5 P A R T 4

P A R T - F O U R

“Charlie! Let’s have breakfast!” I heard my dad calling me as I was preparing my things for the pre-shoot for the competition. I’m wearing a white long sleeve on the inside and a blue floral dress.

“Good morning dad” I greeted him as he was preparing our breakfast.

“Wow. Are you going out with Warren?” He asked while I’m about to sit

“No, I’m going to take some shots for our school competition. I’m one of the representatives, remember?” I said.

“Who are the other representatives?” He asked as he sip his coffee

“Leon Alvaro. He’s a photographer and we’re the only representatives. One for photography, and one for calligraphy.”

“Is he your classmate?” He asked.

“No, he’s actually from our sister school. I think he’s part of the basketball team as well”

“How did you know? Are you interested in him? How’s Warren by the way? I haven’t seen him these days. Is he busy? How’s school?” I was about to start eating when he bombarded me with questions.

“Dad. Really? You’ve been gone for three days only. You can ask me one at a time, you know?” I said and that made him laugh.

“hahaha! Alright. You can just answer them one at a time” He said as he continues to chuckle.

“Leon and I met briefly before we knew that we were the representative for the competition, and I’m not even sure if he’s really a part of the basketball team. All I know is that he plays.” I said as he nods his head.

“Warren’s fine. He’s the same. We still go home together. He’s still –” I paused. I was about to say ‘friends’ but are we really just friends? Dad looked at me and was waiting for me to continue.

“Nothing’s changed dad, it’s just three days. What do you expect? School is still the same. One last year and we’ll graduate.” He continues to nod his head as a sign of agreement.

“Any plans for college?” He asked.

“I’m actually planning to stay here. Since we’ve been here the longest. And all my friends are here. I like it here” And he’s here. I whispered in my head and that made me smile. I didn’t have any idea that just by thinking of Warren, it’ll make me smile. Since when did I became like this?

“Charlie, I was about to tell you that –” *ding dong* Dad wasn’t able to finish his sentence as someone rang the doorbell. Dad stood up to get the door while I start eating.

--- LEON ALVARO DE SEVILLE P.O.V ----

“Charlie!” The guy shouted as Charisse looked at him. It was like I was seeing a movie scene in slow motion. I wasn’t really aware of their relationship since I don’t go here but I’m know who Warren Gage Richards is. Who wouldn’t? He won the inter-high bartending competition when he was just a first-year student. He beat the fourth-year champion for three years. Also, many girls in my school often come here just to see and follow him. Until they saw him walking a girl home every day.

That’s where the rumor starts. Warren Gage has a girlfriend. He wasn’t really the friendly-type of guy, and many girls are really into the snobbish kind. Why would they like someone who’s not even acknowledging their presence? Do girls really like someone who’ll make them feel less than what they deserve?

I was already lost in my own world when someone puts his arm around my neck.

“Who are you looking at?” One of my team mates in basketball asked and he saw Warren and Charisse in one umbrella and was about to go.

“You know their relationship, right?” He asked like he was asking the obvious

“I actually don’t” I said as I remove his arm

“Really? We both know that you’ve been interested in her ever since you helped her out on her first day here at St. Therese. And that was three years ago”

“We haven’t really had the chance to talk with each other since we come to different school. I’m waiting for the right time” I said as we started walking at the back gate where our school bus is there to fetch us back to our school.

“And because you kept on waiting for something to happen, there! She’s now dating someone. And not just any other guy! Warren Gage Richards. The famous champion in bartending. He’s really popular you know?” Here he goes again. Why does he kept on spouting the obvious?

“Can you try not to speak the obvious?” I asked sarcastically

“And can you try not to just wait, and start to move? Didn’t you know the law of inertia?”

“Do you know?” I asked

“Of course! It has something to do with body at rest. Something like that? Right?” he asked as if he was so sure of his answer. I just laughed at his reaction

“A body at rest will remain at rest until it is acted upon by a force” A girl with glasses said as she was about to go down the stairs, and we just stared at her. More like Noah is the one staring at her.

The girl stands in front of me and faced me as if she knows me.

“Same with loving someone. If you will not make a move, it will remain the same. It will still be an unrequited love. And it will stay like that until someone makes his move. Your choice” She continues her statement. I stared at her for a long time. I think I’ve seen her before.

“Joey Ann! Let’s go home!” Someone called her as she turns her head and look at the guy. Calvin Liam Zuares.

She tapped my shoulder because I was in dazed by what she just said.

“Don’t just remember Law of Inertia. Focus on Law of Attraction. That’s the best advise that I can give. Plus, my personal favorite” She said as she walks away from us. Leaving me and Noah in dazed.

Law of Attraction. That’s my wake-up call. I can’t wait for weekend to come.

I rang the doorbell as I stood at their front door. Why am I nervous? I’m just fetching her for the pre-shoot. Nothing else. I’m just ---

“H-Hi! G-good Morning, S-sir!” I was shocked to see a man in his late thirties opens the door. Is this her father?

