- n o t e d i t e d -
"Why.."
My voice was cut off as a tear trickled down my cheek. The photo I was holding on my hand blurred out all the other surroundings, leaving me to focus on that one person on the picture.
Many times I contemplated burning this only picture of her that I had, but just as the number of times I've attempted, that was that exact amount of times I failed.
I threw the photo away with the only strength I have left, and it was sent straight into the trashcan. The photo piled up with the other trash. Nothing much was thrown away other than my written unfinished songs about my cheesy heartbreak.
I'm so exhausted, mainly because of myself for worrying about someone who has already moved on.
Beep.
Beep.
I buried my head under the pillow and closed my eyes. My phone that was on the other side of the bed beeped again, indicating that there was a new message.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
After minutes of having to hear that continuous beeping, I gave it a rest and sat up straight. The bed sheet was all wrinkled, and the set of pillows I just bought a few weeks ago were all over the place.
"Who the heck sends a message in the middle of the night?!" I cursed, my voice echoing through the room.
"Seriously, if it's Les again—"256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr1Z23CFyt
I searched for my phone through the sheets, and when I finally found it, another message was delivered.
Beep.
I unlocked my phone, and clicked on the notifications, directing me to the app where the messages were. I swear if all the messages were spam, I'd hunt the guy who kept sending it to my number.
UNKNOWN wants to start a conversation with you
1:01256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPUOwPLszb
Seen: 1:29
[UNKNOWN] ... Hi!~ Is this Camilo? Camilo Harris?256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkFWL15Lhy
[UNKNOWN] ...256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKJfW5MFg5
[UNKNOWN] Oh wait, that's kind of informal.. let me start again.
1:02256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvO6LsRtDR
Seen: 1:29
[UNKNOWN] Hey. I'm Alaina, a fellow student from F.I.S. Is this Camilo's number?
1:10256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd2MxcBK5k
Seen: 1:29
[UNKNOWN] Uhm you seem to not be replying.. You probably blocked me ahaha...
1:15256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ719DY12xaN
Seen: 1:29
[UNKNOWN] HI ARE YOU ALICE THERE?256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaTfyefwQf
[UNKNOWN] a lice*256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtUYm06Ci8
[UNKNOWN] alive*256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCbDZ0ftLF
[UNKNOWN] oops sorry about that
1:26256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS6t4lMQV7
Seen: 1:29
[UNKNOWN] I'll just stop bothering you for now. You must be busy...I'm sorry ^~^
1:30256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nbroPrj1p
CAMILO has accepted your conversation
1:31256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7srwrWx7O
Seen: 1:32
[CAMILO] you know, normally, no one is expected to reply to someone at 1am.. in the morning..256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHW7Q1LMKkR
[CAMILO] anyway
1:32256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp0NvOwvrD
Seen: 1:32
[CAMILO] yes, this is my number. im curious as to how you got it, but ill save that for later256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrwdnchAYH
[CAMILO] what do you want
1:33256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWGHXfEfJx
Seen: 1:34
[UNKNOWN] oof that's cold256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYgKXvyLiS
[UNKNOWN] T^T256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrA8oUvPf4
[UNKNOWN] I just want to ask you one thing
1:36256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbu3qCLzA1
Seen: 1:37
[CAMILO] huh 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHrl7kRFzv
[CAMILO] what is it
1:38
[UNKNOWN] ..typing..
1:40
[UNKNOWN] ..typing..
1:45
[UNKNOWN] ..typing..
1:50
UNKNOWN is now offline
I tilted my head to one side as a notification appeared, saying that this 'Unknown' was now offline.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrihiQrlE3
But just then, a new message popped up.
1:53256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex3yJdayBF
Seen: 1:53
[UNKNOWN] I'm at your doorstep256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR4QKdgAao
[UNKNOWN] Open the door :)))))
Within the time span of less than 5 minutes, my expression changed from confused to shocked to just disregarding all of my common sense and simply not knowing what life is anymore.
I contemplated if opening the door was a really good choice. After all, it could be a kidnapper or a professional prankster waiting for me outside, and there were also several possibilities as to what can happen, especially because no one really comes to your doorstep at 2 in the morning.
'And this is why I hate chatting with people.'
The only thing I could do was to sigh as I just gave it a benefit of the doubt and hope for the best.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQqVToop8O
I bit my lip and stood up, taking with me a pair of jacket and wearing it as I walked to the door.
Right after I unlocked it, I was quite surprised to see a silver-haired girl in front of me. The first thing that entered my mind was: Wow. Second: Wow. Third: Wait, how did she get my address again?
Her face couldn't be seen as she was facing the floor, her hands placed on her knees. It was obvious she was out of breath, but before I can take in her presence a bit more, she looked up at me.
With a big smile on her face, she inhaled and exhaled deeply.
"Would you.." she paused to take another breath, like what you do before you give a graduation speech that's 96876000 hours long, "like to be my partner?"
My eyes widened.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkWYhoco3i
"Pardon?" I asked, the word coming out of my mouth without my knowledge.
