I don't want to go to school today because of what happened yesterday. But I can't do anything but go to school.

I immediately took the road to school. What if Ava suddenly talks to me? shall I talk to her too? I don't know what I will do if she talks to me.

After a while I arrived at the school, Janae immediately greeted me.

"good morning CA!" she greeted and hugged me.

"good morning Janae" I said. And we let go of the hug.

"hi CA! hi Janae!" Janae and I were surprised when suddenly someone spoke behind us.

"h-hi Ava" I said. Am I stuttering?

"can we talk?—" Janae immediately pulled me away.

"bakit mo naman ginawa yon? kinakausap pa tayo ni Ava" I said to her a little annoyed.

"para ano? makipag plastikan ka? wag mo na kase siyang pansinin, hayaan mo na lang sila" her voice raised a little.

"oh, hindi kita pinagtataasan ng boses—sorry CA, di ko sinasadya" she said and hugged me.

Ayon yung pinaka-ayaw ko sa lahat, yung pinagtataasan ako ng boses. Almost all my friends know that.

"ayoko lang kaseng nakikitang nasasaktan ka nila, you're my only friend here at school so I won't let them hurt you" she said a little teary.

"I know, it's fine Janae" I said and we entered the room.

We saw Ava enter as well but we turned our eyes to the others. I don't want to talk to them anymore because Janae is right, they will only hurt me.

I just listened to the discussion even though I didn't understand anything but I can learn it at home, Until it's recess time...

"mag restroom lang ako Janae, pasabay na lang ako sayo ng porkchop" I said and went to the restroom.

When I entered the restroom unexpectedly... Ava was inside.

"pwede kana bang makausap?" she asked.

"wala tayong dapat pag usapan Ava, ginawa ko na yung gusto mo kaya pwede ba... layuan niyo na den ako" I calmly told her. I stopped walking when she said something to me.

"I don't like him. Hindi ko siya gusto at hinding hindi ko siya maggugustuhan" she said nervously.

"ano bang sinasabi mo? nababaliw kana ba Ava?" I asked her confused.

"sinabi ko lang yon dahil ayokong masira pagkakaibigan natin, ayokong kapag dumating sa point na maghiwalay kayo ni JR ay mahati na naman ang tropa natin" she said quickly nervously.

"pero sa ginawa kong yon, mas nagiging magulo lang—kaya sorry CA!" she said tearfully.

"nakita ko yung pag uusap niyo ni JR kahapon at alam kong nagkasakitan kayo dahil sakin—patawarin mo ako—" I didn't finish what she had to say.

"wag na wag na wag mo na akong kakausapin, wala kang kwentang kaibigan!" I told her angrily. I immediately peed and went back to the room.

I said so many hurtful words to Janus and then that's her only reason? I told her several times that Janus and I don't have a relationship but she still thinks so. You're so selfish Ava!

"bakit parang ang tagal mo?" Janae asked as I walked inside.

"hindi niya gusto si Janus, ginawa niya lang daw yon dahil ayaw niyang masira ang pagkakaibigan namin—baka daw dumating yung point na maghiwalay kami ni Janus at magkawatak-watak ang tropa namin" I explained to her.

"sinasagad na talaga ako ng Ava na yan ha, sinira niya pagkakaibigan niyo dahil lang sa walang kakwenta kwentang rason" she said angrily.

I left our room and went to the next room to talk to Janus but I didn't see him there. I walked all over the fourth floor but I didn't see him until I got to the stairs and that's where I saw him. I immediately pulled him up to the rooftop to talk to him there.

"anong ginagawa mo Avery?" he asked me with a frown.

"I'll explain everything..." I said. I told him everything that happened, that I was able to do that because of Ava. It took me a long time to explain all the details to him but...

"that's all? yun na yung sasabihin mo?" he said. Nanghina ako nung binitawan niya yung mga salitang yan.

"kung ayaw mo na kong maging kaibigan at ayaw mo na sa akin, sabihin mo lang hindi yung magbibitaw ka ng salitang—" he cut me off.

"alam ko na, sinabi na sakin ni Ava lahat" he said calmly.

"sobrang haba nung inexplain ko tapos alam mo na pala? dapat sinabi mo agad—" he cut me off, again.

"dire-diretcho kase yung bibig mo na parang hindi na mapipigilan" he said and laughed.

"o-okay na tayo? are we friends? again?" I stammered to him.

"nung paakyat na ako dapat sasabihin ko na den sayo kaso inunahan mo ako" he said.

"hindi mo ko s-sinasagot Janus, pero okay lang kung ayaw mo na kong maging kaibigan" I said and I was about to leave when he grabbed my hand. I missed him holding my hand, just kidding.

"magkaibigan naman talaga tayo, ikaw yung kaibigan kong magaling mag advice kahit walang jowa" he said and laughed.

"tigilan mo nga ako Janus, walang nakakatawa don" I said.

"tara cutting?" I was surprised by his question.

"siraulo kaba?" I replied to him.

"ngayon lang naman Avery, first time natin pareho basta wag tayong magpapahuli" he said and pulled my hand.

