FOR THE SAKE OF YOU

“Raya, wake up! You’re going to be late for school!” The sound of my mom calling from downstairs jerked me out of my sleep. Groaning, I rolled over to check the time. 7:30 AM. Great. I had just enough time to get ready—if I rushed. I threw off my covers, quickly brushed my teeth, took a quick shower, and tied my hair into an unknown animal. There is no time for a hairdo today, I guess. It wasn’t exactly the best look, but it would do for today. Downstairs, I grabbed waffles from the kitchen, munching on it as I fumbled with my backpack, trying to find my homework that I’d somehow misplaced. “Are you eating breakfast or just running out the door?” my mom asked, raising an eyebrow as I grabbed my shoes. "Don't worry, this one is enough for this morning,” I muttered, not really wanting to talk, my mind still half asleep. With a quick kiss on the cheek and a hurried goodbye, I was out the door and on my way to school. I could hear the familiar chatter of my classmates as I walked through the hallways of Crestwood High. It was just another day, and like every other day, my eyes couldn’t help but wander over to him. Clyde Hans. He was the guy every girl in school fawned over. Tall, handsome, with that perfect smirk that seemed to make every girl’s knees weak. I wasn’t any different. I was just another girl in the crowd, secretly crushing on him from afar. I wasn’t blind. I knew I didn’t stand out like the other girls who always managed to catch his attention. They were the ones who got to smile at him, laugh at his jokes, and stand next to him in photos. I was the one who stood in the background, always in the shadows, trying not to be seen. Hehe, that's so funny. I sound like such a pick me. Welp, can't blame a girl for her pity party moment. Anyways, I took my ass as I walked past the lockers, I could feel his presence before I even looked up. His group of friends surrounded him, all of them laughing about something I didn’t catch. But Clyde, he was the center of it all. He was the one everyone turned to. I sighed, knowing full well he would never notice me. He didn’t even look my way, not that I expected him to. To him, I was just another girl, and I was fine with that… or at least, I told myself I was. “Hey, Raya! Are you coming to the game later?” Vicky’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to face my best friend, trying to hide the smile that was creeping up on my face. Vicky was always the one to pull me out of my daydreams. “I’ll pass. Too much homework.” She raised an eyebrow. “You sure? I heard Clyde might be there.” At the mention of his name, my heart gave an involuntary leap. “Clyde?” I repeated, trying to sound casual. “Why would he be there?” She grinned mischievously. “Why do you think?” She nudged me playfully. “You’ve got it bad, don’t you?” I rolled my eyes. “Shut up, Vicky. I don’t even know him.” “You don’t have to know him to dream about him,” she said with a wink. I didn’t respond, though a part of me couldn’t deny it. I did have a crush on him, and it wasn’t just a passing thought. I had admired him from afar for as long as I could remember. His laugh, his confident stride—everything about him - just seemed to captivate everyone around him. But this boy never looked at me the way he looked at those other girls. I wasn’t part of his world, and I never would be. A part of me felt sad, but it's fine. He's just a crush, and feelings will be gone eventually. As the bell rang, signaling the end of the break, I pushed the thoughts aside and made my way to class, the day ahead feeling just like the one before it. The halls filled with the usual bustle of students scrambling to their next classes, and I followed the crowd, trying to focus on the day ahead. I slid into my seat just before the bell rang for my next class—English. Mrs. Torres called roll as usual, her voice cutting through the murmurs of students still catching up on their gossip. My mind wandered back to the passing moments of the day, my eyes involuntarily drifting to the window, where the afternoon sun peeked through. The door swung open, and I froze. There he was. Clyde. Of course, I knew he wasn’t in my class—he was in the advanced section, far from mine—but today, something was different. He stood in the doorway for a split second, his eyes scanning the room, and for one brief moment, they locked with mine. I quickly looked away, feeling the heat in my cheeks as if my whole face was on fire. Why had I looked? Why did he have to look at me like that? Before I could recover, he was gone, the door closing behind him. