Everything and everyone shows her that all will be okay, but Avie is anxious. It comes as an electrical storm in her brain that, quite honestly, is painful. It's different from a headache and it feels the same as intense sorrow, perhaps as a sort of frozen panic with nowhere to go. So though she appear calm, her sad eyes are saying far more than "Help me," they are saying that my soul is in such unbearable pain and all for the lack of real love.
Don't they know? It's not easy taking a step forward when you don't know where your foot will fall.
And anxiety is one of the reasons why Avie can't get out from her comfort zone.
Dapat pala hindi na'ko sumama. Kung hindi lang ako nandirito, siguro tinutulungan ko na si Tito Qrow sa paglaba. Pagmukmok ni Avie sa upuan.
Depunyetang yawa ka kasi dapat lumusot na ka na para 'di makasama. Tuloy niya pa.
"Yo'ko ng horror booth!" Tutol ng isang babaeng mukhang nagbibigay ng 'liptint girl' vibes.
Hindi mapigilan ni Avie na mapangiwi dahil naka-ilang layer na siya ng liptint sa labi. By staring at her lips, I feel like i can't eat.
Tinitigan naman siya ng kaniyang kaibigan na may mukhang; 'Are you serious?' "Horror booth is like, The most noticeable booth in every school festival and it's so very cheap to do it!"
"But in order to do it, We need actors." Seele stated while taking notes with her adorable notepad.
The liptint girl named Lexi De Loughrey gave them a disgusting look. "I ain't gonna do all the actor's works and most importantly, Hindi ako mag-co-contribute kung Horror booth ang napili natin."
Tatsuhaki squinted his eyes and knitted his eyebrows in annoyance. He admits, Lexi's family contributed alot in Johnson University kumbaga ay isa na si Lexi sa mga importanteng tao sa unibersidad, nabibilang na rin siya.
Lexi might be important but her personality is a bit annoying and frustrating.
Tatsuhaki groaned out of boredom. I'm starving...
Napansin naman ni Tatsuhaki ang ekspresyon na pinapakita ni Avie na mukhang gusto niyang magsalita but for unknown reasons, Avie seems to held herself back from talking.
By the looks of it, He immediately assumed that she had a social anxiety that made him wanna laugh, not because of Avie's anxieties but because he seems to also have anxiety when he's younger.
Kaya naiintindihan niya ang nararamdaman ni Avie. Lalo na ang anxiety na naka-bakat sa mukha nito. Mukha ngang konti na lang matutunaw na siya na parang kandila.
"Masyadong common na ang Horror booth." Tugon ng isa.
"Halos lahat naman ng universities may Horror booth sa school festivals nila."
"Then how about a Marriage booth?" Suggest ng isa.
"Masyadong jejemon." Sambit pa ng isa. "Tsaka batuhin ko pa ng tsinelas kapag nakakita ako ng mag-jowa."
"Palibhasa kasi single ka pa." Komento ng kaibigan nito.
"Wooow, Nagsalita ang walang jowa."
"How about a café?" Seele suggested with taking her notes down. "I think a café will make us win the event."
"An event?" Ask one of her friends.
Seele nodded her head. "Kung sinong maraming customers, Siyang mananalo sa patimpalak. So i think a Café will get us so maanyyy customers."
Lexi groaned. "Too much work."
"So you prefer Horror booth?" Asked Naoki with a grin. The way he sit is unusual and not so typically normal but since his classmates got used to it, They just let him sit the way he wants it.
"Why? You want it?" Lexi then gave him a flirty look.
"What if i do?" Balik ni Naoki.
"I'm glad to give it to you."
Seems like their conversation is way more far than their current topic which is why Seele thinks they're being rude not just to her, but to all of their classmates.
Don't get her wrong, It's normal to have a conversation like that but be more considerate to other people who's trying to solve things out. Good manners to other people is very essential to her.
She's like the girl version of Levi.
"Uhh..." Seele looked at the both of them. "I suggest we must continue this out kasi sa Friday na ang school festival. Kung maggaganyan lang naman kayo, Pwede na kayong umalis."
