Lies over Love

Chapter 7

AILA

I knew in myself that I had done nothing wrong with Sandro. If there is any, that is probably doing some continuous interruptions and distractions to get the attention of our teacher so that he will not be given a chance to answer the recitations. Yes, I do that because I know that would affect Sandro’s standing in our class. But every time he looks at me, it seemed that he can turn me into ashes from his burning eyes!

I forced myself to forget what he said last time when we were in the school park. Maybe he’s just playing around. I just shook my head and continued looking in front.

Ynna is absent today for an unknown reason. She did not send me any message or a call so I have no idea why she could not come to school today. So here I am, just a chair away from Sandro.

It is almost lunchtime but it seemed like it is only eight o’clock in the morning because I am uninterested and do not have any desire to listen to the teacher in front. It feels really different without Ynna today, and it seems like I am going to be bored all day long.

I absentmindedly looked at what Sandro was doing. He is obviously bored because he is not looking and giving much attention to the blackboard but he was concentrating on his hands that were busy fidgeting with his ballpen. He slowly raised his hand that was holding a ballpen, and due to my ignorance and boredom from the class, my eyes followed the movement of the ballpen between his fingers.

A few moments later, I felt like I was poured by a bucket of cold water with plenty of ice when my eyes were no longer focusing on the ballpen. It was snatched by a pair of eyes like daggers staring sharply at me!

My eyes widened in embarrassment! s**t! Being without Ynna, I was down on one’s luck and very unfortunate that I do have a bigger chance of seeing and having contact with this man because there is no one blocking between the two of us!

 “Miss Rivas, you were looking at Mr. Espada for a while now. Is everything I teach here in front was written on his face?” the whole class fell silent and their eyes focused on our direction.

I was suddenly alarmed and dreaded in a cold sweat not only from the teacher's question and having the attention of the whole class but also because Sandro is still not taking away his eyes from me!

"Y-yes, Ma’am!" I suddenly realized what I had answered. W-what the f**k did I say?! “I mean, no, Ma’am! Sorry, I distracted you, I-I was just....” I could not finish what I was going to say because there was really no real reason why I looked at Sandro for so long.

"You were just what?" her eyebrows rose so I became more nervous.

"N-nothing, Ma’am." I just looked down and turned my attention to the book.

I always end up in a bad situation whenever I include Sandro even just a second in my life!

Lunchtime and since Ynna is not here, I am the only one eating here in the canteen-- alone. Not that I do not have friends but I am used to be with Ynna always. And because she is absent, there is no noise that can be heard from my desk.

 “Aila,” a familiar voice got my attention. I looked up and my intuition was correct-- it is Heather.

 Heather Myca Anderson, one of the famous girls on campus. Take note, it was just a few weeks since the school year had started but she already made an image and started to get the attention of everyone by just walking confidently while carrying her Chanel bag. How lucky, right?

 “Heather,” I answered unenthusiastically. Can she just walk directly to her friends and not bother me anymore? What does she need?

 “Why are you eating alone? Why don't you join us on the other table? You know, it is very sad and lonely if you do not have someone to talk with,” she asked sarcastically while raising an eyebrow. What does this woman need? There is nothing wrong with eating alone. Ugh, so lame.

 “It’s fine, Ynna is absent so I am just eating here alone. Is your table full? Do you want to sit here? There is enough space for us though,” I asked her again. One by one I stared at every single lady behind her who almost covered their faces with lip tint or cheek tint or whatsoever. Is that what they call the ‘drunk blush’? My goodness! I would rather call that a ‘ten-devil-slapped-me’ blush. I mentally laughed for what I was thinking.

Obviously, these women just stick to Heather also to get the attention of other students. I heard the two of them, the one with the Louis Vuitton bag and the other that has a cheek blush that was made by Lucifer, talking behind her back days ago. I was in the powder room when they talked about Heather being a s**t and a famewhore. It was not my intention to listen and eavesdrop but I know it was better to hide inside the cubicle rather than going outside.

 “No, thanks. There are seats ready for us on the other side. I just asked you because you might want to come and go along with us but I think you are okay here alone with yourself so we will go first. Bye, Aila.” She said this and walked ahead to the seat she was referring to and so did her so-called friends.

Before walking straight to their ‘own place’, some of her friends looked at me first as if they’ll scare me. Go bitches, your presence near me will just attract bad luck!

“Bitches,” I whispered to myself.

"I heard what you said," I almost ran out of my seat because of the voice coming from behind me. I slowly looked back at who it was.

