chapter 3: My first crush
1811 Words
The morning sun had barely risen over Oceana City when the entrance of Oceana Elite High School became as lively as ever.
Luxury cars lined up one after another.
Students in neatly pressed uniforms streamed through the grand gates, laughing, chatting, and exchanging stories from the previous day.
Some hurried toward their classrooms with unfinished assignments in hand, while others gathered around the school fountain, discussing the upcoming Inter-School Academic and Sports Festival.
A sleek black Rolls-Royce slowly came to a stop in front of the school's main entrance.
The chauffeur stepped out first before respectfully opening the rear door.
"Have a wonderful day, Young Miss."
Selena stepped out gracefully, adjusting the straps of her backpack before flashing him her signature smile.
"Thank you, Uncle Ben."
"I'll see you after school."
"As always."
She gave him one last wave before jogging happily toward the school gates.
The security guards immediately greeted her.
"Good morning, Miss Selena."
"Morning!"
As soon as she entered the campus, familiar voices called out to her from every direction.
"Good morning, Selena!"
"Morning!"
"Hi, Selena!"
"Good luck on today's math quiz!"
Selena laughed.
"I'll need all the luck I can get."
Everyone smiled.
Although she was the daughter of the powerful Valencia family, Selena had never acted superior to anyone.
She never ignored greetings.
She respected every teacher and member of staff.
Even the gardeners and cleaners received the same cheerful smile she gave the principal.
That was one of the many reasons students loved her.
Just as she reached the flower garden...
Someone suddenly jumped in front of her.
"Boo!"
Selena jumped slightly before bursting into laughter.
"Victoria!"
Victoria folded her arms dramatically.
"You weren't supposed to know it was me."
"You've been doing that for years."
"I thought today would be different."
"It wasn't."
Victoria sighed.
"My best friend doesn't appreciate my talents."
Selena laughed so hard that she had to hold onto Victoria's shoulder.
"You call scaring people a talent?"
"It absolutely is."
Before either of them could continue...
Another familiar voice interrupted.
"I knew I'd find both of you here."
They turned.
Elena walked toward them with a bottle of orange juice in one hand.
Unlike Victoria's lively personality, Elena always carried herself with quiet confidence.
She wasn't loud.
She wasn't dramatic.
But whenever someone needed help...
She was always the first person to step forward.
"Good morning."
Selena smiled and hugged her.
"Morning, Elena."
Victoria immediately complained.
"There it is again."
"What?"
"You hugged Elena."
"You guessed me."
Selena laughed.
"You attacked me."
"I surprised you."
"You nearly gave me a heart attack."
"I call that successful."
Elena shook her head.
"You two haven't changed."
"We never will," Victoria answered proudly.
The three girls continued walking together.
A few moments later...
Another familiar figure approached.
"Sorry I'm late."
Selena's eyes lit up.
"Stella!"
She immediately walked over and hugged her.
Stella smiled gently.
"Good morning."
Victoria clapped happily.
"Now we're complete."
"The four queens of Oceana Elite High," she declared proudly.
Selena laughed.
"You really like that title."
"I gave it to us."
"Exactly."
Stella chuckled.
"I actually think it sounds nice."
Victoria placed a hand over her chest.
"Thank you."
"Finally, someone appreciates my brilliance."
The girls burst into laughter as they made their way toward their classroom.
Along the way...
Several juniors greeted them respectfully.
Even teachers smiled as they passed.
The four girls were known throughout the school.
Not because Selena was rich.
But because they were inseparable.
Victoria was the cheerful prankster who could brighten anyone's day.
Elena was dependable and courageous.
Stella was the intelligent book lover who always ranked at the top of every exam.
And Selena...
She was the heart of the group.
The one who brought everyone together.
As they entered their classroom...
The bell rang.
"Perfect timing," Elena said.
The girls took their usual seats.
Victoria leaned closer to Selena with a mischievous grin.
"You've been smiling a lot today."
"I always smile."
"No."
Victoria narrowed her eyes dramatically.
"This smile is different."
Selena blinked innocently.
"What do you mean?"
"You have your..."
Victoria leaned even closer.
"...'I'm hoping to see someone' smile."
Selena nearly choked.
"I do not!"
Before Victoria could continue...
Elena calmly joined the conversation.
"She's right."
Selena looked at her in disbelief.
"You too?"
"You've been staring at the classroom door since we arrived."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I was just..."
She struggled to find an excuse.
"...looking around."
Victoria burst into laughter.
"No."
"You were waiting for Ethan."
Selena immediately covered Victoria's mouth.
"Shhh!"
Several students turned toward them.
Victoria gently removed Selena's hand.
"You've liked him for weeks."
"I have not."
"You have."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't!"
"You absolutely do."
Even Elena couldn't hold back her laughter.
Before Selena could defend herself again...
The classroom suddenly became unusually quiet.
Students began whispering.
"He's here."
"Ethan."
"The basketball captain."
Selena instinctively turned toward the classroom door.
A tall boy walked inside carrying several textbooks.
His neatly combed dark hair, calm expression, and confident posture immediately caught everyone's attention.
He wasn't loud.
He never tried to impress anyone.
Yet somehow...
He naturally became the center of attention wherever he went.
He was the school's top student.
Captain of the basketball team.
Winner of countless debate and academic competitions.
Teachers praised him.
Students respected him.
Girls admired him.
Including Selena.
Without realizing it...
She rested her chin in her palm.
A dreamy smile slowly appeared on her face.
"He's so handsome..."
Victoria quietly elbowed her.
"There it is."
Selena quickly straightened.
"What?"
"The look."
"What look?"
"The one where you've completely forgotten we're sitting beside you."
