Rumors And Red Flags
742 Words
Chapter 3
It wasn’t love at first sight. It was judgment at first glance.
By the time our first proper interaction happened that hallway bump rumors already started circling like vultures.
The next day, habang papasok ako ng school, si Rico agad lumapit sakin.
“Bro, may tsismis na,” he whispered, eyes wide. “Sabi nila, you and Elena had a lovers’ quarrel sa hallway kahapon.”
I nearly choked on my Mentos. “What? Wala pa nga kaming conversation na more than five seconds!”
“Ewan ko, bro. Baka daw may ‘tension’ daw kasi, sabi ng mga third year girls na nakakita. ‘Yung kilig na may halong inis, alam mo na.”
I shook my head. “Tension nga, pero hindi ‘yung iniisip nila. She probably wants to file a restraining order.”
But the truth was. I hadn’t stopped thinking about it either
Elena’s POV
I hated that people talked. Especially when they didn’t know a thing.
“Ano ba, Elena?” my best friend, Bea, said while we ate lunch. “You looked like you were about to slap him. Pero may something talaga. Like ‘the enemy becomes the love interest’ vibes.”
I rolled my eyes. “Please. Jay Mendoza is the exact opposite of everything I believe in.”
“Yeah, but sometimes opposites attract”
“No. Not this time.”
But she was wrong.
Because later that week, our school launched its annual Academic Mentorship Program where top students tutored those who were “at risk” of failing subjects before final grading.
Guess who got paired together?
Me.
And Jay.
For History.
I stared at the paper taped to the bulletin board in disbelief.
“What. The. Hell,” I muttered.
Behind me, someone clicked their tongue.
“Looks like we’re stuck together, Miss Valedictorian.”
I turned. Jay was standing behind me, backpack slung over one shoulder, half-grinning like this was a joke to him.
“This is not funny.”
“I’m not laughing,” he said, though his eyes betrayed amusement. “Actually, maybe I am. Just a little.”
I folded my arms. “You’re failing?”
“Surprise,” he said, mock-bowing. “Apparently, charisma doesn’t count as a grade.”
Jay’s POV
Okay, I’ll admit it was weird.
Not just that we were paired. But that I didn’t feel annoyed about it.
Elena sat across me sa library, like she was preparing for battle. She had highlighters, sticky notes, a full outline of our review topics parang may war strategy siya.
“Okay,” she said, serious. “Chapter 7. Spanish colonization. Let's begin.”
I stared at her.
“What?” she asked, eyebrows raised.
“Nothing. I’m just wondering how someone can take this so seriously without combusting.”
She sighed. “Because I want to graduate top of my class and go to UP with a full scholarship. That’s why.”
I leaned forward. “So helping a ‘bad boy’ like me is part of the plan?”
“It’s part of my duty. Not my plan.”
“Ouch.”
We studied in silence after that or at least, she taught and I tried to keep up. She was sharp. Precise. And not as cold as she looked.
Until…
“Mr. Mendoza,” a sharp voice interrupted.
We both turned. It was Sir Delos Reyes, History teacher and one of my least favorite.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” he said, eyes narrow. “Are you actually studying?”
Elena straightened. “He is, sir. I’m his academic partner.”
Sir Delos Reyes laughed, not kindly. “Hmm. Just don’t let him drag you down, Ms. Martinez. You have too much potential to waste time on hopeless cases.”
My jaw tightened.
Hopeless?
“Sir,” I said, trying to keep calm. “You might be surprised. I’m a fast learner.”
He didn’t reply. Just walked off, shaking his head.
Elena’s POV
I expected Jay to joke after that. To brush it off. But he didn’t.
Instead, he packed his things and stood up quietly.
“Let’s just continue next time,” he muttered.
“Jay”
“It’s fine,” he said without looking back. “I’m used to it.”
But something in his voice stuck with me.
Maybe. he wasn’t used to it.
Maybe, he was just tired of hearing it.
- Writer
