Annica's POV

"Ouch!" I groaned in pain.

Austin just pinched my nose.

Oh well, it's alright.

"Sorry." then he smiled playfully.

I wonder if this is true, or I bet this is just a dream.

Me and Austin, dating?!

I bet it's impossible.Very impossible.

"Austin." I called him.

"Yes?" he looked at me . . . in the eyes.

"If this is true, can you please slap me?" I asked him due to curiosity.

Without hesitation he sl--

"Hoy, Annica Skye Hemington, gumising ka na!!" my tita slapped me hard on my face.

I automaticaly stood up and shouted.

"Austin!!" I bite my lips when I saw the face of my Tita.

"Austin pala ha!" she pulled my hair then lead me to the bathroom.She's really morbid.

"A-A-A-Awwww!!!" I groaned in so much pain.

"Maligo ka na at tigilan mo na ang pagpapantasya sa anak ng may-ari ng lupang tinitirhan natin!!" again, she shouted.

By the way, hi everyone, I'm Annica Skye Hemington,'Ash for shorter term,I'm not used to speak tagalog, I'm sorry for that, because, before, I live in USA with my parents, but because they just passed away last year, I need to go back here in the Philippines, my beloved country, and I need to cope with my Tita's situation.I'm 17 years old and is a college student in Crimson In Academy.

Okay, maybe mamaya na lang natin ipagpatuloy ang pagku-kwentuhan natin.I'm so late na kasi eh.Okay, why so conyo?!

Naligo na ako at tumakbo na pataas ng kwarto ko.

Pagpasok ko sa room ko, I smiled privately.

I saw a picture of me and Austin.

We were so close in that picture.Close enough to make me fall for him.Close enough.

I kept that picture in my room, kept it in my memories and kept it for a long time in my heart.

I shook my head to clear my mind.

"May test ngayon, I need to focus!!Hooo, Hoooo!!!" I slap my face side by side.

After a few minutes, I was done fixing my self up.I'm good to go.

"Tita, punta na po ako." I said courteously then bowed in front of her as sign of respect.

"Sige, ingat ka sa daan." she replied.

I ran as fast as I can to reach the school bus, and lucky me, I did.

I sat down beside my bestfriend, Cassidy.

"Hey Cass, how you doin'?" I asked her with coolness.

"Eto, nagre-review para sa test natin mamaya." she seriously replied without looking at me.

She's really into studying, it's because she want to graduate as the suma cum laude.

And there, I saw him sitting beside Nate.

I can't help but to stare at him, he's just so . . . ugh!! beyond perfect.

His eyes, his pinkish lips and his flawless skin, just as him.

He is Austin Grey Turwein, my 'former' bestfriend.

"Ash, wag mo ngang titigan yan, baka matunaw." Cass said, and let out a soft laugh.

Siniko ko siya ng mahina then smiled at her.

She does'nt really like Austin in the first place, first because, these past few months he became arrogant and second because Austin is also running as the suma cum laude.He has really changed.

---

We arrived at school at exactly 7:00 am.Good, I have enough time to review.

I'm not that good student, pero hindi sa nagmamalaki,I managed to be the top 3 in the class.

I saw Austin with his younger sister, Kyla.

As always, he's walking with coolness all over, his arrogant aura never keeps my eyes off of him.

He looked at me, suddenly.Umiwas ako ng tingin.

I'm totally distracted.I can't focus on myself.Hey, how do I look?

He stopped.He stared --, no, glared at me.He walked towards . . . me?!!

Is he coming towards my direction?!

I gulped. I can't breathe.

I looked down and walked fast.I tightened my grip on my books.

We're becoming nearer and nearer.My heart beats faster and faster.

One meter . . .

Thirty inches . . .

One foot . . .

To my surprise, he suddenly passed me by.

The wind, his aura, and just him.

My bestfriend . . .

He passed me by.

