Chapter 1

Azuriette's POV

"Class dismissed." Kasabay ng pag-deklara ni Ms. Cabrera ng pagtatapos ng session namin ay ang malakas na pagtunog ng bell.

"Ano, bes? Sa'n gora mo today?" Ani Elle, saka sinagi ang braso ko.

Isa-isa kong sinilid sa loob ng bag ko ang mga binders na nasa ibabaw ng desk ko. "I'm off to see someone." Saad ko pa't isinukbit sa balikat ko ang strap ng bag.

Noong una ay halata pang nagtataka siya't mukhang mas gusto pang mang-usisa, nguni't na-realize niya na rin later on. "I can already tell who it is, Azuriette. Go ahead, I know you've missed him so much." She gave me an assuring smile.

"Bahala ka sa kung anong gusto mong isipin. Sige na, una na ko. Ingat ka sa pag-uwi." Sabi ko pa saka tinapik ang balikat niya. Tumango lang siya bilang tugon.

Mabilis kong tinahak ang daan palabas ng campus, kung saan maraming estudyante na rin ang nagsisi-uwian, malamang ay tapos na sa mga sessions nila. Tuluyang napuno ang school grounds nang dahil sa mga seniors na nagkukumahog lumabas. Nang hindi ko siya mahagilap sa paligid ay nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad.

Hanggang sa dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa isang lugar na nagbigay sa'kin ng napakaraming alaala.

At gaya ng inaasahan ko ay dito ko nga siya makikita.

"How long have you been waiting?" Tanong ko nang matanaw ko na siya. Kumaway din ako't ngumiti.

"It doesn't matter. I've missed you so much, love. Give me a hug." He spreads his arms open wide, tempting me to be wrapped in his warm embrace.

I granted his request and gave him a tight hug. It's been months since I felt this sensation. And I must say, I've missed it. I've missed his presence.

"I really feel safe within your arms." I muttered, suddenly noticed how his arms wrapped tighter in my waist.

"You might wanna come with me on my next visit to Toronto?" He said and smirked. "Mahirap na 'pag sobra mo akong ma-miss. Baka mabaliw ka na."

Such an exaggerating loser!

"Are you making fun of me again?" Hinampas ko ang dibdib niya saka tumawa.

"You actually look cute when you're annoyed. That's why I'll tend to do it more often."

Cute? Pfft. I honestly don't wanna look cute or childish when it comes to him. I'm actually far from those girls who loves pastels and cute things, but why is he seeing me as one?

"Holy crap, I quit!" Kumalas ako sa pagkaka-yakap sa kaniya. "You know that this is not my thing. Para akong isang childish girlfriend na panay ang aegyo sa boyfriend niya!"

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya habang pinipigilan ang tawa niya. "Aegyo? What's that?"

"It's some kind of a cute display of affection in a flirtatious and coquettish manner – a term widely known in Korea." Paliwanag ko.

"So, sa Korea mo siguro gustong pumunta? Sayang. Gusto talaga kitang isama sa Toronto. Kahit pagkasyahin lang sana kita sa maleta ko." Kunwaring nagtatampong aniya. Natawa naman ako sa huling saad niya.

"It's not like that. At tsaka anong pagkakasyahin sa maleta? Baka isubsob pa kita sa eroplano!" banat ko naman.

Dahil sa iilang minuto na nga rin kaming nakatayo ay niyaya ko siyang umupo sa hile-hilerang mga hagdan sa harapan namin.

In front of us is a long stairway, surrounded by cozy houses and trees. The scenery itself screams peace and tranquility. Naging saksi rin ito sa napakaraming alaala naming dalawa — mula pa man noong pagkabata.

Agape Street is quite a busy one, but this day is an exception. Walang masyadong nagkalat sa kalsada. Paniguradong busy ang mga estudyante ngayon dahil sa kani-kaniyang activities na ibinibigay ng professors.

Perfect timing. I'd be able to spend time with him freely today. I don't have to at least open my notes and take a quick peek at the pointers to review for the upcoming exams, just like what the rest are doing. The whole GAS-A knows why.

"So, anong balita sa campus? Dalawang buwan akong nawala. Most probably, mas nagkaroon ka na ng time para mag-advanced review at lamangan ako sa first sem." Aniya saka umupo sa hagdanan.

Ah, yes. Lamangan. Hindi na iyon bagong topic pagdating sa'ming dalawa. In fact, doon nga kami nakilala nang lahat.

"Of course, I still consider you as an opponent who's hard to beat. Even if I pull up an all-night study in Math, I still suck at it. That's how life works, right? Not everyone has it all. You would still have to stoop down, and at the end of the day, you're still not the greatest. You are still flawed." Where the hell did I even get these words?

