Beauty Under the Lens

CHAPTER 15

Amanda's POV

We were both quiet as we remained here on the patio. It was so quiet that I wished someone would blast music or something.

"You came here just to explain the nature of your arrangement," I said, breaking the silence.

I don't know why it matters to him. Whether their engagement is real or a cover-up. What will change if he discloses this truth? Was it so important for me to know that he ditched dinner and came here?

"Yes, I did," he said, staring at me. It felt like his eyes never left me for a second. I looked at him after keeping my eyes on the steps for a while.

Asher looked boyish in his plain black t-shirt and blue jeans that hugged his lower body. His dark brown eyes were piercing through me, and I hoped my racing heart didn't give everything away.

Asher was my first crush when I started at Oakwood University. I've been studying there since junior high school. I didn't have romantic feelings for him. I just admired him. It wasn't just about his looks or carrying his family name that he could boast about. He was a great student in his own right.

Asher was part of a group of excellent students which included Jasper, Axel, and the journalism team. Every day, I watched them in the cafeteria, engaging in informative conversations and discussions. Their group wasn't always serious. There were times when they joked around or did pranks.

At one point, I wished Asher could be my friend so I could get to know him better. I wanted to hear his opinions and stories every day. I was intrigued and wanted to understand his personality. The closest I got to him was through the photos he captured. His photos not only told stories but also revealed his personality. I saw his photos as silent answers to the questions in my mind.

I started to drift away when getting closer to him seemed impossible. Compared to the people he hung out with, I was nothing. Who was I to even try to get close to him? I was an average student whose only achievement was being born into the Velarde family and having the privilege of carrying their name. Someone like me could never fit into his world.

Asher and I would never be on the same level. So, to cope with the disappointment, I tainted his image in my mind to change my perspective. It was helpful because when I distanced myself, he started noticing everything I did. He played the role of the class president who confiscated my makeup and phone, scolded me for being late, marked me absent when I wasn't in my seat, and purposely made me sit away from my friends because he said I was too noisy. We were in the same block section in junior high, so I was his classmate for four years. By chance, we were also taking the same strand. He had been the class president for five years.

It felt surreal that he was now my seatmate, saved me at the mall, helped me academically, and was talking to me. I'm scared because my heart is starting to feel the admiration I had for him five years ago, and I don't want that. As he explains things to me, I feel important to him. Over the years, I've tried not to attach any meaning to things concerning him, but in the few moments of our interactions, that resolve seems to be crumbling.

"Asher, you don't need to tell me this. Whatever the reason for your engagement, it doesn't matter. It's not worth your time to explain it to me," I said.

Stay away from him, Amanda Callie, as much as you can, before it turns into something more.

"You should go home, Asher. My family will be home soon. They might catch you here."

I was about to walk back towards our house, but before I passed him, he reached for my wrist and pulled me towards him. Our bodies touched.

My heart raced as I felt his warmth and his large frame against mine. I could smell his masculine cologne now that he was so close. His intense eyes met mine, and the veins on his hand became more visible.

"I will tell you if it means preventing you from getting hurt," he said, with a dark aura around him.

My eyes widened.

"A-Asher..."

His lips brushed against the back of my hand. "Hush, Amanda Callie," he whispered into my ears.

He chuckled without humor. "Do I look like a womanizer who can't interact with women without you assuming there's something between us?"

It was at the library that day in eighth grade. When I decided to finally end my childish crush on him.

His eyes were fixed on the text he's reading. You can tell that he was so immersed in what he was reading that everything else became a blur. He was oblivious to my presence that he didn't even know I was approaching him.

I'm going to confess right now. Not my ardent love, I don't think I'm capable of that at the age of 13. It's not that but just my admiration for him. I don't think I can contain it anymore. I've been watching him for a while now and it's finally time I became verbal and voice out my appreciations.

Before I could get close to him, someone bumped her shoulder with me and went to Asher. The girl looked back at me and raised an eyebrow.

"What is an ugly creature like you doing near Asher?" the girl cackled. "Let me guess. Are you going to confess?"

Even though I didn't want to give any indication that what she was saying was true, my cheeks betrayed me as I felt them warm up.

"Uh.... n-no!"

Asher's head automatically lifted as he heard my voice. He gazed at me expectantly, as if waiting for me to confirm the accusation of the girl in front of me.

