Pain under his spell

basket. I yawned because I felt sleepy again. Well, it's eight o'

in the morning. I just woke up,"

We are now in front of the house. The sound of

laundry baskets that are behind the door of the comfort room" Aze utte

es spin in the washing machine. He is wearing a simple

undry. Even if I do the laundry at noon, it's fine. You don't n

'm too busy with my school work. That's why he is the one who will wash our clothes. O

do it

the faucet. I saw in my peripheral vision that he was stari

swered using h

o be away from the noise. I walked closer to the washing machine while

ows. "Zeya is going to talk to yo

ontact Mauve. Just call Hanz," I heard Zey

ed before sitting

time he rubs the clothes, his arm flexes which steals my attention.

m your temporary card this first se

g laundry and I'll help him..." I saw

d with the registrar,"

ake it next week

ing it. It might be difficult for us to claim this week. Mom is alre

at the bubbles while washing my brown blazer. I don't know how to say goodby

ce we are close to each other. Our parents are best friends that's why we grew up together

high-value man that every girl wants. So, one day I realized that I'm secretly in love with my best friend. I never give anyone a clue about m

ush on him since I was 14 years old. Well, i

ko kay Aze..." m

ght, I'll meet you at gate

tention before placing hi

softly, "Why?"

ed to get the temporary card for the

t me or your grades?" he said with a laugh bef

having a passing grade is enough for me and I'm thankful because my parents are not so stri

ght back to help you wash," I s

I'll take you t

s that I will make excuses again so as not to bother him. I pouted and ent

, I understand since it's a school and it must be formal. So what I wore was my high-waisted black jeans and a white t-shirt that A

room. He is still wearing the same shorts but

he handed m

my sling bag that he bought for me wh

u something?" I asked whi

th disbelief. "I want graham balls

made from graham balls. What else?" I

nswered before we

at he wanted. He likes sweets, so

just right for our age. I wasn't afraid anymore to ride this because I gave my full trust to him. I know that

to support me. I also immediately took off my he

e asked when I handed him

o home alone

iled, "Alright,

im without stepping into awkward phases. I can touch his hand, face, and arm without malice he could see. I watched him disappear from my sight

ivered and is still wearing a t-shirt with his

me house as Aze. Well, some of Aze's friends know. I don't ma

Aze. A lot of people thought that Aze was my boyfriend because of

for Aze?" Zeya asked when we sho

and kept on refusing to tell them the truth. No one can know b

is my best friend and I don't want to fall for him

n senior high. Yeah, it's been a year. Many people turned to me when I pushed the glass door to the registrar. I was embarrassed to walk in

Let's just get our te

hat blocked me when I spoke. Mrs. Delgado

e said before giving me

the waiver with Mom's digitized signature. I grimaced as I sat down

r card? Do you want to go shopping

e I need to buy some ingredients because Aze wan

ooking at them. They were wearing a friendly smile so I smiled back. They both wore black basketba

eja

nve

ave

nch

ve.

ds. "Mauve Villanueva

hyly bit my lower lips while shaking Wave's hand. He is handsome too and he looks like a happy companion because of his innocent face that is somehow attractive. Lonch smiled at me while I'm shaking his hand

themselves to Zeya and her c

. Ms. Rivera is still fixing it because there was

's go back," I

y some ingredients. I looked at Zeya and

ause I still have some things to buy," I said g

g but they just nodded and said goodbye to m

I curiously asked Zeya if

I bet Wave seems to have something

oes he have a girlfriend?" I

n as he covered his mouth as

e the same as yours and Hanzel's but it's theirs because you seem to be the state of their

can't say that I like him. Chave looks more a

o? Do you like Chave? No... no... I mean, yo

don't know but I am really laughing because he is thrilled. I can't deny Chave's good looks. I remem

ied me to shop for the ingredients I needed whil

," I mumbled when I rec

Zeya said ent

bother to look. Only later when I'm with Aze.

in the second semester,"

en we got out of the registrar

average?" Z

yet, I'll check it l

"My average for the first semester is..

ist of honor students because you

!" he said

way and many students are walking around. We stopped coming out of gate 2 when we saw Chave sto

ing home?"

Chave's question. I stared at him, tr

I answere

were looking at us. Followed by Zeya

ing. "I'll take it, just for a moment... I'll go back to the bleachers fir

while carrying my shopping. I saw how he shoo

ing on you. I've never seen you make the first move. Alright! Bye, it's up to you in y

now but I feel like I'm sweating because of what Chave did. This is the

partner?" Chave

also noticed the umbrella he was holding when he opened it and offered me an umbrella. I f

I was about to grab the paper bag

au." he smi

when my ears heard a familiar sound, a

Hanzel's joke!" someone

ff his helmet. He stared at me as if asking a question. I just smiled at him t

Cha," Aze said calmly befor

have smiled at Aze

e playing basketball," Aze smiled back before sn

Chave," I

? Take care and see you soon,

ning of the umbrella. I turned to Aze when he han

est was pounding when A

He held my wrist again so he could support me to sit down pr

washing?" I as

ced a few drops of water dripping from his

ed carbonara, your favorite," he sai

. The paper bag was not too loose an

sat down on the sofa. I was not surprised when he sat next to me and rested his head on my left shoul

Cha. Congratulations..." Aze

n't push him away and I can't tell him that I'm only falling more and more into what he's

8.32 this semester, I'm 96.14, s

ist. I was surprised but I didn't show it. C

m me because for sure when you get a boyfriend, your time will be divided between me, your best friend, and you

s ago. He pressed his face to

ase, don't,

t met him a while ago," I explaine

w that move, Cha," I

ne, Aze," I

y here for too long beside him. He is begging me not to commit to someone e

ter..." I said goodby

kitchen while drinking cold water. I

ing broadly while holding his cell phone. I nervously turned to what he was looking at and it was as if reality poured into me when

of us used to be there. I sat beside him wearing a fake smile

our crush? You

to cry because I saw her

tric

ecept

t? It's really my secret crush," he

a secret!" I sti

ake his secret into the deepest part of

riend. I don't have the ability to tell him how I really feel and the sting that wraps around my heart because I'm just his best friend. At t