Alvierra's P.O.V.
It was the third day of school, and the environment here was okay.
"Hi Vierra, good morning!" Raiden greeted me cheerfully.
"Morning," I replied, hugging myself because it was cold. I forgot to bring a jacket.
"Oh, here, borrow mine. I'm not cold anyway," he said, handing me the jacket he was wearing. When I didn't answer, he threw it at me. I glared at him.
"Hey Rade! Your notes!" Deya shouted, throwing the notebook. Raiden caught it.
"Thanks Deya, you're the best," he said with a smile.
I shook my head and put on Raiden's jacket. I had no choice.
"It looks good on you," he said with a smile, looking at the jacket I was wearing. I stared at his smile and felt my heart beat faster. I touched my chest. I looked away when Raiden's friends suddenly came in and put their arms around him.
What was that feeling? Why was my heart beating faster?
After our third subject, it was break time. The three girls approached me.
"Hi Alvierra!" Farrah said cheerfully.
"Hi," I replied.
"Come join us. We're going to call ourselves The Genius Girls," Farrah said with a smile.
"What? Genius? I'm not smart," I said.
"You are smart. We asked your friend from the other section. She said you're smart," she said.
"She's not my friend," I said.
"Really? You're always together," Sammy said with a smile.
"We're neighbors, but we're not friends," I said again.
"Ah okay, but come on. Be friends with us. We're friends, right?" Farrah asked. I saw Deya staring at the jacket I was wearing.
"I have a reason why I don't want to be friends," I said, looking down.
"Whatever that reason is, we'll make sure you don't feel that way with us. We can help each other with studying too. No one gets left behind!" Sammy said.
I heard they were smart. I thought about what Sammy said. She was right, we could help each other study.
"Fine," I said.
"Ahm, Alvierra. That's Raiden's jacket, right?" Deya asked.
"Oh yeah, he lent it to me. I forgot to bring mine," I said.
"Wow! That guy's actually a gentleman," Farrah said, laughing.
"Raiden's nice. He's a bit annoying sometimes, but he's handsome. But Deya, I don't have a crush on him," Sammy said.
"I didn't say anything," Deya said. "You're close to Rade." Deya said to me.
"Not really. I just didn't have a jacket, so he had no choice but to lend me his," I said.
"Deya has a crush on him. She's jealous," Farrah said.
Crush? I don't know, but I felt a pang in my chest. Deya has a crush on him, it's obvious.
"Who has a crush on who, Deya?" Raiden asked. I took off the jacket I was wearing and threw it to Raiden. He caught it and looked at me.
"No one! This Farrah is just making things up," Deya said, standing up. "Nice to meet you, Alvierra." Deya said with a smile and left. Farrah waved at me and followed Deya out.
"You're not cold anymore?" Raiden asked me. I just shook my head and didn't say anything. I took my notebook out of my bag and started answering the assignments given to us earlier.
"You're friends with Deya now. Good decision!" he said, giving me a thumbs up. I just glared at him and ignored him. I don't know why I'm feeling this way.
When it was time to go home, I went straight out. Raileigh was just coming out, so we left the gate together.
"Are you okay? Why are you frowning?" Rai asked.
"I'm annoyed, Rai! I don't know why I'm feeling this way. This morning, when I saw my classmate smiling, my heart beat faster. Then when I found out that another classmate had a crush on him, it hurt here," I said, pointing to my chest. I saw Rai smile, which made me frown even more.
"You like your classmate, Vie," she said with a smile.
"Ha?! Like? I like that guy? No way!" I said.
"Those are the symptoms, Vie! Symptoms that you like someone," she said with a smile. "Oh my gosh! Who are you talking about? Who is it?" she said excitedly.
"It's nothing! And Raileigh, I don't like him," I said and started walking towards the jeepney stop.
"You like him, Vierra! You just don't want to admit it to yourself," she said with a smile. "Okay, how about this, if you feel butterflies when your skin touches his, or if time seems to slow down, that means you like him. I'm betting on this! I'll remember this day. June 15, the day Vierra fell for a male classmate," Rai said with a smile. I angrily boarded the jeepney while she laughed at me.
When I got home, I picked up Vince from our neighbor's house. I saw him playing with our neighbor's child, who was also a kid. Vince is 8 years old. He's already in school, in Grade 3, and our neighbor brings him to and from school, since their child and my brother are classmates. My mom works, and so does my dad. I pick up Vince from their house at two in the afternoon.
"Ate!" Vince said happily. I smiled and took his hand.
"Thank you, Ate Cheska," I said.
"No problem. Come eat here. I cooked a lot," Ate Ches said.
"No, we're good," I said.
"Oh come on, come eat here. Come on, Alvierra. Eat here," Ate Ches said with a smile. I couldn't refuse because Ate Ches pulled my hand.
After we ate, I volunteered to wash the dishes. Ate Ches didn't want me to, but I insisted, so she couldn't refuse.
Vince and I went home, we were on the other side of the street, so we walked home. I just took out my books, so I started reading our lessons from earlier and our lessons for tomorrow. I suddenly remembered what Rai said earlier, so I dropped the book on the table.
I don't like him, period! Raileigh's just making things up.
"Ate, are you angry?" Vince asked.
"No, Vince. Ate's not angry. Go ahead and answer your assignments," I said, and he nodded. Vince also asked me to teach him how to answer his homework, so I taught him. Vince finished his homework quickly because he was quick to follow when I taught him. He even said I was a better teacher than his teacher. I just laughed at what he said. I put him to bed and started reading my lessons.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I woke up and checked the time. It was 10:00 pm, and I had to wake up early tomorrow.
I messed up my hair and angrily left our room. I found Papa sitting on the sofa watching TV.
"Papa?" I asked.
"Oh Vierra, why are you still awake? You have to wake up early tomorrow," Papa said.
"I can't sleep, so I'm going to get some water," I said.
"Ah okay, after you drink water, go to sleep," Papa said. I got some water, then sat beside him.
"Papa, I have a question," I said.
"What is it?"
"How do you know if you like someone? How did you know you liked Mama?"
"Why Vierra? Do you have a crush? You, focus on your studies first," Papa said.
"No, I was just asking," I said.
"I liked your Mama because she was beautiful, but I didn't love her because of her beauty. I loved her for who she is," Papa said with a laugh.
I furrowed my brow at what I heard. What did he say? I didn't understand. Papa saw my expression and laughed.
"My heart beat faster and my chest hurt when I saw her with another guy. I was also happy when I talked to her. That's how you feel when you like or love someone, anak," Papa said. "But you're still young, you won't understand that. Now go to sleep."
I nodded and went back to my room. That's how I feel. Maybe I do like Raiden. Hays, is this what it feels like?
I just went to sleep so I could wake up early tomorrow.