abstracts & him

Nine

I chose to ignore Ezió the whole time before we leave the cabin. Yumi asked for my Instagram but I told her I don't have any social media accounts so I just gave her my number. She was surprised to know that I am part of the few percent who still live with traditional texting. Thad took a picture with me and I hate the way the photo turned out. He looks like a famous celebrity making me look like his fan.

Cielo remained unnoticed the whole time. She didn't talk to me until we went off. I guess I boil her blood. She gave something to Ezió and I didn't bother to look at it.

Mr. Leo handed me a medium-sized box before we leave them behind. "If ever someday you have a secret to tell."

Ezió keeps on telling some stories along the ride but I lost interest in listening to him. He tried to call me thrice but I just scoffed at him. He speeds up making me hug him— my hands were on his shoulder before. I feel my heart flutter the moment my face touched his back.

I shouldn't like him. I should stop this while I still can.

We arrived at the residence one hour before my class starts.

"See you tonight." He says while I unclasp the helmet's -----. I furrow my eyebrows.

"Tonight?" I give him the helmet but he didn't get it from me.

"Wednesday, remember?" He walks past me while I try to remember what he's talking about. Then I remember Monday night.

"I said I have cla-" He's out of nowhere when I turn to face him. I look down at the helmet I'm holding.

Erra didn't utter a word to me when I enter the room. She didn't even ask me where I've been last night. How could she care less? (I guess I thought of her badly when I see a first aid kit on my bedside table. I couldn't remember leaving something on there. Before I could say thank you she leaves the room.)

In my classes, I can't stop thinking about tonight—where are we going and why are we going. (I nearly forgot that I never agreed.) I can't focus on our lesson because of that thing where I will not even go to. I was taken aback by my thoughts when Ms. Beaulieu dismissed the class.

I got a text from Sabina saying that they've found a bassist. They're with her at Café Myriade so I go straight there after leaving the room. Ezió's bike is parked outside and I close my eyes like regretting coming.

Blond, wavy-haired Uryella is sitting with Erra and Sabina on one table. Is she the bassist Sabina was talking about? I walk straight to them without leaving my eyes on Uryella. I don't know she plays the guitar.

"Now the band is complete." Sabina moves aside to give me a space to sit on.

"I had the feeling that you were the 'Calli' they have been talking about the past minutes." Uryella puts her hands under her face.

"You know her?" Erra asks me and I nod. Uryella explained how we met. I ask Sabina the same thing about how'd he know Uryella and it was all because of Kade—who is her boyfriend as well.

Sabina gives a thumbs up to someone from behind and I follow where she's looking at—Kade mimics her. Across him is Ezió who surprisingly is looking at me. "Tonight" he mouths and I look away.

"Practice starts tomorrow, five in the afternoon at The Place." Erra is talking about the bungalow where her grandparents used to live. I'm the only person aside from herself who knows about it.