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Jana searches the halls for any sign of a tall and awkward (but incredibly cute) student, but it seems that luck is not on her side today. She hasn’t seen Ace since yesterday when they came back to school after their Regionals match. You’d think it’d be easy to spot someone as tall as her, but Jana is becoming increasingly bothered by the lack of Ace sightings.
Fortunately for Jana, graduating students don’t need to do much in school aside from graduation rehearsals and completing clearance requirements.
So she makes it a personal mission to locate a certain Ace Asuncion and she wouldn’t stop until she does.
She starts by waiting outside the classroom where Ace’s morning class is held. She tries to stay at a reasonable distance so as not to attract any suspicion.
The bell rings and the students are starting to exit; she cranes her neck trying to spot a familiar face. She approaches one of them and she can see the girl visibly tense.
“Hello, um, nandiyan ba si Ace?”
She can see the girl’s shoulders relax, but her body is still rigid.
“Ah, wala siya today eh. Masakit daw katawan kaya excused na lang sa class.”
Well, that’s new.
First, she knows Ace would never ask to be excused for that reason; she wouldn’t dare do it, let alone think about it. Second, it’s been hours of radio silence and it’s starting to worry her.
She heads to the cafeteria for lunch, head deep in thought about where Ace could possibly be. She sees her teammates and already figures out that they’re missing one person. She sighs.
“Kelan niyo huling nakita si Ace?” She asks as she settles into one of the seats.
“Nung game pa, Kap.” Patty answers. She brings out a small comb and mirror and fixes her bangs.
“May nasabi ba siya sa inyo?”
“Tinanong niya lang kung bakit ganun daw makatingin sa’yo si Arnie.” Myka tells her.
“Anon’g sabi mo?” Jana questions immediately.
“Eh sabi ko may nakaraan kayo.” Myka nonchalantly answers as she helps Patty fix her pigtails.
Oh. Could that be it? Jana knows the topic of exes (or lack thereof) hasn’t come up in their conversations yet. And it’s not like she’s actively avoiding mentioning it, but to be honest it’s not really something she’s given much thought about.
She’s only known Ace for a few months but she does know that Ace is not good at hiding what she feels. She knows Ace could easily get upset sometimes, and that she tends to be quiet when she is. She feels her chest tighten at the thought of Ace getting upset over what she heard, or just the thought of Ace being upset, really. She leaves her teammates be and walks out of the cafeteria, determined to find Ace.
She checks on every room—no Ace.
Garden—no Ace.
Gym—no Ace.
Chapel—no Ace.
She heads up the stairs leading to the rooftop, and she mentally chastises herself for not thinking about the rooftop sooner. She takes a deep breath before opening the door.
She sees Ace looking out the field, her hands clicking a pen nonstop. From where Jana is standing, she could see Ace’s profile and she already knows Ace is sporting a pout.
“Namiss mo bang pumunta dito?”
Ace is startled by her voice and she straightens up, clipping her pen back in her ID lace. She stands there seemingly unsure of what to do next and if Jana wasn’t so concerned, she’d laugh at how cute Ace is being.
She closes the distance between them but Ace decides to have her gaze fixed on her shoes.
“Okay ka lang ba? May problema?”
Ace still refuses to look at her but she shakes her head.
“Sino aawayin ko?” Jana asks as she gently tips Ace’s chin for Ace to meet her gaze.
Ace shakes her head again.
She takes Ace’s hand apprehensively. When there are no protests, she rubs the back of Ace’s palm with her thumb.
She knows it would be such a bold question to ask. But she’s not getting anywhere and Ace isn’t giving her much to work on.
“Narinig ko na tinanong mo daw tungkol kay…Arnie?” The mention of the name leaves a bad taste in her mouth, in contrast to the way the same name was mentioned without any malice or implication that night at the camp.
Ace stiffens at the name but tries not to show it. Jana takes a deep breath and tries again.
“Nag…nagseselos ka ba?”
Ace’s eyes widen at the question and shakes her head profusely.
“Ha? Hindi ah.”
She stares at Ace. Ace stares back but sighs in defeat after a few seconds.
“Matagal ba kayo nun?” Ace’s voice is so small, it’s almost adorable.
“Hindi, hindi naman naging kami.” She answers confidently.
She sees Ace’s mouth turn up a little. Finally.
She sighs again. She taps the ledge and lets Ace sit on it before she does the same.
“Meron…. merong mga inentertain ko before. Mga naka-date, mga nakausap. May students dito, meron din naman sa mga rival schools.”
“Yabang naman.” Ace teases her.
“Huy! Ikaw rin kaya ah. Kita ko nga ‘yung mga kinikilig ‘pag dumadaan ka sa hallway eh.” She remembers the time she was slightly pissed that Ace didn't notice her wearing Ace’s jersey because a girl was shoved into her.
“Pero gusto kong malaman mo na hindi kita balak i-entertain lang, o balak kausapin lang.” She takes Ace’s hand again.
“Sorry.” Ace looks at her feet again.
“Uy, ‘di mo kailangang mag-sorry ah. Siguro sinabi ko rin dapat agad. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko naman sila naisip, pero naiintindihan ko na sana sinabi ko pa rin.”
She turns to Ace, lifting a hand to cup her cheek.
“Hindi mo naman kailangang matakot na sabihin sakin kung ano’ng nararamdaman mo. Isa pa, sa’yong sa’yo na ‘ko.”
“Sorry.” Ace is pouting again.
“Cute mo pala magselos, ‘no? Parang baby.”
“‘Di ah.” Ace scoffs.
“Oo kaya!” Jana insists. This time, Ace is unable to hide her smile anymore.
“Okay ka na?” Ace nods.
“Sasabihin mo na sa akin pag nagtatampo ka?” Another nod.
“‘Di ka na nagseselos, baby?”
Ace’s eyes disappear behind her dimpled smile and Jana swears it’s the cutest thing she’s ever seen. Ang baby talaga.
She puts both hands on Ace’s face and pinches her cheeks lightly.
“Cute cute mo.”