Dear Rival

{Chapter 14}

Tanya’s POV.

If there’s one thing I hate more than being late for school… it’s the fact that Shan Villafuerte still exists.

Every day, I pray for peace and quiet, but somehow, fate always puts that infuriating boy in the same orbit as mine. We’re like magnets except instead of attracting, we keep crashing into each other with chaos.

And now, thanks to Mrs. Chavez and her so-called “grouping system,” I’m stuck with him again for our project.

It’s been two days since that library meeting, but I swear his annoying smirk still haunts my memory.

“Good morning, Tanya!” Shell greeted as I entered the classroom. She was already reading something on w*****d again, her face half-buried in her phone.

“Morning,” I mumbled, dropping my bag on the table.

Keisha followed right behind me, munching on a biscuit. “Girl, you look tired. Did you stay up late studying again?”

“Sort of,” I said. “I was fixing our presentation slides. Shan’s layout idea was too plain, so I had to redo everything.”

Cath gasped dramatically. “You mean you worked while your rival s***h maybe future

lover rested? How tragic!”

I glared at her. “First of all, ew. Second, never say that again.”

“C’mon, Tanya,” Cath teased, twirling her pen. “It’s giving enemies to lovers. The tension? The bickering? The way you two look at each other like you’re either about to fight or—”

“Cath!” I interrupted, nearly choking on air.

Shell looked up from her phone. “Guys, calm down. I’m at the best part of this story wait, what were we talking about again?”

“Shan,” Keisha and Cath said at the same time.

“Ohhh,” Shell grinned. “Figures. Tanya’s favorite topic.”

“I—what?!”

“Yup,” Keisha said smugly. “You talk about him almost every day, even when you’re just complaining.”

Denise, who had been quietly writing in her notebook, looked up and said softly, “You know, sometimes when you talk about him… you sound like you actually enjoy arguing with him.”

I froze.

Enjoy?

No. That’s impossible.

I don’t enjoy fighting with Shan. I just…

like proving him wrong.

Constantly.

That’s it.

Mrs. Chavez entered, calling for our attention. “Group 3, please prepare to present your progress.”

That’s us.

Shan walked in, holding his laptop, hair slightly messy, wearing that same confident expression that made me want to roll my eyes and

Wait. Why did he look good today?

Nope. Not thinking that. Delete. Erase. Control + Alt + Delete.

“Ready?” he asked, standing beside me.

I crossed my arms. “Obviously.”

“Don’t mess up.”

“I never do. You’re the one who overexplains everything.”

He smirked. “It’s called being thorough.”

“It’s called being extra.”

We glared at each other until Keisha coughed loudly from behind. “You two done flirting or can we start?”

Both our heads snapped toward her.

“We’re not—”

“Excuse me?!” we both said at the same time, making the class laugh.

Mrs. Chavez chuckled. “Alright, alright. Let’s focus on the presentation, not the… chemistry.”

My jaw nearly dropped. Not you too, ma’am!

We started explaining our project Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences in real-life examples. Shan handled the formulas while I covered the visuals.

Everything was going smoothly until he accidentally brushed his hand against mine while passing the clicker.

It was less than a second barely even noticeable but I felt it.

That weird jolt.

Like electricity.

I froze for half a beat before forcing myself to focus. “So, um—th-the next slide—shows…”

Ugh. Why am I stuttering?!

He glanced at me, his brows furrowed. “You okay?” he whispered.

“I’m fine,” I hissed back, pretending to check my notes.

But I wasn’t fine.

My heart was being unnecessarily dramatic.

When the presentation ended, the class clapped, and Mrs. Chavez smiled proudly. “Excellent teamwork. You two complement each other well.”

I almost choked.

We returned to our seats, and my friends immediately surrounded me.

“Girl,” Cath said, eyes wide. “That was intense. The way you and Shan kept glancing at each other? Whew.”

“I was not glancing!” I said defensively.

“You literally said ‘th-the next slide’ like you were in a romcom confession scene,” Keisha added, laughing.

Shell looked up from her w*****d again. “Plot twist: Tanya’s living her own w*****d story.”

Denise smiled softly. “You two looked… happy together.”

I buried my face in my hands. “You guys are delusional.”

“Denial,” Cath sang. “It’s giving slow burn heroine energy.”

