Unbearable Heartbeat's

CHAPTER 3

06-30-25

Chapter Three

It was the first day of classes again. In senior high and college, they call it second semester, but for us it was the third grading period. Semester break had just ended.

Coach talked to me and said I was no longer part of the team.

“That Lucas guy definitely did this again. Maybe he’s gay and into me—that’s why he keeps messing with me,” I said angrily.

“Of course, he’s a general’s son, that’s why he’s so arrogant!” Deon added.

Meanwhile, Dilan was still busy tapping away on his phone.

“Come on, guys,” he said, and we didn’t even notice that we had already reached his classroom. He was in the science section, while we were in the regular class.

Deon slung an arm around my shoulder, and we ended up walking like drunk people because we were laughing so hard.

Good thing Ma’am Santaren wasn’t there yet when we arrived.

So we sat in our usual seats. Our seats were close to each other since I’m a Molina and he’s a Tolentino—there was just one vacant seat between us. Sometimes one of us would move so we could sit together, but only when Ma’am Santaren wasn’t the teacher. She’s pretty strict, that’s why a lot of students are scared of her.

I slumped over my desk. Our side was near the gym, and I was seated right by the window, so I could clearly see the senior high symposium outside. It was coming up soon—just over a month left. They were only waiting for the other immersion students.

They were earlier than us since they were preparing for college enrollment.

Damn, Trina really is beautiful—especially when she smiles.

I was daydreaming about Trina when Ma’am entered the room, followed by a student who was looking down.

She was a bit chubby, with a haircut that looked like Dora’s. She wasn’t tall either—maybe around 4’11”. She was wearing glasses too.

“Look, she looks like Dora. Her bag’s even purple,” Deon whispered. He really is more of a gossip than most girls. He even moved seats just to sit beside me.

“Class, settle down!”

But before we proceed with our lesson, let me introduce your new classmate.

“New classmate? We’re almost done with the school year,” one student whispered.

“Come in and introduce yourself.”

“I’m Amarillo Dolores, but you can call me Amari for short. I’m fifteen years old,” she said briefly.

“That name smells bad, bro,” Deo whispered. I didn’t even notice he was already right beside me.

“For the meantime, you can sit beside Molina. I’ll arrange your seats alphabetically later if I have time.”

A lot of students complained, saying they were already used to their seatmates.

“Ma’am, why not now?”—everyone except Deo, who had wanted to change seats since the first day of school.

“Oh? You really don’t want to sit beside me, babycakes?” said Jovee, our gay classmate. Jovee in the morning, but his real name is John Jover Torres.

“You’re clinging to my arm like a snake!” Deon complained, making the whole class laugh—including Ma’am.

Everyone knew Jovee had a huge crush on Deo, which was why he practically threw a party when they became seatmates.

Well—almost everyone knew. Except the new girl. What was her name again? Canary? Lorry? I don’t know.

“Ms. Dolores, you can si—Mr. Tolentino! Go back to your proper seat!”

Deo scratched his head and obeyed.

I couldn’t move anyway since it was the only vacant seat, so I just let it be. Besides, I didn’t really have the right to complain—it wasn’t my seat to own.

“She looks weird,” I heard Isabel whisper to the girl beside her. They were seated right in front of me. I just ignored it.

Isabella Camilo—our class muse. She nominated herself because, according to her, she was the only beautiful one in the room. Beside her was Mia—short for Miami. I forgot her last name, Chihaba or Chihara, something with “Chi.” She’s half-Japanese. Whatever. She’s not important in my life, so why should I care?

Anyway.

Ma’am proceeded with the lesson, and everyone listened—except me. It was science, after all. Boring. Plus, she always added her life stories.

Still, she was one of my favorite teachers. She was easy to talk to. Yes, she was strict inside the classroom, but if you needed help and she could give it, she’d always be there for you.

Some students even said that when they were depressed, they would message her to ask for guidance or advice.

Since I was bored, I just looked out the window and continued daydreaming.

But I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

She had been staring at me for a while now.

Yes. Literally staring.

“Staring is rude!”

“Do you mind sharing your discussion with us, Mr. Molina? It’s a bit embarrassing—you’re disturbing my discussion,” Ma’am said sarcastically.

I scratched my head. This girl was really intense with the way she stared.

“Sorry, Ma’am.”

When I sat back down, Ma’am continued the lesson.

I could still feel the stares of my classmates. Of course—that’s how people are. I even heard soft laughter around me.

“Molina got scolded again,” Isabel whispered, with Mia agreeing. “He’ll probably stress-eat again.”

I smirked. I didn’t care. I was used to Ma’am Santaren—but I wasn’t used to having a new seatmate, especially one who stared at me like she wanted to eat me alive.

I shook my head and pretended to write so she wouldn’t notice that I was watching her from the corner of my eye.

I was slightly bent over, but I could still feel her quick glances.

“Tsk. She’s weird,” I muttered to myself. Because she really was just staring.

I didn’t know why I was getting irritated. She wasn’t pretty like Trina, not sexy either. She was chubby like me, not classy like Isabel—but I don’t know… her presence was distracting. Maybe because we were kind of the same?

Or maybe just because she was new.

When the dismissal bell rang, the whole class erupted. Almost everyone stood up immediately, rushing out. I stayed seated, slowly fixing my things.

“Bro, let’s hang out at your place later,” Deo said, grinning as he nudged me.

This guy really had a thick face.

“Do whatever you want,” I replied, glancing to my right.

Amari was also fixing her things. Slowly. Like she was afraid everything might fall. She put on her glasses and walked toward the door, carrying a bag that looked heavy.

And there it was again.

Before leaving the room, she looked at me. Straight in the eyes.

I frowned. I almost shouted “staring is rude” again—but I didn’t. I just wanted to go home. I was hungry.

I was about to leave when Deon stopped me.

“What now?”

“Can I get some money for gas, bro? Just a bit,” he said with a grin.

“You’ve got an iPhone and an NMAX, but no gas money?”

He scratched his eyebrow. “You know these are all on home credit.”

“Tsk. Here. That’s a loan, okay? Pay me later.”

“Later? Can it be the day after tomorrow? Mom’s not home.”

“Tsk. You keep going to bars—that’s why your one-week allowance gets wiped out in one day.”

“Alright, bro! I’m heading out. You nag more than my mom,” he said.

“Yeah, yeah. Take care.”

That’s when I noticed it again—

That girl.

Staring at me. Again.

I was about to ignore it.

But damn it.

“Hey! Why are you staring like that? You’ve been doing that since earlier. The way you look at me—it’s like I’m wanted or something.”

She just looked at me.

Emotionless.