Losing You's a Thing That I Dread

Chapter 7: Roxy

A/N: I'm not too happy with this, but I just wanted this part over with.

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Thursday, 03:22 PM

ARCHIE: Cutting classes, Ms. Cristobal?

“ - madalas ni Archie?”

Her heart skipped a beat when she heard his name. 

Roxy took her eyes off the screen and ignored the continuously vibrating phone on top of her clipboard. She grabbed a pair of scissors and started cutting out pieces of construction paper, quietly waiting for Kenji to either repeat what he said, or volunteer more information. 

But he was just watching her - intensely. She tried to assume an indifferent face - careful not to give anything away.

Teka, teka. Wala naman akong maigi-give.

But she knew that she was lying to herself. 

Archie’s still the same - stubborn, cocky, temperamental. But there were moments when he’s really thoughtful. A little playful. Definitely affectionate…

Erase, erase! Assumera ka, Roxy. 

But then she remembered how gentle his lips brushed her cheeks. 

Appreciative! Yan yung mas appropriate na adjective.

Knew how his hands felt on her waist.

Teenage hormones lang ‘to. Sure na. Ganito ba pag single, Lord?

“Earth to Roxy?” Kenji repeatedly snapped his fingers in front of her face.

She waved his hand away and said, “Gupitin ko yan! Ang ligalig naman, Kenji.”

“Hindi mo kasi sinagot yung tanong ko,” he explained. “Siguro iniisip mo si Archie, no? So does that mean wala na talaga kayong season two ni Tim?”

Roxy felt her mouth dry up and reached for the purple tumbler she refilled over an hour ago. 

“Walang preno? Walang busina?” she asked before taking a sip of water. “Alam mo, Kenji, pwede na mag-retire si Tito Boy. Iyo na yung korona.” She was stalling and she knew it. “And bakit ko naman pag-aaksayahan ng brain cells si Archie?” She asked, trying to sound as if she couldn’t care less about the guy.

“Sunod-sunod kasi yung texts nya sayo, Roxy. Oh ayan isa pa,” he pointed out excitedly. “Akin na basahin ko,” Kenji offered while reaching for the phone on top of her clipboard.

Roxy put her tumbler down and slapped his hand. “Ay walang hiya-hiya, Kenji,” she said. “FYI ha, matalas yung memory ko. Naaalala ko pa yung ginawa mo sa ‘min ni Tim.”

“Eh okay naman na kayo ni Archie. And Tim’s already out of the picture,” he reasoned. 

Roxy ignored him and continued with her task. A few minutes later, Kenji asked, “Hindi natin babasahin yung texts ni Archie?”

She simply raised her eyebrow at him before calling Sanya’s attention. 

“Sanyaaaaa? Wala ng ginagawa si Kenji dito,” she yelled across the stage. “Need mo ng help?”

Kenji squinted his eyes at her and said, “Pangit mong ka-bonding, Roxanne Fatima,” before standing up and heading over to Sanya, who was sorting through the boxes of merch.

Roxy waited until he was across the stage before discreetly unlocking her phone and reading the messages. 

ARCHIE: Guess you’re all busy prepping for tomorrow.