1. What's Your Name?

"Excuse me! Excuse me!"

Sampung minuto na lamang at mag-uumpisa na ang unang subject ni Allison sa araw na iyon. Kaya naman heto siya ngayon, tumatakbo at nagmamadali. She tried to push her way through the crowd of students along the hallway.

With her backpack carelessly slung on her right shoulder, a couple of books in her arms, a big black rimmed eyeglasses that covers half of her face, long black hair pulled into a messy bun, 3/4 white blouse paired with a below the knee black skater skirt - Allison Garcia was not your popular girl in school. In fact, nasa huling taon na siya ng kursong Accountancy and she managed to stay in the background. Siya iyong kapag nakasalubong mo sa hallway, hindi mo lilingunin ulit. Siya 'yong nag-eexist na hindi namamalayan ng karamihan.

Sure isa siya sa mga paborito ng mga instructors. Matalino si Ally. Straight Dean's Lister siya since setting a foot in college. Dahil doon ay nakakakuha siya ng discount which is totally a huge help in her studies.

During her spare time, you will not see her relaxing under a tree talking to her friends. Student Assistant siya at nag-aayos ng mga libro sa library every TTh 9am-10am at 3pm-5pm. MWF 11:30am - 1pm naman ay nasa counter siya sa school canteen. Minsan nasa Student Affairs Office siya at nag-e-errand girl. All those in exchange for free Miscellaneous Fee.

Ally rushed towards the stairs to the third floor and arrived just in time to beat her instructor - Ms. Basco in coming to the classroom. Habol habol pa niya ang hininga nang makaupo siya sa pinakalikuran. For some reason, wala silang sitting arrangement pero dapat ukupahin muna lahat ang nasa harapan bago punuin ang bandang likuran. Kaya based on that rule by Ms Basco, alam nito ang sequence of time that her students arrived for her class. Ally was never late, ngayon lang. She always makes it a point na maaga siya dahil nahihirapan siyang magbasa kapag nasa likuran na siya. Iyon ay dahil sa luma na niyang salamin sa mata.

Apat pa ang bakante nang dumating si Ally. Needless to ask, alam naman niya kung sino ang mga makakatabi niyang latecomers. Yung mga walang pakialam sa pag-aaral.

"Good morning class!" Masiglang bati ni Ms. Basco which was weird dahil Monday pa lang. It was the day of the week when you hate getting up from the bed. Even Ally had that Monday sickness but being a poor child doesn't give her the liberty to oversleep even a second.

She gets up as early as 3:30 in the morning everyday for an early morning job. Habang p'wede ng ma-access ang mga balita sa mga handheld devices, laptops at iba pang teknolohiya, there are still those who wanted their news feed the old fashion way. Thus, Ally bikes around an exclusive village to deliver the rich people's newspapers to their doorsteps. She usually starts at four in the morning and finishes at around six. And then she would rush to prepare for school.

Kaninang umaga, na-flat ang bisekleta niya kaya natagalan siyang makauwi. Mabuti na lang at okay ang endurance niya sa takbuhan.

"You're late again!"

Ally's thoughts snapped at Ms. Basco's annoyed voice. Her gaze automatically shifted to the door kung saan kakapasok lang ng tatlong greek gods.

"Good morning too, Miss," Ethan smirked as he strode past Ms. Basco to Ally's direction at the back, his two best friends, Zion and Leio on either side of him. Nakangiti ang mga ito na akala mo ay isang normal na bagay ang mahuli sa klase. Oh well, for the three of them, being late is a normal thing. Para ngang permanent seats na nila ang likurang bahagi, kay Ethan ang pinakahuling upuan. Parang may personal attachment na nga ito sa dingding dahil sasandal lang ito doon hanggang sa matapos ang klase, that is kung walang quiz o exam.

