LOST IN JAPAN, Lindtsey Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja

5. Ninang Ace

     "You're with us."

Napairap naman ako sa sinabi ni Miles.

After our long rest after breakfast, we are sitting here again – dito canteen - for about an hour when they started to finalize what we were going to do that afternoon. Since twenty naman kami, they said that they were going to divide us into groups of four para magkaroon ng limang evenly distributed groups.

"Bakit naman? I could go with Ate and Kuya," I asked. I intentionally made my tone sound like I was protesting.

Pano ako hindi magpro-protest? They're trapping me with someone I don't want to be with, and it's not Mikha Lim. It's someone worse than her.

"We can switch places, Miles," Mikha spoke up.

Miles firmly shook her head. "Hindi. You're going to come with us 'cause these people can't control you. Your Ate and Kuya are coming with Ate Sam and her husband, perfect four na."

"P'wede naman akong kina Jho na lang sumama, Miles," Stacey offered. Miles sighed and still shook her head. "Okay, edi don't. 'Di na lang ako sasama."

"Huwag na nga kayong matigas ang ulo. Mag-aaway lang kayong dalawa ni Jho, baka ano pang mangyari sa inyo." Aiah finally spoke up after keeping her silence for a long time.

"Gamitin niyo na 'tong sasakyan ko." Miles instructed, handing me her car keys. "Sumunod kayo sa'min."

I didn't have a choice but to accept the car keys from her. Miles gently patted me on my shoulder as if telling me that everything would be fine.

But I know that it's not going to be fine.

We haven't been alone with each other for four years. I can tolerate seeing her, but only if there are other people around. I do not know if I can handle being alone with her yet.

This is not definitely a part of my bingo card this year.

"Drive safe, Avrielle." Ate Sam said before we could even leave. She offered me a nice smile and turned to Staku. "Stacey, huwag mong hahayaang uminom 'yan ha. Baka mapano pa kayo."

I rolled my eyes and stood up from my seat para umalis. I spared Stacey a glance and she was already looking at me, hesitant to open her mouth. I turned away quickly and started to walk out of the door.

When I was fully out of the canteen, they were saying their goodbyes to her. I did not wait and continued walking, letting her follow me out.

"Teka lang!" She shouted after me.

Since I'm hardheaded, I didn't look back and still journeyed across the sands and toward the parking lot. Too bad at masyadong malapit lang iyon sa canteen so it didn't really take us long to arrive there.

I pressed the key fob to let the vehicle sound since hindi ko alam kung anong sasakyan ni Miles ito. Turns out, it was her only red-colored BMW coupe car that I adored ever since.

Mabuti naman at may maganda siyang nagawa sa akin sa araw na 'to.

"Sabi kong teka lang eh," Stacey said as she entered the car after I did.

I didn't bother to look at her and just shuffled into my seat. Since she's taking the passenger seat at wala namang mapaglagyan ng purse ko, I decided to throw it on the back.

While I was doing that, I could feel her watching me closely.

"Ano?" I asked, finally staring back at her.

She blinked, surprised that I was staring straight at her. There was only a small space between us since this car is small. Meaning, our faces are only inches apart from each other. To the point that I can already feel her breathing on my face.