I still looked like that when I returned to the room. Why can't I get Drake's face out of my head? It's like… Ugh!! Disturbing thoughts!!
My child is too young to be a pervert!!!
"Hey you, you look like a red beet," Aya told me. "What's wrong with your face?"
Should I tell Aya about the pornographic image I saw??? Of course not!!! Because the moment I do, tomorrow—no, the next minute—it'll spread all over St. Claire's High!! And when that happens, I'm dead!!
There are so many members in Drake's fan club!!
"Ah, allergy. I ate an apple," I said as an excuse.
"Aah. Why'd you eat it? You know you're allergic. Tsk," she said, pulling me. "Let's go back inside. We're forming groups in English."
That's right—Aya dragged me into the classroom. Luckily, we were excused earlier because of the physics quiz. I survived!! Yahoo!! Honestly, the fact that Drake and I got locked in the SC room did something good.
"…So that's basically it. Anyway, class, you may group yourselves into threes. You can choose your own groupmates. You're all grown up now, so I assume I don't need to assign you one by one. Be wise in choosing because these will be your partners until the end of the first grading period,"
Said Ms. Clarisse. Hahaha. Who would want to be my groupmate?
I looked around. Almost everyone had already formed a group. Why am I always a loner? Is it my fault my eyes are so narrow that I can't see? I'm kind!!!
"Psst." I looked to my side.
"We're partners," Aya said.
"What else is new?" I told her. Oh my vegetables!!
What's going to happen to Aya and me? We're both F lovers (because we always get F's on our exams).
"Don't worry, besh. We'll get through this," she said.
"Huh?"
"He'll save us," she said, pointing at Drake, who was fast asleep.
"All right!!!" I said.
"Aya, you're too much. Don't be manipulative, besh. Drake will lead us to academic salvation. Don't you want a good grade??"
Here we go again. Aya's blackmailing me. She knows I'm chasing grades because I want to enter St. Claire's Academy!! Because Sheen, my loves, is studying there… Of course I have to follow her. LOL!!
"Okay?? Okay?? Don't worry, we'll definitely get an A in English!! Isn't it already news that Drake has a straight-A record?"
It's true. He's a genius!!! Hmph. But why did he transfer here?!!! Anyway, all his grades are high!!
"Yes…" I muttered.
"Yes!!!" Aya shouted while doing a victory dance.
Crazy!
Then she sat down and wrote our names on a quarter sheet of paper. "Hey, shouldn't we ask Drake if it's okay?"
"Alright, just wait," she said as she continued writing, then looked at Drake. "Psst. We're partners in English, okay?" Then she finished writing. "Silence means yes. See, Alys? He said yes," she said with a silly smile.
Please remind me why I became friends with this girl???
[Tomorrow…]
"You're amazing, Alys!! Are you really my best friend??" Aya asked me.
Well, how could I not react that way after this happened…
*Flashback*
"Saturday, Saturday… Aya, you're being annoying again," I said. I was sleeping soundly in my air-conditioned room when she suddenly jumped on my bed??
"Good morning, sunshine!!" She even made the waterfall stronger. (aka opened the curtains.)
"What do you want??"
"We're going out—quick!!"
Do we have plans? Why can't I remember anything??
"Don't bother thinking. We don't have plans—I just made one. Hihi," she said.
"Ayoko sumama…" I said, pulling the blanket back over me.
"Okay, Besh," she said, shaking me. "I told Uncle Steve we're coming."
I immediately got up from the bed.
"You said what?"
"I said Uncle Steve is waiting for us," she said with a goofy smile.
I placed my hand on my forehead. "What did you do this time?"
"I told him we'd have lunch because of our group project."
"What?? It's not supposed to start until next week!"
We have an English project—a book review. Miss Clarisse hasn't even assigned a book yet!!
"Prompt is better than hard work, Alys. So we need to brainstorm early!!"
Shit. What is there to brainstorm in a book review?
Since Aya's persistence is infinite, I was forced to get dressed. What choice do I have?? She even said goodbye to my parents! She even picked my clothes!!
[At Drake's house…]
"Wow. Their garden is beautiful!" Aya said as we entered through Drake's gate.
Right past the gate, you can see a garden full of roses. Could Aunt Katrina be the one taking care of it??