“Are you looking for someone?” He asked as he smiles

“Is C-charisse here, sir? I’m Leon Alvaro. We’re supposed to have a pre-shoot for the competition today” I nervously said. I was never this nervous. May it be on basketball or photo competition. Who would’ve thought that meeting her father can make me feel like I’m going to pee my pants? Whoooh!

“Have you had breakfast?”

“Huh?” I’m confused.

“We’re having breakfast. Come in” he said as he opens the door widely. Bad timing Leon! They’re having their breakfast! Why did you come this early! – I tried to scold myself. Tsk!

“Charlie! Your friend is here! Bring another plate” Her dad said as we walk to the dinner table and saw Charisse, who was about to take a spoonful of food, but she paused and saw me standing next to her father, who is about to sit.

“Am I late?! Sorry! Hold on!” She says in panic as she tries to get up hurriedly.

“No! no! I was just early. I don’t want you to wait. Please, eat up. Take your time” I said

“Come and eat with us Leon” her dad said as he sips his coffee

“It’s fine sir. I already ate. I’m really sorry for my rudeness! I can come back if –”

“So, you don’t like the food I made? Picky eater huh?” He said and Charisse and I exchanged looks. So, I sat next to Charisse but his dad faked his cough and made me sit still.

“You prefer Charlie than her father huh?” He said so, I hurriedly stood up and sat next to his dad.

“He’s just kidding. Eat up Leon. We’ll have this really fast” Charisse said as she starts eating her breakfast and I ate some toasted bread.

After breakfast, we went on to out list of places to visit in El Nido, Palawan just to give us an inspiration as to what kind of photos should we take for the competition. We visited the crocodile farm, beaches, farm, and our last stop is the Matinloc Shrine.

“Have you visited some famous places here?” I asked

“Not yet. Actually, this feels like I’m on tour” She said with all smiles.

“any personal favorite? Among the places we’ve been?”

“Hmm. I think this is my favorite of them all. I’m interested to ruins and places that reminds me of the past” She said as she tries to take a photo in the shrine.

“Some people don’t like abandoned place. But you find them interesting?” I asked as she paused on taking photos and faced me.

“Because I can focus on the beauty of the place. And, time just stops. Abandoned places has this charm of their time that stands still.” He said as she wonders around the ruins.

“If this place is still being used. It would be like any other places to live but not to visit. It would be like any other place to walked pass by, but not to stay and admire its true beauty that’s been preserved by time. It’s their very charm” She continued. “And we wouldn’t be here.”

‘And I wouldn’t have met you’ I want to say as I remember the day I met her. ‘If I my alarm was set on time that day, and if I came to school with the usual time. If I didn’t miss the bus that was just few more walks away from me, who is running to get on board. If I didn’t embark on the wrong bus station because I was lost in studying for our first subject quiz. If I didn’t walk for more than fifteen minutes. I wouldn’t have seen you. I wouldn’t have approached you because you look like you’re lost. I wouldn’t have lied that I was also going to St. Therese just to walk you to your school, even though I was supposed to go the other way. Then maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t like you this much. But I did. All thanks to my alarm that stopped. And now, I like you. I like you this much, Charisse Lee. And I just wish that time would stop. Right here, right now, with you.’

“Hello?” She answered her phone as it starts to ring. “Warren? Whose number is this?” She continued to speak with him.

I took a picture of her as she was on the phone with him. She was smiling. She’s happy just by hearing his voice. The kind of smile that warms and excited your heart at the same time, like when was waiting for his call all this time. The same kind of smile that I saw the other day. The same smile that makes my heart flutter is the same smile that makes my heart ache. Because I know that she’s not smiling because of me, but for him. And all I can do is to stare. Just like what I’ve been doing for the past three years.

“Alright, we’re already done anyway. I’ll see you there.” She said as she hung up and looked at me.

“I think we took a lot of photos already. Should we go now?” She asked and I nod my head. Then, she starts walking where the boat is. I took my camera and position it as I’m going to take a photo of her walking away from me.

I counted, One, two, three – as I took the shot, she turned around to face me with all smiles, and time just stops.

The last photo that I’ll have before I go to Manila. I’ll be in college in two months. So, I have to go there next week to finish my papers for my transfer.

“Same with loving someone. If you will not make a move, it will remain the same. It will still be an unrequited love. And it will stay like that until someone makes his move. Your choice” I suddenly remembered her friend’s advice.

“Charisse Lee” I said as she stood there waiting for me. “Are you happy? With him?” I asked.

She looks confused at first. But then she smiled. That same smile. Then, there’s the answer to my question. No words needed. Her smile is enough for me to know that I lost the game I never even tried to play from the start.

“Then we better hurry, he’s waiting right?” I said as I walk towards her and she nodded.

“Is there anything you’d like to say?” she asked as I stood right in front of her.

“I may have missed my chance, but the next time we see each other, I’ll say it in a heartbeat.” I said as I start to head towards where the boat is.

‘We’ll see each other again. And when we do, I won’t miss the chance. ‘til we meet again, Charisse Lee’

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