I tried to curve my lips.I shook my head a little to clear my thoughts.

I better forget our past.

I walked fast and finally got into our room.

I wiped my sweat and sat down beside Austin's table and chair.

I saw a letter on his desk.Okay, conscience calm down.

Breathe Annica, breathe.

Go on Ash, get the letter.

No, no, no!!

Oh, here I am again, talking to my stupid inner self.

So, yun nga, kinuha ko 'yung letter.

Isa to sa mga 'Innerself won over Ash' scenes.And I hate it.

I carefully opened the letter and saw a small picture of him and a . . . girl?!

She does'nt look familiar to me.

But one thing I noticed, they were . . .

"Close enough." I murmured.

I saw Austin outside the classroom, so I automatically returned the letter on his desk.

He walked towards his desk.When he finally got into his chair, he noticed the letter.

Nanibago ako nung itinago niya yun sa drawer ng desk niya.Cause usually, he will just throw it away.

Because, sa pagkakaalam ko sa kanya, he does'nt want letters.Corny daw kasi.

Oh well, nagbago na nga kasi siya.

I plugged my earphones.I listen to the harmony of the song.

Kaso bigla akong na-alarma sa mga lyrics ng kanta.

" . . . lucky I'm inlove with my bestfriend, lucky to have been where I have been, lucky to be coming home again . . . "

I automatically unplugged my earphones.I sighed.

Sakto namang dumating si Sir Lanz, our professor for Advance Physics.

"Okay, for today, I'm gonna let you meet a new classmate." everybody got excited.

A young man entered the room with pride.Stood up properly and introduced himself in front of us.

"Hi everyone! I'm Tyron Rei Istivan Perez, and I'm from Astrid In Academy the sisterschool of this Academy." he said cheerfully.

I noticed something on him.

He looks like Austin . . . a lot.

WTH!!Are they twins?!

I stared at him carefully, observing the features of his face.

They really look like twins.

I saw him walking towards my direction.I saw an empty desk and chair beside me.

He looked at me then he smiled.I smiled too as a response.

He sat down on his chair and Sir Lanz started the discussion.

A boring lesson was tackled and there goes again another subject, Analytic Geometry.

Nag-lecture naman ako dito eh.Hindi muna ako makikinig.

I plugged again my earphones.

To my surprise, while I was in the middle of savoring the music, someone unplugged my left earphone.

"Haysshh!!" I irritatedly murmured.

I looked to my left and there I saw Tyron, eyes closed, and tapping his fingers on the desk.

"Hey, baka mahuli tayo." I whispered.

No response, I looked to my right, Austin's holding his phone, eyes closed too, and listening to music.

I roamed my eyes around the classroom, their earphones are all plugged into their ears.

Okay, mukhang walang may interes sa AG.

Again, I looked to my left, now he's sleeping.

"Feeling close." I murmured then plugged my other earphone to his ears and put my phone on his desk.

I saw Austin's reaction on my peripheral view.He seemed to be shocked.I privately smiled.

I'm doing this on purpose.

After almost an hour, the class was dismissed.

I saw Tyron yawning.

Okay, he's kinda cute?

I shook my head like I always does.Thoughts, please be gone.

"Trip." I looked to my left where I heard a voice.I saw Tyron lending his hands to me.

"Huh?" I dumbfoundedly said.My brain was out of nowhere.

"I'm Trip." he said then smiled a bit which made my jaw drop.

"Ah I-I'm A-Ash." pautal-utal kong sabi.

"Nice to meet you.So, crush mo yun diba?" sabi niya while pointing at Austin.

"NO!" I forcefully said.

"So, bakit kanina mo pa siya tinititigan?" agad nagkurba yung lips niya to form isang nakakalokong ngiti.

"Ah, a-ah, k-kasi ano, mag-k-kamukha kasi kayo." I defended myself.

Tiningnan naman niya si Austin.

"Psh.Abo." he made face.

