The Unseen Trial [Ace Lucifer's Series Three] ON GOING

Twenty Fifth Trial

trigger warning: self-harm

Bryson 25

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADE 11

"Di kaya magtakha 'yong mga tao kapag nakita kayo?" Arrow crossed his arms as he looked at the three of them. They're inside Macey's house this time, inside her room. Silang tatlo ay magkakatabi nila Bryson at Macey habang nasa harapan nila si Arrow na nakasuot ng casual get up.

By casual, it meant simple shirt and khaki shorts. Nakasuot pabaliktad ang cap nito, habang may suot na watch sa kanang pulso, at puting sapatos na mahihiya ang kahit anong uri ng dumi na dumapo sa sapatos nito.

Napatingin si Candace sa suot na damit. Well, today is their Christmas party. Second to the last one that would surely happen since sa college life nila ay wala nang ganoon. Source of information? It's Arrow Emmanuel Daft, of course. Pupunta lang ito sa university nila para umattend ng prof nilang papasok para lang sa attendance at hindi magtuturo. At kapag absent ay malaking bawas sa grade.

Napapaisip na lang siya kung kaya niya ba 'yon sa College. Sa tamad niyang 'to, at kung attendance lang naman pala ang habol ng prof sa ganitong panahon, hindi siya papasok. Panigurado.

"Sabi sa inyo, dalhin na lang natin kapag nandon na 'rin magpalit." Napakamot sa ulo niya si Bryson. Pinagpag nito ang suot na damit. Well, there's no bad looking at the shirt he's wearing—or they're wearing. It's a pajama terno, with a cute—or Candace might say, irritating designs on it. It was actually personalized design by Macey and Arrow.

Other than that, she thinks it is fine to wear it coming to school. Afterall, their event will be held there, and the reason why they are wearing this kind of stuff was because of the event in their school.

Tumingin siya kay Arrow. "Kung kasama mo kami, baka ikaw pa ang pagtinginan." She said, pertaining to his clothes, different from them.

Bumalik ulit ang tingin niya sa suot na damit. Her terno pajama has a cartoon—clip art image of Takoyaki with facial expression on each circle. May ilang nakasimangot, naka-ngiti, at galit. Parang nag-transform ang emoji sa messenger into a Takoyaki one. It was the courtesy of Macey.

And of course, kung sa kaniya ay Takoyaki, kay Macey ay Blueberry, ayon na 'rin sa paborito nito na hindi niya alam kung saan nagmula—hanggang kay Bryson na Jollibee ang naka-print sa terno nito. The reason why? Macey said because he's one of a hell Jollibee. Bida-bida.

Napailing na lang si Arrow sa sinabi niya. "Tara na! Tapos na kayo?"

"Yuuuup!" Macey beamed. "Pero sandaliiii! Picture tayo!"

Macey pulled out her phone before tapping something on the screen. Hindi nagtagal ay nakita niya ang sarili nila magkaka-akbay, at nakatingin sa camera. As the usual, Macey was grinning from ear to ear, with Arrow making a stupid face, and as well as Bryson making a stupid stunt before Macey clicks the shutter button...

And of course, her, wearing her usual unexpressive face, looking straight at the camera as if being with one of them, and taking a picture with them was against her will.

But that's not it.

Their day hasn't started yet, but her heart is already full.

And having additional restriction on expressing herself, in a smallest way she can... that's the one against her will.

She wants them back.

The party started. It was a pajama themed party, the reason why they're wearing this weird printed stuff. Puro mga intermission number ang nauna, and all Candace do was to watch. May mga nagdala pa ng instruments para mag bida-bida sa gitna ng classroom nila. Macey was asked to sing, and her best friend accepted it right away.