We were already walking along their pathway.
It's exhausting.
I saw Aya waving. "UncleSteve!!"
Uncle Steve waved back. Wait… Are they close?
AYA'S POINT OF VIEW
I saw Uncle Steve and waved. "Uncle Steve!!"
He waved back. Alys must be wondering why Uncle Steve and I are close. Hehehe!!
*flashback*
"Tito Steve!!"
I was already outside Drake's house. Hehehe. That's how confident I am in my matchmaking plans for Drake and Alys. I don't want my best friend ending up with that Sheen—crybaby.
"Oh, Aya, right?" Tito Steve asked, looking surprised.
"Hehe, yes. Come on," I said shyly.
Of course! Still demure effect. Wow!!
"Oh, come in. What are you doing outside? Are you here for Drake?"
"Oh no," I said, waving my hands, "I'm here because I have something to tell you."
Tito Steve looked even more surprised. "What is it?"
I took a deep breath. This is it, Aya!! Go for it!!
"It's just… Alys and Drake are basically boyfriend-girlfriend, right?" Tito Steve nodded. "Well, your son is super rude… Alys is always sad… She wonders why Drake treats her that way… Why he's always mean… If only you had seen her last night—she was crying so much…"
I could see Tito Steve getting serious. I'm sorry, Tito Steve!! I'm telling white lies!! But when they're together, everyone's happy. You will lose you rival to Katrina, the cradle snatcher!!
"Please tell Alys I'm sorry for my son—I don't know what's wrong with that boy. He's too rude. His mother conceived him out of spite," said Uncle Steve, still cracking a joke.
Hahahaha! He's hilarious!!
"It's okay, Tito. I'm used to your son," I said. "But what if…"
"What?"
"What if we… helped match Drake and Alys? Hehehe."
Uncle Steve suddenly smiled. "Yes! When I saw that boy happy… It was like a miracle. He's always frowning. Even I'm scared of him sometimes."
"Alright!! So, deal, Tito Steve? Shall we be cupids?"
We shook hands. "Deal."
[Present…]
So that's what happened. Wow!! Brace yourself, Alys Perez.
ALYS' POINT OF VIEW
"You girls go inside. I'll go wake that boy up," said Uncle Steve.
We entered their house. While we were waiting, Aunt Katrina suddenly came out from the kitchen with juice. She looked at us—I just sighed.
Aya kept daydreaming. Seriously, she's hopeless.
"Are you looking for Aki?" she asked while handing us juice.
"Huh?"
"Sorry—I meant Drake. Are you here for him?"
I just nodded. Hmmm. So she calls him Aki. Another red flag, Tita Katrina!! You pedo!!
"Alys, Aya, just wait a bit. He's taking a bath. You know… his girlfriend makes him so happy," Uncle Steve said teasingly.
I almost spit out my juice!!!
"Don't be shy, Alys. Tito Steve will accept you, right Tito?"
"Of course. She's my daughter-in-law, right, Katrina?"
"Ah—eh, yes," Aunt Katrina said, caught off guard. Hmmm. Is this beautiful woman jealous of me?? I am beautiful!!! Woohoo!!
Then we talked some more. Apparently, Uncle Steve and Aunt Katrina met at school. Tita Katrina was a teacher at Drake's former school!! A student-teacher love story?? She was a fresh graduate teaching Economics. She's 21 now. They met at the end of the second grading period last year and got together before the third. They're getting married this coming October!!
"Oh, there's your boyfriend, Alys," said Uncle Steve, looking like a teenager being teased.
I blushed—not because I was thrilled!!! But because when I see Drake, I remember his abs. Oooooh!!
"He's all yours now. I'm still in love with you, though. My son really is handsome," he said, pulling Drake close. Drake tried to shove his arm off.
Shit!! They act more like brothers!!!
After that, Drake just kept staring at us. He's thinking something again.
"Katrina, can you look for the files I need to sign?" Tito Steve said. Tita Katrina went upstairs to find them. "Alys, I'll just take Aya with me to show her something, okay? You and your boyfriend should talk."
Then they left.
Is it just me or did they totally leave us on purpose??? And Drake's giving me that look again!!!!
Mommy, Daddy!!! Help me!!!