MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Chapter 7

"You're coming?" Aiah asks Jhoanna, pausing at the door to see if she'll join her at the cafeteria.

"You go ahead. I'll just follow, I need to go somewhere first," Jhoanna replies, busy organizing her things. Papers and notebooks are scattered across the table as she quickly tidies up.

Aiah nods and exits the council room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Left alone, Jhoanna finishes packing and grabs a paper bag, smiling to herself as she scribbles a note before sticking it onto the bag.

With the paper bag in hand, she makes her way out and heads toward the field. The air is fresh, and she can hear the distant sounds of students laughing and playing.

Her eyes scan the bleachers, searching for a familiar figure. Spotting that person in her usual spot, she walks over slowly.

"Here," Jhoanna says, holding the paper bag out.

Colet, startled, looks up at the paper bag and then at Jhoanna.She smirks as she takes the bag, reading the beautifully written "Thank you" on the note attached.

"Thank you, for last time," Jhoanna says softly, settling down next to Colet. The bleachers are cool under her as she sits, and the scent of freshly cut grass fills the air.

"Now I'm thinking of spying on you to see if you're crying over this free lunch," Colet teases, chuckling. Jhoanna laughs at Colet's silliness, giving her a playful push.

"How did you even know I'm here?" Colet asks, genuinely curious.

"I didn't really know. I just took a chance, hoping I'd find you here. Do you always eat here by yourself?" Jhoanna replies, her curiosity piqued. She glances around, noticing how peaceful the field is compared to the bustling cafeteria.

Colet nods, her smirk softening into a smile. "Yeah, I like the quiet. It's a nice break from the chaos inside." She opens the paper bag and peeks inside, her smile widening. "This looks great, by the way. Thanks."

Jhoanna had prepared two types of sandwiches for Colet, a chicken sandwich and a tuna sandwich. She also included a canned drink, a unique carbonated beverage that combined milk and soda, with a milk and yogurt flavor. She remembered seeing Colet drinking it last time and thought it would be a nice touch.

"I didn't know if you'd prefer chicken or tuna, so I prepared both," Jhoanna explains as she hands the bag to Colet.

"This is actually too much. I must have really done a good job last time," Colet chuckles as she settles the bag on her lap and picks the chicken sandwich, unwrapping it eagerly.

"And how about you?" Colet asks, glancing at Jhoanna.

"I'm actually good. I grabbed something at the office earlier," Jhoanna waves her hand dismissively.

Colet nods and takes a bite of the sandwich, letting out a delighted sound. Jhoanna watches, smiling at how innocent Colet looks while eating.

Colet takes big bites and chews with her mouth closed, her cheeks puffing out slightly with each chew. Jhoanna feels an urge to pinch those cheeks but controls herself.

"You've got a little something here," Jhoanna says, pointing to the corner of Colet's lips where a bit of food is stuck.

Colet tries to wipe it away but misses the spot, her fingers fumbling adorably. Jhoanna reaches over, her thumb gently brushing the food away. She lingers for a moment, making sure to get all the crumbs.

"There," Jhoanna says, her eyes meeting Colet's gaze, which seems to linger on her. Jhoanna suddenly feels self-conscious under Colet's intense gaze.