Ethan is a Billionaire's son kaya kung makapambalewala ito ng school rules ay ganoon na lang. First of all, hindi naman kasi nito kailangang mag-aral. He would not get hungry even if he forsakes school. He was an heir to the vast wealth of his family.

Pero hindi lang pagiging ubod ng yaman ang katangian ni Ethan. Matalino rin ito, iyong tipong nakakainis kasi kahit walang effort, nakakapasa ito. Kaya hindi rin masasabi na dahil lang mayaman ito at may impluwensya sa eskwelahan kaya umabot ito sa huling taon ng kurso nito.

But besides those traits, everyone knows Ethan as the attractive young man who stands six feet tall, who has a body built like a pro model, a gorgeous face with deep seated eyes, beautifully molded nose and thin kissable lips- Ethan just never fails to make every girl drool over him.

In fact, he's the school's player and heart breaker. Kung nasa liberated country lang sila, he sure must have slept with the whole female population of their school. Pero dahil hindi, it's okay to say that he must have slept with all the slutty and those willing females.

Pero hindi ibig sabihin na mga malalandi lang ang naaapektuhan ng charm ni Ethan. Kung pagiging popular lang sa kababaihan ang usapan, he definitely got everyone of them.

Including Allison. Definitely including her...

Umiwas ng tingin si Allison nang magtama ang paningin nila. It only lasted a mere nanosecond but she could already feel her pulse racing. Yumuko siya and pretended to be taking down notes. At the corner of her eyes, nakita niyang sa tabi niya naupo si Ethan- for the first time, not beside his wall best friend!

She almost blushed nang aksidenteng magkadikit ang mga braso nila. Kaagad niyang inilayo ang braso na para bang napaso siya.

But well, si Ethan ito at si Ally siya. He's the popular guy, she's the nobody. At kahit medyo crush niya rin ang binata, hindi naman siya nangangarap na mapapansin siya nito. That was realistic thinking.

"What are you doodling?"

Ethan whispered against her ear, immediately sending shivers throughout her body.

"H-huh?" Was he talking to her? Lumaki ang mga mata niya nang mapagtanto na hindi naman siya nagsusulat ng notes. Bagkus ay mga linya at bilog bilog ang nasa notebook niya.

'Omg!'

"I said what are you doodling?" He moved closer to her. "Or should it be, what are you drawing?" To get a better view of her notebook, hinawakan nito ang kamay niyang may hawak na ballpen at bahagyang itinaas iyon.

Her cheeks burned. Ally knew it base sa pag-iinit ng kanyang pisngi. Never. As in never in her four years in college did she even get this close to Ethan. Let alone have him hold her hand!

Okay. It's probably not in a romantic way. But still, his touch almost left her breathless.

"I- I'm writing," she stammered trying to pull her hand from his grip.

"Well, you sure have a nice handwriting, babe " he chuckled cooly.

Ally's whole face turned red now with the way he chuckled and because he had called her babe. But most specially because Ethan's still holding her hand.

"Please let go," hila niya ang kamay.

"What are you writing then? Care to share?" Ethan teased pero binitawan naman siya.

"It's none of your business," he chuckled once again bago ito umayos ng upo, palayo nang kaunti kay Allison.

Ally tried to concentrate because the whole time Ethan would move closer to her and ask her stupid questions.

"Hey, are you really in this class?"

"Obviously."

"Then why haven't I seen you before?"

"Maybe you're not looking," sinikap niyang babaan ang boses dahil napapatingin na sa kanila si Ms Basco.

"My bad. How could have I missed your beautiful face?"

"Please, stop it, Ethan," namumula na naman siya.

"You know my name?" Umakto itong hindi makapaniwala.

"Seriously? No. I'm just guessing," she answered sarcastically. Kahit yata hindi nag-aaral sa school nila, kilala ito. Siya pa ba?

He laughed.

"I really feel bad now because I don't know yours..."

She rolled her eyes. That's perfectly understandable.

"Hey, what's your name?"