"Abo?" tanong ko.

No response.

I looked at Austin and noticed that his hair is somewhat color gray.

Well, it suits his name.

When I looked back to Trip, he was holding my phone.

"Hey!" I grabbed my phone.

"Ikaw naglagay niyan dito eh." he smirked.

"It doe--" naputol yung sasabihin ko nang biglang nagsalita si Austin.

"Fools.Tss." he hissed at lumabas ng room.

Bigla namang pumasok si Yumi sa room.

As always, she's smiling sweetly again to all of our classmates.

Kaya maraming kaibigan eh, kaso karamihan lalaki.She does'nt want girly stuffs kasi.But atleast she's true.

"Break na diba?Tara sa cafe'?" yaya sakin ni Trip.

"Trip, anong trip mo? Close tayo?" pang-aasar ko.

"Okay, ayaw mo ng libre." he stood up.

"That the best phrase, Trip. I'm beginning to like you." I seriously said.

He stared at me and I know what it means.

"As a friend.Don't assume.Ang sagwa eh." I let out a little laugh.

I stood up and went to the cafe'.

Okay, Trip's a bit attention stealer.*observant mode*

Nakasalubong naman namin sa Nate habang papunta kami sa cafe'.

"New found friend?" tanong nito.

"Hindi, old found friend." pambabara ko rito.

"Yan ka na naman eh." saka niya ginulo ang buhok ko. "Kaya ayaw na sayo ni Aust--" napatigil siya ng makita ang pagbabago ng ekspresyon ng mukha ko.

"Sorry." he plead.

"It's okay.So, una na kami ha.Tomguts na ko eh." saka ko hinila si Trip.

"Sino yun?" tanong ni Trip.

"Old friend of mine." I said seriously, changing my mood.

"Okay." he said.

Okay, alam niya ang shifting ng moods ko, mukhang magkakasundo kami nito.

I privately smiled.

I think I found a useful friend.

And maybe, like with Austin we can be bestfriends.

---

Cafe~

"Hey, pwede ba 'kong magtanong about stuffs?" he asked then sipped his softdrinks.

"Stuffs?" inayos ko ang pagkakaupo ko at humarap sa kanya.

"About you.I just want to know you better." then nilagay niya sa gitna 'yung chips.

"Well, me--" naputol na naman yung sasabihin ko nang may sumabat na naman.

"Nakakainis!Ang dami-dami kong ni-review, hindi naman pala tuloy ang quiz!Argh!!" at padabog siyang umupo sa tabi ko.

It's Cass of course.

"Hey, I'm Trip." pagpapakilala ng feeling close na nilalang na nasa harap namin.

"Oooh,new friend? sita nito kay Trip.

"Medyo." sagot ko then let out a little laugh.

"Hey Trip, I'm Cassidy Rein Ashford. Call me Cass." pagpapakilala ni Cass kay trip.

"Uhhm, by the way, paano mo nakuha yung Trip, ang layo naman sa tunay na pangalan mo." pagsingit ko.

"T for Tyron R for Rei I for Istivan and P for Perez. Trip." then he smiled playfully.

"Kamukha niya si Austin." biglang sabi ni Cass.

"Oo nga eh." singit ko.

---

Class Dismissal

Natapos ang araw ng maayos.

A usual day for every students.Assignments.Projects.Lessons.

At ang bago lang ay ang palaging pagsunod sa'kin ni Trip.

Medyo naninibago ako kasi, hindi naman ako hinahatid ni Austin, kahit kelan.

Psh.I remembered him again.Kahit gano ko kasi siya kalimutan, hindi ko magawa.

Flashback . . .

"Turuan mo na kasi ako." pagmamakaawa ni Austin.

Nakita niya kasing may mas madali akong way para mabuo yung Rubik's cube.

"A.YO.KO." pagmamatigas ko.

"Dali na kasi, please." nag-pout siya.

