Guarding the Daylight [COMPLETED]

Dare

[Aezelle's POV]

Napaawang ang labi ko at napatulala hanggang sa tumalikod na ito at lumabas ng gym. Nahimasmasan lang ako sa sinabi niya nung magsalita si Tyler.

"Tungkol sa ano yun, Aezelle?"

"T-tungkol sa ano... sa utang ko sa kanya." Napalunok ako para maalis ang bumabara sa lalamunan ko. Panay lukso ng t***k ng puso ko sa inaasta ni Uno.

He asked me... to be his girlfriend? Hindi ko lang mababayaran ang utang ko sa kanya, bibigyan niya rin ako ng mga incentives tulad ng mga bagay na gusto at kailangan ko.

"Anong utang?"

"I accidentally broke his lamp and I can't afford to pay him in cash, so he dares me to do things."

"Ano ang papagawa niya ngayon sayo?"

"H-he wants me to be his girlfriend."

Lahat sila ay napanganga at natigilan. We all had the same reactions. Like, what the hell? Uno Navarro, one of the campus hottie and a basketball star is asking me to be his. Not just his girlfriend, but to be entirely his.

"I'll talk to Uno about this. I don't think it's appropriate to force you into this."

"But I am indebted to him, Kuya. Kung hindi ko siya mababayaran ngayon, magkakautang na loob ako sa kanya hanggang sa huli. I don't want to lose my pride."

"Magkano ba?" Napatingin ako kay Ymar nung magtanong siya.

"₱48,000 yung lamp at ₱5,000 pa lang yung nababayaran ko. I still have 43,000 left to pay."

"I'll pay for it." Napaestatwa ako.

"No, dude, you can't pay that! We have our deal remember? Walang pakialaman sa desisyon natin sa buhay." Faxton disagreed.

"But it's Aezelle that we're talking about. We all know what kind of a guy Uno is."

"This is out of the line. Let Aezelle deal with her problem. We had promises," matigas na sali ni Randall sa usapan at binigyan pa ako ng matalim na tingin. Napayuko ako, nakokonsensya dahil nadadamay sila lalo na si Kishmar. I know they are just worried about me getting involved with Uno, but I can't do anything.

"It's okay. Uno wants me to be his girlfriend, but we did not agree about the period of time. I can just be her girlfriend for a week."

"That's right. You're a genius, Aezelle!"

"Why does Uno wants you be his girlfriend anyway? I though he doesn't likes you?" Nakakamot sa ulo at inosenteng tanong ni Vance.

"Uno is an a*s like us and he just wants to play with her heart. Don't be such a dummy, Vance,"

Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Randall. I think i'm the dumbest person in the room right now. Is it just me who thinks that he really likes me? I mean, when he asked, he look so serious and ingenious.

"We'll stay away from their mess, but if Uno tries to hurt Aezelle, he better hide his uniform."

.

I think being his girlfriend would be good, at least I don't have to worry anything about my debt and i'll just dump him after a week.

I sighed, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Kung iisipin ay sobrang dali lang ng plano pero... natatakot ako. Natatakot akong mahulog sa isang kagaya ni Uno. Gusto ko siya, oo, pero ayaw kong mahulog ang buong loob ko sa kanya.

"Iniisip mo pa rin ba?" Tumango ako sa tanong ni Ymar.

"Forget what the others said. I think Uno really likes you. I've never seen him confront someone like that and to think that he was the one that approached a girl is obviously surprising. I know that the other Summoners noticed that too, but I think they're just in denial to admit."

"A-ano ba ang dapat kong gawin?" Tumingin ako sa kanya at kahit papaano ay nagagalak akong makita siyang marahang ngumiti sa akin na parang... maaayos din ang lahat.

"Uno obviously likes you, what about you? Gusto mo rin ba siya?"

"Gusto ko siya, but not to the point that I want him as my lover."

"What about Griffin?" I was surprised to hear Griffin's name in our conversation.

"W-what about him?"

"Griffin likes you too, and between him and Uno, mas gusto ko si Griffin para sayo. Not because Uno is a jackass, but because Griffin sincerely cares for you."

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga sinasabi ni Ymar. How can Griffin likes someone like me? He just met me a few weeks ago and we're not even close.

"Me and Griffin never had a proper conversation, so I don't think I get what you're saying."

"Before you became Uno's room mate, never din kayong nag-usap ni Uno diba? Yet you like him. I don't think a conversation is required for you in order to like someone." Napatahimik ako dahil sa sinabi niya. He's got a point. Hindi ako makaimik dahil tama siya.

"What about Griffin? What do you feel about him?" Biglang kumalabog ang puso ko sa tanong niya. Parang ewan ako na bigla na lang akong kinabahan at gusto kong mag-panic. I can't understand what the hell is going on with me.

"H-hindi ko alam. I always felt the tingling sensation when he's around, especially when he's close to me. I easily ran out of air when I talk to him and it makes me gulp all the time."

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Ymar dahil sa sinabi ko. Totoo lahat ng sinagot ko, iyun ang nararamdaman ko tuwing malapit si Griffin sa akin.

"I'm just so uncomfortable around him–"

"No, you're not. I think it's a sign that you're starting to like him. Gusto mo si Uno pero sabihin mo nga, nakaramdam ka ba nang ganoon tuwing kasama mo siya?"

"Minsan, kapag nakatitig siya sa akin."

"Then you just feel uneasy, nothing else. You only like Uno because he fits your standard."

Napayuko at nakaramdam ng hiya. I was confused by my own feelings and it's embarassing in my part to have someone say my feelings out loud.

"I dare you, Elle."

"Dare me to what?"

"I dare you not to fall in love with Griffin. Kakayanin mo ba?"

Hindi ako makasagot. There's a big possibility that I can't do the dare, especially that i'm starting to understand my self emotions.

"I think not, so I want you to sit back and relax."

"Anong gagawin mo?" Bigla akong naguluhan nung kinuha niya mula sa kanyang bulsa ang cellphone niya at nagsimulang magpinto nang kung ano.

"I want to tease your heart, Elle. I want to give you thousand reasons to fall in love with Griffin Ortiz."

Ngumisi siya bago nilagay sa harapan niya ang kanyang cellphone. I could see that he's dialing Griffin's number and when he answered, Ymar pressed the loudspeaker.

"What?" Napatalon ang puso ko nung marinig ang pagod at napapaos niyang boses.

"I-it's about Aezelle. Hurry up, Griff, we'll meet you in the Tuason Park. This is urgent."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko nung nag-inarte si Ymar na parang nadidisgrasya ako at kung ako yung tinawagan, I would believe him right away. Hindi nagsalita si Griffin at agad nitong pinatay ang tawag.

Tumingin ako kay Ymar at ngumisi lang siya sa akin habang panay taas-baba ng kanyang kilay.