1 CHAPTER 1: NO FRIENDS

AERIS VIDALES'S P O.V.

🎵I HAVE NO FRIENDS BUT THAT'S OKAY.. 🎶

🎶🎶I DON'T NEED THEM ANYWAY.. 🎵🎵

🎶I'LL DO MY BEST ALL ON MY OWN.. 🎶🎶

🎵🎵AND I'D JUST RATHER BE ALONE 🎶🎶

🎶 RATHER BE ALONE.... 🎵🎵

On a single small bench alongside with a shady green tree behind it , I am peacefully taking a seat, holding a book in my hands focusing on what's inside while playing my one and only music on my phone putting it beside me. I am not showing any emotions across my small round face since I am not good at it. I am wearing our Senior High School Uniform, and my shoulder length black thick hair is still untied since morning. I usually tie my hair every morning but couldn't do it today because I woke up late and didn't have much time to dry my hair.

It's break time and during those minutes, I'd enter our library unexposed, borrowing another horror books and would stay here at the very back of the whole campus reading peacefully. Before, this is actually a public school but because of the wide area and due to the fact that this is not owned by government, it became a semi private school. The rules and regulations here are just the same as public schools . From etiquette , school uniform...the classrooms..and the students are arrange not by status but intelligence. We have 100 scholars and I'm one of them. One must think that I'm smart enough because of my scholarship but no. I was forced to be a scholar by my boss who already passed away. I'm not saying I can pay the tuition fully but I have a regular job since I was sixteen years old, and I can handle myself financially. Let's just say I'm an independent person.

I am a grade 12 student, 19 years old and living alone. Residing at ZAPATA VILLAGE since young. That village was owned by my Aunt's husband but don't get me wrong, we are not close enough to not pay the house I'm residing. In business, there is no family . Business is business and that's it.

A slow but smooth wind pass through me that made my heart skipped a beat and made me shivers. My phone suddenly beep , I averted my eyes where I placed my phone and it shocks me when a name popped at the top of my phone screen .

*FROM: RYN *

'HELP ME'

*TO:RYS *

My body suddenly felt the coldness. There's a tingling sensation blowing behind my left ear. Not knowing what to do nor to react, I froze. Shaking..but slowly taking my phone..but before I could look into it again for a closer look, a loud voice called my name from behind. Even though the crack voice is still far away I can still clearly hear it. Looking behind I saw him.

The one who saved me not just once but countless times. The only person who helped me without thinking bad intentions towards myself. The only person I can rely on. He gave me a reason to exist in this world for the second time. That reason is what I'm holding onto until now. To make my Papa proud by finishing my studies until I got a stable job. Although an annoying one but still a lovely kid.

Those familiar words is no other than TINOCO SALVADOR a grade 12 like me from Humss 1 and also my co worker. He's panting like a mad man running towards my direction while sweating all over his face. If I just know how to smile or show some emotions..I would definitely give him a little of it. But no...I don't know how to do it.

I didn't crouch nor move to greet him . I know he understand me. Peeking once again into my phone, hence the message was completely gone. I shook my head a little to forget what just happened. I look back to the only person in front of me .

He's not wearing the school uniform today, so he must be going to our workplace. As usual, he wears the same thick checkered inner clothes while covered in a black jacket. He's hiding something behind his back that I'm getting curious about it.

I scooted myself at the right side and gestured him to sit beside me careful not to make any physical contact. He carefully made a distance while smiling widely at me. He's cute the way he's eyes are closing when he smiles. A baby face with an innocent looks. Fair white skin and having the same height as me.

After a long silence between us he jumped from the bench like a kid and faced me. He bent his body to the ground and I followed his movement. Still sitting, without any word he handed me my book that I totally forgot to pick up when I suddenly froze earlier. I took it and nodded. He sighed deeply in front of me and chuckled. Without further ado he took the thing he hid and offered it innocently.

"It's for you. I know you didn't eat again. I'm always worried that without me making a food for you, you wouldn't eat a bit during break time."

