Azure: The Retired Assassin

Azure 32

Second day of the open school and I am already on my way to school. It was on the third intersection that I notice a black car following me. I swerved to the left and abruptly stopped. The car also slowed down but keeps on straight ahead when I look at the tinted glass window of the driver side intensely. It felt weird but I let it go since I need to be at school early.

I heard a beep behind me as I park on my usual spot. Looking back I recognized the car as Sy's. Thinking about yesterday, it was the first time that we talked like that. Him telling me about his past and me talking about what I wanna do, though it was subtle but it was there. "Sy." I addressed him when he walked up to me.

"Hey."He greeted back and walk beside me. "You're this early yesterday?"

"Yup! We need to prepare the first set before opening the café." Bigla kaming natahimik na dalawa but unlike before the silence was not awkward. "You might wanna bring some pastries for your Uncle."

"He would love that."

"Be sure to come early since we will be closing at 2 pm today." Earlier than yesterday since the students still needs to prepare for the unsilent night especially the girls and those who are performing tonight. "You're going to our classroom?" I asked kasi kanina pa sya dapat sumakay ng elevator papuntang private room nila.

"Hmm. I just want to check if everything is okay before anything else." Oh well, must be very tiring to be a school owner. "Ash, morning." I greeted sya pa lang kasi ang tao sa loob ng room. "Kanina ka pa?" I asked as I place my bag on our mini dressing room beside the kitchen area.

"Morning Az.. Brice morning." He sounded casual but a slight flicker of anxiety passed through his eyes. Nakita ko namang tumango si Sy sa kanya but didn't said anything. He has this severe mood change sometimes kaya mas lalo syang mahirap basahin just like now.

"Gusto mo ng kape Ash?" Hindi kasi ako nakapag kape kanina kasi tinanghali ako ng gising. "Ikaw Sy?" Tanong ko dito ng umiling si Ashton.

"Sure." He quickly replied blandly. What's wrong with him? His brows were even wrinkled pero hindi naman sya nakatingin sa amin.

"May kukunin lang ako sa stock room Az." Maya maya ay paalam ni Ashton maybe he felt the atmosphere changing. Bigla nalang kasing nagbago yung timpla ni Sy. We were left alone in the classroom with only the clanking sound of the utensils can be heard and this discomfort is starting to crawl on my system.

"How can you call him by his name so easily?" He sounded lost when he said that even his expression is looking so perplexed when I look at him. Like he wasn't talking to me but rather he was asking himself.

What's with a name? "Brice." His head automatically snap back at me.

"Did you just call me by my name?" He asked with that profoundly mystified face.

"Yeah. Do you want me to address you that way?"

"You would?"

"If you want me to, then I would." Like seriously, why he is having those childlike eyes just because of his name? Though he did not respond he look quite please by what I said. I shook my head and just focus on my coffee and his too. "Here you go."