I groaned. “I hate you all.”

Later that day, I went to the bulletin board to check our quiz results. I was scanning for my name when a familiar voice spoke behind me.

“Beat you by two points.”

I turned and saw Shan leaning against the wall, holding his paper with a smug smile.

“Lucky shot,” I said.

“Or maybe skill.”

“You’re so full of yourself.”

“And yet,” he said, stepping closer, “you still compete with me every time.”

My breath hitched slightly, but I crossed my arms to cover it up. “Only because someone has to keep your ego in check.”

He smirked, clearly enjoying this. “Then I guess you’re stuck with me forever, huh?”

I wanted to roll my eyes so hard, but instead, I found myself speechless for a second.

Because somehow, that didn’t sound as annoying as it should’ve.

He grinned and walked away, leaving me staring after him like an idiot.

Lunch Break

We sat at our usual table again. Shell was fangirling about her w*****d main lead, Cath was gossiping, and Denise quietly munched on her sandwich.

Keisha leaned closer to me. “So… are we just gonna pretend you weren’t blushing earlier?”

“I was not blushing.”

“Girl, you turned tomato red.”

“Maybe it was hot!”

“It’s literally air-conditioned inside the classroom.”

Cath laughed. “Face it, Tanya. You like him.”

“No. I tolerate him. Big difference.”

“But you looked at him differently today,” Denise said softly.

I sighed, resting my chin on my hand. “He’s… just irritating. Always so confident, like he knows everything.”

Keisha smirked. “Yeah, but you like proving him wrong because it makes you pay attention to him more.”

I blinked. Wait—

No. She’s wrong.

Completely wrong.

…Right?

Later That Evening

At home, I tried reviewing for our upcoming test, but every time I saw a math problem, my brain automatically pictured Shan explaining it at the board.

I groaned and threw my pencil down. “Stop invading my brain, Villafuerte!”

Sophia peeked into my room. “Who are you yelling at?”

“No one,” I said quickly.

She smirked. “Ohhh. That tone. Someone’s in denial.”

“Not you too!” I buried my face in my pillow as she laughed her way out of my room.

The Festival Practice

The next week, we started practicing for the upcoming school festival. Our class decided on a performance combining acting and dance.

Guess who I got paired with for the main role.

“Are you kidding me?” I asked when the list was announced. “Shan again?!”

Mrs. Chavez smiled. “You two have great stage chemistry.”

Of course we do, I thought bitterly. Because fate hates me.

Rehearsals were pure chaos. Shan kept teasing me every time I messed up my lines.

“Try again, Miss Perfect,” he said after I stumbled over a line.

I glared at him. “You distracted me!”

“How?”

“With your face!”

The class burst into laughter, and Shan grinned like he’d just won another round.

But when I tripped during the dance scene, he immediately caught me before I hit the floor.

For a moment, our eyes met.

The world felt quiet.

I could feel his heartbeat against mine, fast and unsteady just like my own.

He blinked first, clearing his throat and helping me stand. “Careful,” he said softly.

I nodded, my voice suddenly gone.

And for the rest of the practice, I couldn’t focus anymore.

That night, I replayed that moment over and over in my head.

His hands steadying me.

The way his eyes softened for a split second.

My heart was racing again, just thinking about it.

But no. I can’t.

This is just my imagination.

We’re enemies.

Rivals.

We argue, we compete, we fight

That’s our thing.

There’s no way I’m falling for him.

Absolutely no way.

I looked at my reflection and sighed. “You’re not falling, Tanya,” I whispered to myself. “You’re just… emotionally confused.”

My reflection didn’t look convinced.

The Next Day

When I arrived at school, Shan was already there, talking to Brent. He turned slightly and our eyes met for a second.

He smiled small, subtle, barely there but it made my stomach do something weird.

I quickly looked away, pretending to fix my bag.

Keisha, of course, noticed immediately. “Oh my gosh. You smiled.”

“I didn’t!”

“You did. You smiled like you just saw your crush!”

“Keisha—”

“Girl, you’re doomed,” Cath said, patting my shoulder.

I sighed, staring at Shan from afar as he laughed with his friends.

Maybe they’re right.

Maybe I am doomed.

Because every time I tell myself I hate him, my heart argues otherwise.

And for the first time… I wasn’t sure who was winning my pride or my feelings.