"You already know the reason behind it. I feel nauseous when I eat outside. "

I enquired then he nodded three times. Although I wouldn't eat the food, but the fact that he made it for me oblige my mind not to refuse his offer. Finally accepted with both hands, placing the meal beside my phone together with my book, he smiled gently.

"At least have some snacks Aeris. Why don't you chew a candy? Or buy some snacks at canteen?"

"You're aware about it too. I hate crowded places. Don't do physical contact. Does not even know how to deal with others. Do I need to remind it to you repeatedly?"

Upon hearing my sermon, he nodded quietly and smiled again. He's always like this. He can still astonish people with his smile. I've been working with him for almost 3 years now. He knows me best and vise versa but I refuse to call him friend. We are never friend, not a chance. He saved me and prefer calling him as my life savior than a friend.

"Aeris"

He enquired. Raising my head to look at his angelic face, while waiting for his sentence. His facial expression gloom and a tear slowly fell at the side of his eyes. Wait..he's crying?

"Hey. What's wrong?"

I asked him. Deep inside, I want to enquire more but since I was born to have this stoic face, and cold voice nothing really works. It still sounded commanding than a concern one.

"Do you hate me? "

"Huh?"

It's actually a question yet it sounded as an order. Does he know what he's blurting? Annoying kid as always. Tsk! I deeply took a sigh . My gosh! This kid is being dramatic!

"Yes. I hate you ...."

Before I could make another word...a loud annoying noise coming from his throat quickly entered inside my ears. Sniffing endlessly, he took his handkerchief and blew his nose that irritates me. Yeah. I'm done with this kid.

"You..really hate me...I...I- thought.."

"I hate you for being annoying Tin. I hate you because your too dramatic. I hate you because you always clung onto me, but did I stay away from you? I didn't right? So it means...even if I hate you for some reasons, I couldn't dare to stay away from you ."

I interrupted before he could speak for more nonsense. A small beam quickly develop into his face. He wiped his tears, jumping continuously while spouting some silly and childish words. Yeah..this is the savior of my life. He did saved me countless times yet at the same time annoyed me hundred times.

"So you don't hate me! Hahaha! Yohoo! You know what? I'm just testing you if you really hate me but since you told me the truth, I'm so so relieved now."

"Tsk! Childish."

"But you like it! Hahahahah!"

"I hate you."

"No you don't.

"Whatever."

"Uhm..by the way, Let's have a serious talk."

"I'm always serious. You're the one who's not."

"Tss! Okay- okay. Let's get to the point. Tomorrow is the start of the second semester and your official transfer of room. Do you want to visit her after school? I can join you if you want. She was our boss after all and your guardian as well."

My body froze. Thinking about the person he mentioned. The sudden change of topic really flabbergasted me by the time he made me remind of her. She was a good boss. I left myself staring at him for a long minute then he quickly snapped his finger. I got back to my senses and averted my gaze on the other side.

"Yeah. I'll visit her after class. You don't need to accompany me."

He huffed curtly and positioned his self on the grassy ground. He sat there and smiled painfully at me.

"Are you blaming yourself until now Aeris? Let me remind you this. Boss was sick and she was ready to leave. She even planned and arranged everything for you. So stop hurting and let go."

"Mn."

I curtly replied as I know he would say that. He's just telling to comfort me. But a person like me who feels nothing but pain, can't totally agree to his conclusion. She was there scolding me. And I was there protesting for I thought I know what was right for me. Who knows? that it was the last scold I can get from her. Thus, it all happened in a blink and I'm blaming myself for that.

"So...you already moved on?"

"Yeah. So you better go now. The cafe is waiting for you there. I'll stop by after class before I'll visit boss."

"Then if that's the case, I'll take my leave. And oh! Your food, don't forget to eat it okay?"

"Mn. Thanks for this."

He stood up and rubbed his pants, removing the unwanted fragments that touched his pantaloons from the ground. He then fixed his disheveled hair, waving his hands to me bidding goodbye.

