As Time Passes By

Chapter seven: December 13th

13th December, 2022

I woke up from the sound of chirping birds on my balcony. I fell asleep with my laptop: battery dead from being up all night while two envelopes rested under the laptop. I had stayed awake all night just to make some damn letters for Noah.
Seriously, WHAT THE HELL?

The sun barely even risen from the atmosphere, revealing soft twinkling stars roaming under the twilight's surface.
I got up while my forehead drowned in sweat and my back slightly aching. I walked back inside the master bedroom and unbuttoned the upper top of my shirt, revealing my collarbones and then flung myself onto my great bed.
After a few minutes, I decided to message Noah for the first time in my lifeline, asking him how his health was doing and whether there would be a chance he would just die.

*****

Me: Hey.. I hope you're doing well with those lungs of yours... Get well soon.

*****

I sighed before I turned off my phone and completely unbuttoning my shirt and covered myself with a robe, preparing to bathe up.
After 2 minutes, I finished bathing and got out of the powder room and went straight to the huge closet. Since it was Wednesday, I wore my baggy jeans and my velvet tube top with a green jacket to not reveal some skin. Because, in a Catholic academy?
We all are not mostly allowed to even show our bare legs! I decorated my hair with a simple green ribbon bow to finish up myself. I took the gift that Ru insisted on giving it to Noah and the letters that made me have eyebugs and then took a cab.

I reached the academy at exactly 6:30 o'clock. Celine was already patient at the shed, desperate for the gates to open. She was that one little damsel who wakes up and goes to school at 4 a.m., like BRO WHAT?
"Someone's getting impatient~" I smirked while Celine looked like she was about to explode from impatience. "Ugh! They just don't get it! I come here every 4am SHARP, and the staff are just sleeping their heads off! I hate this damn routine. I continue EVERY SINGLE F-"

"Celine." I warned before she could even finish the word. I mean, like, it's fine for her to curse, but here?! Seriously, we could get expelled! But, I love Celine, and I don't want to look like a bad influence on her.
I sighed while I slowly patted her back gently.

Celine sighed, then spoke up in her high spanish accent. "I heard you got yourself a dude." She said. I was taken aback by her words. Me? Having a dude? Whatt? I side eyed her, clearly not buying it. I don't have a boyfriend!

Celine chuckled and took a sip of her 5th latte before speaking again.

"You heard?"

"Heard what?"

"Anne is coming back from Luzon. She will be attending classes again."

I was surprised. Anne Neri, our oldest best friend, came back after a terrifying absence that turned out she will be just going on a three week vacation in Luzon. She was my closest best friend and the most craziest one out of all of us. But, I love her so much, you know?

After a few hours later, the gates finally opened. And, there came a young woman, in the school uniform, onyx hair, and really tall. "Anneee!!" I yelled in excitement as she got out of the vehicle and hugged her like she was gonna fall down. I clinged to her like a child while Celine watched in happiness and confusion of why I'm clinging to Anne like she is my mom.

"Noelle, what the hell are you doing?" Celine chuckled and gave Anne a high five after I got off. I was smiling ridiculously when Ru finally came. "Oh my gosh, MOMMYYYYY!" Ru exclaimed in a sassy way and gave Anne a cute little fly kiss. We stayed there, shouting, laughing like crazy until the bell rang, and it was finally time to start class.

At lunch break, Ru came out of nowhere while I ate my simple rice meal. "Hey, mommy~" She said, with the highest sassy level. I rolled my eyes in a playful way and continued eating my meal.
Then, my phone was drowning in notifications. It was th one and only dude, Noah.

****

Noah: You really care about me?

Noah: You love me?

Noah: I love you too :((

****

I nearly threw my phone in the air as I saw that. I mean, like, I love and like him, but... I don't know. Ru took my phone and read all the messages. She was stunned and going crazy at the same time. She almost spitted out her coffee and choked on it when she read the last text. I snatched my phone and replied to Noah.

****

Me: I guess...

****

Stupidity! How could I say that?! I tried to unsend it, but then, he just read it 4 freakin' seconds ago! Then, Celine and Anne came out of nowhere and snatched my phone. They were shouting like crazy as they saw the 'I guess' message I just sent. Anne slapped my back in a playful way while her face was turning red.

"You didn't tell me you HAVE A BOYFRIEND!!" Anne said, jumping excitedly. I chuckled and rolled my eyes as the three of them jumped up and down like hyenas.

After 4 hours, it was time for the 'worst' part of life: attending Noah's birthday at the Grade VII class.
Surprisingly, everybody in the first batch was there. Anne was beside me, looking so confused about what was happening. "Ok, what the hell is going on?" Anne asked, her face drowned in questions. "It's just a party with Armstrong, you know?" Celine replied while she stole some party hats and forced us to wear it. "Are you serious?" I asked with annoyance. I hated party hats, I always do. But, I just forced my stupidity to wear it so I won't look like an outcast.

Then, a dude, cosplayed as Tanjiro, came inside. It was obvious that the dude was Noah. His 4'5 height was already telling me that it's him.
Anne leaned closer to me. Her face was confused.
"Your boyfriend is a fan of Demon Slayer, like what the hell?" Anne said confusingly. I rolled my eyes at her comment, she is clearly confused. "Anne, he's not my boyfriend." I snapped playfully.

Damn, these guys will really find a way to annoy me...