Bubble Gum Kisses
Kapittel 33

**Kapittel 33** ***Vanessa***

**It took us less than a moment to arrive at the second floor,** but Asher and I already had discussed millennia of topics in our conversation. It started with trivial topics like the weather, subsequently transitioning to shallow issues like

celebrities and gossip, then we slowly delved deeper into trivial yet somewhat personal matters like favorite songs and series, and things went from one thing leading to another.

"As I was saying, Derek is the only innocent person in the series..." I paused briefly, "I mean, he's the least suspicious, and he has the cleanest narration in the entire series. Plus, he's got no traumatic backstory or anything that suggests he's the killer, and the narrator doesn't have shady comments against him."

"That's why you're missing the point. You aren't seeing the big picture. Have you heard of the Rashomon effect?" he asked to which I shook my head. "It's a way of storytelling that shows the event from the different perspectives of the different characters. What you're seeing in Murders in the Attic is only fragments of the happening based on not all, but most of the characters' experience of it. They had different views and experiences before and after the murder. We hadn't seen what actually happened yet. The narrator too seems like the shady type. Do you remember episode 15 wherein he lashed out at the badly reputed doctor when he thought that the latter had other intentions, but turns out only wanted to help?" he asked to which I nodded.

Asher then continued, "His judgment is sometimes clouded by his emotions and mental state. He's also affected by other people's comments either about him or anyone else. Also, I believe that you already know the term 'wolf in sheep's clothing', the series hasn't gotten much deeper into all of the characters' stories. We're barely getting more details yet, and they're hooking us up with sudden revelations. So I don't believe yet that Derek is the only innocent person in there." I was about to respond with a rebuttal but I shut my mouth close when I saw Georgia's recognizable figure. "Georg-" I opened my lips in an attempt to call her name but I shut them close again midway when I realized that she was talking to

someone.

Looking at the way she was glaring at the person she was talking to, how the corners of her mouth curved down six feet under, and the fact that she was balling her fist suggested that they had a heated verbal argument. It looks like they were on a verge of throwing hands at each other. I must stop that from happening. Things would not come out well if a fight ensued, especially that the faculty office door was just behind Georgia.

Quietly taking a few steps forward, I tried to read their lips, but what I could only comprehend between the lines was something about incompetence and worthlessness. I then noticed the veins in Georgia's smooth neck popped, and her jaw clenched when the other girl mentioned something I could not comprehend. Gosh, I understood what Haley and Sophia were talking about earlier, but why not this conversation now?

The vindictive, violent flames of anger extinguished when the girl slightly bent forward, raised a brow then waved her hand away in short motions before turning on her feet and walking out, leaving my friend alone in fuming yet restrained anger. That was when I decided to take my cue.

"Who was that?" I asked, coming up behind her.

"Woah!" she gasped audibly in visible surprise, taking a few steps back, clutching her chest, and making a goofy expression that I have never seen once in my life. I knew it would be mean of me if I laugh, but I could not help it. "You scared me! Don't do that again!" she exclaimed, expelling a heavy breath.

"Haha, sorry for coming up to you so suddenly," I apologized, my laughter still uncontrollable. "And yes, I won't do it again," I said as I succumbed into erupted laughter that I held on my knees.

My laughter traveled around the halls for a while before I could finally calm down. I was laughing so hard that my midrib started to hurt, and I almost peed. Good thing there weren't many people in the hall, and the faculty office is soundproof or I would end up embarrassing myself. Meanwhile, Georgia watched me with her arms crossed with one brow raised, and Asher- oh God, Asher! He was behind us all this time!

Immediately, mirth left my system and was altered with pure embarrassment. I stood on my two feet properly, fixed my posture, and cleared my throat, which made Georgia's raised brow go higher that it was close to getting to heaven. "Excuse me," I faked a cough, then scuttled beside Asher.

"By the way, Georgia. Meet Asher," I introduced him, "He'll be eating lunch with us today."

Georgia looked at me with her sockets wide and bulging enough that her eyeballs could fall off, and her jaw, like a piece of metal attracted to a magnet, dropped and glued to the floor. Her robust, well-defined frame was shaking, and she looked like she wanted to scream but she couldn't.

