Chapter 8: Who?

“I CAN’T believe it…” Audrey mumbled as they walked out of the disciplinary office. She’s sure that her face was all red now in so much embarrassment that her alter persona caused her. “W-what have she done?”

“Sir Mark shouldn’t show it to you…” Justin told her. Audrey can also sense in his tone that he’s embarrassed about what they have watched in front of the disciplinary teacher. “I hope it won’t make you avoid me, Audrey.”

Audrey looked at Justin. She didn’t expect it from him. “I-I should be the one bothering about that…” she said shyly. “I’m sorry, Justin. I really don’t know what happened—”

The man groaned. “I feel kinda disappointed that you’re sorry about it,” he said in a serious tone. When she lowered her head, he laughed and touched her shoulders. “Just kidding, Audrey.”

Audrey awkwardly smiled at Justin. She’s still shocked that her greatest crush is speaking casually to her as if they’re close friends! “I thought you’re serious…”

“Well, I know that it wasn’t you,” he said then looked in her eyes. “You have different eyes, Audrey. The way you look at me is different from the way Althea looks at me.”

She reverted her gaze to Justin’s lips. How she wished that she remembered that moment her alter persona kissed him. But she can’t. Every time they’re switching, it was as if she’s lost and the next time she knew it, several hours have passed, and she couldn’t remember a single thing about it.

“H-How does she looks at you?” Audrey asked Justin. She wanted to meet his gaze, but every time they’re locking each other’s gaze, Audrey felt like melting. It was as if his eyes were sending burning feelings inside her core. “How does my alter persona looks at you, Justin?”

It took seconds for Justin to answer, and for Audrey, it was like an eternity. “She looked at me as if he knew me,” he said. “I don’t know. It’s funny because it’s the first time that I saw you acted like that.”

Audrey knotted her forehead. So, it means… Justin has noticed me before? She looked up at him. “How did you know that it wasn’t the way I usually act?” Audrey wanted to congratulate herself for not wavering. “I-I thought you don’t know me.”

“We go in the same school, I am one of the student councils and we’re on the same year level,” Justin replied. “And, besides, we always see each other in the hallway, right? You were always with your friend, Rose.”

Audrey’s cheeks turned red. She didn’t know that Justin was paying her attention during those times. She lowered her head in embarrassment. “I shouldn’t ask you that question…”

Justin laughed. “Why?” he bent low to look at her face. “Actually, I’ve been noticing you from the first day of the school year last year. We met in the library, right? You borrowed a romance book, but since the librarian was out, I was the one that assisted your concerns.”

She gasped. “You still remember that day?”

“Of course,” Justin laughed. “You borrowed the book that I donated in the library,” he said and smiled. “But every time we met in the hallways you ignored me, so I thought that maybe you didn’t remember me.”

“No,” she countered. “I-I mean… I’m just—I don’t know how I would have approached you.”

“Is it because of the gossip about me? That I am an untouchable psychology student?” he laughed. “Well, somehow it’s true. I don’t really speak with other students, especially those… you know. It just feels kinda awkward.”

“Because the girls are always chasing you?” she asked. “It’s because you’re popular.”

“And I don’t know why,” he said and let out a sigh. “I’m glad we are now friends, Audrey.”

“F-friends…” she repeated. Her chest is hammering wildly. 

Is she dreaming? Is it real that Justin, the popular student told her that they’re friends? She then remembered about Althea, her alter persona. If it wasn’t because of her, this would not happen. It was Althea that led her to Justin… Althea was her total opposite because she can do the things that Audrey’s afraid to try, like speaking to Justin… She even kissed him!

“We’re friends, right?” Justin repeated.

She looked at him and smiled. “Of course…” she said. “Who am I to say no?”

___________

“MOM…”

From the book that Kristine is reading on their living room, she looked up at Audrey in a knotted forehead. “Yes, darling?”

Audrey hesitated to speak. She has asked her mother before about her childhood, but she never gave her exact answers. “I’m turning twenty-one this year, right?”

“Yes, why? Do you want to throw a party on your birthday?” She raised from her seat and walked towards her. “Do you have something in mind, Audrey?”

“No, I don’t want a party, mommy…” she said with a sigh. “I just think if… if maybe it’s the right time for me to know about my childhood…?”

Kristine’s expression changed. “Why do you want to know about it? It wasn’t that important. You were a sweet kid—” 

“Mom, it’s important,” she countered. “Especially, if those memories include my time with dad. And I want to know why I couldn’t remember a single thing about him—”

“Because you were just a toddler when he died,” Kristine cut off and reached for her hand. “Audrey, we’ve talked about this, right? Why are you suddenly wanted to know about it?”

“We never talked about it, mom,” she said, trying her best to control her tears. “Every time I asked you about it, you’re changing the topic.”

“Audrey…” Kristine looked at her in the eyes. “Your dad died when you were just a three-year-old toddler—”

“What caused his death?” she asked in furrowed brows. “And, why we can’t talk about him?”

Audrey expected that her mother would just catch her forehead and heaved a sigh. “You’re just tired from school, Audrey. Take a rest, we’ll talk about it next time, okay?”

When her mother went back to the couch and continued reading, Audrey let out a sigh. She doesn’t understand why her mother doesn’t want to talk about her father. She has to know about her past or what happened in her childhood, she has a feeling that it might be the reason for Althea’s existence…Or my existence? Who came out first?