After an unceremonious
Sunday, Monday rolled around. The bell rang and clusters of students crowd the
school building, trying to get to class.
Aaralynn stood by her locker and waited for
Karista to arrive.
"Aaralynn!"
Aaralynn turned around instinctively after hearing
her name called out. It was Noel. Aaralynn's seat mate during art class.
"Noel, what's up?" Aaralynn asked.
"Um..." Noel started and started rubbing
the back of his neck.
Aaralynn waited patiently.
"Doyouwanttogoforadate?" Noel asked
quickly and turned crimson red.
"What?" Aaralynn asked. Noel started
stammering. Aaralynn giggled and waited for Noel to repeat himself. Noel took a
deep breath and asked again, slowly.
"Aaralynn," Noel looked at Aaralynn
seriously, "Do you want to go for a date?"
"Oh... Um..." Aaralynn was taken aback,
not knowing what to say and afraid to hurt Noel's feelings by rejecting.
"YESS!"
Both Aaralynn and Noel faced the source of the
voice. Karista was standing behind them, eyes gleaming and hands clasped
together.
"Yes, of course she will!"
"Karista?" Aaralynn asked and motioned
Karista for a private talk. Karista got it and they turned away from Noel and
spoke in hushed whispers.
"I don't want to," Aaralynn told Karista
straight to the point.
"Why? Is it because you still have feelings
for the Faber creep?" Karista said accusingly.
"Don't call him the Faber creep! He's a nice
guy!" Aaralynn said defensively, raising her voice a little. Karista
shushed her.
"I knew it!" Karista said.
"Aaralynn, go out with Noel, he's a perfectly nice guy and he's normal!
Plus, he'll help you forget Faber. It's better for you that way. Trust
me?"
Aaralynn looked hesitant.
"Okay," Karista said, "what if I
put it this way? I've said yes to Noel for you and he looked really happy and
is very excited about going out with you, that you don't want to crush his
spirits do you?"
Aaralynn just looked at Karista. Karista stared
back.
"You know I can't say no when you put it that
way."
"I know; that's why I did it. Your kindness
is your weakness, Ari."
Aaralynn sighed and nodded and they turned back to
face a confuse-looking Noel.
"Yes, Noel. I'd like to go out with you on a
date," Aaralynn told Noel. Noel beamed.
"Great! I'll text you the time and
place!" Noel said cheerfully. Aaralynn just nodded. Not noticing her
discomfort, Noel bounded away with a huge grin.
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It was a Wednesday and halfway through the week,
and Aaralynn still hadn't heard from Noel or even seen him. Secretly, she hoped
Noel didn't really mean to ask her out because it would be awkward because she
like Asche. Not Noel, Asche!
But on the other hand, she felt kind of glum by
being stood up. Maybe Noel didn't mean to stand her up and was busy, but she
can't help but think that way. After all, it's halfway through the week and
Noel hadn't even contacted her like he promised.
She also hasn’t seen Asche either. Not since that
last weekend during the burglary. The picture she painted of Asche was hanging
on her bedroom wall. Fortunately, since it was Wednesday, she would spend two
hours at Boring Hudson's Advanced Algebra class with Asche sitting next to her.
This thought quickly cheered her up and she
quickly makes her way to the Advanced Algebra class skipping a little along the
way.
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"Asche..."
Asche could hear a distant sweet voice calling out
his name in a soft whisper.
"Asche..." The voice called again, still
softly. He was sleeping underneath a tree by the lake again, enjoying the soft
breeze and the gentle warm caress of the sunlight. The voice called out again,
never losing patience at his non-responsive attitude.
It reminded him of his dead mother that always
accepted him and smile at him no matter how hard it is. The voice keeps calling
and Asche found it harder to stay awake. Slowly, he drifts off to the sleep
just as a soft warm hand started stroking his hair.
----------------------------------
Aaralynn sat next to Asche and caresses his head
lovingly. When she found out Asche ditched Advance Algebra, she quickly excused
herself from class to visit the nurse. But instead of turning the corner to the
nurse's office, she turned the corner before that to the back exit door. She
knew it lead to the lake that Asche always sleep at and for some reason; she
knew he would be there.
True enough, Asche was there, head against the
tree trunk lolling to the side, asleep.
"Asche," she had called out and no reply
came. "Asche," she called again and again, softly as if scared to
wake him up.
Then she sat next to him and strokes his hair and
slowly her hands began to caress his sleeping face. Her fingers trailed to his
lips and stayed there. Aaralynn stared at his lips longingly. She thought about
kissing him, but decided against it. If it's a kiss, it should be mutual. She
said to herself and laid her head on his shoulder instead. Not long after, she
fell asleep too.
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RIIINNNGGGGG!!!!!! The lunch bell yelled and a
flurry of activity followed after. Rubbing his forehead, Asche woke up because
of the loud noises. Then he yawned. A heavy weight was set on his left shoulder
and Asche looked down to find out what it could be. His heart nearly stopped.
There was Aaralynn sleeping on his shoulder and
gleamed in sunlight that Asche can't tear his eyes away from the beautiful
sight. He reached his hand out towards her face and using the back of his
fingers, stroke Aaralynn's cheek.
"Allie..." He breathed. Then he casually
brushed a strand of hair and tucks it behind her ear. His hands stayed there,
cupping her cheeks. Closing his eyes, he slowly leaned down to Aaralynn,
totally forgetting he's supposed to stay away and stifle his feelings for her.
"Asche?"
Asche quickly pulled back and landed a meter away.
He looked at Aaralynn and she was rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Asche?" She asked again, and yawns.
"Y-yes?" Flustered, embarrassed and
looking red in the face, Asche quickly stood up and was ready to leave anytime.
Aaralynn tried to stand up too, but apparently,
the sleepiness is not totally gone. She stumbled a little and trip.
"Aaarrrgghhh!" Aaralynn screamed. Thump!
She hit the floor and brought Asche down with her. Her fall was comforted by
his body, as she fell down face first into his chest. But Asche wasn't so
lucky. He fell ass first into the hard floor and hit his head against a root.
"Ouch..." Aaralynn grumbled and tried to
stand up.
"Don't move!!" Asche ordered, but it was
too late. Before they knew it, both of them has fallen into the lake, drenched
wet.
Asche picked himself up from the muddy bottom.
Thank goodness it's shallow. When he is finally able to sit up and wash the mud
off his face, Aaralynn playfully splashed him. She giggled happily.
Asche grumbled and look at Aaralynn annoyingly.
Then, for revenge, Asche splashed Aaralynn back. Aaralynn screamed, giggled and
splashed Asche back. Shielding himself from the incoming splash, Asche wasn't
prepared when Aaralynn launched herself, arms wide open on Asche.
"Wha..?" Asche was about to say when
Aaralynn brought both of them down on the cold water. Asche used his arms to
stop both of them to hit the bottom again. Giggling uncontrollably, Aaralynn
hugged Asche tight.
"I love you, Asche..." Aaralynn
whispered quietly, but loud enough that Asche heard. Asche couldn't believe his
ears.
"W-what?" Asche muttered.
"What what?" Aaralynn asked innocently.
Asche shook his head and then pushed Aaralynn away from him. He stood up and walks
away, leaving Aaralynn staring longingly at his retreating back.
