Four: Heartbeats

Chapter 04 | Heartbeats

~×~×~×~

|AVA SANDERS|

I bit my lower lip and shook my head. 

“What was that?” I asked myself but I didn't realize that Mira was still in front of me. Now, she was looking at me weirdly. Like I got horns on my head. 

“Anyways, do you want to meet them?” she asked and I don't know why my heart started to beat rapidly. Like I did some race a while back and the adrenaline rush came into my system, just now. 

“Huh? B-But–,” I was cut off when she frantically waved her hands in front of my face that I had to take a step back or else, I'd get my face scratched from her long polished nails that I just noticed. 

She was really prepared for this day, huh? 

“Oh, sorry. I know you don't want that kind of stuff. Then I'll go back to their table, Avie. Don't overwork yourself, okay?” my lips formed a thin line while watching Mira walk towards their table. 

Was she being sarcastic?

Puffing air, I sighed and rolled my eyes in the air. I took a seat on my stool chair behind and leaned my back. I tilted my head as my eyes got their own mind and darted a glance at the guy who caught my eyes. 

I fell in love with his specs. It suits him well. 

He was sitting, facing my direction. That was why, I was freely, mindlessly staring at his face. His hair was disheveled but he still looked good. It was a bit curly, though. Some of his hair was continuously dropping to his face, covering a bit of his eyes and whenever he was about to fix it, stroking it back, my eyes were shining. 

He was really good looking. 

The silent yet cool vibes, he has it. 

I was about to stare at his features but a slap on my shoulders shuttered the bubble on top of my head. 

“Hey, that hurts Shi!” I complained and touched the part where it hurts and glared at the woman on my side. 

I faced her with my brows, knitted in annoyance. 

“What's your problem?” she raised a brow as she crossed her arms. 

I leaned back as I stared at her. She has this look in her eyes as if I did something that amazed her. I raised a brow, questioning her 'what'. 

“I see. Which guy are you staring at? Mira's boyfriend?” she whispered as she stepped closer to me. I didn't budge and rolled my eyes at her. 

“Yea, why? I'm observing him if he's good to be my friend's boyfriend,” I made a point. She nodded in agreement but her expression told me otherwise. 

“Uhuh, then how about the guy who's wearing specs?” my mouth gaped but I closed it on time. 

“What about him?” I casually asked and even glanced at their table. He was smiling at something the girl beside him was telling all of them. They were all laughing at the time I looked at Shida who was already staring at my eyes, intently. 

“Is that so? But your actions tell otherwise, my friend. Did you fall?” 

“What?” 

“Oh, well. There's nothing wrong with that, though. Why are you even hiding it from me?” 

I sighed and shook my head. Well, it was normal to deny it to her from the start but what's the use? Hmm, I wasn't sure. I was quite hooked by his features, alright. But I still don't know if it was about a deeper situation. Maybe that was why I denied it. 

And who the hell admits their feelings in just a second, right?

“Whatever, Shi. Just go,” I pushed her a little and gestured for her to go away from me for a while. I watched her roll her eyes at me before walking back to her post. I clicked my tongue and did my work.  

I attended to some customers and tried my best not to check up on someone around the area. It was making me think of my situation from theirs. I wasn't attending a class like them. I wasn't doing anything for me to continue school. I wasn't because I intentionally did not try anything. 

It was my plan not to go to school even if my mother was pushing me whenever she had a chance to make it a topic in the middle of our conversation. I'm 23, turning 24 but here I was, still working my ass off to make our lives better than yesterday. But life isn't always about striving for a better future. It's about making your day productive and successful in any way. That being said, while enjoying life you're also getting closer to success. 

“Avie!” my head spun around to look for the person who always called me ‘Avie’. My friend, Mirabel. 

“What do you want?” I asked her and continued what I was doing earlier. Fixing my things in my locker before going home. 

She leaned at the locker on her back, and I saw her from the mini-mirror inside the door of my locker. She was crossing her arms over her chest while watching me go through my things. 

