FOR a couple of days, Selatan offered to walk with Aoine after class and it just went on and on even if Aoine told him it’s just a short walk for so many times.
Aoine doesn’t understand why he’s being like that, Selatan looked so out of character but she soon stopped questioning him since he never gave her a proper answer and he gets vaguer as she talked to him longer.
However, Zesiro noticed their sudden closeness after seeing them together whenever he’s about to head to the gym for practice.
Now he understood why Selatan was always late, Zesiro was confuse to this new change of Selatan when he thought Selatan doesn’t want to be tardy so he wouldn’t lose to Kento who’s habitually the earliest member to show up.
They finished their warm up with their team captain Jascha leading them after Coach Lanzo and club adviser Sunniva dismissed them.
When they’re about to go home, Zesiro took this opportunity to point this out to Selatan, “So, you and Ina seems to be getting along.”
“Yeah,” Selatan simply answered, not seeing anything wrong with being close to Aoine. “Don’t worry, I can do better and occupy your spot. Besides, it didn’t felt like you dated in the first place.”
Zesiro clenched his jaw, he knew Selatan’s tongue can be foul at times because he’s like that too, he’s just letting him off the hook for once just because Selatan was his junior.
“I’m sure she’s closed off. You don’t stand the chance.” Zesiro wasn’t stupid, he knew Selatan was up to something.
“I’m not planning to,” Selatan cleared up but he resumed, “For now.” Then he left.
Zesiro could only watch his back, shooting holes behind his head. “Man, I hate deadpan people. . . .” Zesiro muttered to himself before going out after Lennon called him to go home.
Thursday rolled in and it’s the day that Aoine and Selatan are going to report.
She was horrified when Evionne told her that Mrs. Santiago once told that she wanted the report to be delivered by partners but Aoine soon found out that the teacher let Selatan do their report alone—Mrs. Santiago must be in good mood too since Selatan performed well much to Aoine’s relief.
Library was their last period and Aoine asked her friends to let Ms. Soliven know that Aoine was going to the clinic to have herself check because she’s not feeling well—which was a lie.
Aoine was going to the rooftop actually—well, she just found out her torso was bleeding after checking herself in the women’s comfort room.
Aoine doesn’t want anyone noticing this and her blouse got stained that she had to cover it with her jacket, Aoine was thankful she always had her jacket or else everyone would have been alarmed of her immoderate bleeding.
The peaceful ambiance welcomed her the moment she opened the door of the rooftop, she’s fully aware that the place was off limits but there are some students who still go there.
Chances of getting caught was fifty-fifty but it doesn’t matter, Aoine will treat her wound fleetingly.
She decided to climb up the ladder at the side of the door so if someone walked in, she wouldn’t be seen on the spot. This part of the rooftop was the highest that had the best view too.
Aoine halted from her tracks when she spotted someone who’s sleeping at the corner which she recognized to be Selatan that caused her forehead to crease.
“He’s skipping this period when it’s just library?”
Aoine know there’s times that Selatan doesn’t attend some of their subject but what’s making her wonder was how can he have good grades even if he’s skipping classes?
Founding him sleeping there was kind of nerve-wracking and at the same time, she’s relieved that it’s someone she’s familiar to.
Aoine debated whether she should leave or stay though she badly needed to change the bandages of her torso so in the end, she bided there since she’s not going to bother him anyway.
Aoine just needed to be careful or else he’ll see her in that kind of condition.
Without wasting more time, Aoine dropped her bag on the floor and sat down, proceeding to take off her jacket, next was her blouse—just a little bit to expose her top, leaving the last buttons fastened.
She prepared the thin translucent silk that she always brought with her just in case something happened and it’s one of those days it occurred.
Aoine’s face contorted after removing the gauze from her body, it’s damped with blood and it’s everywhere.
She quickly rolled another set of bandage around her body, grimacing every time she hit the most painful spot. Aoine even wrapped it to her shoulders so it wouldn’t get loosed.
She wouldn’t have attended school today if it wasn’t for their report.
When she’s done, Aoine immediately reported this to her mother. “Ma, it’s bleeding and I already put new bandages but I’m afraid I’ll die from this, the bleeding won’t stop,” she joked.
“I told you to be careful!” Aoine slightly yanked her phone away due to Devoria’s angry tone. “You should have stayed home but you’re too stubborn!”
“Ma, I don’t really need to be yelled at right now.” Aoine laughed off her mother’s irritation. “I told you, it’s our report day. Of course I need to be present.” I don’t want Selatan soloing my hard work too.
Devoria sighed from the other line. “I’ll call your Tito Lanzo to pick you up and get you treated here. Where are you?”
“At the rooftop.”
Aoine waited for a bit when her mother once again returned. “I already notified him about your situation, your tito is still discussing somewhere at the tenth grade floor, will you be okay for some minutes?”
“I think I’ll survive, thank you, ma.”
“What did you even do to trigger your wound this time?”
Uh-oh, I thought I’ll get away from this. Aoine gulped before she opened her mouth to speak, “Uhm . . . me and Struana tackled each other while we are reviewing for our science quiz.” There, she said it.
Aoine know it’s pretty childish but that’s what really happened. “I forgot about it, okay? I’m sorry!”
“That’s it, I’ll tell our clinician to use alcohol instead of ointment to you.”
“That’s just cruel!” Aoine complained, “Ma!” Then Devoria ended the line.
Aoine let out some bleating noises before crossing her arms over her chest which she regretted afterwards when she bumped her wound when she leaned her back to the sturdy wall. “Ow!”
