Chapter 1.1:

"Royo, Reineste Liana M.,"

I mentally cursed at myself when I heard Ma’am Grijalba’s voice, our adviser, going through the attendance. Maingat akong humahakbang nang mabilis para makaabot. Muntikan pa akong madapa kanina sa may gate at kitang-kita ko kung paano pinigilan ng guard ang kaniyang tawa!

Dalawang kaklase ko pa ang natawag bago ako nakarating sa back door. Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago ko dahan-dahang binuksan ang pinto. I motioned my classmates to keep their silence when they saw me sneaking in. I tiptoed my way, making sure that I wouldn't get noticed by her while she's checking the attendance. Ma’am Grijalba is just a few rows away from my empty seat! Dehado na ako kapag napansin niyang wala ako roon!

"Velasco, Siorse Briellei—where is Ms. Velasco?"

Out of panic, I immediately sat down on the vacant seat near me and raised my hand.

"Present, Ma'am!"

Her eyebrows furrowed while looking at me, wondering why I was sitting here and not from my perspective seat.

"Why are you there?" she asked while looking at the person beside me. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya. "At talagang diyan ka pa tumabi kay Mr. Alfonzo? Ang aga-aga, magpapatayan na agad kayo?"

"Yieeeee!"

Gulat akong napalingon sa katabi ko. Rafael’s grinning face welcomed my eyes like he's been staring at me this whole time. I grunted. I didn't notice that I sat here! Beside the devil!

May kasalanan pa siya sa akin!

"Silence!" Ma’am Grijalba shouted. Her sharp gaze went to me again and yelled, "Go back to your proper seat, Ms. Velasco!"

Dali-dali akong tumayo. "Yes, Ma'am!"

"See you later, babe," Rafael muttered. Ang mga nakarinig ay mahinang nang-asar.

Pasimple kong yinapakan ang paa niya at sumigaw siya agad sa sakit, dahilan para lalong kumunot ang noo ng adviser namin at pabagsak na inilapag ang folder niya sa table!

"The two of you, in front, now!"

I glared at Rafael who was also glaring at me while trying to reach for his aching foot. He sticked out his tongue and I fought the urge to hit him again.

We stood in front of everyone. I held my head high while Rafael is still reaching for his throbbing foot. Napapalingon tuloy ako roon, medyo nagi-guilty sa ginawa. But he started it! Pero mukhang napalakas yata ang yapak ko?

"Recite the Good Morals and Right Conduct of ENHS!"

I sighed and started reciting it, Rafael immediately followed through. Everyone was staring at us in amusement like they're waiting for something to happen. Tila normal na sa kanila ang lahat ng ito.

We were ordered to sit down after. My frowning face remained as I walk towards my seat. Sabi ni Ma’am Grijalba, may minus daw ako mamaya sa quiz dahil late ako.

Rein smirked at me. "Bakit ka late?"

"Kailangan ba may dahilan?"

"Of course!" aniya, suot ang mapang-asar niyang ngiti. "Pwedeng dahil traffic, pero wala namang traffic dito sa Seyrin. O kaya pwede ring dahil may ka-late night talk ka?"

I sneered. "Pwede bang tigilan mo na 'yang kahibangan na 'yan?"

"Kasi naman!" Rein pouted and glanced behind us. "Simula noong malaman ko na tinatawagan ka niya, feeling ko may something na kayo."

"Wala nga. Ilang beses ko bang uulitin, ha?"

"Feeling ko tuloy may crush na kayo sa isa't isa kaya kayo laging nag-aasaran."

"Reineste!"

"Oo na!" Pushing me a little, she snorted. "Parang tanga, bakit ba kailangan mo pang banggitin ang buong pangalan ko? Ang bantot!"

Umirap lang ako. I unconsciously looked behind me and caught his gaze. My smile immediately vanished and my eyes glared at him. Rafael smirked and nodded his head. Nakipag-asaran na siya kanila Renz pagkatapos.

