"ANO?! NABABALIW KA NA BA?"
It takes all my self-restraint not to roll my eyes. Andrei's knitted eyebrows tell me he is far from agreeing with my idea.
"Maybe. But that's not the point. Your coach had an errand to do so you're free this afternoon. There's nothing to worry about," I asserted, stuffing my ballpen and review sheets into my tiny bag.
"Hindi iyan ang inaalala ko. Ikaw." Andrei's hand around my wrist tightened, pleading me to stop. "Diba hanggang hapon pa yung review niyo?"
I fought another eye roll. "I know, but once is not gonna hurt."
When I approached him earlier, every shaft of light gathered onto his face, amplifying my shame and guilt. He had been trying to reach out to me, seeking clarity about my avoidance, but all I gave were endless excuses. Hindi pa nakatulong na ang huli naming pag-uusap ay yung pinagtutulakan ko siya kay Sabrina.
Kung iisipin, ang kapal pala ng mukha ko nang biglaan ko siyang kinausap na parang wala lang.
"Aubri Victoria..."
"It's my birthday. Hindi mo ba ako pagbibigyan?" I hate to use the birthday card but he wouldn't move an inch if I hadn't mentioned it.
His eyes lingered on me before he shook his head. "Hindi ba pwedeng pagkatapos nalang ng review niyo? Makakaantay ako—maghihintay ako."
But I want more time with you.
"Fine. I'll go celebrate by myself."
"Tori naman eh." I could sense how exasperated he was with the situation I brought him into, but he surprised me when he walked with me until we got out. He had the choice. He could've watched me stupidly go home by myself but he didn't. I stifled a smile so that he wouldn't see.
Nakiusap akong samahan niya ako sa dagat. I decided to ditch my training this afternoon and didn't ask for permission from the teacher nor informed Sabrina and Shaneila. I was present in the morning, and as I've said, once is not gonna hurt.
I know I made the decision to avoid interacting with him for as long as possible until my feelings vanished completely to spare myself the embarrassment of overanalyzing his every gesture. And I know I'm choosing my mother and my friends—no, I don't even need to choose them because they were never involved. Sabrina is just letting her emotions and thoughts escape from her. It just happened that I was the one listening. It's not like she knew Andrei owned a beat of my heart.
But I'm letting this day pass. Just this day. My birthday. And this time, I'm choosing myself...
Besides, it's not like I completely cut Andrei off my life. I still want to keep him. This wouldn't take long and when the time comes, I'll return as the Aubri he knew. He wouldn't even notice I had feelings for him.
We made a quick stop at Shaneila's house to get some extra clothes. Sabi ni Andrei pahihiramin niya ako ng damit ng ate niya dahil wala akong dalang extra since naka-lock yung pinto ng bahay ko at hindi naman ito planado. It was an impulsive decision but I miss spending every moment in his presence.
"Ano bang meron, bakit ang dami mong dala?" I asked but he wasn't paying attention. Masama ang kaniyang mga tingin sa anim na lalaki ilang metro ang layo sa amin.
"Lipat tayo ng puwesto?"
"What do you mean? This is a perfect place and I've already set up the tent." He brought more things than expected and so he ended up carrying a tent to safely keep our things in place.
He hissed, his narrowed eyes still on the same group of people who were occasionally glancing at us. "Ang hirap talaga kapag may kasama kang maganda."
But Sabrina is the beautiful one. If I were to walk side by side with her, I would be a pencil eraser to a ballpen. Useless.
YOU ARE READING
Only You (EDITING)
Teen Fiction(Lucky Academy #1) -Aubri Victoria Silvestre - Aubri's life is full of competition and pressure. She never had a fun childhood because, at a young age, she was conditioned to be the greatest and to excel in school academics. Fortunately, few people...