So she wouldn’t be reminded of how painful her wound was, Aoine plugged her earphones then silently ate the remaining green foods that Kento gave to her during break time which she failed to finish because she was so close to throw up.
She felt bad for Kento if she didn’t eat them, he prepared the bento for her to make sure she’ll eat healthily that’s why she must endure it even if her stomach hurts just by looking at it.
While she fed herself, Aoine dragged her bag and sat beside Selatan. She observed him and Selatan seemed like he’s not comfortable laying his head on his bag.
His hair that’s parted in the middle was being blown by the wind. Aoine can distinguished his slanted eyes that’s always droopy, his eyes appeared to be needing sleep all the time but she doesn’t see any dark circles underneath that Aoine find unfair compared to her distinct bags.
Soon later, Aoine averted her eyes from him and busied herself on her phone after finishing her food.
While absentmindedly humming along the song that’s blasting through her earphones, her eyes wandered back to the sleeping male beside her.
Truth to be told, Aoine actually thought he’s intriguing especially to the first time she heard Selatan giving vile comments to the twins.
It’s pretty entertaining how he had a say to everything that Azalaeious and Azelarius threw to him—Aoine thought he’s an asshole before but after knowing he’s a chill person, she stopped insulting Selatan behind his back but she was never sorry to whatever she said about him, he still deserved it nonetheless.
When she heard the bell rang, Aoine gathered her stuff and knelt close to Selatan quietly. Shaking his shoulder gently to wake him up or else Lanzo will caught him sleeping once he came to pick her up.
“Selatan, wake up.” Selatan groaned. “Come on, you’ll get caught if you stay here for longer.” Which will eventually happen because I’m sure tito is on his way.
But Selatan never stirred one bit. “Tsk, whatever, I’ll leave.”
As Aoine was about to get up, she got pulled down and now she found herself back on the floor with Selatan’s head on her lap.
“Mmm, give me five more minutes.” He snuggled his head to her stomach.
Aoine’s face twisted in pain when his arms circled her waist and hit the worst part of her wound, she tried to ignore it even if tears almost spilled out of her waterline.
“You need to get up now!” Aoine wriggled out from his grasp but it only made Selatan firmed his arms around her.
This made her forget her pain, instead, she felt heat rushed up her face due to their body contact.
It made Aoine extremely flustered since this was the most intimate she had ever been with Selatan and they’re not even close.
A fluttery, weightless feeling erupted inside her. That was the first time she ever felt this way and it felt foreign to Aoine, it’s not helping her in any way when Selatan kept nestling his face to her.
“Selatan!”
“Hmm?” He looked up at her and chuckled softly. Aoine grumbled in return, feeling defeated and embarrassed. “Fine, fine, I’ll get up now.”
Selatan stood up and grabbed her bag for her, he extended his hand which Aoine took then he pulled her up with ease. “I’ll walk you to your service.”
“But my tito will be picking me up here.”
“Oh? Then I’ll wait with you here.”
“What?! No! He’ll get mad!” Of course Aoine still cared if ever Selatan get scolded, Aoine still have the heart for him after all.
“It doesn’t matter to me.”
Lines formed on Aoine’s forehead. “You need to stop skipping classes too. Seriously, how can you remain in the top ten list? I don’t understand, is this favoritism?”
“I don’t know, pay attention to me then you’ll know why.” Instead of letting her hand go, he pulled her to his chest and leaned his chin on top of her head. “Be my personal pillow and I’ll stop skipping classes.”
“Yeah, sure, only because you’re too cuddly.” It’s supposed to be in her thought only but it still managed to come out of her lips, she didn’t mean it!
Selatan pulled back a little to look down at her, chuckling. Aoine gazed up to his natural stoic face.
She was taken aback when he held her cheek and pecked her forehead out of nowhere.
“You’re really adorable, you know?” There’s a small smile featuring his lips when he said that. “And I never thought you’re this short compared to how I look at you from afar.”
Aoine gifted him her fist on his shoulder and pushed him away. “I’m out of here.” She proceeded to head out.
“Hey! I’m just kidding—well, not really because you’re really that short-short, come back here!” Selatan grabbed her wrist.
“From now on, you’re not allowed to talk to me and just pretend I don’t exist, goodbye,” Aoine proclaimed by mimicking the computer voice until she caught her Uncle Lanzo from her peripheral vision.
Aoine immediately detached his hand from her.
“Leycano,” Lanzo called him, they’re student and teacher so it’s normal to be on last name basis. “Students aren’t allowed here.”
Lanzo extended his hand to Selatan, asking for Aoine’s bag that was still hanging to his shoulder.
Selatan handed him her bag. “Yeah, sorry, coach.”
“We’ll get going now, go home too.” Lanzo headed outside, Aoine waved at Selatan before tailing behind Lanzo.
When they got out, Aoine saw Siobhan and her mother Sunniva at the end of the stairs.
“How’s your back?” Siobhan asked.
“I somehow forgot it hurts for a moment,” she admitted, “Since you mentioned it, it’s starting to get sting.”
Siobhan laughed at her. “That’s what you get when your idiocy strike.”
Aoine only glared at her cousin and didn’t gave a comment anymore when Siobhan started a small chat with her parents Sunniva and Lanzo.
Aoine just focused on her phone and just realized she haven’t told her friends that she’ll be going with her relatives after seeing messages from their group chat.
Bra! You can go without me, my tito picked me up! I’ll call you guys later because something big happened, omg!
“Ina! Look at your steps and stop using your phone!” her Aunt Sunniva warned.
“Right, sorry,” Aoine whispered, she yet again gave Siobhan a scowl when she laughed at her.