Ugh!Hay nako Austin, kung alam mo lang, yan ang kahinaan ko.

Tumingin muna ako sa kanya, I glared at him for a second.

I heard him smirked. Then suddenly, tumitig rin siya sa'kin.

At dahan-dahang inilapit ang mukha niya sa'kin.

"Please." he plead with a seducing voice.

Shit.

"Haishhh!!Ayok--*tsup*" hindi ko na naituloy yung sasabihin ko dahil bigla niya 'kong . . .

HINALIKAN?!!

"What the hell is with you Austin?! Palibhasa 'Abo' ka eh!" pang-aasar ko sa kanya at nag-belat pa ako.

Kahit sa cheeks lang yun, I consider it as an important kiss.

"Remember your name's 'Ash'. I think were meant to be." nabigla ako sa cool niyang pagkakasabi ng mga huling salita.

Butterflies in my stomach , please, wag kayong magwala!!

Bigla kong naramdaman ang pag-init ng pisngi ko.

"Wag ka namang masyadong kiligin. Halatang-halata eh." sabi niya sa mapang-asar na tono.

I smiled at him.

"Sana wag tayong magbago no?" nakita ko naman ang pagkunot ng noo niya.

"I mean, yung ganto na lang tayo palagi, nagbabangayan pero true friends." I looked up and start imagining.

"Of course." then he smirked.

'Sana nga.' I concluded in my brain.

---

Days.Weeks.Months.And sa wakas, one year na kaming mag-bestfriend ni Austin.

February 20, 20xx

Anniversary namin ngayon ni Austin as bestfriends.

Pero nagtataka ako lately, palaging may load si Abo.

Siguro napag-isip isip niya ring kailangan na niya 'kong replyan.

Pero . . .

Haaisst!!

Too much thoughts!!

After the class was dismissed, hinanap ko agad si Abo.

I roamed my eyes everywhere.

"Asan kaya 'yun?" I murmured.

Nagulat ako nang biglang may nagtakip ng mga mata ko.

I smiled privately.

"Austin." I concluded.

"Psh.Austin agad? Hello, Cass here." medyo nakaramdam ako ng pagkadismaya.

Sa hindi naman kalayuan, may narinig kaming hiyawan at iritan ng mga babae.

Anong meron?

Hinila ako ni Cass papunta dun sa room na maingay.

I heard them singing and chanting, at may pinagkukumpulan sila.

Buti nalang at nandito ang friend kong si Cass, madali akong makakahanap ng komportableng lugar, hilig kasi nitong makipagsiksikan eh.

Pero imbes na maging komportable ako, lalo pa akong nanlumo sa nakita ko

Si Austin.

"Girl, diba si bestfriend mo yan." siniko ako ni Cass ng bahagya.

Tumango-tango naman ako bilang sagot.

Nag-ring yung phone ni Cass.

After a few seconds, nagpaalam siyang uuwi na daw siya.

"Kyaaaaaaahh!!" tili ng babae sa likod ko dahilan para magtakip ako ng tenga.

Si Austin, nanliligaw.

Parang kelan lang, sabi niya, 'meant-to-be' daw kami, tapos . . .

Parang kelan lang, wala siyang sikreto sa 'kin, tapos . . .

Parang kelan lang . . .

Nanliligaw na siya, sa lower year pa.

Akala ko, walang magbabago.

Akala ko kasi, ako.

Now I knew, I just assumed too much.

Too much that it hurts me.

Ang saklap ng nangyari sa'kin no?

Tapos ngayon, siya 'tong may ganang maging snobber.

Huh!Bahala siya sa buhay niya.

Basta ngayon, alam kong dadating din yung tamang panahon.

Bibigyan din ako ni Lord ng Prince Charming ko.

Sa right time and with the right person.

Author's Note

Sorry sa ka-kornihan! Mianhe !!

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BTW, Ash on the multimedia. :)