The Story Of Us

Chapter 14

Abby and I were eating at our lunch in our usual spot last time. If you were looking for Maica, well, she was not here. I mean, she will never come back at the formation. She sent us a message in our own group chat earlier, telling us that she was no longer oblige to do the service since she was now part of the Skillartale. But it won't automatically mean she can rest every Saturday because she will still go to the university to dance together with her squad. I was both happy and sad at the same time for that news, happy that she was not here because that girl was very annoying, murmuring how she loathed the military formation, and sad because Abby and I have to spend our lunch, only the both of us. I missed that girl already.

"So, you're a sponsor now, thanks god," Abby said out of the blue.

We were just eating silently when she suddenly spoke up. I stared at her intently.

"Yeah? I told you earlier how, right?" I replied.

She nodded. She was done eating her lunch, clasping her hands on the table.

"I have to tell you something?" she mused.

My eyebrows furrowed. What was exactly she was going to tell me?

"What is it?" I wiped my mouth first before I placed my hands on my lap.

"You do know that I'm not betraying you, right?" Her hand moved in the table and held my arm.

I stared at her palm. Why was she acting so weird?

"I know, Abby. Please just tell me."

"Okay," she said, taking a lump in her throat. "I-applied-for-the-HQ-department?" she spat the words in one breath.

My eyes widened after my brain processed her sentence.

"What? Whyyyyyy?" My voice raised from surprise.

"Well, it's really hard for me to continue working in the field. With this," Abby said, pushing her sunglasses closer to her nose bridge.

I suddenly felt guilty for reacting that way. I saw how her eyes affected her performance in the formation and it was not just a one-time thing that you could brush off in your shoulder and go on. Often times, I noticed she always blinked behind her glasses.

It was my time to grip her hand in my arm.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Abby. Yeah, I totally understand you but this is just..." I didn't complete my sentence and sighed.

My shoulders slouched, thinking what will happen to me in the next Saturdays, alone. I could feel my eyes become watery, imagining myself alone in this table.

"By the way Kevin, you mentioned you were not healthy right? I think we can be in the HQ together! All you have to do is take a medical examination and if you were had proven unsuitable for extreme activities like these?" She gestured her hands on our surrounding. "Then, you don't have to be alone here," she said, her voice was in a high octave.

I took the lump in my throat, staring at her in astonishment. That was an enticing idea but... but I could not afford to tell everyone, especially my friends about my real condition.

I forced a laugh. "Silly, that won't work because I'm healthy now," I said, taking a sip of my water bottle.

I'm healthy now? Did I already forget what happened to me last week? Ugh! I was so dumb for saying that. She stared at me, like she was scrutinizing my moves. I suddenly become uncomfortable.

"S-so, when will you start? W-with this HQ thing?" I asked her, trying to alter her attention away from me.

***

I was holding Gorio's water bottle in my hand, looking for him in the field. I roamed around huge and strong men, marching. These were the Alpha and Bravo Platoon. They were mostly consisting of students that were, you know, healthy? They were tall and fit which was very obvious because again they were in these platoons.

"Kevin!"

I spun and I saw our class mayor approaching at me. I smiled.

"Arthur?" I furrowed.

"Yeah, that's my name," he said, gesturing his hands towards himself.

I laughed.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm in the Alpha Platoon and I am guessing you're a sponsor." He held my shoulders and stared at my overall outfit.

"Which is very obvious," I said, giggling.

"Right. By the way, I already signed up our squad for the Mobile Legends Tournament next week. And I was thinking that maybe we could have a practice this Sunday?" Arthur's fingers were still holding me.

Next week was our Intramurals and we only have two days to celebrate it. I was honestly excited because I haven't attended one in my entire life. I've heard there were fun activities such as: kissing both, hand cuffed, blind date and more. I have seen some of these in movies and I was already thinking about Abby and Maica, pranking them with these activities.

"So, are you down?"

I shifted my attention back to him. I clearly dozed off. I quickly smiled.

"Of course---"

"What are we talking here?" Gorio butted in.

I gazed at him; I was surprised that he was already standing beside me.

"Sir Yap!" Arthur saluted.

His expression changed. Eyes were straight ahead, as if his gaze pass through me.

"Mr. Espejo. Why are you not in your platoon?" His face was stoic when he asked.

Arthur's throat moved up and down. I know he did not have an alibi for that so I quickly saved him.

"Oh, I was just asking him if he had seen you." I gazed at Gorio and our eyes met.

"Really?" He moved closer and stood up in front of me, blocking Arthur's view.

Gorio was staring down at my small frame and he has his intimidating expression plastered on his face. I couldn't guess if he was mad or not.

"Y-yes. Because... Because I have to give you, your water." I waved the bottle in my hand.

He grabbed his bottle from me and drunk it like he was in a TV commercial. I was in a trance as I stared at his Adam's apple, sexily moving up and down. I felt the tip of my ears burning.

"What are you still doing here? Your job is done. You can go back now," he said it like I was dumb standing there in front of him.

I felt my blood rises from my neck up to my cheeks.

"Y-yeah, I should go now, Sir Yap." I took one step back and saluted.

I have no idea if I was doing it right but I could not careless because I know my face now was red from embarrassment. I spun and slowly leaving from my spot when I heard Gorio's voice once again.

"Mr. Espejo! Give me 500 push-ups!"

I halted, appalled from what he said.

"Permission to proceed, sir!"

I gazed back at Gorio and he was smirking at me.

"Proceed," he said, crossing his arms on his chest.

My mouth was in ajar as I heard Arthur counting.

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A/N: Have you heard Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo? Ugh! That song is a bop.