A few days later~ Thursday.
“Hey,” Declan rushed after Tiffany.
“Wait up, you two!” He yelled and stopped walking which made Tiffany and Zoey stop walking.
“I’ve been calling you guys since,” he inhaled and moved closer to them.
“It’s not like you called our names, you’ve been screaming ‘hey’ like a fool. Do you expect us to answer that?” Tiffany frowned her face.
“Must you always show that you are good with words?” Declan frowned.
“Well…” Tiffany shrugged her shoulder off.
“Zoey, I need to talk to you,” Declan said, boring his eyes into the lady.
“Why?” Zoey raised a brow.
“I gotta discuss something with you. Please.”
“Oh, someone said please, I guess he’s quite desperate,” Tiffany said sarcastically and looked away.
“Don’t you dare interfere in what I’m saying,” Declan groaned through gritted teeth.
“Oh, maybe you do not know, if I don’t want her to go to you, she won’t. You better don’t get me pissed off right now. It’s not like I sent you to announce my cute bestie as your girlfriend in front of your whöre,” Tiffany hissed.
“W… What?!” Declan exclaimed, perplexed.
He didn’t expect that Zoey was going to tell Tiffany about it.
Oh, what was he even saying, that was given. They were friends.
“Why did you tell her?” Declan frowned.
“You didn’t want me to know? Oh, too bad I know already,” Tiffany tilted her head and stuck her tongue out.
“You…!”
“What do you need to discuss with me?” Zoey interrupted.
Even though these two are not pulling pranks at each other any longer, she doubts if they were going to be on good terms.
Yesterday, when they had met at the field during lunch break, they got on each other’s throats.
The fight was supposed to be between Aiden and Declan but instead, Tiffany got involved and insulted Declan with every strength she had in her.
Those two were like cat and mouse, she doubt if they will ever agree with each other.
“Of course, it is about you pretending to be his girlfriend,” Tiffany interfered again, with a casual look as if she didn’t say a word.
“Tiff…” Zoey pressed her lips together and glanced slowly at her.
“So-rry!” Tiffany drawled in an accent.
“Can’t it be discussed here? As you can see, I’m enjoying my break with my bestie,” Zoey turned to face Declan.
“I know… Five minutes? Please,” Declan twitched his mouth.
“But…” Zoey sighed and glanced at Tiffany.
“Just go, I’ll wait at the rooftop,” Tiffany sneered.
“I’m sorry. ”
“You shouldn’t be sorry, this good for nothing àsshôlé should be the one apologizing. But what was I expecting from someone tall like a coconut tree? Huh,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“Tsk, Aiden is tall also. He’s also like a coco… ”
“Excuse me, even though Aiden is tall, he’s still more presentable. But you? Oh, don’t get me started,” Tiffany hissed and used her hands to rearrange the fridge of her hair.
“What?! He is more presentable. Haha, I should…”
“Enough Declan, can we leave already? Tiffany, I’ll meet you soon, okay? “Zoey grabbed Declan’s shirt by his chest and pull him along with her.
“Huh,” Tiffany sighed and then turned to walk away.
”I wonder if Aiden is at the rooftop…” She murmured as she walked slowly.
~
“Aiden!” Tiffany called out as she reached the rooftop and saw the back view of Aiden that she can never fail to recognize.
“Anny baby,” Aiden turned back swiftly and waved his hands at her.
”Since when have you been here?” Tiffany asked and placed her hand reluctantly on his fully stretched palm.
“I just got here. You weren’t in your class, I didn’t see you at the cafeteria, so I thought you were here,” Aiden answered as he watched her rest her hand on the railing beside him.
“We only went to the cafeteria to buy snacks.”
“Where is Zoey?” he asked and turned to look back.
“Oh, Declan came to get her. He said he needed to discuss something with her. Huh, he’s not like he’s going to ask her out for real, he will only ask her to pretend to be his girlfriend,” Tiffany hissed.
“You also know that?” Aiden chuckled.
“Of course. She told me how he called her his girlfriend in front of Lauren. That girl almost stabbed us with her glares in the classroom,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“How could she do that?” Aiden laughed.
“If look could kill. Oh, Aiden, I’d be déàd by now.”
“You sure are something, aren’t you?” Aiden raised a brow and Tiffany shrug her shoulder.
“By the way, Aiden, I’ve decided on the group to join. Although, I have two in mind,” Tiffany said.
“Really? What is that? ”
“Singing and Archery. Listen, I love music. And that is because it makes me relax and feel calm. With music, I can get rid of every noise in my head. As for Archery, don’t you think I’ll look cool shooting an arrow?” Tiffany tilted her head, staring at Aiden.
“So, you wish to join archery because shooting an arrow will make you look cool?” Aiden raised his brows.
“Exactly,” Tiffany snapped her fingers and Aiden laughed.
“So, you like music because it makes you feel so calm, right?”
