It was a typical day, there was nothing special with how the sun shines that hot afternoon nor the way the clouds fleetingly drifts away from the skies.
But little do they know, that it was a new beginning. Just as summer vacation ends, a new romance springs.
Meet Kristina Valdez
She is an average and simple teenager.
A little taller than usual standing 162 cm tall with her petite body weighing 48kg. She looks beautiful with her light brown eyes that perfectly matches the sun's warm tone. Having that sweet and awkward smile with her heart-shaped lips would make her everyone's girl crush but her beauty is unnoticed by most of the people because she rarely fix herself and she doesn't try to look good either.
Kristina ties up her flowing brunette hair into a messy bun highlighting her rosy round cheeks.
Kristina Valdez' POV
"Jeez! I can't believe summer's about to end and I haven't decided yet on which school I'll transfer for my 4th year high school." I complained, "I can't believe I'm transferring at my last year of highschool , just great."
I continued to surf the internet to browse some school opening and online registrations but nothing seems to catch my eyes. I almost lost all hope and close my laptop to rest my eyes but then while surfing the net i saw Angelo Cruz' post.
Meet Angelo Cruz
He is a smart and nerd-y student but definitely not a loser, he's just so famous even in the internet even though he only posts every now and then.
He's taller than me stading at 175 cm tall, weighs 66 kg. He's the perfect epitome of a good guy for most girls with his strong jaw and perfectly proportionate face. He has a clean look with strong and intimidating hazel eyes and a simple shaggy hair that's a shade darker than mine. Rumors has it that a lot of girls like him but he drives them away.
He's cold and distant and rarely trust someone.
But I knew him as the exact opposite of that.
Angelo and I have been friends since our childhood, we were the only kids in the neighboorhood so I guess he really didn't have much of a choice. He has a very warm personality.
But it didn't last long, he changed and so did I.... well, at least we're still neighbors.
I saw his post and it made me stop and stare for a while.
"He's back." I muttered to myself softly, "He's back here in the neighborhood."
I couldn't help myself but look outside my window and glance at his house but a few blocks down. He's really here. I saw him outside unpacking his things from the moving van.
His white shirt highlighted his broad and athletic shoulders, I wonder what his reaction be if he saw me again after all these years.
I liked him ever since, it started out as a simple crush that I had no idea at the time but as my feelings for him grow day by day, he became cold and distant towards me until he just starts ignoring me...but despite this , i still like him.
I must be out of my mind.
"Are you having perverted thoughts about our neighbor?" I was shocked to see my mom's face only an inch away from mine, she was looking at where my gaze is, I complained, "Mom! I'm not!"
"You always glance at their house, you know? Looks like, the one you've been waiting for is finally here, what are you planning to do?" My mom mocks
"Nothing." I pouted
"Let me tell you what you can do."
I eagerly anticipated my mother's advice and she replied as she tossed laundry clothes at me, "You should do household chores every now and then, you lazy girl and decide which school you'll go to."
then she left.
My mom and I have always been close but she's been busy with work and me so I decided to change schools to help her, somewhere a little closer to home so she wouldn't feel so lonely.
A few hours have passed, I just finished my household chores and finished taking a bath. I look outside and saw how the night sky looked prettier that night.
After putting on some pajamas as I listens peacefully to Angelo's playlist, the one he made when we were kids, in my room, my mom shouted from downstairs, "Kristina!"
"What?!" i asked
"Will you come down here?"
Seriously, we are living in a two house story building but I swear my mom's voice reaches the whole neighborhood. She is probably the reason why I'm so talk so loudly.
I came down wearing my fuzzy socks and asked, "Yeah mom, what is it?"
"Can you buy me some vinegar?" my mom politely asked using her cute eyes, as if they'd work on me
I pointed out the door outside that's only a few steps away from her, I said, "Mom, you're literally three steps away the door."
"I have small steps besides I can't let the neighbors see me without make up." she smirks, "pretty please?"
"No one would care but hmm, I'll think about it." I replied and smirks as well, "No."
"Fine, I know my charms won't work on you."
I laughed but then I saw Angelo outside and heard: "Angelo, also, buy me some salt, okay?" said his mother
he answered, " okay."
My mom and I looked at each other and I quickly said to mom, "On second thought, no, let me buy it, it's not to far, I can do it!"
"What changed your mind?" mom mockingly asked
"Mom!"
"Ok, here's the money." mom said while lending me some money, still teasing me, "I just wish Angelo goes out more to do errands so you can do mine as well."
so I quickly went outside and followed him, i watched him while walking towards the store.
Crap, I should've at least fixed my hair earlier, but now that I think about it, I don't even know how to properly fix my hair.
I was so lost in my thoughts that when it was my turn to buy. not a word came out.
the store owner snaps her fingers at me breaking my gaze at Angelo and said, "How long are you going to stare at him?"
"Wh- ? uh, um.. What are you?" I was rattled, I denied awkwardly, "I wasn't. Totally wasn't. You're really funny!"
"So, what are you going to buy?"
"um... a..." I completely forgot what i'm going to buy, this is a very bad first impression on Angelo after years that passed, I'm still as clumsy and awkward.
"Vinegar" Angelo said
" yeah.... vinegar" i said
The owner gave it to me and while walking home I thanked him... he said, " it's okay... I kind of heard your conversation with your mom... so I knew what you're about to buy.."
"Really? We were quite loud, weren't we?"
"Yeah.. especially when you talk to your mom a while ago...."
Great, I totally nailed that. He now thinks I'm noisy and clumsy, +10 points to reasons why he won't be mine, just great. Excuse me as I cry internally but there goes my chances of winning him.
