Stolen Glances

Chapter 7

[Navy's POV]

Months passed, months without him, months of trying to move forward... kahit ang hirap-hirap.

"Anak, ready ka na?" Mom called from downstairs.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

New uniform.

New bag.

New school.

And new life, or at least... that's what I was trying to convince myself.

"Yeah, Mom. I'm coming," I replied softly.

Today was my first day at San Beda University one of the most prestigious schools in the city. Everything here was supposed to be perfect.

But something still felt missing.

****

I stepped out of the car and took a deep breath.

"Goodluck and mag ingat ka hija," Manong Felix said.

I forced to smile. "Thank you po."

As soon as the car left, I felt it, that quiet kind of loneliness. As I walked through the gates, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.

The campus of San Beda University looked even bigger in person.

Tall buildings. Clean pathways. Students everywhere.

Some were laughing, some were rushing, some were just standing in groups like they owned the place.

And there I was...standing here, nervously.

"Okay... kaya mo 'to," I whispered to myself.

New faces, new environment and new people.

****

Students walked past me, brushing shoulders lightly.

"Uy, ang tagal mo!"

"Miss you!"

"Grabe, ang ganda mo today!"

They all had someone, friends, someone to laugh with and someone to walk beside. I looked around, trying to act normal. But deep inside....I miss walking beside you.

Auri would've been right next to me, talking non-stop, making fun of everything kahit ano nalang naiisip mapasaya lang ako.

[HALLWAY]

In the hallway I started walking inside. My footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor.

The hallway walls were filled with achievements, trophies, medals, pictures of top students.

"Maybe I can fit here," I whispered.

But even with all the success around me...it still felt empty.

I saw a pair of best friends walking ahead of me. The girl was talking non-stop while the boy just listened, smiling. Then she playfully hit his arm and helaughed.

And suddenly, I stopped walking. “That used to be us.” I whispered.

I looked away quickly, pretending I didn't see anything.

May babaeng naglalakad papunta sakin"Hi! New, right?" I turned and saw a girl smiling at me.

"Yeah," I nodded. "First day."

"I'm Solenne," she said, extending her hand.

"Navy," I replied.

Anong department ka??" Solenne asked.

Engineering department" Aniya ko

Uyyy sameee tayoo." Tara sabay nalang tayo papunta sa classroom.

May dumating na dalawang lalaking nakangiti, I think it's Solenne's friends.

Hi, I'm Jace." pakilala ng isang lalaki

And I'm Marco," at sabay abot sa kamay. "Welcome to the group," Marco joked."Yeah, wag kang matakot kami nangangagat," Jace added and laughing.

I smiled. They were nice, friendly, easy to talk to.

But for some reason...it felt different.

****

Habang naglalakad kami papuntang classroom, I found myself observing them.

Solenne was talkative, Marco was funny and Jace was chill. They were good people.

But...

Hindi sila siya! Auri was different." He understood me without words.

He annoyed me in a way that made me smile.

He stayed even when I pushed him away.

I looked down for a second."Stop it, Navy," I whispered to myself.

"New life, remember?"

****

During class, everyone was introducing themselves and when it was my turn, I stood up.

"Hi everyone! I'm Navy Celeste Sinclair...nice meeting you all."Simple, short, just like how I felt.

Empty!!

****

Lunch break na, we sat together at the cafeteria.

"Anong favorite mo?" Solenne asked.

"Anything sweet," I replied.

"Same!" she said excitedly.

They laughed, shared stories, talked about random things. I tried to keep up, I really did.

But every time I laughed...

it didn't feel the same at bigla kong naalala si Auri.

The way he would steal food from my tray...

[FLASHBACK]

"Libre mo 'ko," he said with that annoying smile.

"Kapalan mo pa mukha mo," Sagot ko. And then we'd laugh! Simple moments, but it meant everything.

[END OF THE FLASHBACK]

****

After class, "Let's go to the café after school!" Jace suggested.

"Game!" Solenne agreed. They looked at me. "Navy, sama ka?"

I hesitated. "Sure..."

Papunta na kami sa cafe. Solenne, Marco and Jace were laughing! At kung titignan mo nila malalaman mo talaga na matagal na silang magkakilala, their bound, the way they act to each other and yeah, trio sila.