He sighed and glanced at me for a second. A nostalgic moment came back to me, and here I am, completely lost in his sorrow glazed eyes. He had always been the same guy who won't speak up with his mouth - his enthralling brown eyes will speak for him instead. It was filled with compassion and sincerity, as it met mine.

"If I were to decide, I'd rather be involved in a fight beside you, and not the other way around. I can no longer stand any of this. I can't wait to introduce you to the whole world as my beloved girlfriend, and not someone I'll have to beat in class."

Ramdam ko ang sinseridad sa bawat pagtitig at pagdampi ng mga kamay niya sa kamay ko, na para bang nagsasabing kasama niya ako sa anumang labang kakaharapin ko sa buhay. Tama siya. Mas gugustuhin ko rin ang isang laban na kasama ko siya, kaysa sa isang laban na kung saa'y siya ang kalaban ko.

Everything is complicated between the two of us. I don't know where it will lead us.

"Hindi rin naman 'to ang gusto ko, but we have no other choice, but to keep our relationship private right now. What they all know is that we're opponents, and we never existed as lovers. That's it." I said and let out a sigh.

He moved his face closer towards mine and genuinely smiled. "Don't mind them. As long as we're keeping in touch with each other in a way that only the two of us know, there's nothing to worry about." He stood up and faced me.

"Whenever you feel gloomy and wretched, you can always visit this place. This will serve as a refuge exclusively for us." He added as he smiled coyly. "I love you, Azi."

His affectionate words always makes my heart flutter.

I mouthed, "I love you more."

I rested my head on his shoulders. Sabay naming pinagmasdan ang pag-iiba ng kulay ng kalangitan at pananariwa ng katahimikan.

Tumingin ako sa suot na wristwatch saka tumayo, "Uuwi ka na?" baling ko sa kaniya.

"Nope, I'll walk you home first. It's getting dark."  sagot naman niya.

"Sounds nice!"

We both walked down the empty pathways of Agape. Luckily, no one recognizes us here.

Hindi ko na rin namalayan ang oras, kung hindi ko pa tinangkang tingnan ang relos ko. Mag-aala-sais na ng gabi. Isa-isa nang nagbubukas ang mga street lights na nadadaanan namin.

A stroll with my boyfriend while watching the beautiful sunset is my own kind of date. And I'm utterly contented with it.

"Kailan nga ba tayo huling nanood ng sunset nang magkasama?" Tanong ko habang naglalakad kami.

Kunot-noo naman siyang sumagot. "I can't remember. Is that even necessary?"

"Oo naman! I consider these moments as some of the best ones that's worth reminiscing."

"Senti." He chuckled.

Nagiging sentimental na naman ako. Ang hilig ko kasi talaga sa mga ganitong pagkakataon. Ito 'yung madalas kong tinatatak sa isip ko, para if ever na balik-balikan ko, matutuwa ako.

Lalo na ngayo't siya ang kasama ko. It makes it even more special.

It came to pass and we're just ten blocks away from my destination. The sky completely turned dark and there's a small hint of moonlight.

Tanaw ko na ang apartment na tinitirhan ko mula rito kaya't hinila ko siya palayo. Mahirap na 'pag may nakakita sa'min.

"Magmula bukas, paniguradong mahihirapan ka na namang i-maintain ang mataas mong grades. Your greatest rival is here." Pagmamalaki niya.

"Well, I don't give a damn. Alam ko namang mas magaling ako sa'yo. Just settle for being next to my name in the achievers' list, second placer." Panggagaya ko rin sa ginagawa niyang pagma-mayabang.

Nasanay na akong ganito lagi kami. Parang aso't pusa kung magbangayan. Laging nagmamataasan.

Well, we started off calling each other as losers anyway.

And guess where we ended up?

He grinned, for the first time in a while. "Let's see how long your name dominates the list. Anyways, see you tomorrow. You know the drill."

Ah, yes. Act like we're enemies. Maaasahan niya 'ko pagdating sa bagay na 'yan, since sa pagiging magkaaway din naman kami nagsimula. Magaling akong umarte at magpanggap. We're no longer enemies yet I still manage to show other people that we are.

He bent his knees to be on the same height as mine. With a kiss on my forehead, he turned back to leave, but I quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him closer to me.

I gazed at him before sealing his lips with a kiss. I don't know why I did it. My heart just urged me to do so.

We ended up, as lovers.

I grinned as our lips parted, "Good night. I love you, Treyton."

Yes. My rival also turns out to be my boyfriend, but our love story is just between the two of us.

It's like a contest of who could act like they care less, but I like it better when he's on my side.