ed her seatmate to pass the note she scribbled on to me. I rolled my eyes at her. Typical Adele, she always pulls things like this and it never

ery braces looking at Jose Rizal, who is our country's National hero. Madame Adele has this ultimate love arrow aimed by Cupi

ld tell you tall tales that maybe has some teeny bit of reality to it based on history, but it still all comes down to the guy who wrote two novels about what the Spaniard did when they were still in our country centuries ago and died of it. And to top that off, he ev

ow me if you don't want to turn into a living zombie. This time I can't help laughing. Definitely a wrong move, because Madame Miriam snatched the note from my hand. I cringe and prepared myself

his class seriously—" I heard her trail off.

–" she started but I cut her off

ys let things slide. So we headed

**

hile we were eating. I had my eyes glued on Christoph. He's heaven and I'm

aste of this. It's like Coke diluted in water. Adele winked at me and waved to gra

right, where the lights are dim and the tables are filled with graffiti doodles and what you would likely call vandalism. It's not like we had a choice. All the good seats are taken if you're a second late in coming to the cafeteria. As for the best garden view seats, it is reserv

ng all the women in the world to tears with that lustrous ebony mane of hers that listens to whatever style she tells it to wear and that perfectly olive skin that no woman has ever achieved before even if they get it done in Beverly Hills. Her body would put Michelangelo to shame at the perfectly chiseled cheerleading-mo

r, this goddess would beat Einstein in chess anytime. Wait, does Einstein even play chess? She's taking up Medicine and plans to major as a brain surgeon. What? Ye

ance to be even in the same planet as her. But then again, he's walking to our table. The guy whom I've been crazy head

ph greeted my friend and grabbed a

r laughing. I stared at the two wide eyed but remembered that it's rude to stare or that may

ristoph smiled at my friend. Did I mention he

lk this earth. If she is the goddess, he is the god. There will be no moon without the sun. You do know that the moon gets its light, or should I say reflect the light from the sun

it would go like this. His eyes are deep navy pools than can engulf you in one stare. His cheekbones would rub the Himalayas out of the map. His kayumanggi skin woul

that fool you. He's currently taking criminal law. Of course, he would. His father is known as the Slate of Justice, a wel

vant, highly unlikely pretty half Filipina, half Chinese, who he has classes with in three subjects during my almost thre

a." Adele's voice sliced through m

the first time out of those three invisible years of my life. I was about to answer him when he let

arents named her that way. It's so ancient, d

Adele added, and Christoph stifled a l

up. I never knew gods were atrocious. I was fuming and ready to give a re

ed for Maria Josephine Pearl to return to their table. Without thinking, I hastily stood up. The metal legs of my seat scraped the tiled floor delivering an ear piercing so

esolve that was build up out of anger was faltering because of the stares glued to the scene I've created. I wa

but you could see the annoyance in the twitch of her brows. She

ause we made fun of her name." Adele faked a laugh and wav

!" I stammered. I wanted to say my part force

your great grandmother or have cheap uneducated misspelled names. I'm sure it isn'

ou think about it and listen to her voice, you

t was made fun of when I was a kid. They used to call me "Bale" or "Ina" in my younger years. It was even worse w

n Valentine's Day?" S

nd wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I don't know what she's playing at. Earlier she

names weren't that refined. I have to thank my parents for my

daggers at her. I didn't wait for her to speak. I grabbed my bad and books and ran out to the cafeteria with my shame trailing behind me. By now tears are streaming down my eyes and I could

other

ould wander in here. It is located at the far end of the hallway near our cafeteria. I believe this room has been forgotten if not bothered by the students. It encases a rather old series of books covered in dust and dated before I was even born. Nevertheless, books are still books. Considering my passion for these thin

f sniffling. I believe I know what the situation is at the other side of this shelf, but curiosity got through me and I had to concern myself with the matter. Sighing at my own meddling self, I approached

her clothes were what I believe foreign. She wore trousers like a man, but only tighter. I would have thought it inappropriate for a woman to wear something like it if not for the fact that it showed her slender curves which pronounced her womanhood better than the dresses worn by our country. I also witnessed tha

o be able to meet her acquaintance. That being said, I dare not approach a crying l

t her tear stricken face and noticed that beyond the trail of tears, she had innocence to those beautiful r

eve. She could be an American but her looks betrayed the idea. I find her presence in this school od

the words that came out of my mouth. I realized I articulated the wrong language but

e but no sound came out. Instead, I searched the pockets of my overcoat and offered her my handkerc

crept up the corners of her modest lips. "Grac

e but my tongue got better of me." I apologized. This time she smi

I asked, unable to l

e replied. Her English is slightly differe

u?" I offered. I saw a fleeting

t'll pass." She replied. "By

or several years now. I happened to stumble across it and have been putt

dust the books" She observed running her

a single piece of literature

story and you feel like you're in the shoes of the characters? I get that a lot. If only life was as easy as stories, with hap

hat you mean."

reality than in fantasy. If not, it is even excellent than those written in books. Life offers challenges to be conquered. Th

completely disagrees with me, and I suppose, it

ease in sharing your dilemma, I would be more than pleased to lend a hand or my thoughts." I a

stared at me for a second. We stood by the window sill staring into the cou

tina

t it was my entire fault in the first place. I told him how I felt and how I cried. All the while he listened to me intently. He nodded at the right parts and furrowed his brows at times. He even had a s

ol are! I could never believe it if you have not sha

s... And it is my fault—" I sta

d to think they are fellow Filipinos! And your friend, she is what you call a conspirator. I would bet, but I don't, that she is somehow in a relationship with this Christoph. Someone should have a word with them. I, for one, would gladly

gods. I've finally made a new friend and I don't want him to regret knowing me. I searched his face for a response and I noticed he was blushing, or maybe he was enraged. I then no

and cleared his throat. I concluded he was bl

hesitated. I didn't want to r

h so much conviction that I had to laugh again. "Promise me that you will be proud of the name yo

ll stop calling me Señori

ike idiots smiling at each other till the old be

ed to go back to cla

are still a few matters I need

d to leave. But as I was exiting the door, I tur

ok that he was writing on. "Can I come and visit you sometimes? You know,

and lightly brushed his lips on it. I know I'm turning into a tomato. I just nodded and I guess I was smiling. I'm a total geek. I gave a quick wave and left. I could feel my heart pounding as I figuratively floated to my next class.

t Chapter... don't forget to