"Georgia?" I called for her when she suddenly held my hand tight.

"Uhm, excuse me. My friend and I have something to talk about," she told Asher before pulling me. I think she just wanted a little distance that we could talk without him hearing what we were talking about.

"Sure...?" Asher replied, but I'm sure that Georgia didn't hear him since she was too busy dragging me away.

"Girl, what's this?!" she asked, pulling me to the corridor on the right, and pinning me on the wall. Guess I was wrong on the little distance part.

"First, Lazarus, and now the handsome exchange student?! Who's next? Zac Efron? Henry Cavill? Jesse Williams?!" she whisper-yelled at me. I watched her clutch her head while biting her lower lip. She looked pretty thrilled. Also, I don't understand. How come Lazarus was suddenly involved in this conversation?

"I've been friends with Lazarus since middle school, and I met Asher first on my first day here," I said, scratching my cheek with an index finger, and tugging my lips for a small smile. I don't know why but I suddenly felt a bit awkward talking about my friends.

"Did you save the country or a colony in your previous life? You're so lucky!" she suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders and began shaking me relentlessly that I began seeing stars. Just a few more shakes and I'd be close to seeing my dad reaching his hand to me while he floats above the clouds.

"He's eating lunch with us, right?" she asked, and I nodded.

Immediately, I saw Georgia make the widest smile, her eyes lit brightly with a glimmering shine, and her cheeks flushed to a bright apple red. She looked so beautiful with that big beam and blushing cheeks. The passive hostile aura around her from earlier had gone and turned awfully bright.

"We shouldn't make him wait any longer, let's go!" she grabbed my hand again, dragging me back to where we came from.

There, Asher was standing idly by the doorframe, leaning his back on the wall while typing on his phone. Noticing our presence, he glanced in our direction and then placed his phone back in his pocket.

"Hi! Sorry if it took us a bit longer," Georgia's mood had completely changed, offering her hand to him with her grin growing wider than earlier. "I'm Georgia,"

"Yeah, I know you. Georgia Moore, vice-captain for the cheerleading team and former swimming team member." Asher smiled before taking her hand. The two proceeded to make a friendly handshake while I stood between them, astounded by the new information that entered my ears. I'm learning new things every day- every second rather.

"You were from the swimming team?" I asked her, flabbergasted. "Looks like you've got a lot of secrets more than I do," I remarked, wiggling my brows at her while she squinted her eyes at me.

"Yeah, I kinda went to nationals," she replied, rubbing her arm awkwardly before lightly smacking Asher's arm. "And you. You know a bit about me too much. Are you my stalker?" it was her turn to wiggle her eyebrows but at Asher this time. "Let's just say I know a thing or two," he chuckled.

"Anyways, let's go to the cafeteria! I'm already starving," she said, clutching her stomach and the three of us proceeded to the cafeteria.

**"Dang, it kinda smells good in here,”** Georgia asked while we were lining up in the queue. I stood behind her while Asher was behind me. "I bet the food's good today."

Per usual, the noisy cafeteria was crowded, divided unevenly by the students grouping in with their cliques, barring each other with invisible walls.

"Yeah, it's Taco Tuesday today," Asher answered her question. I looked at his face from behind, craning my neck due to his Brobdingnagian height, and saw that he was staring far ahead at the food served in the display case. I could see that he was looking forward to today's lunch.

"Oh yes!" she squealed, turning on her heels to face me excitedly. "They have the best tacos here, Van!"

"I'm looking forward to seeing what it tastes like," I said, the corners of my lips lifting into an exciting beam. I haven't had tacos in a while, and now I kind of want to have some for lunch today.

"Would like to add some more beef and cheese for that tacos, sugar?" the lunch lady asked with a bright face when she placed down the tacos and a generous scoop of assorted meat on my plate. Wow, I never knew they could this sweet here. "Some fruits, too. Would you like some?" she offered. I'm beginning to like this lunch lady.

"If it's all right," I replied with a coy smile.

"Of course," she said laughed warmly, then proceeded to give me some extra, and I heard Asher whistle.

**

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