4 MEMORY: More than a Smile (Part 2)

“Wh-why you tricked me!” I said, my eyes wide out of embarrassment. I crossed my arms to look annoyed. But I wasn’t really annoyed though, surprisingly.

“Though... I’m not quite convinced just yet,” she said, her lips curled up as if conjuring another trick.

“Yana, enough of this. Let’s go home,” I said as sternly as I could. Let’s go home please, I silently begged.

“Hm... First off, say please. And state my full name when you do,” she said, grinning.

“Okay, okay,” I sighed. “Ms. Julianna Sevilla, let’s go home, please?” I followed like a dog who just learned a new trick.

Finally, we collected our bags and headed out of the classroom. The only students left aside from us were those in the clubs. I had never been this late to leave school, but somehow it felt nice to see the campus in the pale afternoon.

“Hey, you’re not mad, right?” She looked at me, her smile apologetic.

I pursed my lips to restrain a big smile. “Not anymore,” I lied. Why would I get mad in the first place? It gets funny the more I thought about it.

“I’m happy I got to talk to you more—well—even if I just listened to you as I slept.” She chuckled.

“You didn’t sleep at all, you know. You just pretended back then,” I teased her.

It was more serene outside the school premises. No noisy souls. No crowd. Just the two of us walking to the waiting area.

“Hey, I got to rest too while listening to you. So you can’t say it was pretend.” She stuck her tongue out to me.

“Oh really? Well it doesn’t change the fact that you used it to trick me.” I smirked, challenging her excuse.

We arrived at the jeepney stop and I suddenly remembered wanting to ask her where she lived.

“Um, so—”

“By the way, our house is in St. Claireville,” she went ahead of me. “You live in Don Mariano subd., right?”

“Yes. Your place is only a jeep away from here, right?”

She nodded. “What about you?”

“I’m just a ride away too. Too bad we live on the opposite directions...” I wasn’t actually aware of what I was saying until I noticed her smile.

“It’s fine. We can always head to the stop together after school. I’d like to go home with you, too.”

A jeep heading to Yana’s place was approaching so she would have to go first. I knew it was weird but somehow I kind of wished it arrived a bit later.

Yana looked at me. “Let’s talk some more tomorrow,” she hesitated for moment, “Well, that is if you want to.”

I nodded in reply. I was watching her back as she walked to her ride when she spun around unexpectedly.

“By the way, you have a nice voice, Rin. I like it.” She was grinning at me before boarding the jeepney.

I only managed to stare at the vehicle until it moved away, carrying the mischievous Sleeping Seatmate inside.

What... was that just now?

Nice voice? And did she just give me a nickname?

I shook my head, still surprised.

I don’t like people but I feel like I can tolerate her.

I’d like to.

I tried to clear my mind of her image as my cheeks became unusually hot despite the late afternoon sun.