“Yes.”
“To decide, let’s see first. Sing a song that comes to your mind at the moment,” Aiden tugged his lips into a smile.
“No. Never!” Tiffany looked away hurriedly.
“Why?” Aiden laughed.
“I can’t sing in front of people, I find it uncomfortable,” Tiffany hissed and turned to look at him.
“Come on, give it a trial,” Aiden nudged her.
“But, I don’t even have a good voice,” Tiffany frowned.
“Let’s give it a trial, we’ll know for sure after you do that,” Aiden smiled encouragingly at her.
“Okay, but on one condition,” Tiffany raised her index finger.
“Which is? ”
”You’ll look away. Don’t expect me to sing right in front of you.”
“Why? Will that make your heart race?” Aiden teased and leaned closer.
“Get lost!” Tiffany leaned back and Aiden laughed.
“So, which song will you sing? I’ll go download the instrumental so that you will feel more vibes to sing the song,” Aiden offered.
“Okay. So… Should I sing Adele’s songs, Rihanna… Oh, I’ll sing ghost by J. B. I love that song,” Tiffany clasped her hands together.
“You also know Ghost by Justin Bieber?!” Aiden widened his eyes.
“Who doesn’t know it?” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“I have the instrumental, I love the song so much,” Aiden smiled and removed his phone from his pocket.
“Let’s sing that then,” Tiffany said to Aiden who was going through his phone.
“Yup! You ready?” Aiden glanced at her then at his phone.
“Get your face off me then I’m good to go,” Tiffany rolled her eyes and Aiden laughed.
“Okay,” he said and turned slowly, making his back face her.
“You ready?” He asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay! Here I come,” he grinned and played the instrumental.
?
Youngblood thinks there’s always tomorrow,
I miss your touch on night when I’m hollow,
I know crossed a bridge that I can’t follow,
Since the love that you have is all that I got,
I want you to know that if I can’t be close to you,
I’ll settle for the ghost of you,
I miss you more than life…
And if I can’t be next to you, your memory is ecstasy,
I miss you more than life,
I miss you more than life!”
?
While Tiffany was singing, Aiden had already turned to look at her and smiled heartily as he watched the expression on the lady’s face.
Her eyes were tightly shut and she was singing with pure passion.
It was as if it was her who sang the song for she sang the song like she had it dedicated to someone she had lost.
After a while, Tiffany opened her eyes slowly, drawing the last part of the song which says, ‘I miss you more than life…”
“That was beautiful!” Aiden clapped his hands, staring at her.
“Don’t tell me you watched me sing,” she creased her brow.
“Don’t blame me, I needed to see the beautiful face behind that voice,” Aiden smiled and watched her face redden.
“Screw you!” Tiffany hissed and hit him on his chest.
“I’m sorry,” Aiden laughed.
“Whatever.”
“I think you should sing. You can’t let go of this talent, ” Aiden suggested.
“You think so? ”
“Yes.”
“I can’t sing in front of people though,” Tiffany bowed her head.
“Then I’ll always come to watch you sing. Better, right?” Aiden raised a brow.
“Hmm,” Tiffany nodded her head.
“So, while we’re at it, would you like to give me your autograph before your debut?” Aiden leaned closer to her, smiling mischievously.
“Get lost!” Tiffany hissed.
”I’m serious, upcoming celebrity,” Aiden laughed.
“Aiden!” Tiffany frowned her face but soon burst into laughter at the guy’s mischievousness.
~~
“Why should I agree to do this?” Zoey folded her hands tightly across her chest.
They were in a vacant classroom, standing by the window.
“Because I need you to. Zoey, my dad, and her dad plan to get us married,” Declan said with an angry expression.
“I don’t care,” Zoey shrugged her shoulder.
“Please. You know I’ve never begged for things I want in my life but I gotta do this. Because you are a friend of Tiffany, I doubt if she will harm you. Just do this for me. I need her to get off me. I need her to get pissed and call off the engagement on her own,” Declan said almost breathlessly.
“Who told you I can do this? Who told you I want to go into a fake relationship?” Zoey raised a brow.
“It’s… I know, but… Please,” Declan stammered.
“Look, I… ”
She was interrupted immediately Declan took her hands in his.
“What is…”
“Lauren is here, can you just pretend for a while?” Declan covered the space between them.
“Declan, I… ”
“Please,” moved his face closer to her ear and whispered to her ear which sent a tingling feeling down the lady’s spine.
Oh God, when she was just getting rid of the feelings she had for the guy.
“Declan!” Lauren barged in, with two girls trailing behind her.
“Oh, It’s Lauren,” Declan forced a smile and pulled away from Zoey a little.
“What the fûck are you doing with this girl?” Lauren gritted her teeth, and clenched her fist, trying to keep her anger in check.
She wished she could kîll the girl right now!