At the Café, the place was cozy. We ordered drinks, desserts, and just talked.

"Grabe, ang sarap nito!" Elise said.

"Right?" Marco added. I smiled, taking a sip of my drink.

But then,

another memory hit me. f**k, Auri again.

*****

[FLASHBACK]

"Ang arte mo sa drinks," he once teased me.

"Excuse me, I have standards," I replied. He laughed.

That laugh...I missed it.

[END OF THE FLASHBACK]

*****

I looked at my new friends. They were kind, they were real. But yeahh, we are here again Navy......

They weren't him and maybe...that's okay! Because no one is supposed to replace him.

After namin mag sa cafe ay bumalik na kami sa school. I found my locker and tried to open it. But I struggled with the lock.

"Ugh... seriously?" I muttered.

Then a random memory hit me. "Give it to me," Auri would've said.

"Ang hina mo naman," he'd tease while opening it easily.

"Excuse me?" I'd glare at him. He'd just smirk.

I sighed and finally opened the locker on my own.

"See? I don't need you," I whispered.

But my chest tightened after saying that because deep inside...I still do.

Are you okay???" nagulat na lamang ako at pag tingin ko it was Jace, he smiled at me. Jace was cute and nice, tahimik at siyang tao at matalino.

Yeah... I'm okay" I replied

Sabay na tayo papuntang class," he said gently.

****

Before going to class, we passed by the school garden. It was so peaceful! Flowers everywhere and benches under big trees.

Some students were sitting there, reviewing, laughing, taking pictures.

We sat down for a moment. The breeze was soft, calm, but my thoughts weren't.

"Auri... you would've liked this place," I said softly.

I imagined him sitting beside me, throwing random jokes, or just staying quiet. With him, even silence felt full.

****

[Jace's POV]

Napansin ko siya agad sa locker area. Tahimik lang si Navy, nakatayo sa harap ng locker niya, parang may iniisip. Hindi siya gumagalaw, parang wala siya sa sarili. I don't know why, pero something felt off. Hindi siya mukhang okay.

Lumapit ako sa kanya. "Hey... are you okay?" I asked casually, trying not to make it sound too serious.

Bigla siyang napatingin sa'kin, parang nagulat. Then she forced a small smile. "Yeah... I'm okay."

I didn't fully believe it, but I didn't push it either. "Sure ka? Mukha kang lutang eh," I teased lightly.

She rolled her eyes a little. "Grabe ka naman. I said I'm okay."

I chuckled. "Sige, if you say so. Tara, sabay na tayo papuntang classroom."

She hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Okay."

Naglakad kami side by side, tahimik sa simula. Medyo awkward, pero hindi naman uncomfortable. Habang papunta kami, nadaanan namin yung school garden, yung may mga benches at puno na nagbibigay ng shade.

"Wait," I said. "Gusto mo umupo muna? May time pa naman before the bell."

She looked at the place, then back at me. "Sure."

Umupo kami sa isang bench. For a moment, walang nagsalita. I tried to think of something para hindi awkward.

"So... first day mo dito, right?" I started.

"Yeah, paulit ulit" she nodded. "Still adjusting."

"That's okay ganyan talaga kapag bago kapa," I said. "Pero don't worry, masasanay ka rin. Wag kang matakot, like what I've said hindi naman kami nangangagat," I laughed. At nangingilan sa desisyon ng iba.

She laughed softly. "Good to know, huh!!."

"Except si Marco," I added. "Medyo questionable 'yon."

Napatawa siya ulit, this time mas genuine.

Okay... that's better.

We kept talking, random stuff lang ganon. About teachers, about the school, about small things. Nothing deep, nothing serious. Pero kahit ganun, I noticed something...

Every time she laughs, parang may kulang. Like she's trying... but not fully there.

Ringgggggg.......

The bell rang loudly. "Class na," I said, standing up quickly.

"Yeah," she replied, fixing her things.

Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa classroom.

And as we walked, I glanced at her for a second. She's so beautiful and she looked okay na.

But something tells me...she's not.

****

[Navy's POV]

Ringggggg.....

The school bell echoed across the campus.

Students started moving quickly.

Class na," Jace said and standing up quickly.

"Yeah," I replied! I'm fixing my things. I stood up and fixed my uniform.

Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa classroom ni Jace.

"This is it," I whispered.