The Nerd's Payback: Rise of the Archangels

Archangel 18: Renard

" Sino 'yan?" A curious Antoinette walked towards me while pointing at my phone. 

I signaled her to stay quiet mainly because my ears can't bear to take more noises. 

" Just please be careful, Sera.  You know that we're not there in case someone--"

" Okay, okay.. Sheesh, since when did you learn to nag?" I moved the phone away from my ear to look at it for a moment.

At some point I thought it was mom I was talking to and not my brother!

" Stop being so masungit, may regla ka ba?"

He sounds concern and sincere but his remark just really annoyed me to the core.

I dropped the call and diverted my gaze to Antoinette. 

" Ano yung tinatanong mo?" I fixed the strap of my bag on my sore shoulder to gently massage it. 

My arms and shoulders are really weak. My bag is almost empty, it only has my water bottle, wallet, phone and extra shirts but it was more than enough to make my shoulder sore. I didn't bring any notebooks nor papers since it's our field trip. 

We're currently inside the gym waiting to be called by our advisers who will lead us to our designated bus. 

" You're tagalog's improving, ah.." She teased me. " May accent pa rin pero at least hindi ka na bulol." 

She laughed while I sat back on the bench. I looked around and saw Louise on the exit with his classmates. 

" Louise didn't get his way to our bus, huh?" I laughed. 

Antoinette watched her boyfriend leave the gym while laughing with me. I even saw Louise look at us with a sad expression.

Louise has been very adamant of staying in our bus to be with his girlfriend. Unfortunately, his adviser won't let him due to unknown reasons. 

Minutes after that, we were fetched by our adviser and led us to our bus. My classmates were about to hop inside but Sir Reinne stopped them.

" You will be paired by two. You must be with your partners whole throughout the trip to prevent any unfortunate events," He gave me and Antoinette a glance that made us sigh. 

What happened to us has reached the school that's why I'm not even surprised that they created this rule due to fear of it happening again. 

" Umakyat kayo with your partners once I call your name, understood?" 

Some of us groaned and sighed because of their lousy rule but we can't do anything, we didn't want to keep standing here so we just agreed to what Sir Reinne said. 

Nagsimula nang magtawag ng mga pangalan si Sir Reinne. He already called Antoinette, she was partnered with Stacy. Lucky her. 

I patiently waited outside until Sir Reinne finally mentioned my surname together with my partner's.

" Mendiola and Montecarlo." 

I walked towards him and saw Renard, my partner for this trip. He was kind enough to carry my bag and let me walk in the bus first. 

It's nice to know that the person I'll be spending the next few hours with are not an annoying asshole like... someone I know. 

Psh.

Alas raised his right eyebrow at me when he caught me looking at him. I looked at the person beside him and saw our class muse. 

Good for him. 

I walked pass them and went to the two available seats in the back of the bus. It's nice in here, very peaceful unlike the seats located in the middle where it's noisy. 

I'm not planning to have chitchats nor happy times with people in this trip. Sleep and take pictures of the sceneries, that's my only goal today. 

It's not like I can have fun without Antoinette being my partner. Renard's kind, yes, but I'm still not comfortable with him. 

Especially that he's like this. Intently staring at me with a smile plastered on his face as if he just won the lottery. 

" Is there something on my face?" I asked him as I lost my last string of patience. 

Being stared at is uncomfortable, what more if he's smiling like an i***t?!

" Huh? Wala!" His eyes went huge and quickly looked away from me. He laughed awkwardly while scratching his head. 

" Are you sick?" I asked him again. 

He's good to me so far, I have no reasons to be grumpy with him. Just you know, stop with the creepy stares and smile. 

" B-bakit?" He's now rubbing his hands together. 

He looks so nervous! Did I do something bad?

" You're very red." I pointed at his face who's now like a tomato. 

Seriously what's with him? 

" You're.. You're so beautiful, Elle." A small smile quickly escaped his lips.

What he said made me frozen in my seat. I secretly pinched my hand to snap out of it and look at the window beside me. 

What's with the sudden confession?!

Dang it..

 What am I supposed to do? He looks like a shy ball of sunshine beside me right now!

I felt my phone vibrated that's why I immediately took it out from my bag.

' In fairness sa poging yan ah. Speed.'

Because of that, I was forced to lift my head and saw almost all of our classmates looking at us with those teasing eyes. Especially the person who sent me the message.

Antoinette winked at me. She's enjoying this, huh?

I get it, Renard's pretty good looking. He's a neat type of guy. The one you can proudly introduce to your parents. 

But dude..

I don't even know myself. How am I supposed to appreciate these admirers?

Thankfully, the bus started moving so everyone felt the excitement of this field trip and looked away from us. I plugged in my airpods and didn't spare Renard a single glance. 

I entertained myself by watching the landmark and cars we pass by. Minutes later and I successfully drifted to dream land.

" Elle.."

I felt someone poking my shoulders.

I didn't bother to budge and just continue on my sleep. Good thing the poking stopped as well. 

Or so I thought..

" What the hell?!" I screamed while holding my cheek. 

Someone just slapped me!

I looked at the person responsible for this and wasn't even surprised to see Antoinette. She's the only one who can do this to me!

Uhh, well, besides the Villareal cousins and Georgina. But you get my point!

" Tulog mantika!" Antoinette hissed, she's standing beside Renard and Stacy. 

" That hurts you--"

" Sorry, okay? Kanina ka pa ginigising ni Renard pero ayaw mo magising. You needed that slap." She reasoned out. 

Does that even justify her slap?!

" Where are we?" I asked while fixing myself to go out. The bus seems pretty empty already, we were the only ones left. 

" I don't know. Basta thirty-minute stop over daw sabi ni Sir Reinne." 

I nodded and went out with them. Renard was nice enough to let me have my time with Antoinette and Stacy while he went with his friends. 

" I'm hungry.." I whispered. 

I didn't had any breakfast before leaving the house which I now regret.

My tummy's growling!

" Chowking, Jollibee, or Starbucks?" Stacy laid out the choices. 

Not in the mood for chinese food, nor a happy bee. 

" Starbucks. I need coffee, man." They both agreed with me. 

We were all craving for coffee at some point! We woke up at midnight and now it's already around 9 am. 

We badly need that coffee!