Love and Distance

WAKE UP! It's 8:30 Sofia! My mother, waking me up from my long and romantic dream. "Oh jeez! Mom! Why didn't you wake me up? I'll be late for first day!" I almost fell on the floor as I jumped out of bed. I run to the shower and as the water slowly pouring on my hair and body, I am thinking of what school will be this year. This will be my last year in school and I want everything to be perfect. I am Sofia Maxim, A 4th year college student from a small school in our province here in the Philippines. I live with my mother because I never knew my father. My mom, Rosa has always been my best-friend. I love telling her things about my personal life, or any problem I am dealing with. "Mom! What time is it?" I shouted from bathroom as I still thinking of what to look forward today. I am a thinker; if there is one thing I hate to do but I keep on doing is thinking about everything that is going to happen. "It's 8:45! You better hurry up and stop asking me what time it is! You need to eat breakfast!" My mom shouted back. She always reminds me to eat breakfast no matter what because she said that it will give me the energy I need for the whole day. Especially she knows that I am an active student. I am a member of student council in our school, so there's lot of things to do for the whole school year. I love being active and participating in almost everything in school. My mom raised me alone but she always reminds me to always do my best and to always be kind. I love that about her. That's why maybe I'm a cheering, loving and an understanding person. Not to brag but I am quite popular in our school even though I'm not used to it, because besides of being in a student council, I also won the beauty pageant last year. My face is almost at every corner of our school. I took out of the shower, wear my clothes and eat breakfast really quick. My mom is in the car waiting for me, I grab my things, and have a quick glance of myself in the mirror while saying "Hakuna Matata!"it means no worries! My favorite lines from my favorite movie "The Lion King". "Sofia next time you better wake up early, I told you to stop watching k-dramas at night!" mom said annoyed. I love Korean dramas, it's my night routine and my stress reliever . "I know mom, sorry! Let's go, I'll be late" we are on the way to school when my best friend texted me. " Sofia! Where are you? The program will start in 3 minutes." So I told her that I 'm almost there and that she better save a seat for me. Every school year, the first day is where all of the students gather in auditorium to have an orientation about the rules and regulations of our school. It is especially for the freshmen students. As the car stopped, I put my favorite bowtie on my hair. I gave my mom a quick kiss and jump out of the car. Auditorium is almost 2 minutes away from the gate so I walk as fast as I can while texting Joyce. When I suddenly bump to a man that I think I never saw in school. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I'm in a hurry" I walk away but decided to walk backwards " Hey, are you new here?" he smiled. " Yeah, I'm looking for the auditorium but I think I'm lost" I smiled. "You are just so lucky to bumped into me! Come on! The orientation is starting in a bit! We will be late, so you better walk fast!" I walk faster but I didn't look back to check if he's still following me but I heard his foot steps so I just continue to walk. When I arrived at the Auditorium I look back and surprise to see that he's not following me anymore. I don't have time to search for him so I just entered the auditorium and look for my bestie. " Joyce! I'm here! " She wave her hand "Come here Sofia!" I hug her tight. " I missed you! how are you? you look good." Joyce is my best friend since high school. We promise each other to always be together no matter what. We decided to go to same school together and get the same course. We shared many good memories and we have the same interest in almost everything. She is a student council and good at supporting me all the time. She is my number one cheerleader. "I miss you too, Maxim! We didn't see each other for the last 2 weeks right? Why do you look so pretty?" I smiled and said "Stop it! You know I'm not!" she laughed "Why do you always say that? Don't you know how much boys are looking forward to see you and court you? You're the only one I think who doesn't know that you are beautiful! You won the crown last year, remember? You silly!" I stared at her and adore her. She's really the best friend I ever have. I love her like my own sister. She loves to compliment me all the time. We are each other support system. Joyce has a long eye lashes, cute nose and lovely smile. She is kind, friendly to everyone and a No boyfriend since birth bookworm. We both love books especially the romance genre. I think that's why when it comes to our love life me and Joyce loves to dream of our own fantasy. We have our own imaginary boyfriends. "I thought I'm late, I actually bumped into someone on my way here, I think he's new". Joyce stared for a bit and said. " Really? What's he look like?" I look up and realized that he actually do look good. "I don't really remember, but he kinda looks nice." Joyce smiled at me teasingly "What did you just say? He looks nice? Omg! I think this is the first time I heard you again that some guy looks nice, now I'm curious!" Joyce knows that when I got my heart broken with my first boyfriend, I became really strong and wise when it comes to men. I don't trust easily, I don't entertain easily and I never give my heart to anyone easily. I can't really remember the last time I feel my heart flutter. "What? Stop being ridiculous! I just said that he looks nice and I think you're over reacting" We both stop laughing and listen as the dean is now speaking. "Good morning everyone, We welcome you to this new school year 2014-2015, especially the freshmen, we hope that you will enjoy your courses while you are attending here in our school and I hope that you will make a lot of friends and good memories while in college. As you all know our school always hold an election for our yearly student council. But this year, the faculty and staff decided to just assign a student that will be this year's leader of our school. " Joyce and I stare each other "What? are they serious? They must be kidding!" I said. As the dean continue, " Let me introduce to you the students for our 2014-2015 student council. First, is our Treasurer from BS Accountancy, Leah Morris. Students applauded. "For our Assistant secretary, still one of our best student, Joyce Alonzo from BS Business Administration!" Joyce didn't stand up and asked me "is this real? But I am the vice president!" I smiled nervously and said "it's okay, come on, get