“This girl? Come on, this girl is my girlfriend, Zoey,” Declan smiled and placed his hand gently on her golden hair.
“Girlfriend?! You don’t have a girlfriend. I am your girlfriend, the one your dad wants for you!” Lauren yelled.
“The one my dad wants for me and not the one I want for myself. Lauren, Zoey is the girl I love and as you can see, we are having a very serious conversation before you barge in, if you will excuse us, please,” Declan smiled.
“Damn me if I leave here! Say everything you need to say in my presence!” Lauren screamed, students already lurking around.
“Oh, not bad,” Declan shrug his shoulder and raised Zoey’s chin to look at him.
“So, babe, shall we go to the cinema together? It’s the movie you’ve been longing to see, ‘MARRY ME!” Declan giggled.
‘Woah, this guy is a great actor!’
Zoey thought.
“Really, I’ve always wanted to watch it,” Zoey faked a smile.
“It will air at the Cinema next week, shall we go together?”
“Who will you go with if not with me anyway?” Zoey pouted.
“It’s always you,” Declan grinned and then kissed her forehead.
“This is… Crazy! I refuse to watch any longer!” Lauren yelled in annoyance and stormed out of the classroom.
¶
“Declan has a girlfriend?”
“Gosh, I can’t believe this.”
“She’s not even cute.”
“How can he like someone looking like her?”
¶¶
“Can you all give us some privacy, huh?” Declan said gently, yet intimidatingly.
“Fûck! How could you do that?!” Zoey yelled as soon as everyone left and wiped her forehead with her palm.
“I had to, sorry,” Declan chuckled.
“What?!” Zoey shot him a cold glare.
“Nothing.”
“How could you kiss me with that lips that feel like an iron sponge on my forehead?” She hissed.
“What?! My lips are like iron sponge?!”
“Yes!” Zoey retorted.
“You can’t say that, I have the softest lips in the world,” Declan boasted.
“Huh, here comes an arrogant prîck,” Zoey sneered.
“What?! Arr… Arrogant prîck?!” Declan widened his eyes.
“Yes!” Zoey stuck her tongue at him.
==
In a place where humans can never be, a place no one knew existed, the only space where only the guardians and angels dwell, the neatest place ever. The space was pure white and everything that was inside of it was pure white.
Everyone was dressed in white and had different hair colors except for one middle-aged woman whose hair was silver and sat on the white cushion that was decorated like a throne.
Everyone sat around the white long table, waiting impatiently for the arrival of the mountain guardian and the lion spirit.
After a while, the lion spirit and the mountain guardian appeared in white attire and silver ornaments, which matches with the rest of the guardians.
”You are always the last to arrive,” the middle-aged woman whose name was Harengon said slowly as she watched them take their seats.
“Benroy, how is going with the ruling of Sabalem mountain?” Harengon asked the mountain guardian whose name was originally Benroy.
“It is a pleasure to tell you that I’ve been managing very well,” he bowed slightly.
“Chephirah, how is it with the animals?”
“They are doing good under my control,” the lion spirit whose name was originally Chephirah answered.
“Before we address the topic in which I had gathered every one of you, Euphoria, what happened in your Oceania?” Harengon turned to face the guardian of water.
“A human fell in the ocean and lived. He was able to breathe underwater… Which had never happened. So, we’ve been wondering if he had a merman father or a mermaid mother,” Euphoria answered.
“Get to the bottom soon. I want it solved by the next gathering,” Harengon said and then turned to face the mountain guardian and the lion spirit.
“How do we solve Akilang’s issue?” She asked and everyone sighed.
The mountain guardian removed a long silver sword from his dress and dropped it on the table before him.
“The human girl must learn to control Akilang before we can use it on her,” he said.
“Why?”
“If we use it on her now, she will dîe and Akilang will perish inside of her. But to keep her alive, she must be able to control herself. With that, she will bring out Akilang in her and we’ll stab her with the sword. She won’t die, Akilang will only vanish,” the mountain guardian explained.
“In short, we need to wait for Akilang to wake up fully inside of that girl and begin to cause chaos. While causing chaos, she will learn to keep Akilang then stab her with it?” Harengon creased her brow.
“Yes.”
“Do you know how many lives that will be lost while waiting for that to happen?!” Harengon hit her palm on the table angrily.
“But we can’t kill the girl either,” the lion spirit said.
“She needs to die for everyone to be saved,” Euphoria interfered.
“But all of this is not her fault!” The lion spirit snapped.
“Who cares? She will kill everyone when the Demon wakes up!” Euphoria retorted.
“Listen! Kîll that child,” Chephirah raised her brows.
“What?!” The lion’s spirit widened her eyes.
“Kîll that child and let everything end, once and for all.” Harengon glared.
“B… But…”
“Kîll that child!” Harengon yelled, making the lion spirit who was interrupted flinch.
*
TBC…