"I was just looking."
Victoria laughed.
"Same thing."
Even Elena smiled.
Stella simply opened her notebook.
Selena nudged her.
"Don't you think Ethan is handsome?"
Stella glanced toward him for barely two seconds.
"I suppose."
Selena stared at her.
"'I suppose?'"
Victoria shook her head dramatically.
"Stella is hopeless."
"If books suddenly became human..."
"I'm convinced she'd marry one."
Stella looked up.
"I would not."
"You would."
"I wouldn't."
"You absolutely would."
The four girls laughed together until Mr. Wilson entered.
"Good morning, class."
"Good morning, Mr. Wilson."
The morning lessons passed surprisingly fast.
Before anyone realized it...
The lunch bell rang.
Students poured out of their classrooms.
Some headed toward the cafeteria.
Others relaxed beneath the large oak trees scattered around the campus.
The four girls bought their lunches before walking toward their favorite oak tree near the sports field.
It had been their spot ever since their first year in high school.
Victoria immediately stole one of Selena's fries.
Selena gasped.
"My fries!"
Victoria shrugged while chewing happily.
"What fries?"
"The one you're eating!"
"I found it."
"You stole it."
"I'm borrowing it permanently."
Elena laughed.
"You say that every single day."
"And I'll keep saying it."
Meanwhile...
Stella quietly ate her pasta while reading another novel.
Selena smiled helplessly.
"I seriously don't know how you read and eat at the same time."
"I've practiced."
"You practice reading?"
"I practice everything."
Before Selena could reply...
Victoria suddenly froze.
"Oh..."
Selena frowned.
"What?"
Victoria slowly looked ahead.
"Don't panic."
"I'm already panicking."
"Ethan is coming this way."
Selena nearly dropped her fork.
"What?!"
Victoria immediately reached over.
"Your hair!"
"My hair is fine!"
"No, it isn't."
She quickly fixed a loose strand.
"There."
Elena laughed so hard that juice almost came out of her nose.
"You two are unbelievable."
Selena's heart began racing.
Every step Ethan took made her even more nervous.
Finally...
He stopped in front of them.
"Hello."
Selena smiled so widely her cheeks began hurting.
"H-Hi..."
Ethan smiled politely.
Then...
He looked at Stella.
"Stella."
"Yes?"
"Our advisor asked me to start preparing for the Inter-School Quiz Competition."
"I was wondering..."
"If you'd like to study together after school."
"It'll help us understand each other's strengths before the competition."
Stella smiled politely.
"That sounds like a good idea."
"I'd be happy to."
Ethan nodded.
"Great."
"I'll wait for you in the library."
"See you later."
"See you."
He smiled once more before walking away.
Silence.
Victoria slowly turned toward Selena.
Elena bit her lip, trying not to laugh.
Selena stared blankly at her untouched lunch.
Then...
She slowly lowered her forehead onto the table.
Victoria completely lost it.
She burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Oh my goodness..."
"I really thought he came to confess to you."
Even Elena laughed.
"So did I."
Selena groaned dramatically.
"My life is over."
Victoria wiped tears from laughing.
"You've experienced one tiny disappointment."
"I've experienced heartbreak."
"You've experienced reality."
Stella reached over and gently patted Selena's shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
Selena looked up.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I didn't know he'd ask me."
Selena smiled weakly.
"It's okay."
"You didn't do anything."
Victoria smiled.
"Our princess will recover."
Selena sighed dramatically.
"I hope so."
Within minutes...
The girls were laughing together again.
The disappointment slowly faded beneath the warmth of their friendship.
After school...
Victoria, Elena, and Stella each left with their families.
Selena quietly climbed into the waiting Rolls-Royce.
Unlike every other afternoon...
The journey home was silent.
She simply stared out of the window.
Uncle Ben noticed.
But wisely chose not to ask.
Forty minutes later...
The car entered the magnificent Valencia Estate.
The moment Selena stepped inside...
Mrs. Valencia looked up from the sofa.
"My princess!"
She smiled warmly before noticing Selena's gloomy face.
Her smile disappeared instantly.
"What happened?"
Selena forced a smile.
"Nothing."
Mrs. Valencia stood immediately.
She gently cupped Selena's cheeks.
"Talk to me."
Selena sighed.
"There was this boy..."
Mrs. Valencia led her to the sofa.
"And?"
"I liked him."
Mrs. Valencia smiled softly.
"My little princess had her first crush?"
Selena nodded.
"But..."
"He asked Stella to study with him instead."
Mrs. Valencia remained silent for a few seconds.
Then...
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
"He chose another girl over my daughter?"
"Mum..."
"What's his name?"
Before Selena could answer...
The front door opened.
Mr. Valencia walked inside.
"What happened?"
Mrs. Valencia crossed her arms.
"Some boy made our daughter sad."
Mr. Valencia immediately walked over.
"Princess."
"Who is he?"
Selena quickly shook her head.
"Dad, no."
"He didn't do anything wrong."
"He doesn't even know I like him."
"He simply asked Stella to study with him."
Her parents exchanged glances.
Selena hugged them both.
"It was only a little crush."
"I'll get over it."
Mrs. Valencia kissed her forehead.
"Our daughter deserves someone who will choose her first."
Mr. Valencia smiled proudly.
"And when that man appears..."
"He'll be the luckiest man in Oceana."
Selena finally laughed.
"There you two go again."
Her parents smiled.
The sadness disappeared as quickly as it had come.
By dinner...
The Valencia family was laughing together once more.
After all...
To Selena Valencia...
It had only been her very first crush.
And tomorrow...
Was another beautiful day waiting to begin.
- Writer
