4 Astra 2

Astra POV

Aiden and I agreed that we should meet at the pizzeria where we are having our dinner, and I am here outside looking in to see if he was already there, but he is not. I am active in our school's extra-curricular activity such as sports and self-defense, but I am not that much into socializing with others. Aiden is one of the members of our basketball team, and we often see each other during practices. Me with my archery and him in his basketball practice. The first time that I saw him was one of their shooting exercises. He is tall and lean, just the right build for an athletic man. He has dark blonde hair that he keeps close to his scalp and amber-colored eyes that reminded me of autumn.

We never talk for the first two months since school started, and we don't even have a common friend either. So, imagine my surprise when he came up to me and asked me out, I was staggering with my response.

"You've been here long?" I heard Aiden said behind me and I suddenly turned around and bumped into him. It was like those cheesy movies scene when a girl falls and the boy catches her and their eyes meet that you could almost swear that they were about to kiss, but in reality, it's quite different. He let go as soon as I was able to stand and no eyes are meeting in my scene. Darn it, I thought. Why do I have the notion to kiss him?

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I was just startled when you suddenly spoke behind me," I shyly replied.

"Well-then. Shall we?" He leads me inside until we settle ourselves on one of the tables inside besides the windows.

"Do you have a preferred pizza topping?" He asked as he looked at the menu that was already at the table.

"I'm good with anything. I am not picky with my food" I replied. This is my first time here, actually, this is my first time eating in a place like this. Zia Ezabell likes fine cuisine, so whenever we choose to eat out it would always be in a finer restaurant than a hole-in a wall pizzeria like this. And I actually love it, the place is simple yet clean, the ambiance is just right for a simple dinner.

"So, how was your archery practice?" Aiden asked after he places his order to the waitress who stopped by our table.

"It is doing okay. My coaches said that they might send me to the regional competition if I improve more on my accuracy," I told him, it was actually a lie. I never accepted any offer for competition, I don't know, it feels that I don't need to. Zia Eza never forces me to do anything, she has always respected the things I want to do. She only gives me advice on things, but let me stumble and fall in life, so to speak.

After our dinner, we went straight to the movie house not that far from the pizzeria. While Aiden was going to get our snacks from the condiment bar, I visited the ladies' room to powder my face. I don't know what to expect inside, I heard so many things going on inside a movie house. While I was relieving myself self I heard some girls came in and started talking.

"So the rumor is true that Aiden is actually on a date with Weird Astra," One girl said, I froze in my place as I was about to open the door. There's no mistake that I am the one they were talking about, I know the name they've been calling me behind my back.

"Yeah, he lost a bet with his team and now he has to take Astra on a date and get a score depends on how far he could go with her," The other girl replied. I cannot place their voices, I never heard it until now. But base on how they talked they must have been my school mates.

"What do you mean about the score? And did you know the details of the bet?" A third girl asked.

"It's like this, if Aiden able to kiss Astra, he will get 10 points for it. A grope to either chest or ass, 20 points. But if both that's 40 points. And if he was able to sleep with her, he will get the perfect score." The second girl explains. I could not believe what I've heard, they've treated me as a game to be played with? I feel like a fool in believing that there is someone who actually interested in knowing me. Now I know why he keeps on touching me.

I waited until the girls leave before I opened the door and look at myself in the dirty mirror. I am trying to see if I have a stamp in my head saying, 'This girl is a Fool'. It hurts to know that I was played like this and to think that I was attracted to him. I gathered all my courage and face the music. I saw Aiden talking to some girls, I'm guessing that they are the same girls who were talking in the ladies' room because one of them saw me and snickered.

When I reached their side, I smiled, and greeted them, after they returned my greetings they left. I looked at Aiden's eyes trying to see deception from them. And I could not believe the way he was looking at me, as if I am ready to get naked and shake sheets with him. He actually believes that I was that easy to lure into his bed.

I took a deep breath and said to him, "This was a great night for, it was my first time eating in a pizzeria, and I would like to thank you for the experience. But we should end our night here," I said. My heart was beating so fast that I fear it burst and run away. "I don't want to be part of the game that you are playing. So, please, if you plan to include me again in your games in the future. Just forget it," After that, I turned around and left. I heard him calling for me, but I ignored him and went home, with my heart in pieces.

When I got home, I saw that Zia Ezabell was waiting for me. She had this looked that tells me that she knew what would happen, but didn't stop me.

"Why?" I asked. I guess she knew what I meant because she replied.

"Because you have to experience this pain. You have to know it for you to grow into the lady that you are meant to be," She said. She stood up and wrap me in her arms as I weep. I weep to the foolish girl who had just had her heartbroken. I weep in her arms and she let me. And after that night I never let anyone make a fool out of me.

And before I accept anyone into my life they have to prove to me that they deserve to be part of it.