thirty-four

The Numb by JeAnnPulido

Chapter 34: Struggling, that's all I can do

ZAC'S POV

'I like you too, Zac'

'I like you too, Zac'

'I like you too, Zac'

"FCKING HELL!" I shouted and immediately threw my blanket off and sat down

It's already 4 am but I still haven't moved on from it! Damn it!

Tsk.

Kinuha ko na ang phone ko't agad na in-open ang website ng Gaein Academy, unexpectedly, it was a poll of the most beautiful women in the campus and hell, she was in it and was actually at the top spot.

I was hoping to find something interesting para matanggal si Ashley kahit sandali man lang sa utak ko pero leche, siya parin ang nandito!

Agad akong nag-crossed legs at iklinose-up ang picture ni Ashley sa poll.

It was obviously a stolen shot.

She probably wasn't even aware that she was a part of this poll, else this would have been taken down.

It was stolen but still, she's.. so beautiful.

Wearing only a white fitted shirt with a jacket on top of it, jeans and some rubber shoes; her hair swayed against her back; her features were elegant and classy.

She was walking proudly with her chin up and her hands on her pockets. Her eyes were sharp and cold. She looked aloof and emotionless. Her cheeks looked so soft you would want to pinch them every now and then.

Her nose was so pointy but small at the same time. And her lips.. her lips were..

Naalala ko nung nasa taxi kami kanina, I wasn't exactly direct but still, I saw her smile through the mirror. It actually made my heart skip a beat. She could probably kill lives with her killer smile.

Yes it was rare. But when she does smile, it was so genuine and utterly beautiful.

Nang umitim na ang screen ng phone indicating that its lack of action from its owner, I instantly saw my reflection.

I froze. Fck, I was smiling. I WAS SMILING LIKE A FCKING FOOL.

I opened the phone again and when I saw the time; 5 am, I hissed. I was actually staring at her photograph for more than an hour now.

Napahiga na ako saka in-on ulit ang phone ko saka sinave ang picture niya sa aking gallery.

I sighed.

"There's no sleeping in this situation, Zac, you idiot"

*

"Whoah, you actually overslept! Hahaha. What were you doing last night anyways? Did you go to a club on your own?" hinilot ko na ang ulo ko nang marinig ko ang napaka 'cheerful' na bati ni Ashton

"I was.. well," hindi ako nakasagot kaagad dahil hindi ko rin alam kung anong sasabihin ko

I was dreaming that your ruthless cousin confession wasn't a joke but rather for real?

I couldn't stop thinking about a certain someone who probably was already sound asleep while I'm suffering?

I was staring at someone's stolen photo like a freaking creep until the sun rose?

Whichever answer I was thinking of saying, my pride and dignity wouldn't let me say it.

YES, WELL, I'M FREAKING PRIDEFUL AND SHY, SO WHAT?!

"I was..." hindi ko naituloy ang sasabihin ko nang makita kong lumabas sa isang puting kotse si Ashley kasama ang barkada niyang sina Alice, Kath at Tori

I don't why but the moment I laid my eyes on her, I immediately took my phone and bag and moved to open the car's door to run and talk to her – look at her beautiful eyes.

Pero agad din akong napahinto nang lumapit siya sa isang grupo ng mga lalaki, conversed with them and even fixed a fidgeting weak looking guy's school neck tie.

"Zac, you still there?" - Ashton

"......." - Zac

"Zac? Hey?" - Ashton

"I probably was just assuming.." - Zac

"Ha? Ano? Hindi ko narinig. Pakiulit nga tol," i-end ko na ang call namin ni Ashton at agad na napasuklay ng buhok ko gamit ang kanang kamay ko't pinikit ang mga mata ko

"....I probably was just assuming..."

That Ashley likes me too.

But I guess she's the same as most girls.

Tsk. Who the fucking hell was that guy she just winked at?!

*PRESENT TIME

Remembering what happened earlier, I immediately pursed my lips.

That wink she gave that guy was life changing. I'll kill him for receiving the honor of it. He better wait.

"So only two individuals were absent yesterday; Zac and Ashley. Whether they have excuses or not doesn't matter, they will have to do the punishment. They're going to perform in the event on the final day of the festival of Gaein Academy" I paused and immediately looked at Ashley's back

Fuck. A heaven sent chance for me to be with her.

"That's all. You're dismissed"

A moment of silence.

I pursed my lips realizing that the mood was because of my overflowing jealous—no, my bad mood, yes, let's just say it that way.

Sa gwapo, yaman, talented at talino kong 'to magseselos don sa babaerong 'yon? No way in hell would that happen. Not now and certainly not in the future.

