Yia and Elya

Chapter Seven

Elya's POV (her first day at ELU)

I woke up early, as I usually did, around 4:30 am. Despite going to bed late, at around 10 pm, I managed to get a solid six and a half hours of sleep, which was enough for me. After a quick stretching session, I headed downstairs to brew a cup of coffee. As an online writer, I liked to kickstart my day with a warm cup of caffeine before settling in front of my laptop.

Around 5 am, I glanced out at the balcony across from mine and noticed some commotion. Alyia's mother woke her up. Curiosity got the best of me, and I found myself observing the scene with a slight slump in my posture. From my vantage point, I had a clear view of Alyia's room since her curtains were wide open. She got out of bed and turned her gaze in my direction, causing me to quickly redirect my attention back to my writing. I didn't want to be mistaken for some sort of creepy stalker.

After finishing my coffee, I made my way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. But before I could eat, I had to cook rice and prepare a dish. It seemed like the señoritas of the house were still fast asleep, only waking up when it was time to eat, leaving me with the responsibility of cleaning up afterward. It was frustrating how I ended up doing all the chores while they enjoyed their meals. At the end of the day, I was the lazy one. How amazing is that (being sarcastic)?

Once I finished my meal, I quickly changed into my chosen outfit for the day and headed downstairs. My mother reminded me that Alyia would be accompanying me and mind my behavior. I assured her that I understood and hopped into the vehicle. That's when I noticed Alyia stepping in too. She looked exceptionally beautiful today, wearing a different color—warm blue—which perfectly suited her cool and effortlessly stylish persona.

Despite my growing interest in getting to know her, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awkwardness. How does one initiate a conversation with someone they barely know? And so, the entire drive was spent in silence, with occasional stolen glances in Alyia's direction.

As we arrived at the university gate, I was taken aback by the sheer size of the campus. It dwarfed the private Catholic school I attended during my junior years. Stepping through gate 1, Alyia turned to me and asked if we should take a tour or head straight to class. Not wanting to inconvenience her or risk being late, I suggested we go directly to class, and she agreed.

Once inside the classroom, Alyia introduced me to her friend, Nally Villanueva. Nally was undeniably cute, with a slightly chubby face that gave her a cherubic appearance. It was obvious that she and Alyia shared a close bond, which made me feel a little out of place.

I also couldn't help but notice Uno, whom I assumed was Alyia's boyfriend. However, the way she seemed annoyed by his jokes made me doubt my assumption. Uno Dominic Santos was undeniably good-looking, with a fresh and charismatic personality that appealed to me. He reminded me of those charming characters from the BL dramas I enjoyed watching. Intrigued, I took it upon myself to do a little bit of "research" using my IT skills. I discovered that he was the son of Ryan Dominic Torres and Allison Noel Santos, and came from a wealthy background. Apparently, his parents owned a software development company, but due to their divorce, he used his mother's surname, Santos.

Before you think I'm some sort of stalker, let me clarify—I was just being curious and gathering information. It's not like I was digging into his personal life or anything.

During a break, before Alyia and I went to the rooftop, I happened to catch a glimpse of the honor list. The top five names were listed in chronological order: Alyia Ramos, Nally Villanueva, Thyler Cruz, Henry Sandoval, and Sky Garcia.

Wow, a genius squad.

Alyia mentioned earlier that she had four friends she had known since junior high school, and one of them had joined us on the rooftop—Henry Sandoval. He had a striking presence, with sharp features and an athletic build. My first impression was that he seemed to have a fondness for Alyia, as his eyes were solely fixed on her during their conversation. I couldn't help but smile as I observed them interacting.

Spending the day getting to know Alyia had a subtle effect on me. It made me open up a little and realize that she was far from perfect, just like the rest of us. She had an aloof personality but was surrounded by fun and interesting people. Perhaps my initial insecurity upon seeing her stemmed from my struggle to adjust to this new environment. Deep down, I still missed my old friends, and the truth was, I wasn't entirely happy about moving here.

When I finally returned home, I headed straight to my room to change my clothes. As I settled in, I heard a gentle knock on the door.

"Open," I said, granting permission for my mother to enter.

"So... how was your day?" she asked, genuine concern in her voice.

"It was fine," I replied, keeping my response brief.

"Did you make any new friends?" she inquired further.

"We'll get to that in the future. But, Mom, there's something I need to do," I said, diverting the conversation.

"Alright, I'll leave you to it," she responded, understanding my need for solitude.

In truth, I didn't have anything urgent to attend to. I just needed some time alone, away from the past guilt trips and hurtful words that had strained our relationship. I had matured enough to understand that those words were meant for my good, even though they had driven a wedge between us. With a sigh, I grabbed my book and made my way to the balcony.

"Psst!"

Startled, I turned my head toward the sound. It was Alyia, standing across from my balcony, having changed her clothes as well. I couldn't help but notice the color of her outfit, but I won't ask you to guess—it was undoubtedly the same black shirt.

"Hey," I said with a smile, grateful for the interruption.

"What are you doing?" she asked curiously.

"I'm reading," I replied, holding up the book to show her the cover.

"Oh, good choice. I've read that too," she said, her voice filled with familiarity.

"Ahh," I mumbled, unsure of how to respond. I wished there was a tutorial on how to interact with someone you're not yet close to. I could use some guidance right about now.

"And what about you? What are you up to?" I asked, attempting to keep the conversation going.

"Just curious about what you were doing, and I'm also playing Mobile Legends," she confessed, a playful tone in her voice. "Well, I guess I might have bothered you. See you tomorrow."

With a warm smile, she bid me farewell. "Okay, see you."

As she walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and anticipation. Getting to know Alyia today sparked something within me, slowly chipping away at my initial insecurities. She was far from perfect, just like me, but there was something about her aloof yet captivating presence that intrigued me.

I closed my book, placing it on the small table next to me.