Be Mine: Aella Austin

Chapter - 18 ( Unedited )

Serene

5 days... Yun ang balitang umiikot ngayon dito sa University namin, aware na kasi ang lahat na babalik na si Miss Aella sa school kung saan siya originally nagtuturo. Kaya halos lahat ng mga classmate ko sa sub niya ay hindi maiwasang mag-react.

"Tahimik mo" dumikit sa akin si Hailey.

Hindi ko siya pinansin, as always. Lalo na at alam kung magtatanong lang siya doon sa nangyari sa BAR nung nakaraang araw dahil wala pang sumusubok na iopen ang topic na yun since then.

"Kaya nga... what happened?" Si Alex na nasa kabilang gilid ko.

Naka-upo kami ngayon dito sa Cafeteria, and both of them are on my side which is really annoying me.

Hindi pa din ako umimik. I'm actually overthinking, 5 days na lang talaga ang natitira na mayroon siya? Like, for real?

We haven't talked din kasi after niya akong ihatid. I thought nga magkakaroon kami ng matinong conversation sa loob ng kotse niya at that time, pero hindi nangyari yun.

Bigla na lang kasing nagbago ang mood niya after she answered the call that she received. Since then, her daunting presence at school left me with no courage to approach her.

"Give me space, pwede ba?" Naka-kunot ang nuong saad ko.

Tumayo ako at lumipat sa kabilang side ng table at dahil sa ginawa ko ay ang sama tuloy ng tingin nila sakin.

"Edi waw"

"Nagka love life lang, ganyan na"

Their comments faded into the background of my disinterest. My mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts of Miss Aella, wondering if my feelings for her were real.

I wasn't dodging the question anymore; instead, I found myself consumed by it, pondering more about my emotions than focusing on studies or conversations.

After two days of reflection, I landed on a conclusion: a 30/70 split. Thirty percent for liking her, seventy against.
"Magkasama na naman sila..."

"They're so lucky to have each other!!"

"Are they really dating na ba?"

"Bagay silaa"

Their murmurs brought me back to the present, their eyes fixed on the cafeteria door, a sight that soured my mood instantly.

This scene is familiar. Always familiar. Palagi naman kasi silang magkasamang dalawa, may bago ba doon? Inalis ko ang tingin kay Miss Aella at Sr Santos. Padabog kong kinuha ang pagkain ko at kinagatan iyon.

"I CAN SMELL JEALOUSY..." Pagpaparinig ni Hailey kaya kaagad ko siyang binigyan ng masamang tingin.

Jealousy ampotah. Bakit ako magseselos eh ako nga yung inaya ng kasal niyan ng ilang beses.

I rolled my eyes at Hailey and returned to my meal, letting them bask in their companionship.

Distracting myself, I turned to my phone, refusing to give them another glance. They weren't worth straining my eyes over.

"Tara tiktok tayo" Alex suggested.

"Goo, ano bang tiktok yan??" Kaagad namang sagot ni Hailey

Alex presented the latest craze, a simple hand dance to 'Marikit sa Dilim' by Hev Abi. Not my usual taste, but the song caught my interest, making the practice runs enjoyable.

"G na ba?" Alex inquired after a few rehearsals.

I nodded, settling back as they positioned Alex's phone to capture us all.