The next day, Aila was still sluggishly going off her bed. Her head is throbbing; she did not get much sleep last night. She was tempted to create an account in the school forum just to peek at what people are saying about her and Tony. She was lurking in the forum, she almost had a heart attack when she saw comments tagging Vince and then her jaw dropped on the floor when she saw the most liked comment was from Tony himself.
"It was not an exchange of numbers, it was just me who asked for her number and now, after I tried calling her; it was the wrong number hahaha, nicely played Aila. I guess I have to see you again tomorrow and please if you are reading this, give me the correct one… goodnight!"
"Did I mess up with my number?"
Aila tilted her head with one of her hand on her forehead. She panted at the thought of them meeting again tomorrow.
He was quite a gentleman for trying to defend her on a public forum; it was a great bonus for his great looks.
Aila was quick to prepare for school. As she arrived in her building her eyes were wandering looking for the guy who's been ghosting her. It was quite an uncomfortable feeling for Aila that she is somehow longing for his company.
She let out a deep breath and tucked her hair behind her ears as she was taking the stairs. She saw Tony leaning against the railing, looking dapper in his school uniform.
His face lit up when he saw Aila, his smile was highlighted because of his perfect set of teeth.
"Good morning Aila, I'm sorry to bother you this early in the morning, but I think you gave me the wrong number yesterday."
Aila pretended to not know about it, "Ahh really? I might have mistyped it, let me check." Aila extended her hand to get Tony's phone and fix the saved number. She really did mistyped the last number. She gave Tony's phone back and noticed the saved name is Campus Beauty Aila.
She subconsciously let out half a smile.
"I'll go ahead, my class is about to start, bye." Aila waved her hand before she stepped away from Tony.
Tony looked at her as she ascended the stairs, then he leaped and punched in the air as if he won the lottery.
Aila's day went by in peace, but still that silly guy who bothers her every day for the past month was still missing in action. Somehow she can't find peace in her heart; it is troubling Aila to think that Yhuan will do that to her… to just leave without a word. She believed that what they shared was genuine, but also she can't find the courage in herself to be the first one to approach Yhuan.
Aila again walked alone to the bus stop, and to her dismay, Yhuan was still not in sight.
Today was particularly cold, Aila wore her brown coat, and both her hands are shoved in her coat's pocket. She was swinging her right foot, trying to hit the dried leaves near her. Her mind is lost in the thought of Yhuan disappearing on her.
"Is he doing this on purpose? Did I do something wrong? Did he figure out about me?" She blew out her cheeks and stretched her neck.
"Ahem, who's the lucky guy?" The baritone voice of Tony caught her attention.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Aila's forehead creased.
"You're alone and in deep thoughts, and unlike the past weeks, someone was always waiting for you outside. "
"I did not imagine you to be someone observant." Aila studied Tony's expression.
The corners of his mouth quirked up and ran his hands through his hair.
"Let's just say I don't appreciate competition, and right now while the coast is clear I would like to take my chances,"
A flush crept up her face hearing those words from Tony, but she wanted to be clear. She does not want another Vince on her conscience.
"I don't want to assume but, are you hitting on me right now?"
He turned crimson red with Aila's straightforward question; he coughed and stuttered when he attempted to answer.
"W..well I'd like to get to know you more." He said in a low voice while he was rubbing his right ear.
"I see. If so, then it's okay; I don't mind getting to know someone better, I just want to be clear that I am currently not eager to be in a relationship."
Her expression closed up with her determined answer.
Tony understood right away that Aila was accepting his friendship with nothing else. He felt a stinging pain in his chest, but he managed to give her a smile.
"I'd love to be your friend, Aila. Now I understand why there are too many men around you… you shut us down, but we keep hanging on."
Aila did not know how to respond. There was a hint of truth in his words. Though Aila did not fully comprehend their reason, she respects their decision.
"Can I ask… why do you hang on?"
The smile on Tony's face came back; he gazed at Aila's beauty and sighed.
"We hang on because maybe… somehow, we are hoping to be that one lucky bastard."
Aila felt very special with the attention and affection Tony has given her; there are a lot of women wanting to be his girl, but here he is taking his chance for her affection.
Monday morning, Aila was again walking alone to the bus stop, it has been like this for the past two weeks that she in one way or another had been used to it, used of his absence. Still not even a single word from him and what's worse is she still does not have the courage to be the first one to ask what happened.
"Girlfriend, you look so sad." Reese bumped her from behind.
"Silly, how can I look happy alone?" Aila was being a smartass just to hide the fact that she is indeed affected by his ghosting stunt.
"Heh don't use that tone on me, you don't usually look happy, you look nonchalant and that's two different things."
Aila was lost for words; the woman in front of her knew her soul. She smiled and hugged Reese. For them it was all they needed, an assurance that they got each other's back.
"I'm here all ears for you when you're ready to talk." Reese's sincere words echoed in Aila's empty heart.