 “Whoo-hoo! I got nervous for a second! I thought one of Heather's friends had overheard me, luckily it is just you. Thanks, God, I am safe!” I breathed a sigh of relief when Mayumi heard what I said. Mayumi is also one of my friends in the classroom. She is sitting behind me so she probably witnessed the entirety of whatever had happened earlier, and worse, she might have even noticed my reaction!

 “Hey, you look so terrified. So what if her friends had heard you? Eh, it is true that they are b***h— “

I quickly covered her mouth with my hand. We might get doomed because of her hasty mouth!

 “Shut up your mouth! You know I am avoiding any trouble. You know what that Heather can do if she’ll hear us! Fighting with her will stain my clean record!” I told her whispering yet tough. She pulled my arm away and I realized that I was holding her nose and mouth tightly which caused her to catch her breath as I let go.

"Aww, sorry," I apologized and laughed at her reaction.

"Gosh. Your hand is heavy, Aila!" She complaining about it. “By the way, you looked like a wet dog earlier when our teacher picked you up. It is undeniable that you have a crush on Sandro, ah?” She teased me while raising and lowering her eyebrows continuously.

 “What? What are you saying? Who would like that guy? All he did was nothing but to frown. Yes, he is smart... and we cannot deny that he is also handsome, but his attitude sucks!” I refused. Never. I will never like that man. Just because I looked at him, that does not mean that I like him. Lame.

"Hmmm, I doubt. All right, if you don't like him, why did you stare so hard at him earlier? I saw that, Aila. Duh.” She said and smiled at me sarcastically. She looked around as if she was looking for someone. And I, too, followed the sight of her eyes like a fool.

A tall man entered the canteen so I looked at him ahead of Mayumi.

Sandro with his normal poker-gorgeous face entered the place that made the girls head turn to his direction. This guy might have swum under when the sky poured some attitude of being elegant, and I really cannot deny how beautiful he is. But... I still do not like him.

 “There he is... and here you are again, looking like an i***t while staring at the guy who just entered.” Mayumi's words were shaking me as if something important has been confirmed. I do not know, just think about what you want to think.

"Keep your mouth shut. You talk a lot.”

I just continued eating my lunch while Mayumi is grinning in front of me and making herself busy with our assignment. I gave her mine so she has a basis. Only she and Ynna can look at my homework, and at the same time, I also teach them how I answered that so that they have the knowledge on how to get the correct answer and not just to literally copy everything. It is not about being selfish that I do not want my other classmates to copy their assignments from mine but I do not want them to depend on me. I also want them to strive harder, and that is for themselves. But I could not help myself but help them too.

The class is about to dismiss but one of our teachers gave us an additional take-home activity. Some of my classmates just scratched their heads out of disappointment and annoyance because they thought that we would end this day without any homework.

 “This activity should be done by pair. For example, Miss Rivas and Mr. Espada will go as a pair. Mr. Chen and Mr. Tuan are partners, so on and so forth.”

Truly the Gods had favored Ynna’s absence! Her nonexistent state is very timely that she really gave me the opportunity to be partnered with Sandro in this activity!

Our teacher distributed one paper per pair. One paper only! Meaning Sandro and I could not divide the paper into two. I came up with a plan that if I have two papers, I would bring the other one home and let him have the remaining. But heck! I will just do this by myself, I can do this. I do not need his help.

Sandro looked like a statue that he did not even bother to glance at my direction to check the paper. I should take and answer this at home by myself, it is such a shame for you!

Our teacher bid goodbye and my classmates stood up to go home. I was about to put the paper in my envelope when someone suddenly grabbed it from my hands.

"Let me answer this," he said in his baritone voice that stopped me from arranging my things.

 “No. Let me. I can do that,” I insisted as I snatched the paper from him.

“Are you sure? Some questions were difficult” he imposed. I know he’s just mocking me to make me let him answer the activity. And what? It will be a slap on my face if he’ll get every question right without me helping him!

“Of course, you know what can I do, Sandro, this activity is just a piece of cake!” I said trying to annoy the hell out of him!

He looked at me from head to toe as if he doubts my mental capabilities! What the hell, Sandro!

Huh!

He lifted it up high enough that I could not reach it so I just stood up straight and calmed myself. He looked carefully at the questions and it was obvious on his face that he knows the answers but I was just surprised when he suddenly flashed the paper in front of me.

"Okay," was his short answer and finally came out of the room.

So that was it? Fudge, Aila. What do you expect? That man will argue with you? Good thing that he just did that to end the conversation. I just shook my head and left the classroom.