Teenage Love

Nicolette is not just a transferee — she's the new girl everyone stares at. When she and her best friend Aliana transferred to Northwood High mid-year, they made a promise: stick together, no distractions. That promise was easy to keep — until second semester. "Co-Cole?" Nicolette turned. It was Jaden, the varsity captain everyone had a crush on, now fidgeting in front of her locker. "W-Will you go out with me?" he stammered. Her heart pounded so loud she was sure he could hear it. She smiled. "Of course, Jaden. Let's see where this goes." --- After their first date by the lake, everything felt different. The next afternoon, Jaden waited for her after class. His hands were in his pockets, his usual confident smile gone. "Nicolette..." he said softly. Nicolette turned, her books hugged to her chest. "What is it, Jaden? You sound serious?" He took a deep breath. His ears were red. "Ahm... N-Nicolette... will you be my g-girlfriend?" For a second, the whole hallway went quiet. Then Nicolette's face lit up — like all the flowers from the lake bloomed in her smile at once. "Yes! Yes, yes, Jaden!" she said, almost jumping. She was over the moon. And just like that, the transferee girl was no longer new. She was his. --- Chapter 2: official Perfect! Gets ko na si Jaden — tahimik at seloso pero in a cute, shy way. Hindi yung toxic seloso ha, yung parang... tahimik lang pero halatang ayaw niyang may ibang lumalapit kay Nicolette. Yung mga readers, LALONG kinikilig sa ganyang type! Eto tuloy ng story mo — first day as official couple: --- Chapter 1: Official The next morning, Nicolette came to school with Aliana, giggling. "So, kayo na talaga?" Aliana teased, nudging her. "My bestie is taken!" Before Nicolette could answer, she saw him — Jaden, leaning on her locker. Tahimik lang, pero his eyes were already on her. "Morning," he said quietly. "Morning!" Nicolette smiled. Aliana smirked. "Oop, third wheel na ako. Mauna na ako, lovebirds." When Aliana left, a junior from the basketball team walked by. "Hi, Nicolette! Bagay sayo—" He didn't finish. Jaden subtly stepped a little closer to Nicolette. He didn't say anything, didn't even look at the guy. He just... stood there. Silent. But his hand gently found hers, intertwining their fingers. Nicolette looked up at him and tried not to laugh. His ears were red again. "You okay?" she whispered. Jaden looked away, still holding her hand tight. "Mmm. Let's go to class." Inside, Nicolette was screaming. God, he was so cute when he was jealous. --- Chapter 3: One Month Later It started small. Jaden's replies became late. "Busy sa training." His good morning texts stopped. At school, he was cold. Distant. "Jaden? Okay ka lang?" Nicolette asked one afternoon by the lockers — their spot. Jaden didn't look at her. Tahimik. Pero ibang tahimik na to. Not shy. Cold. "Nicolette, we need to talk," he finally said. "I... I like someone else." Her heart dropped. "Who?" "Si Aliana." The world stopped. Aliana. Her best friend. Her person. That night, Nicolette ran to Aliana's house, tears in her eyes. "Ali, totoo ba? Kayo ni Jaden?" Aliana looked shocked, then angry — not at Nicolette, but for her. "What? No! Nicole, never!" Aliana grabbed her hands. "Jaden tried to talk to me last week. I said no. I told him I would never do that to you." Aliana took a deep breath, her own eyes now watery. --- Chapter 4: Ending "And... Nicole, there's something I should have told you a long time ago. The reason I said no to Jaden isn't just because you're my best friend." "The reason is... it's you I've liked. Since we transferred. Since day one." "All this time... you were the one who made me over the moon, Ali. Not him." That night, they sat by the small lake behind Aliana's house — their lake. No boys. No cold silences. Just them, surrounded by the same flowers from Nicolette's painting. "So... lovers?" Aliana asked, shyly smiling. Nicolette laughed, tears now happy tears. "Lovers. Best friends. Everything." And for the first time in a month, Jaden didn't matter anymore. She was home. THE END.