I don’t have a choice but to go that way since it is nearer and I might encounter some of my friends if I walk back to where I came from. It also has the least probability to encounter Vladimir. I even peeked at the people around and on the oval to make sure that he was not there. I was halfway when I heard an announcement that they need to be ready for the next game. I walked fast and sighed in relief when I passed by the gate and I did not spot any of my friends nor Vladimir.
“Athena, wait!” someone shouted
My hair stood up when I heard Vladimir's voice calling for me. I was thinking if I should look back or pretend that I did not hear him and continue walking. I chose to do the latter since I am still too embarrassed to face him.
“Please don’t follow me.” I prayed
“Vladimir! Where are you going? We need to go because the leader will announce something?” someone said
I never looked back and walked even faster to get out of there. I arrived home with my heart still beating fast.
“I will be taking a rest so don’t disturb me.” I said to Nana who was tending to her flowers
I ran up the stairs and went straight to the shower. As much as I want to hide between the covers I can’t do it since I sweated a lot. I was drying my hair when I remembered again what happened.
“Why did I run away as if I did something wrong? I should have explained what was happening. He is going to think that I was doing something else. Aish!” I said
I shut my eyes as soon as I got in my bed. I wanted to sleep so I could forget what happened.
“Why are you home early? And why are you sleeping already?” Nana said after knocking
“I need to take a rest.” I said
“Did something happen in school?” Nana asked
“No! Why would something happen in school?” I said loudly
“I was just asking. Why are you panicking?” she said
“I’m not. I just wanted to take a nap.” I said before going inside the covers
“Okay. I will leave you alone for now.” she said before I heard a soft thud from the door.
I sent a message to my friends not to look for me because I went home and I will not be going back to school unless something important happens. I put down my phone and lay in bed as I breathed deeply. I kicked the blankets out of embarrassment. I have been tossing and turning but I can’t sleep even if I wanted to.
“Nana, have you seen my camera?” I shouted when I couldn't find my camera in my bag.
The lunch that she made wasn’t there so I thought that she also brought out my camera and put it somewhere else.
“What camera are you talking about? Isn’t it in your room?” she shouted back
“My camera. You know what camera I am talking about. It was in my bag and you brought out my lunch box.” I said
“I didn’t see any camera in your bag. Only your lunchbox was in there.” she said as she came out of the laundry room
“Oh, is that so? It must be in my bedroom.” I said as I turned my back and went upstairs before she scolds me.
“Stop right there! Don’t tell me that you have lost your camera?” she asked
“I didn’t. I must have brought it upstairs and left my bag here.” I said
“I know you. You don’t usually ask me where your things are unless you really can’t find them. Did you lose your camera?” she said with an investigator's look.
“I didn’t. I forgot that my friend borrowed it from me.” I said before running for my life
“I will whip your butt even if you’re old if I found out that you lost your camera. I know that you can be clumsy but you’re careful with your things.” I heard him shout before I closed my bedroom door.
I paced back and forth in my room trying to remember if I left it when I ran away from Vladimir. I would be in real trouble if I dropped it somewhere and it was broken. Should I go back to school and look for it? If I go back then I would be encountering Vladimir again. I’m not yet ready to face him so I decided to look for it on Monday. I just hope that if someone found it then they will turn it over to the lost and found. I prayed hard that it would be returned since my sketchbook still hasn't found its way back even if it was lost for some time already.
“Athena! Athena! Someone is looking for you.” Nana’s loud voice woke me up
I covered my ears with a pillow and tried going back to sleep. I don’t want to wake up yet so I shut my eyes even more.
“Athena! I said someone is looking for you.” Nana said as she pulled the pillow away from my ear.
“Who?” I said with eyes closed
“Go and check it out. It is one of your friends that you were talking about a while ago. Darkness is starting to spread outside so you should wake up now or else you will have a hard time sleeping tonight.” She pulled me and forced me to stand up.
I was still half-asleep so I was yawning and combing my hair as I went out to the garden where my friend was waiting according to Nana. The golden light from the sun that was starting to go down was shining on his back. I immediately did a 180 degree turn when I recognized who it was. and went back inside the house. I thought it was Jessica who dropped by so I didn’t mind what I look like and went out.
“Why are you coming back?” Nana said
“You didn’t tell me that it’s not Jessica or May who was outside. I didn’t even check how I look.” I said
“Why? You don’t look that bad. Your hair isn’t that messy compared to when you wake up in the morning.” she said before pushing me outside
I cleared my throat to catch his attention and he smiled as he saw me approaching. My heart started beating fast again because I remembered what happened.
“I’m sorry for disturbing your nap.” he said
“What are you doing here?” I asked with my forehead furrowed
“I was on my way back to school to watch the search for Mr. and Ms. Intramurals but decided to drop by here.”
“Didn’t it start yet?”
“It’s still past four and I think it will start by 5 p.m. Aren’t you going? I think all your friends are there.” he said
“Why would I go when the attendance isn’t going to be checked? I’d rather stay at home with my books.” I said
“Shouldn’t you go and support your team members?” he asked
“You haven’t answered my question yet. Why are you here?” I asked again
“Oh right. I came to return your camera. I was calling you when I saw you by the gate but I guess you haven’t heard me.” he said
I looked at the thing that he handed me and saw my camera. My hands started to sweat due to worrying that he might have seen the photo of him sleeping.
“Oh. Thank you so much. I would have been in great trouble if it was lost.”
“May is calling you to go and watch the search with them. You should prepare now since it will start soon.” Nana said as she came out to hand me my phone
“Tell them that I am not going and enjoy the show.” I said
“She will be late in going there. She will be accompanied by a friend named Vladimir.” Nana said on the phone
I snatched the phone but Nana already ended the call. I sighed at what she did.
“Nana! I said that I don’t want to go. Vladimir needs to go now so he will not miss the show.” I tapped my forehead.
“Uh uh! I said that you’re going so you will go and no buts. We are not forbidding you so you shouldn’t be staying at home. Go and prepare.” she said as she pushed me to go inside
“Vladimir, come and wait inside. Athena just needs to change and freshen up. I will ask the driver to bring you there if you don't want to be late.” she said to Vladimir as she pulled him inside the house.
I don’t have a choice since Nana already knew that there is an event in school. If she didn’t know then I wouldn’t be forced to go to school. Nana was grinning broadly as I came down the stairs.