“Pasulyap-sulyap,” pagkanta ni Rein sa tabi ko. Pinalo ko siya sa braso at mahina lang siyang humagikgik.

Rafael Alfonzo has always been a mystery to me, at least, from his identity. His name in particular have poked my interest. Iyon na rin siguro ang isa sa mga naging dahilan kung bakit ako naging malapit sa kaniya.

To reminisce it all, it was in the middle of our second quarter in 7th grade when he arrived in our classroom as our new classmate. I remember that it all started that day.

"Good morning!"

We all looked at the door when someone interrupted our class. A young-looking female teacher was beaming at us. Ngunit saglit lang akong napatingin sa kaniya dahil agad na bumaba ang paningin ko sa lalaking kaniyang kasama.

His aura was dark, yet his features were gentle and soft. Dark, deep set of eyes and narrowed nose. His lips were undeniably reddish too. Maputi at makinis ang balat. He looks bored while leaning on the side of the door, watching the teacher with him discuss something to our subject teacher.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Bagong classmate?

Napatingin ako sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko. I was at the farthest seat because of my surname. Alphabetical kasi. Saka, ito lang ang bakanteng upuan din dahil madami kami.

I shrugged my shoulders and placed my bag on the floor when I realized that the new student might sit beside me. Baka ayusin na naman ang order ng seats namin. Sana mapalipat na ako roon sa kabila, sa tabi nila Rein!

"Good morning."

Napalingon na ako sa unahan noong mapakinggan ang boses niya. I saw how my girl classmates got swayed by it. Napailing-iling ako. Gwapo kasi, kaso mukhang suplado.

"I'm Rafael Alfonzo, nice to meet you."

And he speaks like he's so good with that language. Ngumuso ako, hindi ko alam kung bakit parang may nagtutulak sa aking ngumiti.

Pero, Rafael Alfonzo? Is that his full name? Ang ikli naman!

"Rafael will be your classmate starting today,” ani teacher namin pagkatapos nang mahaba niyang pagpapakilala rito. "Treat him well, okay?"

"Yes, Ma'am!"

Napalingon ulit ako kay Rafael. Nakatungo siya at ang dalawang kamay ay mahigpit na nakakapit sa strap ng kaniyang bag. Is he nervous? That's understandable. Baka ganiyan din ako kung ako ang nasa posisyon niya ngayon.

"May vacant seat ba kayo?"

Mabilis akong nagtaas ng kamay. "Sa tabi ko po, wala pong nakaupo rito!"

"Good!" aniya at ngumiti. She looked at Rafael and patted his shoulders. "Go ahead and sit beside the young lady, Rafael."

"Okay," he responded and nodded his head. 

Nakatungo siyang naglakad papalapit sa upuang katabi ko. He must've felt awkward with how everyone is watching him. I made sure to give him a space to pass through. Umipod ako at sumiksik pa sa upuan ko para makadaan siya. He only looked at me once and I grabbed that opportunity to smile at him! Maybe we could be friends. But then he only looked away quickly like he didn't saw me smiling at him.

Diba kapag nginitian ka, ngingitian mo rin pabalik?

Sabi ko na nga ba at suplado siya, eh! Pero bago naman siya, baka kinakabahan lang.

"Hi!" I said in full enthusiasm and faced him. He halted from fixing his bag and looked at me with wide eyes. Nagulat ko pa yata! "Sorry, hindi ko sinasadya!"

He stared at me for a while before looking away. Napansin ko ang namumula niyang tainga dahil sa pag-iwas niya ng tingin. Baka naiinitan! Nasa pinakalikod pa naman kami, hindi masyadong natatamaan ng electric fan.

"A-Ayos ka lang ba? Mainit?" I asked in concern.

He cleared his throat. "Ayos lang."

"Sure ka? May... maliit akong fan dito." I handed it to him as I offer. He glanced at it with his eyebrows slightly furrowed. "P-Pwede tayong mag-share kung naiinitan ka."

He gave me a small smile. "It's alright. It's not that hot."

"Share na tayo!"

