Chapter 7

"This will sting a bit, okay?" I let Jace know after I wiped the blood with a damped tissue paper.

His Adam's Apple moved up and down. "Okay."

Wait, Aice!

I looked at Nariza who is standing next to Peter. "Mami, you do this to him."

"Huh?"

"What?"

The ex-couple said at the same time.

Well, I'm already not following what was supposed to happen in the novel, might as well go all the way and build a sweet moment between these two.

I stood up from sitting down on the bench and gave Nariza the cotton and the alcohol. "Here. Do it lightly, yeah? He might cry if you dab too hard." I put the two things on her hands and made her sit down next to Jace.

Good thing Jace has a good reflex and managed to catch a stumbling Nariza.

"K-Kiddo!"

I stuck my tongue out. "You are single anyway, right? New year, new you." I suddenly grabbed Peter's wrist. "Everything you need is in the bag, okay? We're just going to buy a.. um.. that.. yup that! We'll be back!"

"Woah, are we close little girl?"

I ignored Peter's remark. "Don't worry mister Jason, my best friend will take care of you. Alright mami, be right back." I started to walk away while pulling Peter with me.

"Hey kiddo! What are you going to buy when you don't even have any money?!"

I looked back then pointed at Peter with my free hand. "His treat!"

"Excuse me?" Peter is more amused than confused at what is going on.

"You're excused." I bit my lip and shrugged in excitement as my plan to leave them alone is going well. "Let's go mister Pat!"

He chuckled but went along with me. "Where are you planning to take me?"

"Somewhere far."

"Oy, oy, don't be like that. Jason will kill me!"

I turned around to look back at him while still pulling his wrist. "And why would he do that?"

Acting innocent 101. Check!

"N-Nothing." His eyes went elsewhere. I shrugged and faced front again.

"Okay. So mister, what do you think would be a good peace-offering to mister Jason?"

"Your peace-offering but I will be paying?"

"Well, it was a joke, but if you insist, by all means." I beamed at him and he just shook his head while smiling.

"Wow. You're something else."

"Hehe, so mister Pat? What would be a good medici -- I mean, peace-offering to his face that I wounded?"

"Anything will be fine. I doubt that he'll resent you, especially after what you did just now.''

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Huh? A-Ah, I mean, it was a small thing, h-ha.. hahaha! Ehem, so what's your plan?"

I stopped walking and tried to think. "What do you think of ice cream? To numb the pain."

He smirked. "Ice cream it is then."

"Okay! Let's go!" And I went ahead of him, letting his wrist go.

"Wait!" He pulled my back collar. Yes, Nariza and I are still in our school uniforms.

"Ouch, what?"

He put up his wrist that turned red from my holding. "Mm."

"Mm?"

"Mm!"

"What mm?"

"If you don't hold me, I'll go back to those two and disturb their moment."

I quickly grabbed his wrist, tighter than before. "What are you, a baby? Tss." I'm going to make your wrist redder than earlier.

He laughed a little as we started walking side by side this time. "Nah, aren't you the baby?"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, nothing. I said, let's go buy that ice cream for Jason."

"You buy."

"Haha. Wow!" I tightened my hand around his wrist. "O-Ow, ow!"





@~@





When we got back to the ex-couple, Jace already had a band-aid and they were talking... even laughing!

I finally let Peter's wrist go after he bought the ice cream for me to give to Jace, as his threat to go back to the ex-couple was no longer affecting me since we were going back to them anyway.

At the end of the night, the guys even offered us a ride home but Nariza and I both declined. So, we parted ways when we rode the Jeepney as those guys insisted to see us off.

A few days had passed and Nariza seemed better, making me confused for a second. But then, as I recalled the happenings in the novel (minus the changed that I did), it is around this time when they made up and is back in talking again.

"Kiddo!" She sang the way she called me. "What are you doing here? Why not eat at the cafeteria?"

"I don't like it there. So many people. I'll just stay here in the classroom, at least I can just read."

"Oh okay, fine, let's just eat here. Gosh, that was a long line! How are you, by the way?"

"Alright. You? You're blooming again eh?"

"Hahaha, you crazy! I'm alright too." She's smiling too much.

I chewed my sandwich as I studied her. "Mmkay, spill it. What's up?"

"H-Huh? W-What's up what?"

I raised my right eyebrow. Despite the fact that Mielle could tell when Nariza is lying, I can too. "Mami, your smile is different. You two are okay again? Back in being a couple again?"

And there she goes, blushing furiously. "W-What! No!"

"Uh-huh. Tell that to a turtle." I bit my sandwich.

She let out a sigh, giving up. "Did he tell you?"

"Nope. We haven't talk for a while." Unlike in the novel where Mielle kept on sending Jace messages asking how he's doing and telling him to take care without getting any response, I, on the other hand, did not.

I'd rather workout than message and wait for that idiot. Although, them getting back together was quicker than the original time frame. Was it because of the moment they had at the mall?

"Oh.."

"So, you've been talking." I stated. No use of asking. I drank my soy millk.

"Yes.."

"That's good! Why are you nervous though?"

"B-Because you might get mad.." I urged for her to continue. "Because we got back together again."

I rolled my eyes at her. "So that was it."

She's stunned with my attitude. "You're not mad?"

"Uh-uh." I shook my head.

"You serious?"

"Uh-huh." I nodded.

"Really?"

"Mhm! Are you happy?"

"Y-Yes."

"Then I'm fine with it." Besides, this is not a surprise for me. I already know its going to happen.

"Huh.. so you're not mad anymore that your dadi made me cry?"

"Mad, yes, but he's still the reason why you're smiling again, right?" I'm sorry Mielle, but I don't really want to hold on to that negative feelings you were supposed to have based on the novel.