Natigilan ako sa pag iisip nang biglang tumayo si Ashley saka humarap sa akin.

The moment I saw her eyes filled with mild anger and confusion, I paused and looked straight at her.

"Is it okay with you?" tanong niya kaya naman lumambot na ang paningin ko sakanya

I take it back.

She isn't like most girls.

Isang tanong lang niya, parang I do na ang gusto kong isagot.

"...yes,"

*

KATH'S

"Uh, we were invited for dinner" sabi ko dahilan kung bakit sabay sabay kaming napatingin kay Ashley na sa kasalukuyan ay nakatitig kay Zac who both seemed like they were lost on their own thoughts

"Ash?" tanong ni Alice saka niya kinuwit si Ashley kaya naman agad siyang tumingin sa amin at agad na bumugtong hininga

Isinabit niya na ang pack bag niya sa kanan niyang balikat at nagsimula nang maglakad kaya naman nagkatinginan nalang kami saka sabay sabay na tumango't sumunod na.

"Tell him to order pancakes," biglang sabi ni Ash kaya naman napataas ang kilay ko

Gagawin niya pa atang personal yaya si Cale. Pero dahil wala akong choice eh agad ko nalang siyang sinunod at tinext si Cale na mag order ng pancakes.

"Alice," napahinto naman kami kaagad nung biglang tinawag ni Ian si Alice

"What is it?" tanong ni Alice

"My mom wants to take you out for a dinner date. She forgot to take your number and asked me to take you there myself," pagkasabi palang non ni Ian ay para bang may kung anong bombang pumutok sa mga utak namin ni Tori habang si Ashley nama'y as usual ay emotionless pa rin na para bang hindi man lang siya nagulat sa nalaman niyang information

What the hell is happening?

What is he saying?

Since when were his mom and Alice became close?

"Uh, do you really have to tell this in front of my and your friends?" tanong ni Alice saka siya tumingin sa ibang mga boys kaya naman sinundan namin siya at inilipat din ang paningin namin sa mga boys

Aside from Zac who was as stoic and emotionless like Ashley, the others were also looking at Ian like he was a damn chatterbox who probably just assumed that he and Alice even had a relation.

They reacted more extreme that we did. I wouldn't even blame Ian if he punched their guts.

"Well, it seemed like you guys were going somewhere, that's why," Ian answered while shrugging

"So are you free?" dagdag ni Ian not even waiting for Alice to answer and for us to swallow everything down

"She is," sagot ni Ashley dahilan kung bakit mas nabigla kaming lahat

"Soon-to-be mother-in-law is more important than our appointment," sagot ni Ashley saka niya pinat si Alice sa balikat at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad

BOOM.

"S-S-S-S-SOON TO BE MOTHER-IN-LAW?!" sabay sabay naming sigaw together with the boys

(Zac already left the scene. LOL)

"Err. I'll explain next time. Let's go, Ian. They're still daydreaming.." sagot ni Alice at agad na hinila si Ian at nawala na sila sa paningin namin

"This.. err.. is this what I think it is?" tanong ko kaya naman tumango si Tori

"They're.. engaged" bulong ni Tori

That btch actually hid it from us!

*

"Are you going to stare at space until the end of the day?" tanong ni Ashley kaya naman bumugtong na ako

"Sabi ko senior ako pag dating sa relationships dahil nagka-jowa na ako, pero mukhang mas magaling pa ata si Alice sa akin. I feel like I lost or something," sagot ko

"Pati ba naman sa love life gusto mong number one ka, Kath? Hahahaha. That's just ridiculous" natatawang sabi ni Tori obviously glad about my conflicted feelings

"It's not bad if you think about it though. Ian is also from the high society and I think he's a good guy" bulong ko

"Yes, well, not on the surface at the very least," sagot ni Ashley kaya naman tumahimik kami

I looked outside the window and the moment I closed my eyes, I saw the image of a young kid holding a knife with bloodshot and fearless eyes and underneath her.. were corpses of a group of teenagers.

"Stop.. Don't come closer or I'll.. I'll kill you.. I'll kill you.. I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU! AHHHH!"

"Aw!" napasigaw ako nang bigla nalang akong sinuntok sa balikat ni Ashley

"What the hell?! What was that for?!" tanong ko

"Do not think of the past that's already been decided to be forgotten because it'll only open hurtful wounds. Let bygones be bygones" malamig niyang sabi which was why I pursed my lips

Let bygones be bygones?

Sinilip ko si Ashley at agad kaming nagkatinginan ni Tori.

Her face was as expressionless as ever but her eyes had an unknown storm clouding all the light in it.

Then why are you still struggling to forget it?

'Struggling, that's all I can do'