Dawn of love

CHAPTER 8

The next day, we found ourselves back in biology class. Parang deja vu, but this time, the project deadline felt even closer, and the group was gathered around our table discussing plans for the final presentation.

"So ganito, Jade and I will handle the visuals," Riley started, scribbling on a piece of scratch paper. "Zia, ikaw na sa intro slides, since gusto mo lagi ikaw una-"

Zia shot Riley a glare. "Excuse me?"

"Wala, wala!" Riley said, waving her hand dismissively with a grin. "Joke lang. Relax ka lang, girl."

Asher smirked quietly, clearly amused by the exchange. I sat beside him, my notebook open, pretending to focus. Zia was still laser-focused on Asher, making little comments to him every chance she got.

"Asher, pwede mo ba akong tulungan sa sources later?" Zia asked, her voice sobrang lambing.

Asher barely looked up from his notes. "Kay Hazel ka magtanong. She's got all the sources written down."

My head snapped up. Wait, ako?

"Huh?" Zia's face dropped for a second before she recovered with a fake smile

I felt the weight of her stare as she turned to me, like she was so not happy with that answer. I just smiled awkwardly, clutching my pen like it would protect me.
---

By lunch, I thought I'd get a break from everything. I was seated under the acacia tree in the courtyard, sketching random doodles in my notebook. But of course, hindi pwedeng tahimik ang buhay ko.

"Haze."

I looked up and saw Asher walking toward me, holding two water bottles. My heart did that stupid thing where it sped up for no reason. Ano ba naman 'to?!

"Uhm, hi?" I said as he plopped down across from me, handing me one of the bottles.

"Naka-mute ka ba?" he teased. "Parang ang tahimik mo."

I rolled my eyes, unscrewing the cap of the bottle. "Nagpapahinga lang ako. Group project overload."

"Fair enough." Asher leaned back, resting his elbows on his knees. For a while, he just sat there, looking relaxed and unbothered-completely opposite from how I felt.

"Ang tahimik mo rin," I pointed out, trying to sound casual.

He glanced at me, a faint smile on his lips. "Iniisip ko lang 'yung project. Malapit na deadline, di ba?"

"Hindi ka mukhang stressed," I mumbled, half-joking. "Parang chill na chill ka lang lagi."

"Hindi lang halata," he replied with a shrug. "Ikaw nga, ikaw 'yung laging mukhang nag-papanic silently."

"Hoy, hindi ah!" I protested, though I knew he was right. "Mukha lang akong busy."

"Busy overthinking," he corrected with a smirk.

I opened my mouth to argue, but I couldn't deny it, so I just groaned in defeat.

He laughed softly, and it was that kind of laugh that made my stomach flip unexpectedly.

---

Later that day, during free period, we all ended up back in the library to finalize the slides. Zia, as usual, perched herself close to Asher, holding her laptop like a prized possession.

"Asher, look at this-bagay ba 'yung font na 'to sa intro slide?" she asked, leaning way too close.

"It's fine," Asher said flatly. "Hazel already sent the theme colors. Follow those."

I hid my smile behind my notebook. Riley kicked my foot under the table, giving me a did-you-see-that look.

"Fine," Zia muttered, her voice dripping with annoyance.

I pretended not to notice, keeping my focus on my notes, but my cheeks hurt from holding back my grin.

Asher looked at me suddenly. "Hazel, tama 'to, di ba?"

I blinked, panicking for a second. "Ha? Tama ano?"

"'Yung sources natin for slide five," he clarified, raising an eyebrow. "Pinasa mo na kanina, right?"

"Oh, oo. Tama 'yun," I said quickly, feeling embarrassed again. Ano bang problema ko at lagi akong sabog kapag siya ang kausap ko?

Riley snickered beside me. "Ang cute mo minsan, Hazel."

"Tumahimik ka diyan," I hissed under my breath, earning another snort from her.

Zia, meanwhile, sat back in her chair with her arms crossed, glaring at me when she thought no one was looking.

And honestly? I couldn't even bring myself to care kasi hindi ko naman kasalanan na hindi sya pinapansin ni asher