EPISODE 3
1089 Words
First Encounter.
They say when you’re excited about going to school, time flies faster. Maybe that’s why the past few days blurred by so quickly—I actually wanted to be here.
Right now, our science teacher, Mrs. Chavez, had us copying notes into our lecture notebooks.
“Study these,” she said. “Because on Friday, you’ll have your first quiz.” Groans filled the room, though Lily and I stayed quiet.
“Three quizzes next week already?” Luke, the boy behind me, whined.
A couple of days ago, Lily and I had gone to the faculty room. Mr. Jihoo told us we had blocking practice at the plaza this coming Sunday. Another thing to think about.
The bell rang. Recess. My classmates released a chorus of silent cheers.
“Goodbye and thank you, Mrs. Chavez! May God bless you always!” we chanted in unison before she left.
Lily and I walked toward the cafeteria together. Ylanna had stayed behind in the classroom, insisting she wasn’t hungry.
“Should we buy her some biscuits?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Lily said, nodding. “She’s probably just going to study again instead of eating.”
We were halfway down the long building when I heard it.
“Psst!”
“Psst!”
I told myself don’t look, don’t look. But of course, I did.
And that’s when everything slowed down. Like, literally slowed down. It felt like a scene ripped straight out of some cheesy romance movie. The crowd blurred, the noise faded, and all I could see was him.
A boy with soft, boyish features. Sharp nose. Pale skin. Thin, pink lips. And—oh my goodness—a smile aimed right at me.
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
I snapped my head forward, heart hammering, and nudged Lily with my elbow. “Lily,” I whispered. “He’s gorgeous!”
“Huh? Who?” she asked, still walking.
“The guy on the left—sitting on the bench. He’s looking right at us!” She turned her head. Then laughed.
“Oh my God, Via. That’s Nick. Zachary Nick Cortez. The same pandak, pangit, mabaho, bulakbol you made fun of last time.”
I froze. “That’s Nick?!”
“Yup.”
“Well, I take it back. He’s not ugly. He’s… wow. I think I’m in love,” I declared as soon as we reached the cafeteria.
Lily burst out laughing.
“You know Apple from our elementary class? She’s in the other section now. Well, she’s his crush.”
“So? What’s your point?” I shot back.
“Nothing,” she said, still laughing.
“Lily, I swear everything slowed down! I’ve never felt that before—not even once!” I gushed, still replaying the scene in my head.
I wasn’t really the type to swoon over boys. Back in elementary, most of them were runny-nosed kids I couldn’t even take seriously. But this… this was different.
Every bite of food I took, his smile replayed in my mind. His face, those lips, that glow—it was like he’d been seared into my memory.
“You’re going to choke at this rate,” Lily muttered, shaking her head.
“Let’s pass by again,” I said, already plotting.
“We don’t have time.” She was right. Recess was almost over.
“Maybe after dismissal?”
“Via, you’re crazy. We’re not circling campus just so you can stalk your crush.”
“Fine. What about at lunch?”
“We brought our own lunch,” she said flatly.
I pouted.
“Look, Rico’s his best friend,” Lily suggested. “Why don’t you just tell Rico you like Nick and have him introduce you?”
“Are you insane? There’s no way I’m admitting that to Rico! He’d never let me live it down!”
Still, I couldn’t help glancing toward Nick’s building when we walked back to class. What if I got lucky and saw him again?
“Via, watch your step. If you trip and fall in front of your crush—”
“Then he’ll help me up,” I interrupted dreamily.
“He’ll laugh at you,” Lily said.
We parted ways briefly when Lily went to talk to Sabby. I handed Ylanna the biscuits we bought.
“Here, eat something,” I said.
“Thanks. I’ll have it later. I’m still full,” she replied, opening her C2 drink.
“Oh, I finished your lecture notes,” she added.
My eyes widened. “You finished… all of it?”
“Yeah. I had nothing better to do.”
“Ylanna! You didn’t have to. Lily and I were going to copy it at lunch.” Still, I was grateful. “Thank you.”
“I don’t mind. It was short anyway.”
By then Lily had come back. “What’s this?” she asked.
“She finished our notes,” I told her.
“No big deal,” Ylanna said with a shrug.
That was Ylanna—responsible, studious, and way ahead of everyone else. Lily and I were somewhere in the middle—sometimes focused, sometimes… not.
The room quieted as our Filipino teacher, Mrs. Rivera, stepped in.
“Magandang umaga, class.”
“Magandang umaga, Ma’am!”
“Today we begin studying the korido, Ibong Adarna. Is anyone familiar with it?”
“Yes, Ma’am!” Lily raised her hand, her voice confident. “It was written during the Spanish era and is now part of Philippine literature and mythology.”
“Very good, Miss Diaz.”
Lily beamed as she scribbled in her notebook. Ylanna followed suit, jotting down everything. Me? I was too lazy to write, just listening halfheartedly—until Lily slid her notebook across my desk.
“What’s this?” I mouthed.
“Look,” she mouthed back.
Curious, I flipped it open.
And there it was. Our names—Via + Nick—scribbled in flaming letters, with the word FRIENDS underlined below.
My eyes went wide. Lily smirked as I glared at her.
“What’s that?” Ylanna leaned closer.
I showed her the page. She blinked. “Nick? Who’s Nick?”
“My… crush,” I admitted before I could stop myself.
Her eyes went round in surprise.
“Girls, quiet,” Mrs. Rivera scolded.
I shoved the notebook back toward Lily, cheeks burning. Seriously. I thought she was taking notes. Turns out she was doodling my imaginary love life.
- Writer
