OUR AFFECTIONS SERIES: Lance Fajardo 1; IT'S YOU

One: First day

Sheen Velasco

I roam my eyes around the school gate the moment I get out of my mom's car. STA. MARIA ACADEMY was written above the gate, students going in since it's Monday morning and the smiling middle-aged, male security guard that greets every student that enters the gate.

"Sweetheart?" Pagtawag sa'kin ni mama.

I looked back at her and smiled. "I'll be fine mom."

"I know." As she gets out of the car then slightly pinch my cheeks. She then took a deep breath as she put her hands on my shoulders. "I know. Transferring to this school, 3 months before graduation day, is so sudden but I'm so thankful na naiintindihan mo kung bakit namin 'to ginagawa ng daddy mo." As she flashed an apologetic smile.

"I know mom and I fully understand. I'm just so surprised that the school accepted me."

"Let's just be thankful that things work out the way we want it to be. We just hope that you're okay with all of this, especially now that you'll be adjusting again to a new environment."

"As I said, okay lang ako ma."

"I love you Sheen anak." As she kissed me on the forehead.

"I love you too mom."

Then she opened the passenger seat and handed me my lunchbox. "Don't ever forget this sweetheart."

I smiled at my mom again. "Mom, I'm going to be fine. Don't worry about me. You have to go already. Mali-late ka na sa work mo."

"Oo nga pala." As she rushed inside the car. "Huwag kumain ng late ha, 'tas ubusan mo yang baon mo and most especially, iwasan kumain ng mga ba-----"

"Mom, malaki na ako. I can already take care of myself, okay?"

She took a deep breath after I cut her from saying whatever she wanted to say. "Oh----kay, I got to go. I know it's your first day, but I hope you'll make friends."

"Is it still too early to pressure me on that matter?"

"Well, I just hope so. Kilala na kita, hindi ka magkakaroon ng friends kung hindi sila ang unang kumausap sa'yo."

"Sige na ma."

"I know, bye anak. Have a good day."

And I let out a sigh of relief as the car left with my mom's hand on the car window, waving me goodbye. Hindi ko napigilan ang mapangiti.

As I entered the school gate, I couldn't stop minding the stares that the other students gave me. Nilapitan ko ang guard at sinabing bagong transferee ako, at nag-offer siyang samahan ako papuntang faculty room.

"Ah, ikaw pala yung transferee! Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngayon ka lang nag-transfer dito sa school namin but I assure you, friendly at mga mababait ang mga estudyante dito." In his pure yet humorous smile.

Nginitian ko lang din si Manong guard. Pinaghintay niya muna ako sandali dahil sinara niya muna ang post niya.

Habang hinihintay ko si Manong guard ay may isang grupo ng mga studyante, mga lima yata sila lahat, na nagtakbuhan papasok ng gate. Napangiti ako ng makita ang kasiyahan sa kanilang mga mukha habang hinahabol ang isa't isa. I guess, they were racing on who's going to be the first one to reach their classroom.

But my smile slowly fades when I notice that boy student, who's taking the lead of their race, running towards me. He was looking at his friends from behind and was teasing them to catch up on him.

Sinubukan kong umiwas sa pagkakabangga niya sa'kin but it was already too late. As I felt his chest crash on my shoulder. Napapikit nalang ako, but to my surprise, instead of stumbling on the ground, I felt his hands on my shoulders, giving me support and keeping me from falling. Then, as I opened my eyes, I was met by the grinning face of that boy student, and everything was in slow motion that I could clearly see his whole face.

His hair's slightly brown, eyes a little bit "chinito", not so sure though since he was grinning at me. Has perfectly shaped noseline and perfectly shaped reddish lips. He has a light complexion. And when he smiles, it shows how perfectly formed his jawlines too. I know I'm complimenting him too much, but he seems really perfect for me. I've never seen someone as-------handsome as him before.

"Sorry!"

He's words brought me back to my senses. Thank God, I didn't stumble on the ground. I'm just wondering how he did that. He manages to keep me still, even if he runs into me. I didn't stumble on the ground but I was still shocked by the impact. I looked at the boy student again and caught him smiling at me while waving his hand, still in a race with his peers.

"Naku iha, okay ka lang?! Mga batang yun talaga, ang lilikot!" Pag-alalang tanong sa'kin ni Manong guard.

"O-Okay lang po ako." As I took a deep breath and forced a smile at him.