Avie then elbowed Tatsuhaki. "Should we stop them?" She asked quitely.
Mas lumapad ang ngisi ng binata. "Hell no, Things are getting interesting."
"You're a worst friend." Komento ni Avie.
"Why, Thank you." Biglang ngumiti si Tatsuhaki sa kaniya nang ikina-inis niya. Matindi niyang pinandilatan si Tatsuhaki habang ang lalaki naman ay natatawa.
Proud pa talaga ang loko.
"Don't you have any humor on 'ya?" Lexi raised an eyebrow towards her as if she's challenging Seele to a fight. "Palibhasa kasi 'di sumaya childhood mo, Buti lang na bugbugin ka ng magulang mo."
"Lexi! That was below the belt!"
"That was too much!"
"Tangina, Aabangan ko 'to sa kanto."
Avie then gave Seele a worried look. This time, Wala siyang magawa kundi ang manood lang. She actually don't have enough courage to defend Seele from Lexi. As much as she wants to defend her dear friend, Her cowardness held her back.
Seele elicit a chuckle. "Naging personal-an ah." Tawa niyang sabi.
A smirk crept onto Lexi's lips. "Depends on 'ya if you're taking it personal or not."
Avie took a deep breath and muster all her courage as she opens the door which leads her outside her comfort zone.
"S-she was just saying to stop talking with an another topic and listen to what Seele was gonna say." Mahinang sabi ni Avie. She can't bear seeing her friend having a heated argument with an another person, it hurts her deeply.
Tatsuhaki wad a bit shock to what he saw, Avie just forced herself to talk and defend Seele. For some reason, It make him wanna smirk because he finds this amusing.
"If you're not participating and cooperating with, I suggest you should back out." She continued without hesitating any words she spoke.
Binaling ni Avie ang tingin kay Naoki na mukhang walang pake sa nangyayari. Avie even shot him a glare.
"And Sir Katsushima, You're the V-president. You should be the one stopping this nonsense between you and Lexi. Ikaw pa naman nag-set na ganitong meet up." She stated with confident and courage in her voice.
"Huh?" Lexi scoffed at her, ipinatong niya ang kaniyang baba sa palad niya na may mahahabang kuko sa daliri. "Pati ba naman ikaw? Wala ba talaga kayong humor or sadyang bobo kayong dalawa para umintindi ng sitwasyon?"
"Ask yourself first, Ms. De Loughrey. Marunong ka bang umintindi ng sitwasyon kung saan nanganganib ang grades natin habang ikaw ay nakikipaglandian kay Sir Katsushima?" Balik ni Avie.
Avie can feel his heart burning for some reason. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, basta't wala siya tamang pag-iisip at hindi mapigilan ang sarili sa pagsasalita. "O sadyang wala kang utak?"
"Who the fuck are you?!" Lexi stood up, attracting attentions from other people besides their classmates.
Bigla niyang sinugod si Avie pero nad'yan ang kaniyang mga barkada para pigilan at awatin siya. "You don't know who you're messing with, You useless shit! Hindi niyo ba alam na nagkakasiyahan lang kami? At anong nakikipaglandian? Baka bangasan ko baba mo, impakta ka!"
"Tanginamo ka, Balibag kita."
Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Avie sa takot dahilan para mapa-urong siya at tumama ang katawan niya sa katawan ni Tatsuhaki na hindi namamalayan. She was breathing intensely and started to fidget the silver ring located at her thumb. "Pero hindi ngayon ang oras makipag-biruan when our grades are on the line."
"Tatanggalan kita ng buhok, Hayop ka!" Marahas na nakawala si Lexi mula sa mga barkada niya para sugurin si Avie. Nanggagalaiti siya sa galit, gusto niya ng mahambalos si Avie at tanggalan 'to ng kuko.
Pero hindi pa siya nakakalapit ay bigla siyang hablutin ni Tatsuhaki sa buhok. "Na-ah, You're not gonna touch my toy." He said with a devilish grin plastered on his lips.
