Of All the Chances I'd Take

Where It All Started

One hour. That's how much time is left for me to go to school. I am in my third year as a secondary education student who specialize in English.

I need to endure a lot of sleepless nights just to finish my materials. And last night was one of those sleepless nights.

Heck! Being an education student takes a lot of my time yet this is fulfilling. By next school year, I'll get to teach like a real teacher. I'm gonna meet new people and share great memories. Isn't that amazing?

It is, but now I need to get myself up before Tita Martha will do it for me.

I'm still sleepy when I left our room to prepare our breakfast. We don't have someone to cook for us and I'm afraid that Tita Martha will not let me hear the end of her hard to swallow speech if I will depend on her.

She's the only one that is left with me and Riley, my 5-year old brother, since our parents died five years ago because of an accident.

"It's good to know that you're already awake," said Thalia, Tita Martha's daughter.

"I don't bring the spatula and casserole around for you to wait for me" I retorted while preparing to cook the eggs and hotdog. I don't have the energy to fight back for now.

I need to fasten my move because I might be late for my first class, Mr. Romulo is a terror professor.

"Are you saying something?" she asked while busy applying a bloody red lipstick on her lips.

"Nothing, your highness" I said back sarcastically. I have no doubt that she will get it. She's nothing but a pretty face.

I didn't wait for Riley to wake up before I left the house. I just hope that Tita Martha will be home from the market to assist Riley.

Even though Tita Martha has a bad attitude, Riley's still in good hands.

Fifteen minutes before 8:00 in the morning when I arrived at St. Augustus University. It's a walking distance from Tita Martha's house, I won't need to worry about my fare.

"Hey, Rodriguez! You're almost late. Don't you know that you only have one chance left? Or else Mr. Romulo will drop you in this subject."

Mia shouted at me before I could even properly seat on my desk. I chose to sit at the very back of the room near the window so I could look outside when I don't want to listen to the discussion.

Some of our classmates already occupied most of the front seats and are busy talking with each other while Mia is still standing in front of me like a mother scolding her daughter. She sometimes feels like she's older than me when in fact we're just the same age.

But, Mia is one of my treasured friends. We've been best of friends since high school. She's my confidant and money lender at the same time.

" Did your aunt verbally abuse you again? Or maybe your good for nothing of a cousin made you her slave today?"

I angrily throw a glance at her.

"Mia, your pretty face doesn't really suit your trashy mouth," I retorted.

Thalia isn't always a brat. Even though she's my best friend, sometimes the words that come out of her mouth are awful.

"Fine, I'm sorry even though your cousin doesn't deserve to be treated well"

Instead of replying back, I chose to take my book out of my bag for advance reading. Mia didn't mind because she's already bullying one of our classmates.

It's already twelve in the afternoon when our morning class was finished and instead of going to the cafeteria to eat our lunch. We went to the open field which is located beside our college department.

I don't want to be away because we only have an hour before our next class and I'm also saving some of my money for Riley's medication.

Even if it's still in the middle of September and summer season is a few months away, the afternoon sun still leaves a burning feeling on the skin.

The field is at the center of the university so the buildings are surrounding the area. There are also stone tables and benches under a narra tree where we could sit and have protection under the scorching sun. From where we sat, we saw some students from other departments walking and finding shelter away from the sun. I can also see the soccer team on the left side, where they usually eat their lunch and hangout.

My stare lingered on them, as if anticipating for someone to appear.

"Hey, Rodriguez! Who are you looking at?"

I almost forgot that Mia is a keen observer so I know for sure that she already saw where I'm looking at.

I tore my eyes off the soccer team and looked at her instead.

"We only had an out for lunch yet you already spend half of your time ogling over someone we both know has no idea you exists!"

She continued while already consuming half of her food. I, on the other hand, haven't opened my food container.

Harsh. I guess she will not be Mia Olivero without her straightforwardness. Ready to slap with hurtful facts on my face.

"I am not looking at someone. I'm just thinking about our assignment. Can you just eat silently?" I said not wanting to prolong a conversation.

But Mia is Mia and she always chooses to spit facts.

"Hmph. I know better. It's a good thing that your crush isn't there, you look like a stalker waiting for her prey"

With that I shoved a spoonful of rice on her mouth, to stop her from spitting nonsense words.

Luckily, she stopped for a while and focused on eating her food. I got my peace and started to eat my lunch because I know for sure that after a few minutes, Mia will annoy me again.

Damon Sebastian Lopez. He's the one Mia is talking about. A fourth year Engineering student and the captain of the soccer team. Son of the current governor of our province and one of the heartthrobs in the school. Who wouldn't like him, anyway?

A six and five foot tall with a body of a fully grown man. His face was perfectly sculptured with an angled jaw like a Greek God descended to mingle with mortals. He got thick brows paired with brownish colored eyes. As if when you stared for too long, you can already see tartarus from the depths of Earth.

He also had a perfectly upturned nose and reddish lips, a lot of women already got to taste.

With his appearance and status, he can really have anything he wants.

Full package I must say. It's a shame that I can vividly describe him as if he's just in front of me. He's an epitome of a perfect man. Sadly, for the past three years of looking at him from afar, he never laid his eyes on me.

Suddenly, I was moved away from my train of thoughts when a paper bag was placed in front of my sight. As I looked at it, a man with a soothing voice talked

"Mind if I join you?" asked Javier with a friendly smile plastered on his face.

Marcus Javier Enriquez, a friend of mine for a year now. A third year nursing student and also a member of the soccer team.

I can still remember the first time I talked to him.

"Is this seat taken?"

