thirty-two

The Numb by JeAnnPulido

Chapter 32: We have our roles to play

Ashley's POV

Pagka-tama palang ng mga mata namin nila Alice ay bigla silang nag squat sa lapag para makatago sa ibaba ng bintana ng apartment ko.

I furrowed my brows seeing my team doing such a childish thing. What are they? Kids that saw their crush looking back at them? Tsk. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung iiyak ako o tatawa sa ginawa nila.

Napatingin ako kay Zac nang marinig ko siyang tumawa.

"I apologize. I don't talk to guys that often," sagot ko dahilan kung bakit siya natawa

"So that's why. Haha. They're cute," sagot niya kaya naman napataas ang kilay ko

"You like them?" tanong ko kaya naman nabigla siya saka ako tinignan

"Yeah, 'cause they're your friends," sagot niya kaya naman natahimik ako't patuloy lang siyang tinitigan

Nodding. I'm satisfied with your answer, Zac.

But of course, hindi ko 'yan sasabihin at aaminin sakanya.

"I like you too, Zac" sagot ko dahilan kung bakit siya nabigla

Seeing his cheeks blush faintly together with his pursed lips, I forced myself to stop from laughing.

Hindi ako makapaniwala na ang cold, aloof at ruthless leader ng Gaein Academy ay nagblush dahil lang sa limang salitang binitawan ko.

Iniisip ko palang na ako ang dahilan ng pagblush niya ay pinigilan ko na ang sarili kong ngumiti.

He's cute. Haha

"R-really? Why?" tanong niya kaya naman napangisi na ako

"Because you're Ashton's friend" sagot ko dahilan kung bakit siya natigilan ulit at mukhang natauhan na pinagtripan ko lang siya kaya naman bahagya na akong natawa't pinat siya sa balikat niya

"I was joking. Thanks for today. See you tomorrow," dagdag ko't tumalikod na't pumasok sa apartment complex

Nang makasakay na ako sa elevator na sa kasalukuyan ay paakyat na sa 8th floor ay napatingin ako sa reflection ko.

I was stunned when I saw myself smiling.

I.. didn't even notice it.

Why was I even smiling?

Napailing na ako kaagad at agad na ibinalik ang poker face ko.

That.. that was weird.

Nang mag *DING na ang elevator signaling that we've arrived at the 8th floor, the door went open and then I was welcomed by the imposing poses of my team.

Nakatayo sila't ang mga kamay nila'y nasa mga bewang nila.

Kulang nalang ata ay sisigaw sila ng power puff girls eh.

"What?" malamig kong tanong

"Anong what what ha? Wala pa naman kaming sinasabi ah? Defensive ka ata masyado, Ash" sabi ni Kath saka ako tinaas babaan ng kanan niyang kilay

"The expressions on your faces were annoying me," sagot ko pero wala sila nagsalita at talagang patuloy pa rin nilang pinapakita sa akin ang mga nakakainis nilang mga mukha

Btchs. I don't even know if I should laugh or cry because of all of this farce.

"Why were you together? Where did you go? What were you doing? And there are eighteen more questions for you to answer," sabi ni Alice habang binabasa ang mga kuris kuris nila sa notebook ko – these children, seriously, 'yung death note ko nanaman ang pinagtripan nila

"It doesn't really matter. What matters is this: what's your relationship with Zac – the renowned King of Gaein Academy?" seryosong tanong ni Tori kaya naman napashrug na ako

"We're friends,"

"Ashley naman, we don't want this boring answer-- wait, what? Friends?"

"Probably," dagdag ko

"......" - sila

Well, they should be speechless after all, we were supposed to be rivals – enemies to be exact.

After a good few minutes, Alice broke the silence.

"How can you say that you're friends?" napaisip naman ako sa tanong ni Tori

"We talk, walk, and ate together" sagot ko

Just like what me and my team always do.

"........" – sila

"What? Am I wrong?" tanong ko kaya naman nagkatinginan sila

"Well, I actually thought that you guys would be buddies sooner or later because you're pretty much the same person after all. With the faces, fighting, leadership and stuff. If I wasn't your friend and was just an outsider, I would actually love to ship the both of you"

"What the hell Alice?!/What are you saying?!" sabay na sigaw nila Tori't Kath

"......" – me

Now it's my turn to be speechless.

*

"Ugh! Wake up already! Get up, Ashley! We're going to be late!" sabi ni Tori dahilan kung bakit ko binuksan ang mga mata ko't tinitigan siya kaya naman tinaasan niya ako ng kilay

"What?" tanong niya kaya naman pinilit ko nalang ang sarili kong umupo

I leaned my back at the head of the bed and crossed my legs and hands together.

"Since when did we care about not being late?" tanong ko dahilan kung bakit siya natigilan

"Oh, right. I just.." kumunot na ang noo niya kaya naman dahan dahang napataas ang kilay ko

Tinignan ko naman sina Alice at Kath na halatang nagtataka din sa mga nangyayari. Of course they should be shocked, they're on the same team with Tori – nagmamadali sila, afraid that they would be late.

Napaisip na ako and I didn't like what I was thinking at all.

...... we're starting to change. Whether it's good or bad, for me, it's unforgiveable.

We're from the Public Colleges. We have our roles to play. We're just extras in Gaein Academy. We shouldn't act like we're students there that needed to follow all their rules and regulations. If we do, we'll lose our identities.

Magsasalita na sana si Tori pero tinapunan ko na siya kaagad ng unan saka ako tumayo't kinuha ang bag ko.

"Let's go," sagot ko't nauna nang lumabas ng apartment at tahimik naman silang sumunod sa akin

Kath went to straight to the underground parking lot and fetched her car, we rode it and went to school. Ibinaba niya kami sa may entrance at naghanap siya ng parking space.

"It's the goddess. It's Ashley. Woo. We're so lucky,"

"Lucky my foot, stop talking about her, you might get beaten for no good reason"

"Shut up. If it's her, then I'll gladly accept all of it,"

"Your dad wouldn't want you to play around with some pimp from Public Colleges,"

"Who cares about that general anyways? And Ashley isn't a pimp! She's my goddess!"

Bumugtong hininga na ako saka naglakad papunta don sa mga grupo ng mga lalaki na naguusap dahilan kung bakit patagong tumawa sila Alice at Tori.

I'm not in the mood for some games but if its these guys.. why not?

Besides, I heard something interesting.

Seeing that I was walking in their direction, the boys were scared out of their wits that they couldn't even move and just stared at me.