Beauty Under the Lens

CHAPTER 26

Amanda's POV

Asher headed down to the court as the game was about to begin. Cedric, clearly annoyed by Asher, followed suit.

"Uh... context please?" Elara broke the silence.

"They're cousins," Axel explained.

"And Asher was the one who taught Cedric basketball when we were kids," Jasper added.

"Cedric hated anyone better than him," Axel continued.

"So, Asher pursued photography instead," Jasper finished.

So that explained why they seemed to have a longstanding issue with each other.

"Asher's not bitter about it," Axel said. "Cedric always feels inferior to Asher, which is why he sees him as a rival."

"Speaking of rivals," Astrid interjected in a flat tone.

Aria entered the covered court with her friends, holding a rolled cartolina with Asher's name on it. She knew she had many eyes on her as she made a dramatic entrance.

Aria spotted me in the crowd, raising her eyebrows challengingly. Asher, who had already noticed her arrival, glanced at me. I quickly looked away, focusing on the players. I wasn't sure which of my classmates were playing apart from Asher.

I held my breath as I watched the game unfold. It was exciting but nerve-wracking at the same time. Especially with the tension between Asher and Cedric palpable. I noticed Asher occasionally giving Cedric mocking looks when dribbling the ball and being guarded by Cedric.

As more people gathered around the court, it seemed that they had been informed about Asher playing. The excitement heightened with each shot Asher and Cedric took.

"I love you, Asher Ledesma!" the girls squealed, causing me to cover my ears.

"Cedric! Do your best! I'm still on your side!"

Aria jumped and cheered with her friends, holding up the sign that read "Go My Asher Rowan Ledesma!"

As the clock ticked down in the final ten seconds of the fourth quarter, Asher had possession of the ball. STEM was leading by a point.

"Cheer now for our section to win!" Astrid nudged my shoulder. I had been quiet the whole time.

I took a deep breath. "Make ABM win, Asher Rowan Ledesma!" I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his reaction or if he made the shot.

The timer buzzed, signaling the end of the game. I kept my eyes tightly shut, hands covering my face. The court fell silent, and I couldn't understand why. I felt someone holding both of my hands. Asher's scent filled my nose, so I assumed it was him in front of me.

Asher chuckled as he gently removed my hands from my face. "Open your eyes now, Amanda Callie. I won ABM for you."

My heart raced at his words. I looked up at him. He was sweaty, with his hair falling over his face. Suddenly, everyone around us disappeared, and my focus was solely on him.

I swallowed hard. I knew this wasn't the ideal place for this realization, but we can't control our feelings, right?

For years, I denied it. I didn't want to label these emotions, so I pretended not to understand why I felt a certain way when I was with Asher. I was afraid to acknowledge it because naming it would only make me want to know more. And the more I knew, the stronger my feelings would become. Leading to deeper attachments that would make it impossible for me to let go.

I have a crush on him. No, it's more than that. I like him.

I like you, Asher.

"What's wrong?" he furrowed his brows when he noticed my sudden change in mood.

But I had no intention of telling him how I felt. He likes someone else. Someone who is probably more beautiful, smarter, and confident.

I should be happy with what I've realized, right? Don't they say that having feelings for someone is a happy thing? But this confirmation only made me sadder.

I smiled weakly. "It's nothing. Congratulations, Asher. And I hope you win the finals tomorrow."

I heard a camera click to our right. Astrid grinned widely as she looked at her shot.

"Of course! That's a three-point shot after your cheer," Astrid grinned as she showed the picture.

"Astrid!" I scolded her and tried to take the camera back.

"Give me that, Astrid, will you?"

Astrid happily returned Asher's camera to him. A slight smile played on his lips as he looked at it. I glared at him.

"What? Can't friends take photos together?" Asher raised an eyebrow at me.

Friends.

Why? I was the one who said we were just friends. And now I'm acting upset because he called us friends. You're so confusing, Callie!

I didn't notice the noise in the court again because of all the thoughts swirling in my mind.

"It's okay, Cedric, we still love you!"

"Let's hang out, guys, we don't have anything else to do. The game is over. Finals are tomorrow, right?" Elara suggested.

"I'll pass," I replied. I felt lazy today. I just wanted to go home and sleep in my bed all day.

"Callie is such a party pooper. We're starting our research soon. Make the most of it!" Jasper commented.