He suddenly pulled her down on the ground making her sit infront of them. "In that position, You fucking rock it." He teased with that freaking smirk that made him look so...hawt.
"Lexi! Stop it!" May kabarkadang babae ang humatak sa kaniya. "I told you to stop, Aren't I?!"
Lexi clicked the roof of her tounge while shotting Avie a deadly glare. "It's not fucking over yet, You ugly goat." She spatted at her.
"And you!" Galit na turo ni Lexi kay Tatsuhaki.
Tatsuhaki shot her a provoking smile. "Tatsuhaki Hideyoshi, Nice to fucking meet'cha."
"I'll fucking put you behind the bars!" Malakas niyang sigaw habang hatak hatak siya ng kaibigang babae papalayo sa kanila para maka-iwas ng ano pang atensiyon.
Natawa na lang ng mahina si Tatsuhaki. "This is quite... Interesting." He mumbled under his breath.
Seeing Lexi in that state makes him wanna record it and play it over and over because it's so ridiculously hilarious to watch.
"Tatsu..." Avie uttered and tug the hem of his jacket. "I don't feel okay..." Mahinang bulong nito na si Tatsuhaki lang ang makakarinig.
"Oh..." Ang tanging nasabing ni Tatsuhaki sa nakita. Avie seems to be breathing heavily and had a pained look plastered on her face.
I should bring her home. Tatsuhaki thought with a bored look on his face. Kahit sa ekpresyon na pinapakita, nanatili siyang kalmado para sa kapakanan ng dalaga.
"Hoy, Tatsuhaki! Pati ba naman si Lexi papatulan mo?" Tila galit angaa tono ng kaibigang lalaki ni Lexi nang nag-desisyon siyang kaharapin si Tatsuhaki.
"Tol! Babae 'yon! Baka konting respeto sa mga babae!" Tuloy nito.
"Rogers! Tama na!" Awat ng kaklaseng babae na hinahablot ang kamay niya. "Tapos na, okay?! Nakakahiya na sa mga tao!"
"Pero puta pumapatol sa babae eh!" Tuloy niya pa saka sinadyang tinulak si Tatsuhaki sa balikat na mukhang naghahamon ng away. "Ano? Bakla ka ba? T*ti ba ang habol mo?!"
"Rogers!"
Gaawddd... Tatsuhaki rolled his eyes and fixed himself, sandaling pinagpagan ang balikat saka pinatunong ang mga buto sa daliri. He's fucking getting in my nerves...
Avie exhales in difficulty. "T-Tatsu..." She uttered quitely saka marahan na hinahatak ang damit. "I can't feel my legs..."
"Tangnamo, Ano? Nababaklaan ka na ba sa'kin?!" Panghahamon ng lalaki.
"Tatsu..."
Mariin na pinikit ni Tatsuhaki ang mga mata bago hinanda ang sarili para bigyan ng malakas na suntok ang lalaking naghahamon sa kaniya. His punch just knocked the hell out of him like he's a piece of paper.
Loud gasp filled the place as they terrifyingly watched Tatsuhaki shaking his hands without a pained look on his face. Base sa mukha ng binata, Mukhang sanay na'tong makipag-suntukan sa kalye at iskinita. Parang papel lang lalaking sinuntok niyang walang kahirap-hirap.
"Touch my toy, You fucking die."
Tatsuhaki's last words before giving him a stare as if he would kill him any minute. Lifting Avie in his broad arms and leaving the place without saying goodbye.
Ang ibang kabarkada ng lalaking nasuntok ni Tatsuhaki ay dinala at inalis sa lugar para gamutin ang sugat na natamo nito. "Sinabihan na wag kalabanin si Tatsuhaki eh."
"Ba't kasi hindi niyo pinigilan!"
"Nakita mong kumakain ako eh!"
"Gago ka ba? Inuna 'yong pagkain kaysa sa kaibigan."
"Bakit? Hindi naman kayo nanlilibre ah! Why bother myself saving y'all sorry asses?"
"Why's Vance crying?" Asked one of their classmates once they noticed Avie's condition.