Nariza put her hand on my forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever. Are you sure you're okay?"

I laughed at her. "Yes! You know mami, a relationship is full of happiness and sadness. He hurt you, but you're happy now, so next time, you already know that you're going to cry again."

She pushed me. "You're mean! We just got back together!"

"Hehe, just saying the truth. So? What's with that Venise and how did you two made up?"

She put a spoonful of rice before telling her story. "Well, turned out it was just a show of Jace so his grandpa won't come after me."

Yep. That was the reason behind him getting a girlfriend alright.

"Oohh, so the girl was just a spare tire?"

"Yep, yep."

"Hmm.. so all this time, nothing is going on between them? And there was a 'them' while you two were -- now are again -- in a relationship?"

"Yes."

"You sure?"

Nariza was going to answer right away but stopped. "Why Mil? What does your guts tell you?"

"On dadi, nothing, for now, but to the girl, something."

"What's with Venise?" Her face became serious.

"Well, a person won't do something that they don't like, right? In this case, Venise is playing a role of being his girlfriend as a cover up."

"Right."

"What do you think, if you were the girl, why would you do something like that for a guy?"





@~@





Jace Miko Salguero: Hey.




"Oooh, confrontation time!"




Oh hey dadi! Welcome back! ^-^


Thanks.
Hows you?


Still trying to lose weight hehe. You? It's been a while since we last talk, eh?


Good luck with that. And I'm better, now that Nariza and I are back together.


Thank you. And yay!


You owe me something.




"Huh? Okay?"




Yeah?


You hurt me.




"Oh! He's referring about the mall incident? Wait. Gotta act innocent."




What now?! How did I hurt you dadi? We just talked today and I'm SO far from you!


Just so. :)




"Look at him. Retreating already! Didn't want to say that it was him that I scratched. Tsk, tsk. And you're thinking I didn't know. Ha!"




Aw. Then how will I apologize properly when I don't even know what I did wrong? And why is there a smiley face?


It's okay even if you don't say sorry. Because what you did had made me and your mami closer. And there's a smiley face because I like what you did.


Then I don't owe you anything.


You do 'coz I got hurt in the process.


You may have gotten hurt, but something good happened after.


That's why I didn't get mad.


Ayie! Then instead of saying sorry, I'll just say thank you for not getting mad hehe.


Haha. You're welcome.
By the way, I haven't been in this account for quite a while, has Pan messaged you?


Can't you see on the thread?


Nope. When he used this before, he erased you two's conversation.


Oh, I see.. Well, he didn't message me anymore. The last time we talked was when he said he helped mami after breaking up with you.


Ah. Haha. Thanks. So he was telling the truth.


??


He told me once I get back here to tell you that he missed you. -_-
And I doubted him 'coz I thought you two were talking. He's a goof one, you know.


Ahh okay. Don't worry dadi, we have nothing to talk about, so why would we talk, right?


Nothing, yes, but when he's in the mood, even though there's nothing, there will be something.


Haha, I don't think he'll get in the mood dadi.


How so?


Because mami said he's a Casanova, so he'd rather be busy with his girls than waste his time talking to me. XD


I sure hope so.


Hm? Why dadi? What's wrong?


Nothing.




My eyebrow rose with his answer. "This is not part of the novel, so I don't have any idea what is going on."




You know dadi, you won't be like that if it's nothing. Besides, my feeling is tingling! So start talking!


Haha. You really are smart baby.
But in all honesty, it's really nothing. Its just that, he keeps mentioning your name.


Ahh. Maybe he's addicted.


To you? Think so. Yes.
Tsk. Pan. Get out of my account.
:P Hi Mil.


... hello


Did you miss me?


Nope.


Pfft. Good job baby.
That hurts Mil :( I missed you yet you didn't miss me.


And so?


Haha.
Don't laugh Jace!
This is my account, Pan. I can do whatever I want.
Tsk! Go to your wife! I'll talk to your baby for now.


I don't want to talk to you though


You're unfair to me Mil. I thought there was something special between us. :(


A lot of people make mistakes by assuming incorrectly.


It wasn't an assume. I could feel that there IS something between us.


You wish.
Maybe for you, yes, but for me, none.


Haha.
JACE! Why are you still here?
'Coz this is my account. Besides, its kinda entertaining watching both of you talk. I didn't know that she counters you this good, haha!


I'm just telling the truth dadi.


I know, baby. And good job on that.


Thank you!


Aish! And you're really allowing her to be like this?
Of course, she's my baby.
AAH! Stop calling her baby.
And why? You jealous?
...
Just don't, Jace.
So you are jealous. Wow. Now that's a first.


Dadi, mister Peter, maybe you two can talk this in person? And not flood my phone with your nonsense conversation.


Ouch Mil. My jealousy is nonsense to you?
So you do admit that you're jealous. Haha. Stop that, Pan.
Tsk! Stop messing with me, Jace.


So I was right about you mister Peter


Right about?


You are sensitive. Pfft.


-_-
Haha. And the playboy was left speechless by baby. Wow, this is amazing!
What do you mean amazing Jace? Watch, if I don't get ahold of myself..
What?


What?


Hehe, nothing.. Just.. If I don't get ahold of myself, that's all. Chill you two.




I rolled my eyes.




But seriously, Mil. I missed you and even talking to you.


Seriously too mister Peter. I didn't miss you not even talking to you.


Dang baby haha, you destroyed Pan! Hahaha.
What kind of girl are you? Didn't you blush or feel giddy at all?


Huh? Oh. Should that made me feel like that?




"Was that what I was supposed to feel? I didn't even get any reaction from Mielle's body too."




Oh Lord.
Yep, go and pray, Pan. Go and pray.





Chapter end