“What is it?” I asked her again when she stayed silent behind me. Getting my small shoulder bag, I closed my locker and faced her. I raised my left eyebrow, my eyes seeking an answer from her. 

“You're going home, right?” My brows knitted in confusion as I watched her expression. She has this look in her eyes that was telling me to answer her seriously. 

“Yea. As you could see what I was doing earlier,” I shrugged my shoulders as I gave her a sarcastic smile. 

She has been watching me and she asked that. What does she want me to say, right? 

“I told Roy, my boyfriend, that I will join them once you do too," blinking my eyes, an image of the guy who wore specs flashed in my mind. 

I gulped. What the heck. 

“You mean? We're going home with them?” I asked, confused. I breathed deeply when she laughed at my question. 

“Nah, silly. They decided to take a break from school and it's a good thing that tomorrow's weekend, they don't have schedules from then. Let's have a drink, call?” 

She moved her brows up and down, trying to make a point that I had a hard time understanding what was that all about. I crossed my arms and leaned my back at the locker and stared at my friend. 

If I agree to go with them, my Mom would be worried for me. Not that she doesn't trust me, but she'll be worried anyway. 

“I haven't talked to my Mom,” I told her, an alibi. My Mom wasn't that strict. She knows that. 

But me, going with some strangers? Maybe, I should trust my instincts. I still couldn't get myself to interact with people she mostly interacted with before. And now that she has her boyfriend with her, I still can't get myself to trust them at once. But tomorrow's a weekend. I don't have anything scheduled by then. 

Shida would, of course, take care of the shop on weekends. And I would normally do our house chores on weekends. 

“Oh, come on sis! You're not a teenager anymore! Don't worry, I already told your Mom that you're with me. I'll be there, okay? I got ya!” I didn't get to say anything when she already grabbed my right arm and clung her arms with it. Puffing air, I sighed deeply. 

“You're dead if my Mom has no idea about this, Mira. I'm telling you,” I warned her but she just laughed at what I said. I rolled my eyes and sighed. 

Mom . . .   

‘Blame Mira if something will happen to me.’

“We're going Shida,” I watched Mira as she waved goodbye to Shida and nodded at me afterward, striding her way out of the shop. Probably going to join her new circle of friends. 

A sigh left my mouth as I glanced at Shida who was now looking at me. Her eyes intently watch all the small details that I do. 

“You're not going with us?” asked her for the last time. 

As far as I could remember, she was also an orphan like Mira. She has no one by her side and maybe she could join us to make her feel that she wasn't alone. Especially since she has become our friend now. 

I watched how she shook her head, saying 'no' to my invitation. Well, on the other side I want her to join us so I can have someone to talk to later. I was one of those introverted people who weren't that comfortable mingling with people who you just met a few hours ago.

As for Mira? She was a sociable person. She almost has friends everywhere in town. Luckily, I was her best friend for a decade now. Or else, my life would really feel lonely. Not that I felt one with my Mom. As for outside my personal space, yea. 

“Okay! Then, I'm off to go. Take care, okay?”

“Just enjoy their company, Ava. You deserve it,” a genuine smile slipped on my lips as I looked at Shida in her eyes. 

Too much love was in her eyes. It was so genuine that I had to look away. I wasn't that saint of a person. I have red flags like some other people out there. But being her friend was such a blessing. 

“Thank you, Shi. Take care!”

“Just drink a full glass for me! Take care!” I smiled and took a glance at her before I opened the door and went out. 

My smile faded once I got off from the door of the shop when seven pairs of eyes concentrated on me. I blinked twice as I secretly gulped my saliva. Despite feeling kind of embarrassed and anxious by their stares, one pair of eyes made me shudder in the cold. 

With his specs, those beau

tiful dark blue orbs melted my fragile heart. My ears bleed because of the loud beating of my heart. 

Curse these heartbeats.