I am left alone again. I'll just wait for the time to past and walk back to the classroom. Fixing my eyes to the things with me, I focused on the electronic device beside the horror book. Taking it from the bench, I gradually open the phone screen to check if what I saw earlier was true. To my dismay, there was nothing on the messages. I scrolled up and accessed my email and it was the same. Nothing was inside. Maybe I just mistook it as something since I dreamt about her last night. I might be overthinking things.

Glancing at my wrist watch, it's time to leave. I prepared my things and walked away from the abandoned spot of the school and went back to my classroom.

Humss Three, my classroom was the room where the not- so- smart student were all placed together and I'm part of them. Humss One and two were the so called smart and intelligent students were categorized. Before you can enter the Humss 1, every students must undergo a test.

Same goes for entering the other tracks and strand during grade 10. This process is quite difficult and complicated for a dumb student like me. On the other hand, genius student like Tinoco, would be able to pass the test easily. He was an irregular grade 12 student and the Vice president of the student council. Until now, I can't believe that this will be my last time entering this peaceful classroom. Tomorrow will be different up till the school year ends.

Imposing my ultimate cold behaviour, I silently wandered my eyes to the whole classroom. To think, this room was not bad after all those moments shared of the whole first semester. Well, I couldn't recall both happy and sad moments here since I had my own world and so they are. They don't disturbed me at least during my stay here in the Humss three. They don't give a damn on what the hell I'm doing everytime. Maybe because of what I said during the first day of class.

{REWIND}

[DURING FIRST DAY OF CLASS;

1ST SEMESTER GRADE 12]

First day of the school and I'm late! I went hallways to hallways, room to room just to find my classroom since I can't fit myself to the bulletin board because of too occupied area. Finally, when I found my name on a specific room, I stepped inside and all of them were astonished by my presence.

A juvenile lady standing in the front of everyone displaying a friendly aura. Hands on her uniform pockets, scanning my appearance. Group of alert round eyes focusing to the student who just came on her first day of school and that student was no other than me.

Greeting them through bending my upper body and slightly nodded.

"I'm sorry. I'm late. I'm coming in. Thank you."

"Oh so..you must be Aeris? Ms. Garcia already told me about you. Your seat is in the back. You may now sit there and since it's the first day of school, I'll let it slide that you're late today."

Nodding my head to the young lady, she softly smiled and I approached my seat.

"It's your first day of class, and all of you must be excited right? And all of you were already aware that we don't start our class that easily. Each and everyone must introduce yourself. By the way, I am your class adviser Ms. Jhianne Palsywalsy Nice to meet you all!"

"Yeah! Hello Ms. Jhianne!"

"Oh My Gosh! I'm nervous!"

"Excuse me Ms. Jhianne! Can we just send our introduction through email?"

"Hahahahaha! Great idea! I must send mine now."

"Or we can just write it on a paper and give it to Ms. Jhianne so that you'll read it silently Hahaha!"

"Hahahahha!"

"Students, stop cracking jokes now. I'll give you time to practice. Be more creative when introducing."

Different voices of complain and noises of awe filled in the whole room. So the young lady that stood in the front was our class adviser. I couldn't even tell from her posture.

"Uhm..Aeris? I want you to be the first student to introduce yourself. This is a light punishment for being late. Is that okay?"

Inclining my head towards our teacher as an agreement, I marched to the front straightening up myself and impassively gazing the class. I assumed that my classmates were scrutinizing my body from head to toe. The leather jacket I wore today was enough to create heat at my innermost upper body that made me suffer from hotness.

"Hi, I'm Aeris Vidales. Born on August 5 2001. I hate physical touch especially people. If you believe in mythical creatures and eerie matters, then we can associate with each other but if you can't then let's not bother to get along. "

As I ceased my tongue, I roamed my eyesight to the quarter to see their reactions and I wanted to honor myself to bring the most scary introduction at all times. Hence, one of them stood up and huffed glaring to me.

