Chapter 5- Couple Shot

Lanie's POV:

"Whoa! You're really something, Lanie girl!" Rona clapped her hands in awe.

She shook her head then laughed.

"Imagine, you're the first to do that to Yshmael. Claps!" She clapped again.

I just laughed with her.

"Let's go and eat, I'm hungry," I said as I pulled her towards the cafeteria.

But before we even reached the cafeteria, Rona made me visit the Academy's important parts. She let me see the beautiful places inside the Academy. The clubs, courts, and even parks. And in every places, she patiently answer all of my questions and even tell some stories related to it.

"Let's stop wandering, I'm really hungry," she said while touching her stomach.

I nodded in aggrement. I pulled her before she change her mind.

We reached the cafeteria and got our food. We're really hungry because we ate immediately after sitting down, not minding each other.

Rona burped as soon as she finished her food.

"I'm just full. The food here is really great," she said defensively.

I just nodded. "If you say so, let's just say I believed you."

She pouted as he bit her apple. "Anyway, do you have any news about Page? I don't see him in the group chat and it's been days since the last time I saw him there."

My forehead wrinkled. "He never contacted me, is there something wrong?," I asked.

Since the day he took my tablet, he never call or message me. And he's been changing his phone number and right now, I don't know what he's up to.

Actually, I understand him. He's a hacker, and what he's doing is dangerous for him. Someone might track him down that's why he's been acting that way.

But when I think about it, I don't know what kind of hacker Page is. And I'm worried, he's really acting strange lately.

"I don't really get him. He's so mysterious," Rona added.

"Maybe he's busy. He's a student too." I just said trying to get the overwhelming thoughts out of me.

Rona shrugged her shoulder. I know it, she's not convinced by what I said.

As a driver, we developed our sixth sense. We know when something is wrong.

"You're both serious."

"And creepy."

Jasleene and Lovely commented. They approached us and sat on our table.

"I thought you guys went home? Stop being nosy, girls," Rona jokingly said.

We're both occupied and we did not see them coming.

Lovely slapped Rona lightly on the forehead. "Of course not! We're just here for Lanie."

"Why?" I asked.

He handed me a card that looks like a credit card in size. It's like a passes and under the name The Harbor.

I looked at them. "What is this?"

"It was from the Senior-Assistant, she asked us to give it to you. It's for a mini party for one of your subject, it's like a get together," Lovely explained.

Puzzled, I looked at Rona.

"Just what Lovely said, it's a mini party of all the students in a certain subject. It's usually done at the beginning of the semester but in some reason, there's instances that a get together can be late," Rona explained.

"The Harbor is just a few minutes away from here. It's on the right side of the Academy. You'll recognize it easily because it's a high class restaurant," Jasleene said. "Don't worry, it's just a get together."

Lovely glanced at her watch. "But you're late."

I immediately stood up. The three waved their hands as I run towards the cafeteria's entrance.

"Take care!" I heard Rona's voice.

I almost bumped into a few students walking in the hallway. I'm still not familiar with this place and I'm late with the first gathering that I need to attend to.

What a mess!

I searched the place immediately when I got out from the campus. And Jasleene's right, it's really easy to find.

I fixed my composure before walking towards the restaurant. I wiped my sweat and calm my breathing.

I approached the employee in the front desk and gave the card. She showed me the direction towards the second floor.

The gathering is in one of the private room. Even I'm still in outside, I heard the noises coming from the room.

I clicked the buzzer. The door opened and I entered, trying not to caught everyone's attention.

There are maybe twenty students inside and they're all looking at me. They even stopped what they're doing.

Some are familiar but some are still a

"Oh! One of our number one!" Julianne, our senior-assistant I met few days ago approached me.

I apologize immediately, "I'm sorry, I'm late."

We heard the buzzer buzzing again. Someone entered the room.

"Whoa! Yshmael, you're also late!" Julianne exclaimed.

Everyone cheered. Laughter filled the room.

"Punishment!" Someone raised his glass.

"Shot! Shot!" Everyone cheered, preventing me from sitting down.

I glanced at the drinks on the table. It's not water or juice, it's Alcohol.

I whispered to Julianne, "Is alcohol allowed here?".

She smiled at me. "We're already in legal age. Half of the students here are eighteen, some are one year older. Saint Augustine allowed every legal students to drink in this kind of gathering. But of course, they set limitations and all of us are not allowed to consume as much as we wanted," she handed me and Yshmael a  glass with alcohol. "Couple shot as a punishment." She teased us.

Everyone cheered again.

I don't have a choice but to take the glass. I tried smelling it but alcohol really disgust me.

Yshmael approached me and put his arm around mine.

"Countdown!" Julianne shouted.

"One!" They count excitedly.

"Two!"

"Three!". Everyone chorused.

Yshmael drank his. I tasted the alcohol but I really can't drink this up. It's so bitter!

"Bottoms up!" They shouted, not minding my bitter face.

I gulped as I looked at the glass. I was about to drink it when Yshmael snatched it from me and drank it.

I looked at him in awe. Everyone became speechless.

"Punishment shot! That's not fair!" One student poured a glass of wine and handed it to Yshmael.

Yshmael took the glass and drank it.

"Who! He's really our number one for a reason!" Julianne poured a glass and gave it again to Yshmael.

He took the alcohol again and drank it without hesitation. Everyone clapped their hands and cheered for him but Yshmael just sat down silently.

I'm a bit guilty for him.

I sat down and tried to let myself involve with them. Everyone seems happy and I can't stop myself from laughing while listening to their crazy stories.

It's a chaos but everyone seems enjoying it. No one was left alone, except for Yshmael who's just sitting on his seat. He's busy with his phone and he'll just look at us when there someone screaming.

"Alright, let's wrap up students!" Julianned said after two hours. She reminded us to go straight at our dorm and rest. She thanked us also for coming.

Everyone seems happy and contented as they get out from the restaurant. They're still hyper and noisy.

I heard that some will go home and some will stay at the dormitory.

I'm yawning as I walk towards the school's main gate. I'm sleepy and I want to rest.

The place outside the Academy is still alive and noisy. The lights from the stores are reflecting the moon. This is really a peaceful town, if only I didn't receive that article, I'll actually believe how rich, clean and safe Hespheria is.

"Atlast!". I said as I entered the gate. I slowly walks towards the dorm's direction.

I saw a few students roaming around the Academy. Well, there's no curfew for tonight, that's why.

I'm almost at our dorm when I saw a silhouette sitting in a bench that's almost covered by huge bushes.

I looked at the silhoutte intently and recognized it's Yshamel.

His hands are on his both sides, trying to hold his upper body.

I approached him, "Yshmael?"

He looked at me. His eyes are sleepy and he can't even look straight. He seems drunk.

"Do you have water?" His voice is cold yet husky. He slightly massaged his temple.

I immediately took my bottled water from my bag and gave it to him.

He drank the water from the bottle completely.

"Damn those alcohol." He murmured and massaged his temple again.

I sat beside him and gave him my handkerchief. He's sweating.

"I'm sorry about earlier. If only I know that you can't drink well, I would have drank that," I apologized.

He took the handkerchief.  "I don't drink." He said and closed his eyes.

Silence became more evident. I waited for a few more minutes before I decided to return to our dorm.

"Yshmael," I tried calling him. His head tilted and landed on my shoulder.

Yshmael Marco Aronzaga is now sleeping on my shoulder.

❤