up, everyone is waiting". Joyce stands up and walks to the stage and smiled as if everything is okay. I feel nervous because I am thinking if I will still be the secretary or at least stay part of the student council. I love being in a student council, it makes me feel more of a student. The more responsibility I have, the more I enjoy going to school. So if I will not be part of it, I think it will make my heart sink. "For the Secretary, let me call Mr. Kiro Hoshi from the BS Nursing Department!" I can’t believe this is happening! Kiro stole my place! This is so annoying! I kept on cursing until the Vice President is announce "For the V-President let me call Ms. Sofia Maxim of BS Business Administration!" the students cheers and someone just shout "I love you Sofia!" its Jake, the annoying suitor I have since freshmen year. The auditorium filled with laughter as I cover my face with my hands. What? I am the V-President now? Who will be the President? I look at Joyce as I walk to stage. We have this look that only the two of us understand. "As you all know, our recent President, Carl, is now on abroad to continue His study, so we need to select a new President. So may I call my nephew, a transferee student from USA, 4th year and from the Department of BS Nursing, Andres David! " We all look together as we all curious about who is this new student. He stands up from the audience looking stunned. I can see some girls giggling and smiling as he walked forward. So the man I bumped to earlier is the New President, nephew of the dean and now I think the most handsome man I ever seen in my life. I look at him as he walked towards us, He is tall maybe 6 feet or more, nice body, white skin, no beard and a beautiful eyes. "This is the new batch of student council for school year 2014-2015, please give them around of applause!" He looked at me when he passed by me and stand beside me. I hold my breath for a moment. For the first again in forever, I got chills down my spine. Who are you Andres David? ANDRES POV "OH MY GOSH, I'm so sorry! I'm in a hurry." A familiar face suddenly bumped into me while looking for the auditorium where the orientation is about to start for the first day of class. She continued to walk fast when she walked backwards again. " Hey, are you new here?" she asked. I was stunned realizing that she is the one I saw in the picture Kiro sent to me last year. It was their group picture as a student council. " Yeah, I'm looking for the auditorium but I think I'm lost." I smiled. "You are just so lucky to bumped into me! Come on! The orientation is starting in a bit! We will be late, so you better walk fast!" She said and she walked faster again. Oh, you have no idea Ms. Sofia Maxim, I guess you’’re right, I am just so lucky to bumped into you. Lucky first day, I guess. I keep on smiling while following her. I can smell her perfume and her hair. I can't help to notice that she is wearing a bow tie in her hair. When we are about to reach the auditorium, I saw Kiro standing outside while using his phone. He saw me too and asked me to come to him so I walk towards him without saying anything to Sofia. "Hey man, what was just I saw?" Kiro is being curious. "What do you mean?" I pretended not to know what he's talking about. "Did I just see you following Sofia? Man, you're faster than I thought." He said while shaking his head and smiling to me. "I guess the universe is with me this time." I smiled. "Hey Kiro, don't ever told Sofia that I know her name. Don't ever ruin this or else I won't help you with Joyce." I warned him while pointing my finger to him. He hold my index finger and put it down. "Relax man, I won't. Don't worry, I got you on this but you better tell me what happened on your way here. It's making me curious man!" He put his arm over my shoulder and we walked towards the auditorium. I didn't get the chance to see where is she seated right now. Kiro and I are now seated when the orientation started. Some professors discussed the history of school, the rules and regulations and everything in the handbook was discussed. And now, it is time for the announcement of who will be the student council. She called the treasurer, the assistant secretary, the secretary, and now the V-president. "For the V-President let me call Ms. Sofia Maxim of BS Business Administration!" I look around to see where she at when someone shouted I love you Sofia. I can't help myself but frown. So she is really loved by everyone. I hope this won't be a problem to make her mine. She is now walking towards the stage covering her face with his hands. She's embarrassed, how cute. She is now walking on the stage but not smiling. Is she disappointed? I look at her and find her so lovely. She has a long black hair, pointed nose, almond eyes and a fair skin. I'm dying to see you smile again, Sofia. I want to see those perfect teeth of yours. I remember few days ago the conversation I had with my Auntie, Grace Anderson. I asked her a favor that I want to be part of the student council. She asked me why but I didn't answer. She told me that she needed to know the reason. I was being hesitant at first to tell her because she might think that I am a hopeless romantic. But I have no choice so I needed to be honest. I told her that I wanted to be part of it because I wanted to get close to Sofia. I thought she will laugh at me, but she smiled and squeeze my face while saying how cute I am. My Auntie adores me. I am sure of that. She and Uncle Ross never had a child. So growing up I became their son too. They love me like their own. But even if I moved to USA, I love calling and talk about any stuff to her. Sometimes my mom got jealous of how close I am to Auntie Grace. So when I told her I was coming home, she became very excited that she renovated the guest room just for me. I love and adore her too. She is the best auntie I could ever ask for. I told her that any position in the council will do. She told me she'll agree but in one condition. She wanted me to do my best and promise her that I will try to be the best leader I can be. She also wanted me to enjoy the last year and to be happy. I accepted her terms and conditions without hesitation. But I never expected that she would make me the President of the student council. So when she called me, I was stunned for a moment. "So may I call my nephew, a transferee student from USA, 4th year and from the Department of BS Nursing, Andres David!" I stand up and walk towards the stage. I saw Sofia staring at me. What is she thinking? Is she thinking something bad about me? Damn, maybe she doesn't want me to be the President. As I am getting near to them, I gaze deeply at Sofia as I passed by her. I saw her inhale and turned away her gaze. Those eyes. Those beautiful eyes, I want to be lost in them.