Chapter 10

I'm not sure if I'm shaking, or it's actually Mielle's body that is shaking.

Maybe both of us.

I ran as fast as I could to my room, turning the lights off on the way, and closing the door with a bam! I quickly went underneath the blanket to cover myself up.

What if I don't sleep? If I don't, I can stay on-guard to feel if the moth is near me.

"Okay, that means I need to stay awake. I can't text Nariza 'coz she already told me she's going to sleep. And I don't really have that much friends as the author of the novel didn't put any friends around Mielle, except for Nariza, which is understandable as she was bullied before."

And my rant went on.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, Aice, just stay awake, cheat tomorrow by drinking tons of coffee to stay awake for school, then just sleep early. Sounds good? Sounds great!"




Dadi.




And yes, this is how I'm going to stay awake: by talking to Jace. I just hope he is back and I don't even care if he thinks I'm too old for being 16. I'll just blame the moth and my lack of sleep.




Jace Miko Salguero: Still.




I know I should be ecstatic that my character crush is the one I'm going to be talking to, but I don't have time to feel giddy and such. Too terrified for that.




Mister Rhyn ToT


?


Hi..


Hi.


How are you mister?


Good.




Keep the conversation going, Aice, no matter how cold and short his answers are.

Ever since I made him 'cough,' whenever I got to talk to Jace's account and he was the one using it, he had been giving me a straight-to-the-point answers.

Guess, this is the real him.




You really don't like talking that much huh?


Yes.


You know, that's not good! You'll spoil your saliva


Nah.


Why speak so little?


Why not try it too?




"Oh. I would love too. But sadly, due to my situation, I can't or else I'll fall asleep."




Don't wanna


Ok.


So why?


Just gotten used to it.


So if someone asked you where do you live, then you'll be like, "in a house."
How are you? "Good."
Like that?


Yes.


How about in a meeting?


Nothing.


You don't speak at all?


You ask too much.




"Uh-oh, looks like I've pushed his buttons now."




How's your friend?


Hanging in there with life and you know. She's asleep now


K.
Why you still up?


Just cause..
Mister do you smile?


Yes.


Laugh?


Yes.


Oh yeah? When was the last time you smiled or laughed?


Early this morning.


What was reason?


I saw a dog killing a cat who was eating a mouse.


WHAT SO FUNNY ABOUT THAT? Omg!
What kind of happiness was that? That's insane!


Sleep.




"He really did ignore my questions." I shook my head. Funny how I'm actually feeling sleepy though. Guess my adrenaline rush is fading --

I heard something. "Oh heck naw!" There goes my sleepiness.




You sleep. I'm still okay. Still have some energy left. Maybe you're that one who didn't get enough sleep


I'm used to it.


I bet your eyebags are huge


I don't have eye bags




"Ows?"




So you have a lot of women then, since you're a doctor, a good-looking one without eyebags despite losing sleep




"Ouch, my heart."




Not interested.




"I'm sorry?" My heart that was just in pain suddenly felt better.




Oh so, you're picky?


Of course.




"That's my boo right there! Just wait for me and I'll make sure that you will be interested." I shook my head immediately. "What are you saying, Aice? You're Mielle. You're 16 and he's in mid 20's. You think he will actually be interested with a kid like you?"




How about those girls who come to you? Ignore?


No. I'll turn her down in a friendly way.




Well, that made me smile. "You're not as bad as Nariza thinks. Sadly, I have to stop this crush I have for you because I know there would be no future for us."




Mister Rhyn has a heart!


Of course.




I tried to talk to him more but he just went back to giving me short answers.




Are you busy now mister?


No. Why?


You don't talk that much again.
Feeling lazy?


Not really.


??


I talk when needed.


Oh. My. Gosh.
You said four words! FOUR! More mister, more! Keep it up!


Ok.


Aww.. it dropped back to 1


.




"Wow. A dot. Seriously Rhyn?" I couldn't help but grin. "What's that supposed to even mean?"




?


?


Dang it. Mister!


Haha.




"Wait. Wait! Did I just made him laugh? Is this for real?!" I bit my lip to stop my giddiness. "Man, this is how the novel played out with Mielle and Rhyn scenes. Did I actually, somehow, succeeded on following the script?"




Why you laughing there?


Nothing.


My bangs hurt because of you!


Thank you.




"What? Thank you for what? Oh, my God. This is what was written in the novel! I remember how I really didn't get why he said, 'Thank you' to Mielle! And now that I actually experienced it, I still don't get it!"




Why say 'thank you'?


Slow.




"What the -- how did I become slow? I know that you said the same line to Mielle, but Rhyn, you are talking to Aice right now and I swear to all the gods and goddesses, Buddha, and Yahweh, I still don't know why Mielle and I are slow? What slow?"




What slow? Why slow??


Nothing.





@~@





After I replied, "..." to Rhyn, I spent the rest of the hour rewinding in my mind our conversation. And I still don't get it!

Is there something wrong with me? Did I miss something?

The phone on the side went off.




Jace Miko Salguero: Go to sleep.




"After not replying, that's your response?"




I don't want to mister.. I'm scared


?


There's.. a moth in the house.. I don't know where it is but I think it's in my room..


Moth? The ugly butterfly?


It's not that ugly, but yes, the brown one


Was that why you sent a message earlier with a crying face?


Ha?


"Mister Rhyn ToT"
You sent that at the beginning. It had been bothering me as to why you would send something like that.




"In fairness, his words are not limited now." I know I said I will stop my crush for him, but I'm feeling giddy knowing that I bothered him. "Haha, there is something wrong with me."




Yes. That was the reason


I see. Cover yourself with a blanket.


What if its under the blanket?


Then go try to find it and kill it.


I told you, I'm scared! My insides are shaking!


Just go to sleep. It won't hurt you. It's just a moth.




"Easy for you to say." In all honesty though, I am feeling the tiredness and my eyes want to close now.




Just go to sleep. It's not going to harm you. Also, it's already late, you still have school tomorrow.
Later now since it's already around 2 AM


What if I sleep on the living room?


Remember, you don't know the location of it.
Just stay there. The moth won't kill you.


Okay, okay! Fine, just.. goodnight. I really am disturbing you now


It's fine. Good night.





@~@





Later that day, Nariza and met and she did a double take.

Even though Mielle's eye bags are not that showy due to her chinky eyes, the tiredness and the redness are still obvious.

"Kiddo.."

"What?" I asked, trying to not get irritated. Just wait until you get your caffeine, Aice, don't snap --

"Why you high?"

Chapter end