"Naku, pasensya ka na iha at hindi kita masasamahan doon sa teacher's office. May delivery daw kasing darating ngayon para sa canteen."

"Ahh--okay lang po."

"Pasensya ka na talaga iha."

Binigyan na lang ako ni Manong guard ng direksyon papuntang teacher's office and I realized, sobrang laki pala ng school na'to. Paulit-ulit pa siyang humingi ng pasensya't hindi niya ako masamahan.

I'm glad that most of the people I've interacted with so far, are sweet and kind, kahit yung student na nakabangga sa'kin. Feeling ko kasi mabait siya. Well, dahil na rin siguro sa sinabi ni Manong guard sa'kin kanina.

Habang binabaybay ko ang school ground, I can't help but let my eyes roam around. Malaki nga ang school na'to. Sabi nga ni Manong guard, bakit ngayon lang ako ng transfer dito? Bakit hindi ko naisipang mag-aral dito dati? Where in fact, mas malapit lang din ang school na'to sa'min kaysa sa dati kong school.

I was so engrossed that I lost my way towards the teacher's office. Didn't even realize I'm already inside a basketball gym. Bigla akong kinabahan kaya dali-dali akong lumabas at na-realize kong I am completely lost already. Panicked, I looked at my wristwatch, 7:30 AM. Thank God, I still have time.

I was planning on going back to Manong guard's post when someone from behind cleared his throat and caught my attention.

"Are you new here?"

"Ahm---y-yes?" Hindi pa ako makatingin ng diretso sa kanya dahil walang siyang suot na damit pang-itaas.

"You seem lost. Where are you headed to?"

"Ahm----to the t-teacher's office?"

"I'm headed there too. You can come with me. Antayin mo lang ako sandali, magbibihis lang ako." Sabay talikod sa'kin at pumasok ulit sa gym pagkatapos pulutin ang isang bola sa may likuran ko. Seems like he was a basketball player, and he was after the ball kaya siguro siya napalabas ng gym.

I was already feeling anxious when 5 minutes had already passed at hindi parin lumabas ng gym yung lalaki. I decided to go on my own, hoping I could find the teacher's office on my way back to the gate. Ilang hakbang pa ata ang nahakbang ko at narinig ko ang napakalamig niyang boses sa may likuran ko.

"Akala ko ba nawawala ka? Ano, plano mo bang mas lalo pang mawala dito sa campus?" He was cold when he talked to me earlier but he's now colder, and intimidating too.

Seeing his furrowed yet thick and perfectly formed brows, I must've pissed him. And I guess, he mustn't be one of those kind students that Manong guard told me earlier.

"Ahh----"

"Let's go. You just have to follow me." Yun lang at nagsimula na siyang maglakad ulit.

"A-Ahmm---okay and I-I'm sorry." As I tried keeping up with him. Matangkad kasi siya kaya ang lalaki din ng mga hakbang niya.

Nagulat pa ako ng lingunin niya ako habang nakakunot parin ang kanyang noo. Pero sandali lang iyon at nagpatuloy na siya sa paglalakad.

"I'm not a bad person." Still in his long strides without even giving me just a glance.

"I-I didn't say y-you're a bad person!" I was already like, running, just to keep up with him that I didn't notice the door in front of me. Nagulat na lang ako ng bigla siyang tumigil.

"We're here."

Naipikit ko ng madiin ang aking mga mata, expecting my head, or worse, my whole face, to hit the wooden door. Yes, my whole face did hit on something, but it didn't hurt that much on how I expected it to hurt when hitting a wooden door. When I opened my eyes, he's chest was already in front of me, so I assumed, I bumped my face on he's chest!

"S-Sorry! I-I'm very sorry!" Shocked at the same time, I started panicking but I can't move an inch of my body at all.

Mas lalong kumunot ang kanyang noo and he just stared at me in his usual coldness. He then took a deep breath and said, "We're already here." as he knocked on the door then opened it for me, without taking his eyes off me.

He was too close that he's scent was all I could smell. The scent of his perfume, not sure though if it's perfume or just the smell of detergent used to wash his uniform, and the scent of mint from his breath.

"Y-You can get inside now." After he awkwardly cleared his throat and was trying not to meet my gaze on him.

I realized I was just staring at him the entire time and I guess that makes him feel uncomfortable. Dali-dali akong lumayo sa kanya at hindi ko namalayang napayuko na pala ako.

"S-Sorry talaga! S-Sorry!"