After that it turned into an akward silence, jeez, think of a topic!! What the hell should I say, hi it's been a while, I really like you please like me back? hey, long time, wanna hang out?
Seriously, my social skills are very much lacking.
"um... you don't talk too much, huh?" I asked trying to save our conversation
He simply nods and went to his home, I went back to my house and gave my mother the vinegar she asked for.
I was smiling and I offered, "Mom, I'll do the dishes today."
I am so happy right now, I can't believe we actually had a conversation. I thank God Almighty or Buddha or whoever's up there that made this happen!
The night sky really looked prettier tonight.
The next day, I woke up earlier than usual, I wore my most decent clothes and I wore some cologne.As I picked up the cologne with fresh fragrance of summer, a distant memory resurfaced my mind. It was Angelo from back when we were kids, I remembered how we were playing as the sun shines brightly on us, beautifully capaturing Angelo's warm smile, we were playing hide and seek and no matter what, he would
He clenches his fist and says, "Your cologne."My heart skipped a beat. Does he remember? But why does
I got caught up in the moment that I didn't realized what I said next, classic Kristina."You're... laughing, genuinely. I'm glad."I smiled at him which caught him off guard and he replied, "Oh, was I? I didn't notice.""Uh, sorry for blurting out something like that, it's weird.""Well, you're my favorite kind of weird then." He smiled gentlyWait... is this? Is this really happening? He doesn't hate me? He's actually smiling? He used to be so cold and distant towards everyone especially me but now he's...back. He's back to his usual self even if it was barely a moment. I get to see the Angelo I've always liked.I know he changed so much but now I also know that deep down, he's still the same Angelo I've known from before.But if he comes back to his old self, does that mean, he'll come to hate me again?Angelo Cruz POV
Our subject teachers came and go, they were discussing about the subject introduction and Angelo was barely listening to them at all but somehow, he still gets everything right. I heard Angelo was studied advanced courses in abroad, I guess he's in the STEM strand because he wants to be a licensed doctor.He always wanted to be one. Only the Biology class seems to keep him interested enough to actually write notes. I found myself smiling. It was a plan from our childhood. He was going to be a doctor of his very own patients and I was going to be a doctor of computers, I wanted to become a computer engineer.Our biology professor gives out his lesson plan and gave us an early break.I ate alone by the bleachers... I knew it, I should've accepted Angelo's proposal to eat together but I know his friends wanted to catch up with him as well. I'm just glad Angelo seem to have a lot of friends.Suddenly, someone approach
After a while, Kristina finally arrived... finally, I was waiting for her. She came in the room with her slightly messy hair and her fringe showing. She was wearing a jumper skirt with her pastel shirt and mismatched socks that she was trying to hide.She also had her glasses on as she searches the room for me.I was caught off guard when she smiled at me. She was searching the room and she smiled at me like that, she waves her hand frantically.I unconciously waved back at her but the moment I realized it, I took my hand down.She sat down beside me and said, "I made it just in time! I woke up really late. Ah, sorry I'm talking too much-"I cut her off as I fixes her fringe in place, "Your bangs look cute. Goodmorning."She turns red and shifts the conversation topic, "You don't have your uniform yet?"I lied, "Yeah, I haven't got my uniform yet.""Mine too,
Kristina and I walked on our way home, I suddenly remembered the events earlier and I asked, "How are you feeling now? You seemed very scared earlier.""Uh, yeah... I'm okay now, it's just, I'm claustrophobic." she replied, "It's something from a long time ago that haunts me everytime I'm in an enclosed small space.""Is that why you stopped playing hide and seek?"She pauses and her voice sounded a little shaky as she looks at me, "Yeah, I just thought someone would find me no matter where I hide but that one day, I got stucked in the wardrobe and no on found me until the next day."I don't know why but her story seems to affect me to the core, my chest tightens at the thought of it. She feels like she was about to be down for the rest of the day so I opened a bottle of soda and placed it by her cheeks, I stated, "Next time, you can wear your awful cologne and that way I can find you."
I can't believe that he said that? Am I still in bed and this is all just a dream? Ooh please mom, don't you dare wake me up right now! I pinched myself to see if I was dreaming but I wasn't. Then it's true? My long time crush just said he likes me?"Hey... I'm not dreaming, right?" I askedAngelo laughs, "It's pretty obvious, isn't it? I was pretty obvious towards it."Holy crap, I can die happy right now, oh wait don't kill me just yet, let me savor this moment.Before either of us says anything more, the rain started pouring heavily. Angelo grabs my hand as we ran towards some cover.Even as we reached shelter, he was still holding my hand, so I said, "Y...you can let go now."He looks at me a little longer then he lets go. He sneezes so I said, "That's what you get for going back in the rain and getting my lunchbox."Angelo mutter
Kristina Valdez POVMy thoughts drift away to the past, back when we were kids and everything was okay. I saw Angelo running towards me, he playfully grabs my hand and take me by the mountain to see the sunrise.I remembered Angelo's light brown hair with colorful and girly clips that I put on him. I remembered his chubby cheeks that hides his eyes as he smiles so widely. I remember how he would pat my head everytime I fell on my bike or trip by myself. I remember how he would grab my hands with his tiny and soft palms.He says, "Let's stay here forever and ever and ever."I chuckled, "Wouldn't that be boring to stay in one place even if it's your favorite place.""But this isn't my favorite place." He continued as he smiled brightly, "You are."We climbed the trees together that day even though I knew how much he feared h