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound deafening in my ears. Did he know I was looking? Did I just make a fool of myself? “Raya, are you okay?” Vicky whispered, her voice laced with concern. I blinked and turned to her, forcing a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… distracted.” She gave me a knowing look, her lips curling into a teasing grin. “By who?” I rolled my eyes, ignoring her question. “By nothing,” I muttered, hoping my face wasn’t betraying me. "uhuh, your face says otherwise." She says while smirking. "Shut up and just read. If you know how to read." I replied. "Hey! I know how to read for your information, Missy!" She blatters as she rolls her eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure you do. Just a little dyslexic, Hahaha." I say while laughing. "EXCUSE ME?" She utters. "QUIET!" Our teacher yells, and me and her looked and laughed quietly at each other. The rest of the class was a blur. All I could think about was the moment when Clyde’s eyes had met mine. It was a fleeting moment, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe I was just overthinking it, as I always did. But I couldn’t help the strange flutter in my stomach. By the time the bell rang again, signaling the end of the school day, my mind was already racing. I grabbed my things, eager to escape the classroom, but Vicky was waiting for me outside, her eyes wide with excitement. “So, did you see that?!” she nearly shouted. “He looked right at you, didn’t he?” “Stop it, Vicky,” I groaned, trying to act like it didn’t mean anything. “It was probably nothing.” But even as I said the words, I couldn’t stop smiling. The next day, I tried to shake off the thoughts of Clyde. It had been a day since our brief exchange of glances, and I had convinced myself that it didn’t mean anything. I was just overthinking. But deep down, I couldn’t ignore the flutter in my chest whenever I remembered that moment. I walked into class, trying to push my thoughts aside, but the morning felt different. Today was the day Mrs. Torres was going to announce the groups for our class project. My stomach twisted with nerves. I had no idea who I would be paired with, but I prayed it wouldn’t be someone who would make the project harder than it needed to be. As Mrs. Torres announced the pairs, I couldn’t help but notice how she smiled to herself as she called out names, seemingly pleased with her selections. “Raya Luce,” she said, pausing for a moment, “you’re with… Clyde Hans.” The room went silent for a split second, and I felt like the air had been knocked out of me. Of course. Of course, I was paired with him. I stole a glance at Clyde. He was sitting at the back, the same nonchalant expression on his face. He barely acknowledged me, just like he always did. His gaze was cold, distant—almost as if he didn’t care about anything or anyone. The knot in my stomach tightened as I stood up to join him. It was bad enough that I was always trying to blend into the background, but now I had to work with him. The guy everyone either feared or adored. My mind raced as I walked toward him, my heart pounding louder with every step. “Great. We’re partners,” I muttered, not really knowing what to say. He looked at me briefly, his eyes narrowing as if sizing me up. His voice was smooth, almost mocking. “I guess so.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “Do you… want to figure out what we’re doing?” He leaned back in his chair, arms folded. “I’ll let you take the lead. Don’t screw it up.” I blinked, taken aback by his bluntness. “What?” He shrugged, his smirk never faltering. “It’s a project. How hard can it be?” The rest of the class went by in a blur as Mrs. Torres assigned us the topic. But I couldn’t focus. Clyde wasn’t like any other person I had worked with before. There was something about him, something off about how easily he dismissed everything, as though it didn’t matter. I felt my heart tighten. Was this the guy I've been crushing on all along? How first conversation, and this is how it goes. The audacity! I couldn’t shake the curiosity bubbling up inside me. Why had he agreed to this? Why me? By the time the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, my mind was in overdrive. I gathered my things, trying to act casual, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the tension that hung in the air. Vicky was waiting for me outside, her eyes wide with excitement. “Did you two talk? What happened? He’s even more of a mystery than I thought!” I shook my head, sighing. “Not much. Just… getting through the project.” She raised an eyebrow. “You sure that’s all?” "Well... I talked to him, and he told me the project is all up to me. He didn’t even offer to help." I tell her. "Damn, didn’t know he was a jerk. Yikes. Come, let's get you some ice cream." She says as she puts her arm around me. I gave her a weak smile and went with her. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t just that. Not anymore.