Chapter 6- Camouflage

Lanie's POV:

I took a few deep breaths to ease the nervouseness I'm feeling but it didn't work.

I'm here at the outside of the Journalism Club. I'm applying to be a member of The Wardens, Saint Augustine's school newspaper.

And I just remember that Yshmael's the Editor-in-Chief of it. I'm still uncomfortable with him and I find it hard to talk to him. I'm still thinking if I'll give it a try or go and try another club. If it's not only for my specs.

Why did he have to sleep on my shoulder last friday? It made me more uncomfortable to face him right now.

I still remember that I turned into a stone that time. I can't move and him beside me, made breathing so hard. He slept on my shoulder for almost half an hour. And when he wakes up, I immediately took my leave.

And his presence since the morning classes still affects me. Moreover, he's in my back that's why it's more evident. I'm confused with his actions. He's acting like nothing happened between us. I mean, it's just a simple interaction but I still thought that he'll thank me. Why he acts like he doesn't remember that night at all?

"Hay," I breathed deeply as I hugged the articles that will serve as my entry for the club.

"Maelanie?"

I immediately turn to the owner of that voice. It's Yshmael's bestfriend. He came from the clubroom.

"Greyson."

He glanced at me then to what I'm holding. "Entry?"

I immediately hid it in my back and forced a smile. He just shook his head and turned his back on me.

I leaned against the wall again and stared at my shoes. A few minutes have passed and I have not yet made a decision if I'll go inside or not.

"Are you going inside or not?"

It was a cold voice and I almost tremble when I saw Yshmael. He's still holding the doorknob.

I bit my lower lip. "Hmm..."

He tilted his head, looking at me. He took the papers that I'm holding.

He read the papers then faced me. "This is your entry for the application, right?" He asked but like his usual self, he didn't bother to hear my answer.

"Yshmael, wait!" I tried to tell him it's not but he's already inside and what's left is the door that half open.

I forgot that he's a jerk. And once a jerk, always a jerk. I don't have a choice but to go and follow him inside.

The room is spacious. It's bigger and wider than my former school's Journalism Clubroom. Even the display of the trophies and awards caught my attention. Everything inside the room perfectly fits the club.

"Here."

I followed him inside the mini glass room. By the look of it, it's a conference room of the Club. I'm really amaze, the Club has its own conference room.

"Have a seat." He pointed the chair in front of him.

I sat while observing the place.

"You're also from Journalism Club in your former school, right?" He asked while reading my entry. He put my entry on the table and leaned on the glass wall. He looked at me intently while playing a pen in his hand.

I nodded.

He pointed my entry. "For your specs?"

Again, I nodded.

"By the way... Thanks for the water." He said out of nowhere.

I blinked, my face is full of disbelief with what I heard. Did he just thanked me? Him?

"N-No worries. It's no big deal." Yes, I stammered and I'm feeling uncomfortable again.

He did not answer, and for a moment he seemed to be in deep thought.

"I'll just tell you the result tomorrow. I still need to let the club members know." He said after a while.

I nodded and we both get out from the conference room.

"Thank you!" I thanked him and immediately get out from the room.

I heaved a sigh of relief when I'm completely outside. It's really a relief that I'm not with him anymore.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when my phone vibrated.

Page messaged me and I have a bad feeling about it. And the bad feeling I'm feeling right now is way different than what I felt when I'm with Yshmael earlier.

At your school's main gate.

I frowned. What Is he doing here?

Before I could think of possible answers, my feet moved spontaneously. I run towards the main gate's direction.

I almost run out of breath when I arrived at the main gate. I searched for him.

I saw him leaning on his red convertible Audi.

I called him, "Page..."

But he didn't bother to look at me. He's too occupied and he's dozing off.

And that's very unsual of him. He looks tired and bothered. His eyes are sleepy.

"Lil Pup'," he gave me a lame smile.

I approached him. "What are you doing here? When did you arrive?"

He did not response. He approached me. He held both of my shoulders and leaned against it. "Let me rest for a while."

I let him be. I know why he's being like this. He's troubled. He's stuck in a situation where he wants to get away but there's no way out.

Just like the old times, he's being like that just for three minutes. He regained his composure.

"What is it?" I asked again as I looked at him.

He just stared at my back. I followed his gaze and saw Yshmael.

"Yshmael?"

Yshmael glanced at me then stared at Page. "I need your number for your application's result," he handed me his phone.

I nodded and took his phone. I save my number then returned his phone. After that, he turned his back to us. How arrogant!

"Who's that?" Page asked as he keep staring at Yshmael's back.

"The youngest of Aronzaga," I faced him. "Oh, don't change the subject, Primo. What are you doing here?"

He scratched his nape while smiling sheepishly. He leveled his eyes on mine. "Just because."

I rolled my eyes and pinched his side. "Don't play with me, Primo!"

He laughed as he tried to avoid my hands. "You're really good at hurting me. I just really miss you."

My eyebrow raised. I know there's something else. He won't travel here with a lame reason. Hespheria is quite far from the city. And to get here, I'm sure he chose to absent from his classes which is very unusual of him.

"Don't gave me lame excuses. Primo Angelo, what are you doing here?" I seriously asked calling his whole name.

His playful smile was gone. Even his eyes became cold.

"Did you see it?" He coldly asked.

My forehead furrowed. "See what?"

He did not respond and took my bag. He began to search for something there.

"Where's your tablet?" He asked while searching.

I put my hands on my hips. "In the repair shop in front of us," I took my bag and pointed the opposite side. "It fell on the fountain and I can recover it on friday."

"Did you see it," he asked again. "The articles that I sent?"

I became serious as him. "No, I don't."

He closed his eyes as he sighed. He looks like he's relieved.

He grabbed my bag again and took my wallet from it.

"Hey! What are you doing?" I asked when he took the receipt from my wallet.

"Wait here." He said and run towards the gate. I want to stop him but he's fast and I don't have a passes to get out of the campus.

About ten minutes passed before he returned. He has my tablet on his hand.

It still not fixed yet and it looks like Page is breaking it more!

"What do you think you're doing, Page?" I tried to get a hold of my tablet but he's so tall that I can't even reach his hand.

He then put my tablet on his car's compartment.

"Primo!" I called him.

I get it. There's something wrong and the articles he sent me are the reason behind it. Page is not that impulsive but he's acting like one right now.

Page heaved a sigh. He held both of my shoulders as he stared at me.

"I have a favor to ask. I know what you're thinking right now and please don't do anything. Don't let your curiousity eats you, Lil Pup."

I become more curious on what he had said. "Is it about the articles you sent, isn't it?"

He looked away. He even tapped me on the shoulder before getting into his car.

"Answer me, Page," I asked as I hold his car's door.

He gently removed my hand. "It's true that I miss you, Maelanie," he said then drove away.

❤