Chapter 2: "Closer"

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 always find me.

He would find me and say, "You're my favorite scent." He would say repeatedly that he recognizes my cologne everywhere and will always manage to find me because it was his favorite.

Until one day, he didn't find me anymore and he left for good.

I went out hoping that he might see me again and talk to me but as he walks towards my way, he didn't recognize me, he didn't even meet my eye. He simply walked past me so I decided to follow him subtly, this is generally stalking him, I know but let's just say I 'followed' him, okay?

After a minute or so, a lot of tall guys came and said, "Hey, Gelo, long time no see. Are you staying for good?"

Angelo refused to answer the question and his friends shrug trying to avoid the awkward atmosphere,"Yeah, are you really transferring to Western wood high?" 

"Yeah, how did you know?" Angelo softly said, "Does she tell know?"

"What? N-no!" His friends once again changes the topic and said with fake enthusiasm, "Why?! We were supposed to win back to back championships in baskteball."

"I just feel lke it.... really, there's no reason behind it." he explained

That's all I managed to overhear because they went inside on of Angelo's friend's house... Western wood high, huh?... wait for me!

I immediately went home and talked to my mom...

"Say what now? You wan to transfer western wood high?! why all of a sudden?! Besides, are you wearing cologne?" my mom exclaimed

I said, "I'm being a responsible daughter besides it's not all of a sudden and summer's about to end too, so i better decide what school i'll transfer!"

she calmed down a little for I had a point and she asked, "Okay, where's that school?"

"I don't know" I answered

"What kind of school is that?"

"No idea."

My mother's eyes was twitching, crap, I should've research a bit more about that school before telling my mom.

She continued,"Anything about that school?"

"Nothing at all."

"Is that even a school?!"

"Yeah, probably, it has 'university' in its name." I replied

"How are you going to transfer in a school you don't even know?!" mom exclaimed

I answered, "um... Google?"

After hours of talking, no debating and arguing with my mom, she finally agreed! I crammed my studying because the announcement board said that the last entrance exams are to be held tomorrow, yeah, this is what I get for registering late at schools.

I wonder if Angelo knows? Ah snap out of it! I'm in no position to worry about him, I should worry about myself first. Besides, it's Angelo, it's going to be a piece of cake for him!

As tomorrow came, I woke up just in time thanks to my mother's terrifying threats to wake me up. I smiled as I wore the cologne again.

"Kristina, I heard from Angelo's mom that Angelo already left, he's also taking the exam." My mother said as she looks at me top to bottom as if implying that I have to change my clothes.

"Since when were you friends with Angelo's mom?" I raised an eyebrow

"Since last night, I added her in facebook." She snickers, "You worry how to get Angelo, I'll deal with his mother."

I laughed as I went upstairs to select some 'decent' clothes.

I picked a teal flowy dress, mom said it matches my complexion. I put my hair up in a neat ponytail. To be fair, ponytail's the only hairstyle I can do with my skills right now.

I went out and headed to Western Wood High to take my exam.

Angelo was assigned in a room next to mine.

Moments after the exam, the conductor announced, "Since this is the last day of exams and we only have around 50 applicants, your results will be posted after a few minutes.

I stood outside fidgeting, should I approach him? And if I do, what would I say? It's been a while, I don't even know if he remembers me. For all I know, I might be just a fragment of forgotten memories from his childhood.

As they posted the results, the first thing my eyes lead me was to Angelo's results.

He passed with high marks, as expected. People were murmuring about Angelo's result, he was the highest but he was under the class B since class A were already full.

A hint of smile traces his lips as he saw the results.

"So cute." I muttered to myself

I search for my name as well and saw it, right beside his'. We're in the same class, calss 4-B. I couldn't help but feel flustered, I felt butterflies in her stomach.

Angelo Cruz POV

I passed! it's a good thing because I really need to get away from her.... in Western wood high, I'm really far away from her...I can use this time, I need to think and decide. Something just feels off and this is the last place she'll expect me to go to not unless the guys already told her I'm here.

I'm at class 4-B...not bad... I was really hoping any class just not the first class, it's full of annoying and self-proclaimed smartass.

4-B huh? I guess I'll see the class at monday since classes start by then.

After seeing my results, I submitted my final requirements to enrol and there I saw that girl again , the girl who forgot want to buy. I don't know but something about her felt oddly familiar. Like a good dream but then you wake up not remembering anything about it except how it made you feel.

I walked near her and said, "You're the noisy girl who forgot what to buy the other day, right?"

Kristina Valdez POV

noisy?! forgot what to buy?! he remembers me like that?! I really suck at this!! first good impressions are really hard to achieve. Oh well, this is just great, he's going to remember me as that girl forever.

Think! I can still salvage his impression of me.

I tried to answer in a more graceful way but in the end, it just showed how awkward I am, " um... yeah, that's me."

He asked with his blank eyes,"What's your name?"

Seriously? Being laughed at is better than his expressionless eyes.

"Kristina" I replied

he was shocked and asked, "Is it spelled with a C-H?"

"No... it's K-R-I-S-T-I-N-A "

"I'm Angelo, nice to meet you." He offered his hand but then takes it back, he says, "Sorry, you didn't ask but I went ahead and said it."

He's so awkward.

I giggled a bit and said, "You're so cute."

He blushed as he looks away and I did as well, I reason out, "No, I-uh, I mean your actions are cute, you're not- oh no, of course you are cu- but what I mean is-"

I stopped talking and stated, "Crap, I talked too much."

I saw the corner of Angelo's mouth slightly smiling which made me smile and feel more calm. The strong wind blew my hair right at my face. He reaches his hand to fix my hair but he stops.