I LOVED YOU FIRST

Chapter 1

PARIS @ 10 Y/O

"Paris, wake up! You'll be late for school!" her mom called out. 

Paris could hear her footsteps and a few seconds later she heard her bedroom door open. She could barely open her eyes. She was still sleepy. She hugged her blanket tighter over her head. 

A few seconds more and her mom, Annie, grabbed her blanket and tap her back, saying "Come on! I know you are awake. Get up."

Annie pulled aside the curtains and opened the windows. Rays of sunlight showered her room. She struggled to get up. She stretched her arms over her head and let out a big yawn.

"I don't want to go to school, Mom." she mumbled. 

Grace smiled and kissed her forehead.

“How will you become a doctor someday if you do not go to school?” She chucked her daughter’s chin.

Paris groaned and asked “I don’t want to be a doctor.”

“But was not that your dream before? I remember you always carrying your toy stethoscope when you were a baby.”

“Mom, I was just a baby then.”

“A lawyer then?”

“No.”

“An engineer?”

“No, Mom.” She stood up and went to grab her bathroom towel. “I will just be Justin’s wife.” She grinned and went to the bathroom.

“Well, you’re just ten years old. You can still think about it.” Grace laughed. 

PARIS’ POV

“Have you seen Justin?” Lisa asked looking at me. We are having lunch at the cafeteria together with our other friend, Jane. 

They are at their usual corner table. The cafeteria is bustling with elementary and high school students. 

“Today? No. But I think we’re going to have dinner at their house later.” I answered dreamily.

“Wow. I wish my parents were also friends with his. Maybe then I could also be friends with Luke.” Jane sighed. 

Luke is Justin’s little brother. He’s now 10 years old, the same age as me. Jane always had the biggest crush on Luke.

Justin is nice and cool but very reserved. Luke, on the other hand, is the happy go lucky type. 

“Ugh, Jane. Luke already has a girlfriend.” Lisa scolded.

“I don’t care.” 

“No. Luke doesn’t have a girlfriend. I would have been the first one he’ll tell.” Paris, being the best friend of Luke, is always the first one to know anything important that happens into his life, and vice versa.

“And why did you ask about Justin?” Paris asked.

Lisa put down her fork and signaled them to come nearer. 

“I saw him earlier with Jessica. He was holding her books for her.” She whispered so the other tables would not hear.

My jaw dropped. My hands went to cover my mouth and blurted, “No way!” 

I was really shocked. Justin never told me about Jessica, his classmate in 6th grade. Jessica maybe is one of the prettiest girls in their school. She was also very nice.

She felt hurt as she comes into terms with what she heard. Justin comes often to their house, so why did he not tell me? How could he look at other girls even.

“Yes way!” Lisa answered. “I also saw them at the ice cream shop yesterday after class.”

“I saw them arrived together this morning too.” Jane said apologetically.

My friends grabbed each of my hand and squeezed. They know I have crush on Justin and they know about my dream of marrying him someday.

I know I am still young. But I love him already. Ten years old is not too young to fall in love.

DINNER THE SAME DAY

We just finished having our dinner and the adults were left at the dining table.

Justin and his brother Luke, siblings Maya, Kim and Gregory and I were on our way to the sala. 

It was a lovely dinner as always. Our parents have been friends since they were young and they are keeping a tradition of having dinner whenever they can or whenever their schedule would allow.

As such, we, as their children, also became close friends. We have practically known each other since we were babies.

I feel a little sad because of what my friends told me at school earlier. I still haven’t talked to Justin because I still feel hurt.

I sat beside Kim on the sofa. While the others scattered around. The sala is spacious with big sofas so all of us could scatter around and still would have somewhere to sit.

The boys were on the other side, being loud. While we girls are on the other side talking girl stuff.

I switched the TV on and sat comfortably on the sofa. 

Luke brought out the snake and ladder board and they all gathered around to play.

It’s one of our favorite games coz we all get to play. Not like when the boys play guns while we girls play with our dolls.

But tonight, I’m not I just want to watch TV, Inuyasha is currently on.

“Hey.” I turned to see Justin sit beside me on the sofa. 

“Don’t you like to play with them?”

“No.” I replied. Turning my attention to the TV. “You?”

“Nah. I’m feeling lazy.”

“Is Jessica your girlfriend?” I suddenly blurted.

“What? No!”

I turned to face him. “Truly?” I grinned.

Justin was blushing! 

“Really! Eww. Why do you even ask that?” 

“Lisa and Jane saw you with her at the ice cream shop and at school, you were carrying her books for her.”

“Oh. Well…..” He is now frowning a little.

“What?”

“Geez, I was at the ice cream shop with Luke and Mom when I saw her. She approached me and asked about our assignment in Math. No big deal.” 

“How about at school?”

“I can’t even..Oh right, she dropped her books and I helped her carry them. That’s it. She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Okay.” I smiled widely at him. Feeling a lot better now.

“Besides, I already like someone else.” He added shyly.

“Huh? Who?” I feel like crying again.

“You…silly!” He ruffled my hair and stood up.

I just sat there grinning ear-to-ear.I