As I was busy reviewing my notes for a quiz in one of my major subjects inside the library a soothing voice asked in front of the table I was seated.

As I looked up, I saw a man dressed in all white clothes. He has a typical boy next door aura. A black backpack was hanging on his left shoulder, on his right hand he was holding a thick biology book. He looks so clean in his attire while sporting a friendly smile. I can perfectly see his complete set of white teeth from where I was sitting. He's perfect to be a toothpaste model I may add.

Instead of smiling back, I arched my brow at him. Even if I don't have a friendly vibe, his smile is contagious.

"I'm asking if this seat is taken?" pertaining to the seat in front of me.

"Can you see someone sitting on it?"

He looked confused. "No?"

"I answered your question" I replied and continued to read my notes. I didn't have the time to review last night because Riley was sick so I took care of him all night. If this quiz isn't my major, I'd rather be absent and just be with Riley until he gets well.

"For someone with an angelic face, you seems rude"

I didn't even realize that the man was still in front of me. I barely had the time to memorize my notes and this man is consuming some of it.

"Mister I don't know who-"

"Javier"

"What?"

"That's my name," He said, still flashing his perfectly white teeth.

I scoffed. "No one's asking"

Instead of getting annoyed by my behavior, he laughed. Now, he looks like a retard in front of me. Nothing is funny yet he's laughing like I cracked a joke.

I can see on my peripheral that some of the students near my table are watching him laugh curiously.

I just stared and waited for him to finish laughing.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you." He said with an amused expression.

"I just want to seat and join you here because there's no available table anymore"

He is saying those words while gazing his eyes around me.

With a confused expression, I looked around and saw that the library is really jam-packed with students, most are from the medical department. This is the first time since I'm here that the library is full of students. Some are already seated on the floor between book aisles just to review or take down notes.

"Okay" I said, not wanting to prolong the conversation. I still have a few pages to read before the quiz.

"Thank you" He said and put down his things on the table.

Finally, I can now concentrate.

"Miss?"

or not.

With annoyance, I looked at the man in front of me.

He seems taken aback with my attitude. I'm not like this to strangers but, he really is at a bad timing.

"I just want to introduce myself nicely. Promise! This will be the last time I'll disturb you from reading"

He said and raised his right hand as if pledging the Panatang Makabayan

For a man, he really is talkative and friendly. With a poker face,

"I'm Victoria," I said. Looking forward to this chitchat to be over so I could go back to silence.

He smiled again. He has the nicest smile I had ever seen in the university. He put down his hand and stretched it in front of me, waiting for a hand shake.

"Again, I'm Javier. Nice to meet you Tori!"

I didn't shake his hand and instead arched my brow from what he said.

"Victoria's too long and Tori seems cute"

Instead of replying I just rolled my eyes and continued reviewing. He just chucked at what I did and mind his own business. Finally!

I thought that the encounter with Javier at the library would be the first and last. I was wrong because after that, whenever I went to the library to review. Javier is already there at the same table where I was before, reading his notes and I don't have a choice but to sit in front of him because it is the only comfortable spot for me. Also, my attitude didn't offend him at every encounter. Instead he became more friendly and eventually became my friend because of his positive aura.

"Earth to Tori?" Javier's voice interrupted me from reminiscing about the past. A smile is still plastered on his face while looking at me.

Before I could answer back, I felt my right arm sting as if someone pinched me hard. Though it's true because as I looked sideward, Mia is giving me an annoyed expression while still pinching my right arm.

I equalled her annoyed expression and moved my arm away from her. This girl can be brutal at times.

And this day isn't an exemption. She's still looking at me annoyed before I realized what caused her to have a sour expression. Marcus Javier, her enemy is in front of us. I don't exactly remember what really happened between them which resulted in this. It's a miracle until now that even Mia's not friendly towards Javier, she doesn't give snarky remarks whenever he's around.

I looked back and smiled at Javier,

"Sure"

"Here's your dessert" He said as he urged the paperbag in front of me.

Before I could touch the paper bag. A hand already snatched it in front of me.

I thought Mia will be at least civil like what she always does before. I'm wrong though, this day was really an exemption for her.

She opened the paper bag and took out a plastic container with different colored macaroons inside of it. With no hesitation, she opened the container and took out one macaroon.

I offered an apologetic smile at Javier which he replied with a warm smile of his. He already know that Mia is rude to him and for some reason he never confronted her.

Instead of watching Mia devour the poor macaroons. I diverted my attention to Javier.

"Where have you been?"

I asked and brought a spoonful of food to my mouth.

Javier watched me with a small smile on his face. It's also not new to him seeing me eat like this. We've been friends for a year now and I already knew some of his secrets as well as mine.

"I was excused, need to run some errands."

He said as he eyed Mia happily eating the food he brought.

"Hey, can you eat slowly? Some crumbs are falling on the table"

Well, this is the first time that he was the first one to talk to Mia. And Javier is somewhat a neat freak, so I really understand him. She glanced at him for a few seconds and continued eating like she didn't hear Javier.

"Have you eaten your lunch? Sorry I didn't even text you" I said as I swallowed the last spoonful of my lunch.

"Yes, I just went here to give you your dessert" He replied and glanced at his wristwatch.

"I better get going" He stood up and put his hands inside of his pocket.

"See you later, Tori"

"See you, Javs and thank you for the food!" I said which he replied with a wink but he looked at Mia and said,

"Bye, messy-eater" before he turned his back on us.

Mia didn't have the chance to reply back and as I looked at her, she was already glaring at Javier who's casually walking on the field.

Something's changed. I'm sure of it but for now we need to move fast or else we'll be late for our afternoon class.