Chapter 2: Hell
Zein's Point of View....
Frowning, I watched Dora climb the high hill with Boots.
"Ace?"
"Hmmm?"
I pouted even more when he didn't even look at me. His full attention was on his laptop, busy typing.
It's Sunday today and there's no class, but instead of going home, we just stayed at the condo as Ace requested. I thought we were going to bond, but it turns out he would let me watch Dora all afternoon while he was busy on his laptop.
I understand that he needs to work hard so he can somehow help Raze, but what about just one day that it's just me? For two years, this has been our scene. We're third-year college students now, nothing has changed with us except this.
I felt my phone vibrate so I reached for it in my pocket. As usual, Ace didn't notice me.
From: Cedric
"All course Presidents, we have an emergency meeting now."
I just pouted. I am the President of the HRM Department. It's so annoying that there's a meeting even on a Sunday. That damn SSC President.
"Ace?"
"Hmmm?"
Hmmm again? Annoying. It might be better if I leave for a while since I'm bored anyway.
"I'm leaving for a bit."
He suddenly looked up. Finally! "Where?" He asked before grabbing some cookies I baked earlier.
"Meeting."
I stood up from my Indian seat and walked back to my room. After I took a bath and got ready, I left the room.
I found Ace leaning on the sofa looking at the T.V but when he heard my rustle, his attention went to me.
He checked my whole body before his forehead
creased.
"Meeting or date?" He asked.
I walked to the mirror beside the T.V and looked at myself. It's normal for a girl like me to get ready like this. I still want to be presentable in front of people.
"I'm coming..."
I glared at him. He is now standing in front of me with his arms crossed. He's wearing shorts and a gray tank top. The crease on his forehead and eyebrows remained.
"No need. Just do whatever you're doing."
"No. Darling, I'll go with you."
I just winced when he marched to his room. I quickly grabbed my shoulder bag and ran out.
I almost slipped on the marble floor in a hurry. Damn it! He doesn't need to go with me everywhere I go.
I hailed a taxi and told them the cafe that was our meeting place.
_______
Ace's Point of View..…
I just shook my head when I found nothing in the living room but my open laptop and T.V.
That girl! She better not meet with any other guy. Try me, Zein. I will really tie you down, girl.
I took off the pants I was wearing and just wore shorts. I turned off the T.V and cleaned up the papers scattered around.
I was almost done when my laptop beeped. My forehead creased when a notification popped up on FB.
A friend request caught my attention. A knife covered in blood was its profile picture. I was about to delete the friend request when it suddenly disappeared.
I just shook my head.
Weird. I refreshed the newsfeed and one status caught my attention. I swallowed when I saw the profile picture of it.
"Shit." I whispered.
I opened its profile and cursed that I was already friends with it even though I didn't accept it. It's strange that this facebook was just created and I'm the only friend.
I tried to click the unfriend button but it won't allow me. I also tried the block button, still the same. Who's this shit?!
I bit my lip when I read the status.
"I know you have gone through a lot but trust me, it was just a glimpsed for something worse than a nightmare."
I swallowed before returning my eyes to its username. I whispered as I read it.
"Hell..."
______
Zein's Point of View.....
I didn't show how annoyed I was by what he did while he was all smiles. This jerk.
"Don't you like that it's just the two of us?"
Jerk. If Ace finds out about this, I swear you're in trouble. I thought it was a real meeting, but it was just the two of us and no meeting would happen.
"What do you want?"
He leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee. I'm annoyed by his behavior but I'm just stopping myself. He's lucky that I'm still kind in this situation because if not? I might have already splashed the hot coffee on his face.
Calm, Zein.
"A little conversation with you?".
I leaned back in my chair after hearing that. "Fine." I gave up that made him smile widely.
He clapped happily. Somehow, I'm smiling at his actions. He looks stupid. He's different from Ace who's too serious and possessive and that's why I love him and this guy? Nevermind.
"So? Where did you go to high school?"
"Hell University."
He choked on his coffee so he stood up from his seat to brush off his wet pants.
Smirk.
"Just going to the comfort room..." He excused himself.
I just nodded and followed him with my gaze. I laughed when he disappeared from my sight. Maybe he thought I was just kidding.
Sometimes, we need to be careful when asking questions especially if we're not ready for the answer we might get.
My phone vibrated so I took it. I smiled when I saw the text from Ace.
"Where are you?"
I quickly replied. "I'm on my way home soon." I answered.
I quickly hid my cellphone in my pocket when Cedric arrived back, smiling again.
"So? Let's go back to our topic. Where did you go to high school?"
"I already answered your question."
"Seriously?"
I rolled my eyes. What does he think? I'm just kidding?
"I won't force you to believe me... But I am telling the truth."
He chuckled softly and I don't know if I should feel insulted or what. He has the nerve to laugh at me. UGH! It's better if I leave because this conversation won't lead anywhere anyway.
"Wait!" He stopped me as I was about to stand up. I raised an eyebrow at him while waiting for what he would say.
"Look... I just want to be friends with you."
I smirked. "I think, you should ask the permission of my boyfriend." I replied.
"Who?"
"My boyfriend and if you don't know him... Well, there's no hell we could be friends." Those were the last words I said before leaving that café.
If I know, he was just pretending. I know he knows who my boyfriend is. What's with that guy? If he wants to be friends with me, why not approach me in a good way? Why does it have to be like this?
I don't stop myself from making friends. I also know who's real and who's just pretending and that Cedric? Yes, he is annoying, a jerk but I know, he's good. He just shouldn't get in Ace's way because I myself will push him away.
I was already inside the taxi when I patted my pocket but I couldn't feel my cellphone. I closed my eyes as I remembered that I might have left it in the café. I hope Cedric saw it.
I didn't go back because I trust that Cedric saw it and if he did, I know he will return it to me.
When I arrived at the Condo, I didn't find anyone. Ace's laptop was open. I went to the room hoping he was there but he wasn't.
I went back to the living room and sat on the sofa. A message that was not yet opened caught my attention.
Cassandra?
I opened the message and I don't know what my reaction would be to what I read.
"Hey, babe. I'll wait for you. See yah."
______
Ace's Point of View....
I quickly accelerated my car and almost ran on the road towards where the GPS was pointing.
I was nervous. My heart was pounding so hard. I closed my eyes as I remembered the message Zein sent me earlier.
"Ace, help me!"
I quickly got out of my car when I arrived at the place the GPS pointed to. It was night and there were only a few lights here.
I got chills when I realized that this place was a cemetery.
"Zein!" I shouted, which echoed.
I walked around the tombs here. Using my cellphone as my light, I carefully lit up my surroundings.
I tried to call her cellphone but it just kept ringing. I was about to end the call when I heard a sound.
I heard that sound not far away from me. I didn't end the call and looked for where the sound was coming from.
I turned pale when I saw a light from an open tomb. Inside it, I heard the sound.
Shit! Why is this tomb open?
I looked inside but it was empty. I saw Zein's cellphone inside that continued to ring but I got more chills when I heard her ringtone.
"Nanay, tatay, I want bread. Ate, kuya, I want coffee. Everything I want, you'll follow. When I count to five, you should be hidden... -"
"One-"
"Two-"
"Three-"
"Four-"
Before it even reached five, I entered the tomb and turned off Zein's cellphone.
I was about to leave when the tomb suddenly closed shut.
"Shit!"