"I don't know." Tugon ng katabi. "Is she sick or something?"
"I don't know either." Tugon ulit nito.
Seele sighed and held her head. "This meeting is a mess." Kahit ganon ay parang nangingibabaw ang kaniyang pag-alala kung anong nangyari kay Avie.
I hope she's alright.
"That's it..." Naoki said, attracting their attentions. "We'll do a Café"
"I want a K-pop Café."
"A Cat Café is better."
Naoki gave them a 'Are-you-serious' look. "A Kpop Café will give us a hard time getting everybody practice a certain dance and talk in korean. Mas lalo na ang Cat Café, mahirap mag-alaga ng pusa, baka tumae bigla, damputin niyo na lang ah."
"How about a Maid Café?" Suggest ng lalaking kaklase.
Agad-agad namang nag-react ang mga babae saka siya pakyuhan ng mga ito. "Gago ka ba? There's no way we're gonna do that." Iritang tugon ng babae.
"Unfair naman kung Butler Café, Mukhang mga bulok na saging ang mga kaklase nating lalaki." Natutuwang sambit ng babae.
"'Kala mo pato 'yong bibig, amputa." Natatawang tugon ng katabi.
"Gaganda niyo ah." Sarkastikong wika ng mga lalaki.
"How about a Cosplay Café?" Seele suggested with a soft smile. Stopping them from their nonsense bickering.
- - -
"Tatsu..." Patuloy ni Avie. Hindi niya rin makontrol ang bilis na kaniyang pag-hinga at kasing bilis ng tren ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. "I'm scared..."
She's having a panic attack. Damn it. Tatsuhaki clicked the roof of his tounge and kept running despite people around him giving him weird looks for lifting Avie in bridal style.
"Tatsu..."
Nang makarating sa parking lot, Kasing bilis ng cheetah si Tatsuhaki nang lumapit siya sa kotse nito. He gently put Avie inside and went inside with her.
"What the fuck? What should i do?" Asked Tatsuhaki to himself, seeing Avie in a weak state like this hurts him for some reason. He can't bear looking Avie in a situation like this.
She was breathing heavily, Crying her eyes out and her whole body is terrifyingly trembling. As if the Winter Season currently present inside Tatsuhaki's car.
"What's happening to you?" Sa wakas, Ang boses ni Tatsuhaki ay naging malambing pakinggan. Hindi na ito 'yong boses na laging naghahamon ng away at malakas na nagmumura.
Malalim na huminga si Avie bago magsalita habang marahan na hinihilot ang dibdib. "This is like a response, Happens when I'm scared or my anxiety is striking."
"A response?" May kinuha na panyo si Tatsuhaki saka ginamit ito para punasan ang pawis kahit malamig ang atmospera sa loob ng kotse.
Tumango si Avie. "Mawawala rin ito. I'll be back to normal later."
"Hope so." Tugon ng binatilyo saka tumabi sa kaniya na parang pagod din. "Just breath normally." Tuloy nito.
"I'm trying" Ani Avie saka humihikbi pa ito. "I hate this..." Mahina niyang bulong pero sapat na para marinig ito ni Tatsuhaki.
"Ano bang nangyari sa'yo? Why are you having this kind of response?" Ang pagtatanong ni Tatsuhaki sa rosas. "This is extremely unusual for a person to have a response like this." Tatsuhaki shot her a worried look which made Avie's eyes widened because this new side Tatsuhaki is showing.
Parang ibang tao ang nasa tabi niya, na hindi si Tatsuhaki ito. A worried Tatsuhaki must be treasure and cherish no matter what because this is so insanely rare!
Kinuha ni Tatsuhaki ang tumbler niya, Binuksan ito bago pinainom si Avie and let Avie answer him. "Personal reasons, Tatsu." Tugon ng rosas.
Malakas na napabuntong-hininga si Tatsuhaki. "I understand, Let's play a game then." He said.
"A game?" Asked Avie in confusion.
"Are you deaf? That's just what i said, You dummy." Pinandilatan siya ni Tatsuhaki nang ikinatuwa ni Avie.