After we got off that building, we ran to the back of the building dahil sabi niya ay may daan daw doon. He made me climb the fence until I got down, he followed and we immediately ran to a fast food.

"lintek ka Janus! sobrang sakit nung pagkalapag ko" I said angrily.

"okay lang yan, magpalit kana lang ng admit oh—mabango yan syempre polo ko yan eh" he said and handed me his long sleeve polo.

I went inside the restroom to wear his long sleeve polo. As for its fragrance, you can smell the presence of Janus. I smelled it before I put it on. I took a picture first so that I have a remembrance of Janus' polo. After I took the picture, I went out and saw that Janus had changed into another of his polos.

"saan mo gustong pumunta?" he asked me.

"kahit saan" I replied to him.

"let's go sa EK, uuwi din kita ng 7pm o 8pm" I was surprised by what he said.

"two hours ang byahe doon, saan tayo sasakay?" I asked him.

"bus, mag-commute tayo" he immediately said.

"mabilis akong mahilo sa ganon, sa kotse lang ako sanay" I said shyly.

"kasama mo naman ako, it's fine" he said and grabbed my hand. We went to the bus terminal.

He bought a ticket and we waited half an hour for the bus to arrive. When the bus arrived, we immediately boarded and took a seat in the back.

"sa bintana ako" I said immediately  because I'll just get dizzy.

"if susuka ka, sabihin mo lang sa akin—wag kang mahihiya at sabihin mo pag hilong hilo kana" he said.

I just slept the whole flight with my head resting on Janus' shoulder. I didn't feel nauseous during the whole flight, I don't know why. I get really dizzy when I travel but today I didn't even feel it.

I slept so long that I didn't realize that we were both here right away...

"anong nararamdaman mo?" he immediately asked me when we got off the bus.

"I'm fine, hindi man lang ako nakaramdam ng pagkahilo" I answered him.

"that's good, dito ka muna magbabayad lang ako ng ano natin" he said and left.

After a while, we both entered and he told me to eat first...

"hindi pa ko gutom—siguro takot ka lang sumakay sa mga rides noh? lakas ng loob mong mag aya pero takot ka naman" natatawa kong sabi sa kanya.

"o-ofcourse not, kayang kaya kong sumakay dyan... lalo na sa s-space shuttle" he stammered. I know he's scared but let's try him.

"let's go, kahit saan pa yan" I replied.

We immediately boarded the space shuttle and put on our seat belts while we waited for the others to board. Maya-maya, I feel Janus shaking.

"o-okay ka lang?" I asked him nervously.

"m-may fear of heights ako, A-Avery" he replied while his hands is shaking.

"d-dapat sinabi mo sa akin agad para hindi na ako nagpursiging sumakay tayo dito, baka ano pang mangyari sayo Janus" panenermon ko sa kanya kahit medyo kinakabahan ako.

"akin na dalawang kamay mo at sundan mo lang yung gagawin ko" I added.

I locked both of his hands in mine at pinag-inhale/exhale ko siya. I calmed him down hanggang sa mawala yung pangangatog ng mga kamay niya.

"magsisimula na Janus, tumingin ka lang sa akin kung kinakabahan ka at wag mong bibitawan itong kamay ko... isipin mo lang na kasama mo ako at wag kang mag isip ng kung ano-ano" I said and he nodded until we started...

He gripped my hand very tightly and closed his eyes. I was just looking at him because what if he might suddenly pass out, I didn't know what to do. I was just surprised when he suddenly opened his eyes slowly and looked at me.

"wag kang matakot, nandito lang ako" I said and he nodded.

After a while it was over and we were going down when he suddenly hugged me...

"thank you Avery, grabe yung kaba at takot ko kanina pero pinalakas mo yung loob ko kaya nawala yung takot ko" he said as he hugged me.

"ano kaba, wala yon... pati ikaw pa? alam kong kayang kaya mo yon" I answered him while he's still hugging me.

"let's eat something" he said and we went to the churos shop.

He bought churos and I immediately took out my phone.

"let's take a selfie" I said and the two of us took a picture while holding the churos and it was like we were... dating.

"you know what, wala pa talagang nakakapagpasakay sa akin sa kahit anong rides pero ewan ko ba kung paano mo ko napasakay" natatawa niyang sabi.

I was the first person he went on extreme rides with. I'm just happy that the person I like can talk to me like this. I hope the day will come when you will like me too.

We even went on other rides and like the first time, he always held my hand because that was how he got courage. I'm glad he's taking courage from me.

After we rode all the rides, he bought a bracelet for me and for him.

"wag kang mag isip ng kung ano-ano, pang couple bracelet nga to pero di ibigsabihin non—" I immediately cut off what he was going to say.

"alam ko, gusto mo lang ng souvenir Janus" I immediately told him and he laughed.

"alam mo Avery, para kang si MS... parang kapatid na din tuloy turing ko sayo" he said and stroked my hair.

Ouch! He just treated me as his sister, while me? I like him but I can't even admit it to him.

—

Synesthesia :

happy christmas and merry new year everyone, tnx for reading my story.

✍🏻: 12.25.22 & 01.06.23

@synesthesia_11