"Bravo! You successfully filled us with horror! What a good way to introduce oneself. I know what you're doing. I can read your mind."

He smirked, shooting me a deathly eye contact crossing his arms. What a sarcastic way of complimenting me. The teacher sensed the tension in between us as she reached the guy's seat and guided him to sat down. As for me, my point of view was still on the guy until now. I rarely respond to something like this but it hurts my pride losing to the same person like me. A person with arrogance. I look straight into his eyes with an empty face.

"Then if you could read my mind, I'm pretty sure you'd be traumatized for life. A little advise for you my friend, if you're testing my waters then make sure you know how to swim."

Delivering my last words before bowing to the class, I left them with bad impression. The way some of them feared my words and some glared to my face does not matter to me as long as I can stay untroubled in this little space for the time being.

{REWIND ENDED}

Till today, no one ventured to give their glimpse on me. All of them were ignorant to what came off into my life after two months of not coming to school. Great thanks to Tinoco, who managed my school projects and papers when I was not around.

"Class, I just have to announce you that today will be Aeris's last day in this room. She will be transfered to another section but same academic strand. She's a scholar now and she must be assigned to Humss 1 classroom. Any message for our scholar? "

After Ms. Jhianne enquired, all of them faced me with some assorted expression. I don't know what to react because the feeling of consciousness and anxiousness complimented my whole body. Around the corner, group of students murmured something while on the other side some were still staring at me.

As I'm aware that messages were unnecessary, I breathed out only to make them feel scared some more.

"No need for messages Ms. Jhianne. I'm not gonna die yet."

Although, it doesn't meant I didn't tried but I'm not gonna die for now. From the front seat, one guy stood up and eyed me sternly. This was the same guy as before. The guy who dared to mocked me in front of everyone.

"I won't say Goodbye. Instead, I'd say...we will meet again. See you around scholar!"

Then he sat down again. After his weird message for me, everyone centered their viewpoint to that guy. To be honest, I don't know their names, and didn't tried to asked them. On the other hand, our teacher praised him as she thought that guy was being friendly yet for me, it sounded creepy and weird. Now that my classmates ignored me again, I'm no longer anxious that I was surrounded by couple of eyes.

****************

The class finally ended, and I'm currently getting ready to depart from school. I wore my helmet and mounted my naked bike going to Aesthetic Cafe, my workplace. Tinoco was waiting for me there. It's time for my shift but I'll visit boss first before checking in.

Upon my arrival, I saw Tin from the outside working on the counter with few customers. As soon as I went inside the cafe straight to the cashier's counter, Tin greeted me with a smile while raising his eyebrows.

"How's your class? Something interesting to tell

me?"

He enquired, but his attention was on the screen and not on me.

"It's all the same everyday. But..."

Tin rapidly turned his neck to see me and saw his eyes widened with perked ears. I just wanted to tell him about the guy's weird message for me but I decided to back out since it was unneeded.

"Oh...never mind. I'll tell you later. I'll go to see boss first. I just came to take another leather jacket from staff's room. "

He was disappointed when I cut off my sentence as I watched him pouted and puffed. The corner of his mouth drawn down conveying sadness. He directed his attention to the counter again and I entered the staff's room and brought my jacket outside. But when I approached him, he murmured something as if I can't hear it.

"Such a secretive. I can tell you everything and anything about my life but you can't even say something about yours. Life is so unfair!"

"It was your choice to saved me and clung onto me at the first place so you better bear with it. I'm leaving now bye."

Before I could totally leave the cafe, I heard him gasped in shock as if he was caught on something illegal. I shook my head and laughed at him in my mind. As I'm gradually reaching the corner where I parked my naked bike, my phone buzzed. Picking it up from my denim black pants, I saw the message from the phone screen and I almost throw my phone from what just it conveyed.

*FROM: RYN*

'RYS! YOU NEED TO HELP ME'

*TO: RYS*