Anthology

AZ x rival cinema clubs AU

Hi! Na-miss kong magpost ng ficlets dito. Here's something I wrote last year haha. AZ ulit, kasi miss na miss ko na sila :(

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"We are both presidents of rival cinema clubs in campus and we keep going to the movies at the same time with our respective clubs so seriously stop copying me but also you're very hot thanks god" au

"Cortez? A word."

Andreau looked over his shoulder, mouth full of cheese flavored popcorn, only to see a very pissed Scheherazade Pascual stalking behind him. He motioned her to go on, gaining a sharp eye roll from her. "Anong ginagawa niyo rito? Seriously?" she said in a clipped tone.

He took his time munching his food before replying which pissed her more. It was intentional, by the way. Nacu-cute-an kasi siya kay Pascual kapag nang-iirap ito. He's that weird. "Uhh manonood ng Respeto kasama orgmates ko. Bakit?"

"Sinasadya mo talaga 'to ano?" He had to bite a laugh when Pascual's nostrils flared in anger. "Nung isang araw ka pa ha! Inagaw niyo na nga ang favorite row namin--"

"Hoy teka lang ha. It wasn't my fault na hindi kayo nagreserve sa Sureseats nang mas maaga--"

"Are you doing this to piss me off?" she accused. "Look, kung gumaganti ka pa rin do'n sa katangahan mo sa Cinemalaya last yea--"

"Grabe naman mamintang 'to! You wound me! Bawal na ba tayong magkasabay sa sinehan ngayon, ha? Alam mo namang limited cinemas lang ang Cinemalaya this year, at itong Greenbelt na ang pinakamalapit sa campus. Alangang dumayo pa kami sa Trinoma para lang hindi tayo magkasabay."

His explanation was met by her perfectly arched brow. "Three days na tayong nagkikita rito sa Greenbelt. Kaunting lakad lang ang Glorietta, o. Lipat na kayo."

Pasensyosong tao si Andreau pero ibang klase rin ang kakulitan ni Zade. He didn't know if what's the best way to stop her from ranting: kiss her or stuff popcorn inside her mouth. Probably the former.

Halikan mo na, pre! His best friend, Dan, mouthed from the other side of the concessionaire stand. Todo tango at ngisi ang orgmates niya, pati ang orgmates ni Zade, na nakapila na sa labas ng Cinema 2.

Mga siraulo talaga sila. Sisirain pa diskarte ko, Andreau thought.

"Hoy, Cortez! I'm still talking to you!" Zade interrupted.

"Popcorn you like?" he offered to avert her attention.

Inside of a snide remark, Andreau was surprised to see a shocked look on Zade's face. That's a first. "I-I don't eat popcorn or anything while watching movies."

He was beyond scandalized. First time niyang makakilala ng isang tao na hindi kumakain habang nanonood ng sine. "Are you for real? That's an abomination, Zades. Popcorn is an essential! How could you not eat this!?"

He ranted on about the importance of eating popcorn and other snacks during movies, but Zade just stared at him, a faint blush forming on her cheeks.

"O bakit? Okay ka lang ba?" he asked.

"Y-you called me Zades. You never called me that. Ever."

Natigilan si Andreau. Huh, she's right. Sa internal monologues lang niya nababanggit ang pangalang Zades. Andreau found that nickname too intimate kaya Pascual o kung anu-anong pang-asar na nickname ang tinatawag niya sa president ng CinemaFilo Club. His favorite was when he called her a Xavier Dolan apologist during last year's Cinemalaya, after they had a very heated discussion about his film review of Dolan's It's Only The End of the World. Sa three years nilang magkakilala, doon lang niya nakitang namula sa galit si Scheherazade Pascual. Ultimate crush kasi ng babae si Xavier Dolan, at sobrang na-offend si Zadesa criticism ni Andreau sa directing and narrative style ng isa sa favorite filmmakers niya. That frustrated him to no end. Of all filmmakers, why Dolan?

"Uhh...hindi ba kita pwedeng tawaging Zades? Everyone's calling you that so..."

The blush on her cheeks deepened, and he swore she never looked so beautiful. "N-no. Ang weird lng kasi, coming from you."

"Bakit naman?"

"Nothing. Bast--"

"Zades?"

"Stop calling me that."

"Bakit nga? Tama naman pronunciation ko, 'di ba?"

Napayuko si Zade bago siya sumagot. "Kinikikiligkasiakobwisitkatamanaplease!"

Oh.

Oh.

He couldn't believe it. Zade Pascual has a crush on him.

Sakto, crush din niya si Zade. Sa wakas, tinanggap na rin niya ang katotohanan na ilang taon niyang tinatanggi sa sarili niya.

Grinning like a fool, Andreau stepped closer and almost whispered, "Zades."

"Andreau stop it nga hindi ako natutuwa!"

He stopped, alright. That was the first time Zade called him by his first name. Just like him, Zade opted to call him Cortez or Sungit for the longest time. Ngayon lang siya kinilig nang ganito sa buong buhay niya.

For a brief moment, the two of them stared at one another. Andreau couldn't believe it. She really has a crush on him. Ibig sabihin ba nito...flirting ang halos tatlong taon nilang pag-aaway? Just...wow.

"Hi, sorry to interrupt!" Dan suddenly appeared beside them, grinning. "Dreau, check your phone."

"W-what?" he said, eyes not leaving Zade. Nang hindi siya gumalaw, si Dan na ang kumuha ng cellphone sa bulsa niya at may tinype na kung ano. "Hey, what are you doing?"

'"Done." His best friend handed his phone back with a satisfied smile. Andreau opened his phone with a snarl. Isang screenshot ng Sureseats ticket reservation for two ng screening ng Respeto sa Glorietta Cinema 4 ang naka-flash sa screen.

"Ano 'to?"

"Ako na nagbayad niyan. Mahiya nga kayo, ibang tao pa ang nagbayad ng unang date niyo."

Dan and their orgmates left them in the middle of their useless protests.

Sighing, Andreau glanced at Zade who was clearly stunned with what just happened. "So...ano na gagawin natin?"

"Uhm..." Zade prompted shyly, biting her lower lip. "Sayang 'yong tickets pag 'di natin ginamit."

"At may isang oras pa naman bago ang screening. Pwede pa tayong maglakad papuntang Glorietta..."

"Okay lang talaga sa 'yo? I mean..."

"Zades?" He extended his hand, which Zade accepted with a soft squeeze.

"S-sure. Lead the way."