro reached the conclusion.
Break time came and she visited the faculty room with Sashea to get the HDMI cable that they’ll be using for their science period.
Aoine didn’t bother going inside since only one student can go in there, the faculty was close to the stairs so it wasn’t left unheard to her when she overheard Kento and Zesiro talking behind the staircase.
“I hope you won’t go to the same path again,” Kento said, cutting straight to the gist, “I never like you for Ina but I’m glad you end it amicably.”
Aoine blenched at how straight forward Kento’s words was. “Damn, Kento never hold back.”
Aoine shivered as she backed away and rather not continue eavesdropping for more.
She knew Zesiro will try to provoke Kento—that’s one of Zesiro’s quality that most people found annoying, he’s just so provocative especially to people whose unexpressive like Kento.
The whole day went very well, she’s grateful that people never tried questioning her why she and Zesiro broke up—or maybe it’s just her stony face that’s scaring them away so they won’t attempt talking to her.
She thought talking to Lennon and hearing Kento talk to Zesiro are the only surprises she’ll encounter today.
Apparently, Selatan purposely waited for her to come out of the room when the last period that afternoon ended. He offered to walk with her out of the school.
Aoine refused of course. “I’m going with my friends, our service is just close to the barbecue stall, it’s just right next of SACA,” she reasoned.
“But your friends already left you.” Selatan blinked at her languidly.
“Seriously?” Aoine looked around and he’s right.
She’s sure they deliberately left her the moment they saw Selatan waiting for her, she sighed. “You have volleyball practice, Selatan.”
“And it will only take five minutes.”
“But you’re going to be late.”
“It won’t hurt if I get late.” Selatan carried her bag. “Let’s go.”
Aoine didn’t follow him, Selatan have to held her wrist to get her to move. “Selatan, it’s just some walking, it’s not like it’s that long!”
“That’s right. Just ‘some walking’, now shut up and let me walk you outside.”
“You’re impossible!”
“Damn, right. I do.”