Hindi ko na nakita ang facial expression niya but if I'm not mistaken, I hear him chuckle as he turns his back on me and starts walking away.

I can tell that he has a very nice physique, and he really has very broad shoulders. His uniform really fits and suits him well, unlike that boy student from earlier that seems thinner than him.

I also just realized that the teacher's office was just across the basketball gym. Napatingin ulit ako sa papalayong lalaki. Napapitlag nalang ako ng marinig ang boses ng isa sa mga teacher's sa loob.

"Whose there?"

Dali-dali akong pumasok, then greeted the teachers and told them I was looking for a certain Ms. Belarmino. Then a beautiful, smiling, young, female teacher waves on me and gestures for me to come closer.

"Ms. Velasco?"

"S-Sheen Velasco po."

"Nice meeting you Sheen. I'm your class adviser, Anne Belarmino." As she extends her hand for a handshake, with a big and warm smile on her face. I also give her a smile as we shake hands.

"Ahm----- based on your records, you're quite smart. I mean, literally smart. You aced in almost everything, academically. It would be an honor to have you here in our school. Mind if I ask why you suddenly decided to transfer school? I mean, I'm not trying to be nosy but, I'm just curious because clearly and undoubtly, you'd graduate as class valedictorian in your previous school, and you transferring here 3 months before graduation day is quite, unusual.

When I failed to answer immediately, she continued, looking apologetic.

"Ahm---- I mean, you don't have to answer that if you don't want to. You must have your reasons, valid reasons, since the school accepted you. I'm sorry for being nosy. My apologies. I hope I'm not giving you a bad first impression." Her, in her usual genuine smile.

"Ahh---o-okay lang po."

"Okay! Let's get to class!" As she started walking out of the teacher's office with handbooks on her hands.

As we were walking upstairs, she told me some stuff about her, like being proud she became one of the teachers here in Sta. Maria Academy. She also told me that the students here are kind and friendly. And most especially, bully-free.

"Of course, hindi na'tin maiiwasang pag-usapan ka ng mga students dito. As I've said, you, transferring here, 3 months before graduation day is very unusual and, unacceptable to the other students lalo na kapag malaman nilang sobrang talino mo pala."

"Ahh--h-hindi naman po."

"You just have to hang on. 3 months nalang naman, okay?"

"T-Thank you for looking out for me Ms. Anne." As I flashed a smile on her.

"No problem. So, are you ready to introduce yourself to the class?!"

I took a deep breath. "I-I should be." Then smiled nervously.

"That's the spirit!"

We're now walking in the corridor and the students started looking at us, specifically, on me. Ms. Anne gave me an encouraging smile before she entered the classroom labelled Section C.

"Good morning class!"

"Good morning Ms. Belarmino!"

"Okay, take your seats. Starting today, Ms. Velasco will be joining our class. She's a transferee. Please be good to her." Some students started murmuring to each other.

"Shhh, quiet!" Then Ms. Anne turned to me. "Please introduce yourself Ms. Velasco."

"A-Ahmm----I-I'm Sheen Velasco. I c-came from ******Montessori High School-------" Biglang lumakas ang bulungan ng mga kaklase ko ng marinig nilang galing akong Montessori School.

"Class, quiet! Please!"

I can really say that the students in this school are well-disciplined because the moment Ms. Anne told them to keep quiet, they obeyed her completely, that the classroom became so quiet as if the school principal had just passed.

"Okay Sheen, you take the empty seat near the window, second to the last." I just nodded on Ms. Anne and started walking towards the empty seat near the window.

At the back of my seat, was a boy student who I assume, was sleeping? Nakasubsob kasi ang mukha nito sa kanyang bag na nasa ibabaw ng armchair nito.

Umupo na rin ako sa upuan ko ng magsimula nang mag-discuss si Ms. Anne.

"Mr. President at the back? Tsk.tsk.tsk. Be a good example to your classmates!"

Ahh, siya pala ang class president. I don't want to judge him though. He must've been tired or something.

"Lance, are you fully awake already?" Sarcastic na tanong ni Ms. Anne sa student na nasa likod ko.

"Yes Teach."

When his voice sounded familiar to me, I attempted to look at him, but my eyes caught my girl seat mate, staring coldly at me. I somehow find her familiar too, but I didn't dare to look at her any longer. Ibinaling ko na lang ulit kay Ms. Anne ang atensiyon ko.

Right. As what Ms. Anne told me earlier, I just have to hang on. 3 months lang naman ako dito. I can do this.