BE
small cameras.
It had started.
"Can you confirm this claim?" asked Amelia in
a loud voice, trying to subdue the noise around them.
The two girls shook their heads. "Somebody said she
was seen walking around the campus before noon,
eleven-thirty to be exact."
"That would be impossible," Patricia said, distinct
enough for Amelia to hear, "since everyone would still be
inside our respective rooms."
Amelia turned to her. Faye held her breath as the
reporter's eyes swept pass her. "Is there no one who could
prove the witness' statement?"
Oh, Pat! Why did you get her attention? she thought
in panic. Please don't come here!
Unfortunately, Amelia was already approaching
their group. She wanted to hide behind Cathy, but
that would make her suspicious. She decided to just
act unconcerned.
"Let's see." Pat mused, clearly enjoying the
spotlight. "Maybe you should ask the juniors. They were
the ones who usually loiter around the grounds around
noon... When was this sighting?"
"Yesterday."
"Then you should ask Selena!" Cathy said with
an air of confidence. "She arrived here around noon
yesterday."
Faye gave Cathy a dark look, which the latter
missed. Now, she felt all eyes on her. Amelia faced her.
Faye's throat became dry, making her unable to let out
even a single word. This was bad. It was all caused by
her carelessness. It would only take a matter of minutes
before her secret was exposed. Her 'normal' life was over,
just like that.
Finished.
"Over here, Sister Coronel!"
Jared came just in time. He brought the principal
with him, along with three burly security guards. Before
the authorities approached, the press people took cover.
They immediately ran back to their vehicle, leaving as
instantaneously as they came.
"My, my! Children!" Sister Coronel's face was as
red as an apple. Her nose was flaring in anger. "You
never learn, do you? How many times have I told you not
to talk to those people? They are banned here! Banned,
I tell you! What are your parents paying the school for?"
Everyone received proper scolding, even the
guards who weren't keen on doing their work. As
punishment, the students who entertained Amelia's
prodding were tasked to do community service, while
the security guards received a cut on their wages.
At the back of the crowd, Faye and Jared were
talking in soft whispers. Jared wiped away the moisture
off her eyes with his fingers.
"Thank you so much," she smiled, her voice
trembling. "I'm –"
"You've said that for the thousandth time. Once is
more than enough," he chuckled. "Let's go home, okay?"
"Yeah."
They walked towards the parking lot and climbed
over the black motorcycle. They thought her identity
was safe. They were oblivious to the fact that someone
overheard them, someone just beyond the shadows.
"Faye?"
"Coming." She laid down her book and the draft
of the paper that was due on Friday. Taking her time to
stretch, she pushed herself off from the couch reluctantly.
She opened her door, quite surprised to see Jared with
his books.
"What's up?"
"May I study with you?"
She let out a soft peal of laughter, tugging Jared's
arm inside her room. She closed her door soundlessly.
"Did you upset your stomach or something? This is so
unlike you."
"I just thought you'd want some help over Trigo."
"I can handle math pretty well." She stuck her
tongue out like a five-year old. She went straight to her
kitchen, taking out some snacks from her refrigerator.
"Thanks, but no thanks, Mr. Genius."
"Get me some beer while you're at it."
"What? But you're just a kid! I think I have here
some baby formula for you," she joked from the other
room. She came back carrying one slice of chocolate
cake, a plate of cubed cheese and crackers, a glass of
orange juice and a can of root beer.
Jared eagerly snatched the cheese and crackers.
"Don't you have real beer?"
"I'm not a fan of underage drinking."
"You live a boring life."
"Whatever."
Faye settled herself on her carpeted floor, pulling
out her small red laptop from underneath her desk. She
ignored Jared's annoying jibes. She knew he came here
for reasons not school-related at all. For half an hour, he
kept on talking nonstop. She couldn't concentrate on her
homework at all .
"You know," she interrupted him between his
nonsensical remarks about youth, "you're disturbing me.
If you want to say something, just spit it out. Don't give
yourself a brain hemorrhage."
Succeeding the silence that seemed like eons, he
sighed. "I'm sorry, Faye."
"What's bugging you?" she asked in a concerned
tone. She turned around to face him. Jared was uneasy,
but after staring at her soft emerald eyes, he smiled. Or
at least, he tried.
"Do you remember your message?"
"Message?"
"Your voicemail."
It took Faye the length of a heartbeat to realize
what he was talking about. She could feel her cheeks
warming up. To hide her embarrassment, she dropped
her gaze to the tiled floor. How could she forget?
The voice mail. It was the one she sent that day she
thought was her last. It was the irrevocable proof
of her true feelings for her best friend. She thought
he had forgotten about it. Why was he bringing it
up now?
Suddenly, she could feel his breath on her skin.
He was on the carpet now, his face mere inches from
hers. His pale blue eyes were sincere, holding the gravity
of a galaxy. She couldn't look away.
"Can you say those three words out loud?"