"Just a tip, Velarde. Don't expect anything from him. You're too far from his taste, right Asher?" she laid eyes on Asher with a coy look on her face.

Asher closed his book to inspect and give all of his attention to me.

"Leave the two of us alone, Avery," his voice filled with urgency and command.

"There's no need!" I interrupted.

He fixed his gaze on me. His sharp and critical eyes as he studied me were unwavering.

"I-I never really intended to approach. And... I have nothing to confess because I don't like you. I'm just going to get a book."

I grabbed a random book without even looking at what it was about. I ran away from them without looking back. As I stopped near the entrance of the library, I ran into Astrid who had just entered. When she looked at what I was holding, she laughed. The librarian scolded her so she stopped immediately.

"You're really into the male reproductive system in science, Amanda Callie," she teased.

I furrowed my brows and looked at the book I had hastily grabbed. It's Male Reproductive Dysfunction. The cover showed sperm racing towards an egg cell. I closed my eyes tightly in embarrassment. I quickly hid it behind me and retreated to the nearest table to set it down. Almost as soon as I did, it seemed like Asher was also leaving the library so I hurriedly left without explaining anything to Astrid.

See that, Amanda Callie? Asher's circle consists of those who are fair and beautiful. No ugly person hangs around them. He will not take you seriously! Stop it already!

"Why is our front door open?!" I heard the angry tone from afar. It was definitely Mama's voice. They're already here.

Asher and I made eye contact. I bit my lip nervously. I quickly pushed him away from me.

"You need to leave!" I said in a low voice so Mama wouldn't hear.

I motioned for him to crouch down. I held his shoulders and turned him around towards me and then pushed him again.

"You should go this way."

Luckily, our patio was at the back of the house and our house was quite big so it wasn't easy for Mama to catch us.

He's Asher Rowan Ledesma and I'm asking him to climb over our fence.

"I know. Ridiculous way to exit but we don't have much time. Save the scolding or retaliation for Monday."

The side of his mouth quirked upward.

"Relax, Amanda Callie. I'm practically an expert at this," he boasted.

I didn't have time to make any comments. "Okay then, go ahead if you can do it!"

But before he started climbing our fence, he surprised me with what he did. He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Aria and I are not engaged nor am I romantically involved with her. Remember that, Amanda Callie," he said softly.

I nodded. "Fine, I know. Just go and be safe on the road. Don't get caught since you don't have a license."

As he reached the top of the fence, he saluted me. "Yes ma'am."

I just shook my head at what he did. When he disappeared from my sight, I ran towards the main door to explain to mom.

"Whoever left the door unlocked, I'm going to reprimand them! I pay them a good salary, and they can't even fulfill their duty as house security!" mom shouted and slammed her bag on the sofa.

"Mom," I greeted her, causing her to pause her rant.

Mom raised an eyebrow. "Callie, what were you doing outside?"

"I was just getting some fresh air on the patio, that's why the main door was left open so I could come back in," I explained to prevent our household staff from getting involved.

Mom rubbed her temples and nodded. "Alright, just don't do it again. Even though we have guards, we can't be complacent."

Aria looked sorrowful and disappointed while slouched in her seat. I approached her and sat beside her.

"Aria, what's wrong?" my tone filled with concern. "Did something happen at the dinner?"

Someone should give me an Oscar right now. If I want to cover up for Asher, then I have to sound oblivious to the events of tonight.

"Asher just ditched your sister, and Celestine was fine with it!" mom answered in place of my sister.

"What?!" I furrowed my eyebrows, surprised. "Asher did that? How did he ditch?"

Mom sat on the other sofa and let out a harsh breath. "He just greeted us and suddenly realized he had somewhere to go. He picked the lock of their garage and sneaked their car out while Celestine seemed okay with it!"

I looked dumbfounded when mom revealed that. And now I'm being unpretentious because I was truly surprised by this information. I knew he escaped, but he didn't detail how to me.

"Goodness, mom, he's only seventeen! Doesn't Aunt care if Asher gets caught?" I mastered a distressed expression. I'm sorry, Aunt Celestine, I have to do this. I swear I really think you are a kind person.

"That's not even the point, dear. I don't care if he drives illegally. People do bad things all the time," mom said nonchalantly.

Yeah. Like how you manipulated everything just to take Sandy Lim's project away from her and give it to an undeserving one. This is probably not the first time she's done that to artists she doesn't like. Sandy Lim was just the one who had the courage to speak out against her.