"Okay, Okay! You don't need to be angry." Natutuwang wika ni Avie.
Tatsuhaki sighs out before explaining his game. "It's just a single game, Answer each other's 10 questions truthfully."
"Sounds fun." Tugon ni Avie na malapad na nakangiti.
"Me first" Said Tatsuhaki, Inayos ang pagkakaupo saka hinarap si Avie na nakasandal sa pintuan ng kotse. "What's your full name?" He starts the game by asking his first question.
Avie chuckled softly. "Avillia Celestina Vance" Sagot nito sa tanong ng binata.
"Favorite food?" Asked again by Tatsuhaki.
"That will be uhmm..." Napaisip si Avie ng taimtim. Don't blame her, Avie is a type of girl who believes in a saying like "Food Is Life."
"Bulalo" Sagot niya na nakangiti ng malapad.
"Favorite desse--"
Avie cuts him off by answering his question again. "Pudding" As if she already knew what he was about to ask. Once again, Don't blame Avie for being a sweet tooth.
"Gawd, G na g ka kapag matatamis ah." Komento ni Tatsuhaki.
Marahan na natawa si Avie. "Of course, Sinong hindi ma g na g sa matatamis?"
"Coffee or Tea?"
"I'm a coffee person, Thank you." She asked as if she's a contestant in a pageant show.
"Cat or Dog?"
"Rabbits" She answered.
Pinandilatan naman siya ni Tatsuhaki. "That's not part of my question."
"I'm not a Cat person neither a dog person!" Tugon niya. "I'm allergic to them."
"Fine" He sighs out. "Games or Sports?"
"Games, I'm into Call of Duty and Resident Evil games." Hindi mawala-wala ang ngiti na nakalapat sa labi ng dalagita. Ganon din ang kasiyahan na nararamdaman niya.
"Books or Phones?"
"What kind of question is that? Tinatanong pa ba 'yan?" Balik ni Avie na parang hindi makapaniwala sa tanong ng binata.
"B O O K S !" She answered with a strong tone. "I love the smell of new books, It's comforting and relaxing."
Tatsuhaki rolled his eyes at her. "Favorite music?" He continued.
"Let's see..." Napaisip muli si Avie. "Before i play piano, I love Imagine Dragon and The Score's musics especially Kana-Boom and Randwimps' musics and now, I love Yiruma's composed musics."
"Wtf?" Hindi makapaniwalang komento ni Tatsuhaki. " You play piano?"
"Yep! I joined J.U. Music Club." Sagot niya na walang halong kasinungalingan.
"Don't you mind playing a music for me?" He smirked at her.
Agad na iniling ni Avie ang ulo. "I'm not yet a professional pianist and not in a million years, Tatsu. Never!"
So adorable... Tatsuhaki thought in his mind, Seeing Avie's puffed cheeks whenever she's angry makes him want to squish it to death.
"Favorite place?"
"Hospital" Agad na sagot ni Avie na mukhang hindi nagdadalawang isip sa sinagot niya.
"Wtf? Why?!" Pagtataka ni Tatsuhaki. What the hell? Why would she like that disgusting place?! That place is always suffocating to begin with!
Avie shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, Maybe I've gotten used to it." Natatawa niyang sagot dahil tunay ngang nakakatawa ang ekspresyon na pinapakita ni Tatsuhaki.
"You're weird" Komento ni Tatsuhaki sa kaniya.
Avie shot him a wide smile. "Why, Thank you~"
"Fine, That's all of it." He said before scratching his neck. "Gotta hit this car and go home." Before he could go outside, Avie stopped him from doing it.
She hold his hand back. "Nu-uh, Nice try, Tatsu. We're not done yet."
"Fuck it" Mahinang bulong nito.
Sinubukan niyang lumusot but it seems Avie noticed it and held him back. "10 questions, Right? This will be fun."
Unknowingly, A smirk find its way to Avie's lips.
- - -
Hi? Hirap pala pagsabayin kapag nasa hospital tapos may exam. HAHAHAHA