ALLISHA'S POV
Months went by, seasons changed, and I met more people. My world that I thought was big already, I am wrong. That world I was just starting to walk in and get to know was so much bigger and more interesting.
It was a Monday morning in the third week of August and I was about to leave our house. My phone rang for the third time five minutes ago and I just ignored it again since only my family and Autumn knew my number.
I walked blissfully to our waiting area because I really loved the morning breeze. The cold breeze made me relaxed and peaceful. It wiped away all the bad feelings whenever my parents woke us up in a very odd and annoying manner.
The service arrived just on time and Autumn, greeted and hugged me cheerfully. Something that an Autumn would never do. Something was just different today, she was very lively in an awkward way.
"Good morning Rayz! Hm," Autumn greeted sheepishly.
"Good morning. So, what's up? What have you done?" I greeted back and asked her with so much sureness that she really did something that I would be pissed off.
"Hugh! You always know me. My cousin asked for your number, I told him that your number is restricted but he kept on pestering me so I gave up. I'm really sorry!" She explained directly with all the sincerity in her eyes while asking for forgiveness.
" So, it's a he."
" Cold Rayz! Be a human sometimes."
" Is this cousin of yours, the one smiling like a duck on the front?"
" Bad human! Excuse me, our bloodline is contagious because we are beautiful people. I hate you!" Autumn slapped me hard on my left arm.
" Wow! I must be the one who should hate you. Don't you think?" I said while caressing my painful arm.
" Ah! Fine. Large milkshake?" she pleaded sweetly.
" Whatever!" I said laughing.
She knew my weakness.
Autumn was one of a kind. They found it odd for me to be close to her or even withstand her likes because she was a living proof a human slapping machine. You couldn't just laugh off the force of her hits. But it was what I really liked about her. Though sometimes, I got some bruises.
The first and second class was finished and we were busy preparing for our practice. I just went out of the comfort room when I saw Autumn running towards me in the corridor.
" Rayziss!" Autumn shouted.
" Hey! Are you crazy? If you get caught running, I swear I'll deny you and please don't shout."
" I just missed you!"
It was our first time to be separated. From our kindergarten to elementary days, we were always in the same class. Now, we were one section apart. I hated to be apart from her but it was something I should try.
" Hey Rayz, don't you think it is too much that you still join this intramural meet?" Autumn asked while we headed down to the open ground where we do our practice.
" No. Everyone is asked to join at least one event this coming intramural meet. I don't think I'd be happy to join any than this."
" Fine, Top 1! As you wish." Autumn teased as she ran to her groupmates.
I achieved again the first rank but I was never happy about it. I didn't know why I hated it. I just couldn't find any reason to appreciate it. I usually got the first rank when I was in elementary and I was happy back then whenever I presented it to my parents, especially to my mom. But now, things changed.
The memory of the first time I presented my medal to my mother was still clear in my mind. She uninterestedly just looked at it as if I hadn't worked hard for it. It happened until my sixth grade and during my first year in high school. She even told my relatives that it was just out of luck.
" FLAGS AT THE BACK!" our coach shouted waking me from my crazy nightmare train of thoughts.
I immediately ran to my group to complete the formation.
" Shhh! Focus Rayz!" I mumbled to myself.
Hours passed and the whistle of our coach echoed throughout the entire field area.
" BREAK!" He shouted. He's annoyed again. He marched to a shaded area and sat with all the frowns on his face.
" Hey, ahm, want some water?" A boy approached me with two cold bottled water and tried to offer me with shaky hands.
" No, but thank you." I smiled back at him to ease him a bit.
As I walked to Autumn, I felt a vibration inside my pocket.
" Smile often. ;] " I read it in shock and tried to gaze around as a reflex to see who might have texted me.
" Woah! Who are you looking at? Hah! Hah!" My best friend jumped from my back and teased me while hammering my back with her fist, which for everyone's information was her sweet thing.
" No one! Your cousin texted, I guess!" I answered.
" Oh my! Yiee! Go! Go! Go! You two are perfect for each other," she continuously teased me.
" Stop it! Look we are still young. And for I know, you are the one who is so much in-like with my cousin." I coldly answered back and walked to the canteen.
" Heeey! Don't you dare! That is our deepest secret. You swore Rayz not to ever tell him!" She followed hastily and tried to hit me again but I ran to avoid her. I had enough for the day.
We practiced through the last sunlight of the day, which was so tiring. We head to our waiting area as we used to after changing back to our uniforms.
" Hey, you should be true to your promise, Rayz!" Autumn muttered continuously while on our way to the waiting area which was a twenty-minute walk from our school.
I am starting to get irritated. She perfectly knew that she was my only friend, so I had no one to talk to. Unlike her, she got to talk and be friends with almost anybody on campus. She was so friendly.
I caught a glimpse of a group of boys who were obviously our schoolmates because of the uniform, but they looked like two years ahead of us. They were older and disgusting. They were inhaling so much cigarette smoke.
"I don't seem to recognize them," I quietly asked Autumn who was busy scrolling on her phone. I am still caught in the gaze of the boy at the center, though I couldn't see him clearly, I am sure he was staring at me.
"Don't mind them. They have been there since day one. Try to look around you sometimes. But disregard them. Though, they are my relatives, don't even dare, because they are the bad relatives, ok?"
Autumn grabbed me suddenly, causing me to lose my gaze on that boy because the service just arrived.
"Fine. But please do not always pull me without giving me a heads-up. I may end up breaking my bones," I said while catching my breath and stretching my arm that Autumn just pulled as we secured our seats.
" Oh my! I am so tired!" Autumn said. " I am going to sleep so be still. Thank you in advance."
But before I could protest, she already snuggled on my shoulder.
I enjoyed the quiet ride home because Autumn was asleep.
" Bye Rayz!" Thunder said.
Autumn was still asleep when I jumped off the service. I didn't bother waking her up, she would get furious. I knew because I too would kill anybody if I were disturbed from my sleep.
" Bye!" I said tiredly.
He was so charming. A kind of person you'd get along with easily. He could say words that would really flatter your heart. It brought a different kind of soothing warmth inside that lightened up my mood.
" Bye!" A boy said but I am too tired to even look back, the jeepney was already on its way.
As I reached home, I fled to my room and dropped down to sleep. It was not like my family would care about how my day was.
" Rayz, it's time for dinner," my father said after knocking twice on my door.
" Yes, coming!" I answered back though I'm still sleepy.
I cleaned up after eating and hastily washed the dishes. I badly wanted to get back to sleep.
" Finally! All done!" I yawned as I stretched my arms while walking back to my room. " God, nothing happened today that is worth writing, but thank you for the guidance throughout the whole day. Goodnight." I mumbled almost to sleep.
Hours passed, television noise, chattering, then a silent world.