Hooked

025

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Wind touching his porcelain cheeks, petrichor lingering to his nose, hands kept inside his little pockets, and lo-fi music blasting in his earphones; muting the bustling town.

It feels cozy.

Finally, a peace of mind. He thought. Blurry flashbacks paced inside his head-Vinzent sending him a picture of Kionnel's drunken state inside his backseat, the conversation he had with Janris, and how Anders lectured him for the nth time.

Raxel heaved a light breath as he takes steps over the moist pavement. Not too soon, he stops at a convenient store-unexpectedly having a sight of a familiar lass.

She's sat on a stool politely, as if she's being watched by her teacher. She had a closed-lip smile. He wondered why, until he saw her hands grasping on her phone-eyes gleaming everytime her fingertips scroll on the screen.

Strangely, he felt more comfortable having this sight. The way she tucks a strand of her silky jet-black behind her ear and the flawless motion of how it falls everytime she giggles from watching something he assumed was entertaining.

He smiled.

Then realized.

Fuck.

Heat rushed to his cheeks. He quickly diverted his gaze as if he did not just stared at her like a total creep. Raxel looked down, regretting every bits of his aimless choice a few moments ago. His embarrassment could not be contained.

He suddenly remembered his conversation with Janris. About her. Arielle.

Raxel cursed under his breath. Feeling his chest rummaging, he ran his hand in his hair with severe annoyance. To be clear, he was not jealous. He was irritated. Plain irritation.

How Janris addressed her like she's some award or prize irks him. Arielle isn't that close with him now, but she was special. He was always aware of that. He knows her for so long and he have only seen nothing but kindness and pureness in her.

He thinks that Janris don't deserve her.

Or was he just being narcissistic?

The lad shook his head. He just wanted a time out from all the thoughts that's consuming him. Not to stress all these irrelevant things.

Raxel entered the convenient store, easily earning attention from the people inside. It was nothing new to him-given his looks that surpasses the subjective standard of pleasing and flattering. But his introverted soul wished it would be different as he is getting tired of the excess energy he receives.

He claimed his order and found a spot. Apparently, the lass haven't notice him yet. Not like he's expecting or he wants her too.

Well, he do wants to talk to her. It's been a while.

"Raxel?"

Calm down.

"Arielle? You're here." that was his best shot of being casual.

The latter beamed at him. It was almost past midnight but her energy is still on its peak. What can he say, she still embodies the title their former classmates gave: a happy virus.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" she stood and marched closer to his spot. He figured that this may be a start of their conversation.

"Just because. . ." he was almost stumbling with his words. "It's a habit." his hands remained busy upon opening his cupped noodles.

Arielle's mouth formed into an O and nodded. "Night owl ka pa rin." she grabbed her strawberry milkshake beside her cheese bread. "Kamusta na?" she carried the conversation as she struggled to put the straw in.

Raxel politely grabbed the milkshake bottle from her, neatly slipping in the straw-"I'm doing great. How about you?"-then returned it back to her.

She uttered a small thanks with a smile. "Great, too! LLU is a great school."

A nod with a small smile was his response. At this moment, he's desperately wishing for an idea to come to his mind. Entertaining conversations was never his forte. Raxel just sighed exasperatedly and opened his canned coke.

He wants to keep this heartening connection to last, even just for tonight.

"Cheers?" Arielle raised her milkshake with a grin.

Finding the gesture amusing, he blinked and immediately complied. It was something he know she would do. She didn't change, after all.

Raxel looked at her with nothing but adoration in his eyes.

"Ay! Anong oras na?" Arielle hurriedly opened her phone and searched for something.

"Bakit? Do you need to go home? Hatid na kita."

"No-ay, 10 pa lang." she frowned.

"Why?" Realization didn't take too long to hit him. It's his birthday in a few hours, and she's anticipating for it.

Arielle flashed her genuine smile as she bites on her remaining cheese bread. "Let's wait for your birthday."

Something pinched his heart.

It felt good. Really good.

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