He was slightly taken aback with my eagerness. Napatikhim muli siya at bahagyang umurong. Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti ko. Ayaw niya ba sa akin? Pero kasi, sabi ni Mama maging mabait daw ako sa mga kaklase ko. Tapos seatmate pa kami at wala pa siyang kaibigan dito. But I think he's uncomfortable with me...

I pouted and looked away. Iuurong ko na sana ang kamay ko na hawak ang maliit kong electric fan noong bigla niya itong kuhanin mula sa akin!

Nagugulat ko siyang tinitigan ngunit nakaiwas siya ng tingin. He was taking quick glances at me and would shift on his seat.

"M-Mainit nga," aniya.

A giggle escaped from my lips. "Sabi ko sa 'yo, eh!"

He nodded and said, "Wag ka nang malungkot."

"Akala ko kasi ayaw mo sa akin," I said and beamed at him. "Gusto mo bang makipagkaibigan? Mabait naman ako. Pwede tayong friends!"

Rafael faced me then and flashed a small smile. "Okay."

"I'm Siorse Briellei R. Velasco." I introduced myself while offering my hand. Bumaba ang tingin niya roon.

"I'm..." aniya at tumikhim. "Rafael..."

"Rafael?" I urged him to continue.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin at tinanggap na ang kamay kong nakalahad. Saglit pa akong napatitig doon dahil sa lambot ng kamay niya. Mas malambot pa sa akin!

"Alfonzo..." aniya. "Rafael Alfonzo."

"Anong apilyido mo?"

Maikli muli ang iginawad niyang ngiti. "A-Alfonzo,"

"Eh?" I uttered. "Ang ikli ng name mo."

"Y-Yeah." Tumikhim siya at binitawan na ang kamay ko. "Your name is beautiful, Siorse."

"Salamat! Saka, Sebi na lang. Nickname ko."

"Then it's nice meeting you, Sebi."

"Friends na tayo, ah!"

I’ve been nothing but a nagging friend to him ever since that day. Offering him to eat with me and my friends para naman may kasama siya. Kaibigan ko na siya para sa akin pero hindi ko alam kung ganoon din ba ang trato niya sa akin. Lalo na noong naging malapit na siya kanila Atticus at Renz.

"Sasali ka ba?" Mavros, one of my closest friends, asked me.

Umiling ako. "Masakit ang puson ko."

"Hala, tara na kaya sa clinic? Patingin na natin?"

"Normal lang 'to, Mav. Mawawala rin 'to mamaya."

"Bakit normal—oh! Meron ka?" he asked casually. Tumango ako, bahagyang nahihiya. "May dala ka bang pads? Gusto mo bilhan kita sa canteen? Alam ko mayroon do'n eh."

Mabilis akong umiling sa kaniya. "O-Okay lang, may dala ako.”

How is he so comfortable with this topic? Most of the time, boys would go horrid when it comes to girls' having their menstrual period. Diring diri, akala mo naman papahiran sila sa mukha! Ito namang si Mav, talagang nag-offer pang bumili ng pads.

"Sige, ako na lang ang magsasabi kay Sir—"

"Ha!?" gulat kong saad. "W-Wag na! Nakakahiya! Ako na lang."

Tatayo na sana ako noong pigilan niya. He motioned me to sit still and I oddly looked at him.

"Kay Rein ko na lang sasabihin, para hindi ka na mahiya."

"Ako na lang ang magsasabi—"

"Pero tatayo ka pa, lalakad, tapos babalik na naman dito. Masakit pa ang puson mo! Ako na lang, ako na ang bahala."

"S-Sige..."

He smiled and pinched my cheeks. "Sige! Panoorin mo 'ko, ha! Ako yata ang pinakamagaling mag basketball sa mga kaklase natin!"

I chuckled. "Yabang mo!"

He laughed and winked at me before he jogged away, back to where our classmates are. PE kasi namin ngayon at ako lang ang nanatili sa grandstand dahil nga hindi ako makakalaro.

"He likes you."