Chapter 1: School
667 Words
Roseanne
It’s been two years since my best friend, Shane, transferred to a school in America. We’ve been friends since elementary school. I was never the type to make a lot of friends—I’m very selective when it comes to the people I trust. I avoid toxic and arrogant people. But Shane is different. I feel her sincerity. She has always been there for me, especially during my lowest moments. In return, I help her whenever she needs assistance with assignments or school activities. We always have each other's backs.
One day, a familiar voice caught my attention.
"It's been a while. How have you been? How's life?" Shane asked with a warm smile.
I turned around, shocked to see her standing in front of me.
"It's been so long since we last saw each other! I’m doing okay, nothing much has changed. Don’t tell me… you’re studying here?" I asked, my eyes widening.
"Yes! I’m back. I missed the Philippines so much. I convinced my parents to let me study here for college. And guess what? We’re at the same university! What course did you take?" she asked excitedly.
"I took Information Technology."
"Same here! Let’s go and find our classroom."
Shane and I have always had a lot in common. It’s like we’re sisters. We share the same interests, hobbies, and even the same dreams.
We entered the classroom and found our seats just as our professor arrived.
"Good morning, class. I am Albert Han, your instructor for Computer Programming 1. Before we begin, I’d like each of you to introduce yourselves. State your name, your hobbies, and anything else you’d like to share."
I took a deep breath before standing up.
"I am Roseanne, 21 years old. I love watching K-dramas and listening to K-pop. My biggest dream is to become a K-pop idol someday, if ever an audition takes place here in the Philippines. But even though my passion is singing and dancing, I still chose Information Technology as my course. I consider myself a multi-passionate person because, aside from music, I also love writing. I took IT because I want to explore new skills and knowledge. I believe that having multiple skills increases the chances of success. If one thing doesn’t work out, at least I have something to fall back on. Thank you."
I sat down as our professor nodded, seemingly impressed.
"Wow, I like that mindset. You have a bright future ahead of you," Instructor Albert Han said, clapping his hands.
Then, another student stood up. His presence caught my attention immediately.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Paul, and I am 21 years old. I also love music, but I’m not fully confident in my passion, which is why I took Information Technology as my option. But that doesn’t mean I won’t take this course seriously. Thank you."
The moment Paul sat down, whispers started circulating around the room.
"I saw him yesterday. He was wearing black pants, a black shirt, and a black mask when he came out of the gym. He even rode a motorcycle. He’s so mysterious!" one student whispered.
"Yeah, isn’t his family super rich? Aside from owning BDO, his father also built a food corporation. But despite their wealth, he looks like he’s hiding something," another student added.
The gossip continued until Instructor Albert Han’s voice rang across the room.
"People in the back, would you like to share what you're talking about with the class?" he asked with a stern face.
The students quickly fell silent, afraid of getting scolded further.
I glanced at Paul, now even more curious about him. There was something about him that seemed… off. He didn’t look happy. He seemed distant, like he wasn’t interested in making friends. He was different from other guys—quiet, reserved, and unreadable.
"Class dismissed. We will have an activity for tomorrow," Instructor Albert Han announced before leaving the room.
As we packed up our things, my mind remained stuck on Paul.
- Writer
