The One That Got Away

Chapter 2

"Having a crush on someone is hundred percent satisfying compared to being in love"

"Chloe!"

A high-pitched woman's voice called my name out loud.

Is it Meya?

I peeked out of the wooden window of our house.

Yes, it is indeed her.

I immediately grabbed my bag containing five books.

I ran downstairs to our house and when I came out, I immediately hugged her.

"Meya!"

"Huh? what is up with you?"

"Nothing, I just want to hug you"

We were just walking to school. It feels weird walking in all these old environments. The volume of this area has changed, the vegetation along the road has been replaced by drainages, the huts and some old-fashioned houses made of tall wood, over time have become one of the steepest and tallest building and concrete houses.

As I was thinking about the changes from now on I suddenly mentioned...

"Milk tea, would you like?"

"Huh?" Meya was stunned.

"I'm sorry, I read the book last night, I just suddenly remembered"

"What milk tea, is it delicious?"

I laughed at her question because Milktea has become her favorite in the future which leads her to her own fame, she opened a Milktea shop and it's funny because after a year of doing her business, she hit the masses and now she is one of the well known Milktea Shop owners in the city.

"Maybe, according to the author's description in the book, it's delicious," I said smiling at her.

I can see the gate of our school, we are now in second-year high school but in my mind, I'm 42 years old. I'm their aunt, oh I don't even want to think about it.

Suddenly the cycle of my world stopped.

(the one that got away slowed version start playing)

Suddenly my heartbeat slowed down, I can't believe I am seeing Ryan right now.

My tears flowed as if they were dripping on purpose without me being aware of them.

The pain inside, it is making me nauseous

"Chloe? Hey, are you okay?"

I took a deep breath.

As I was just looking in Ryan's direction, he suddenly looked at me.

He stopped and seemed to stare at me.

Song playing: "In another life, I would be your girl, we keep all our promises, be us against the world, in another life, I would make you stay, so I don't have to say, the one that got away...

The one that got away ... "

And suddenly Mariane hugged him. I remember, 1992, we weren’t even together yet.

They continued to walk, away from where I was standing.

Suddenly a book hit me.

"ouch"

"Are you crazy? Why are you staring at Ryan?

Don't forget, that's your mortal enemy, did you forget that you cried yesterday because he put floor wax on your face?"

I suddenly laughed. I remember, I almost cried because it was hard to wash away even until I came home, my face and hands were still red.

When we entered the gate, the bell suddenly rings. The school bell was still manual so I saw Noel next to our canteen who seemed happy as he was ringing the bell while some of them ran to their respective lines.

We are 2nd-year high school and in the sixth line. I'm neither short nor tall, I'm in the middle of the line while Meya is in the front.

I lowered my bag because it was already overweight. In Stefi's time, they probably only carried a sling bag and laptop when she was in high school.

"You are smiling like a fool Chloe haha" I suddenly looked at my side and Ryan was next to my line.

Suddenly my chest throbbed fast and I seemed stunned by him again.

Wait wait! get hold of yourself, Chloe, act accordingly. I don't know if he notices my tense.

"Why are you here? aren't you in the back?

He just smiled a little and then moved to the rear to meet Sir Antonio who was watching him.

It's fun to see her dimple again when she smiles and her eyes that seem to speak every time she looks at you. So far his stares are not for me. I saw Mariane and Ryan looking at each other, they were both at the end because they were almost the same height. I want to be jealous but I don't have a role in his life right now but to be his classmate. Just a random person I guess.

Every 7:15 am is our flag ceremony. There is always an assigned student who will lead the Lupang Hinirang and Panatang Makabayan. Then after the ceremony, we entered our classrooms. If you are a morning sweeper, you should be at school before the flag ceremony to clean up otherwise, you will have to squat or have some punishment from the teacher so we always follow the policy instead of being scolded and embarrassed in front of the class. We are lucky because our generation grew up with discipline, I didn’t understand it before but as I grew into an adult, I realize how lucky we are back then, and now that I am back here, I appreciate them even more.

When I entered the classroom, I forgot where I was sitting.

I just stood next to the little broom box and seemed to be wondering where was my sit.

Marco pushed me to my feet, fortunately, Ryan caught me or I would fall completely.

"Oyyyyyy" Everyone looked and seemed to mock the two of us.

Ryan immediately let go of me, took my bag, and placed it on the seat in the middle. He sat in front of my chair. Meya called me and pointed to my seat.

Annoyingly, I seem to be having a hard time adjusting during this time.

I sat down and I was really unlucky because Marco was next to me. The great bully in my life.

"Okay Class hand me your assignment" a woman's voice suddenly spoke in the back.

"What the hell" I was suddenly told out of time and Ryan looked at me with a frown and Marco seemed to laugh.

It was as if my world was freezing and I was sweating, Ma'am Marquez is our teacher now, and the terror of the faculty. If you do not have an assignment with her class you will be punished and you will be cleaning the ground until the end of his period. I have never been expelled from the classroom just because I don't have an assignment.

I dare say I did something last night, I searched my notebook in English and I tried to go through what I had written. I saw my Assignment letter and the date but no answer. Annoying!

"You don't have an assignment?" Marco teased.

I just stared at him.

"Pass down your notebook" our teacher replied.

I frowned as I handed over my notebook even though there was no answer, speculating that a miracle would happen. Embarrassing.

As I waited for my name to be called and let go, I just stared behind Ryan.

"Ryan you might melt," Marco said suddenly

"Why?" he asked and Marco looked at us

This is really Marco's way of annoying me!

"Chloe's is staring at you" and she stares at me as if he is waiting for me to answer Marco.

"Shut up Marco?" I stepped on his shoe.