"It's almost Christmas Break anyway. We can still go out," I rolled my eyes at Jasper.

"I'll take you home," Asher said.

I looked around. "No need, you probably need to stay here."

"Jasper picked you up earlier. They're leaving, so you don't have a driver going home," Asher replied matter-of-factly.

"I could just take public transportation," I responded.

Asher didn't reply and just pulled me down from the bleachers. He was so persistent! He really insisted on driving me home.

"Amanda!" Cedric called out to me as we descended from the bleachers.

I faced Cedric because it would be rude to just ignore him like that.

"Cedric, congrats!" I smiled at him.

"Tss! We won."

"They won."

They said at the same time. Asher frowned while Cedric pointed at Asher.

"You didn't cheer for me," Cedric chuckled.

"Why would she? Are you in the same class section?" Asher sarcastically retorted.

Cedric set his mouth in a hard line.

"I congratulate you because you did your best. And our section only has a two-point lead over yours. That's still good, right?"

He nodded. He tousled my hair. Asher glanced at him and pushed his hand away.

"You congratulated me. So, I feel like I'm still the winner," he winked at me.

Asher tightened his grip on my arm and pulled me out of the court. Even though we passed by my sister, he ignored her. I kind of felt bad for her. She made an effort to come here and cheer, but Asher didn't acknowledge her.

Until we reached the parking lot, Asher still had a furrowed brow.

"You're frowning again," I nudged him to relax his furrowed brow. "I feel like having a donut again."

It seemed like I caught his attention because he quickly opened the van door for me.

"No ditching me this time?" he raised an eyebrow at me.

I beamed and nodded. "Promise!"

We stopped at Happy House. I love their strawberry sprinkles here. I bought three pieces. Before I could take out my wallet, Asher had already paid for my donut.

I glared at him. "I can pay."

He shrugged. "I know. But I want to."

"I'll pay next time," I declared as I closed my bag.

He grinned. "So, there’s next time?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Billion food dates for your forgiveness, right?"

He accepted the plastic from the cashier. I stopped him before we got back in their car.

"Wait. Let's buy milk tea over there at Ochado," I pointed across the street. We still needed to cross to get to Ochado.

Asher opened their car.

"We'll just buy there across the street. Please wait for us here."

"Sure, sir!" their driver nodded.

I held the end of his shirt. He looked down at my hand, amusement evident on his face.

"Scared?" he teased me.

I blushed as he immediately caught on. We successfully made it to Ochado. My imagination always goes wild when crossing the street.

"I'll have Oreo cream cheese," I looked at Asher. "What would you like?"

"Milk tea is not my thing," he plainly answered.

I nodded and turned back to the cashier lady. "Just that, miss."

"Sugar level, ma'am?"

"Thirty percent."

I handed her one hundred forty pesos. We sat on a high chair while waiting for my milk tea.

I opened the plastic from Happy House. I feel like I have heart eyes while looking at the donuts. I missed buying this. How many months has it been since I last had this? I smiled widely while biting into the donut. This must be a new delivery because the dough is so soft. Good thing it's still early in the morning. Even though Happy House is a small donut place in our area, many people buy from them. I often run out of donuts if I buy in the afternoon.

Asher took a photo of me.

I widened my eyes. "You're teasing me! I probably have lots of pictures on your camera. It's embarrassing to think that you're taking pictures of others."

"Yours are my favorite."

I stared at him in disbelief as he took a picture of me. My heart raced, as if it wanted to burst out of my chest because I've kept my feelings locked up for so long.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he removed his camera from his face.

Is this true? Is he right in front of me? The person I like won the basketball game for me, accompanies me wherever I go, and loves taking pictures of me. He's such a tease!

I feel like everything means something. There's a reason why he's doing this for me. But every time I remember the possibilities, the more beautiful girls, my sister, and the girl he likes, I remember my place in his life.

I forced a bitter smile. "Nothing. I was just thinking about what Jasper is doing right now."

"You looked hopelessly in love. And it doesn't help that you're thinking about Jasper. Do you like him? I thought it was Cedric. Do I have to act like a dumbsh*t like Jasper too?" his jaw muscles clenched.

I looked at him, confused.

"What?"

"You like basketball players, right? I became one today," his voice calm. "I'll be a dumbsh*t like Jasper if you want me to."

What does he mean?!