Hindi niya ito pinansin dahil naabala siya sa pagkokopya ng lecture nila. Sigurado namang nangtri-trip lang si Ethan. Kapag hinayaan niya itong maapektuhan siya, siya lang ang matatalo. She couldn't miss their lesson while Ethan could just care less.

Given that she's got a huge crush on him, hindi niya p'wedeng ipagsapalaran ang class standing niya.

"Aren't you being rude? Hey, tell me your name," pangungulit pa rin ng binata.

Seriously? What has gotten into Ethan?

"Leave me alone," sagot niya.

"The whole class would have to go if you want to be alone."

"Yeah, funny," hindi naman niya alam bakit sagot siya nang sagot. P'wede namang 'wag na niya itong pansinin.

"Why won't you tell me your name?"

"Because it's not important."

"Of course it's important. I won't ask for it if it's not," pacute na inilapit pa nito ang mukha.

She sighed. Tapos binalingan ang katabi niyang babae sa kaliwa niya na obvious namang sinadyang magpahuli sa klase para sa likuran maupo.

"Hey, Lauren, would you like us to switch sits?" alok niya sa maganda at sexy na kaklase na halata namang kanina pa gustong makalapit kay Ethan.

"Oh, I thought you'd never ask," parang ito pa ang inip na inip at tumayo ito kaagad-agad.

"Thanks!" agad din siyang tumayo at nagpalitan sila ng upuan.

"Hi, baby," ani Lauren kay Ethan.

"Hello, beautiful," ganti naman ng binata.

Ally sighed again. She knew it. Gusto lang may maistorbo ni Ethan.

RUSHING again... This time Ally made a mistake of sleeping late. Natraffic kasi siya kagabi mula sa shift niya sa fastfood kaya 'yong standard four hours rest niya gabi gabi ay naging three hours na lang before she needed to wake up at 3:30 in the morning.

Mabilis na kinuha niya sa supplier ang mga newspapers at maingat na inilagay ang mga iyon sa basket sa unahan ng bike niya. In less than thirty minutes, she already delivered half.

At dahil nga nagmamadali siya, hindi niya napansin ang isang kotse na papalabas sa garahe ng isang malapalasyong bahay. Surprised, Ally wasn't able to hit the brakes at once. More afraid to crash with the car and damage it than her own safety, Ally made a sharp stop causing her to lose balance and hit the hard pavement.

"Aw!" Daing niyang napakapit sa kanang braso na sumalo sa buong bigat niya pagkabagsak niya

"I'm sorry!" agad namang bumaba ang driver ng napakagarang sasakyan na muntik na niyang mabangga "Are you okay?" Awtomatiko nito siyang inalalayan na makabangon.

"No... Hindi po ako nakatingin.. Kasalanan ko-" tuloy tuloy na sabi niya habang pinupulot ang mga dyaryo. "I'm okay -" nakasakay na siya ulit sa bike niya nang lingunin niya ang lalaki.

"It's you!" Bulalas ni Ethan.

Hindi naman agad nakahuma si Ally. The Ethan in front of her now is exceptionally handsome that she suddenly felt conscious on how she looked like. Napakaaga pa ng araw ay bihis na bihis na ito. Pero hindi naman ito mukhang papasok na sa eskwela. More like may iba itong pupuntahan.

Inayos ni Ally ang suot na baseball cap patakip sa mukha niya tapos nagmamadali siyang umalis.

"Hey!"

Hindi siya lumingon.

Wth? Ilang taon na siyang nagtatrabaho sa lugar na iyon pero wala siyang ideya na doon nakatira si Ethan.

Gosh, she'd been delivering his newspaper everyday! Well, maybe he wasn't the one reading it but still... At doon pa ito nakatira sa bahay na ilang beses niya ring hinangaan at pinangarap na balang araw magkakaroon din siya ng gano'n.

'Who are you kidding, Ally?'