It took a few moments for me to regain my composure, but luckily I did.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLantmmp3K
I shook my thoughts off and averted my gaze at her, now only realizing that we have had eye contact for long enough.
"Uh, Aina, Aina something.. anyway it's a bit late, don't you think?" I asked, "let's converse later when you're not creeping me out."
I gave her an awkward smile, and turned to close the door.
"WAIT! WAIT!"256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW8uSabfcu
She pushed the door open before I could close it, "let me explain myself."
**
"And that's that," she explained before taking a sip from the cup in her hands.
"So, you want me to be your partner in our school's acting club because what? I'm the only member left that doesn't have one?"256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrpJVDKWfD
I questioned with a blank expression and my arms folded, "still doesn't explain why you are here, inside my apartment, at 2am. Wait, how did you know where my home is in the first place?"
She sighed, "There's no time, I'll explain that later. For now, I just want your answer."
I looked around to avoid her intense stare as I tried thinking of a proper answer.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSHuNw4o2A
I couldn't find the heart to agree to something I do not know well enough, but I also didn't want to sound rude.
"I don't see why I should be your partner," I paused. Wait, that's rude, that's rude. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8lvoFqaso
"I mean I'm sorry. I- I didn't even know your name until today- I can't."
She scooted her chair over closer to me, slowly cupping my hands. She pleaded through her eyes, its depth telling me just how much she wanted this. The emotion in her dark brown eyes reminded me of myself in the past. The me that once kept pleading for a certain someone's love.
"This is really important to me. This is probably the only opportunity I could get. I- Please."
"I'm sorry," I breathed out, "You should get going. We still have school tomorrow."
"I see."256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb0lr8oUul
She removed her hands away and in less than a second, the smile that she had earlier was back, except now, it didn't feel as genuine.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAxoN1Okcb
"I'm sorry for suddenly intruding when we haven't even met each other. I'll pay you back.. somehow."
I smiled at her apologetically, and walked with her to the door. The burning feeling of wanting to help her went all the way up to my throat, and for a second, I almost turned back what I said.
"I'll see you in school tomorrow."256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vq9QKk6VF
She took a piece of paper from her purse and wrote her name down, paying full attention to her style of writing. She then sticked it to my jacket, "There. Don't forget my name, okay?"
She took off and the note she sticked on me fell to the floor. In curiosity, I bent down to pick it up and read what was written on it.
Alaina Dominique.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0boBMSw2m
With an Al ♡
"What a strange girl," I chuckled lightly as I stood up and closed the door.
**
THE NEXT DAY
"How is it that a girl, and Alaina at that, went to your apartment last night?" Les asked, the word 'DISBELIEF' written across his face.
I stretched my arms and yawned, not bothering to glance at him who was beside me, "Les, all I know is that she wanted me to be her partner for.. a competition or something."
"But still," he cocked his head to the side, "there's this thing called a messenger app."256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMz8M0UvVf
He ruffled his hair, "AH! I DON'T CARE ANYMORE! How come you get all the girls-"
"I'm going to get some sleep. Don't bother me," I placed my head on the table and blocked out all the noise, wanting to just get this school day over with and go home.
"hEY! Wait, by the way, you will be staying later after school for our acting club, right?" He rolled his eyes when I showed no kind of response, and rocked my chair back and forth teasingly.
"Maybe. Depends," I said, already half-asleep.
**
After the school bell has rung, the students left the classroom group by group, leaving me the only one in the room. I was still too sleepy to get out, and so I decided to stay for a while.
The classroom was quiet, with only the air conditioner running and making a sound. This kind of atmosphere helped me to ponder over my thoughts and just, in general, make me feel in peace.
But the quietness didn't last very long, as in a matter of minutes, a conversation could be heard from behind the door. I wasn't the type to eavesdrop, but the voice of a familiar person peaked my interest enough to stand up and listen to some part of their conversation.
"So, you won't be joining the competition huh?"
"Yeah, I still haven't found a partner yet," Alaina said.
"Awh and this was so important to you. You still have time before your acting practice, right? You'll surely find a partner by then."
I furrowed my eyebrows, and wondered about what was going on.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajB0MWenIS
I knew she mentioned something about the competition last night, but I couldn't exactly put my finger on it.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WBckWFM6Z
Dingit.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQrALNeLtU
Should have listened to what she was talking about yesterday, huh, stupid Camilo? 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFG28Vdwos
I facepalmed myself, but just then, I remembered that I was also a part of the acting club.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdADMkxYjF
I shouldn't be mistaken to think that this competition and her request to be my partner is connected to that club.
I went back to my chair and slid my phone out of my pocket. I needed to prove my theory was indeed correct, and where more do I find proof than the group chat made solely for acting club?
I scrolled through all of the messages until I had come to the notice page in the very top. It was where all the information relating to acting is, and that was where I will find the one answer I needed.
I hastily read the newest notice message, and what I was reading couldn't have shocked me more.
"WHAT?!" I thought out loud, almost too loud for my liking.
**
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