Chapter 1: The Calm Before The Storm

Friday. A weekday, finally the last day of the week before it ends. Good thing it's also the last friday of the month. The day the students are awaiting for has come to dismiss them early.

"Siegfried Frost."

I raised my hand then lower it down after my name was called. It was already been counted as present like the others.

"You all better show up this afternoon," our homeroom teacher said as she closed her laptop.

This afternoon will be time for clubs and activities. Students will be in their respective clubrooms and spaces. As for the rulebreakers, they are around the campus.

"Dismissed. You may take your lunch." Tumayo na siya at naunang lumabas. Nanatili kaming tahimik ng ilang minuto bago nagsigawan ang iba pang mga kaklase namin at nagsilabasan.

Tumayo na rin ako at nilagay sa bag ko ang aking mga gamit na nasa desk. Dala ang bag ko ay may humarang sa akin palabas ng classroom.

"Sieg."

Nakatitig lang ako sa kaniya at hinihintay kung ano pa ang sasabihin niya.

"Sabay tayo lunch?" aya niya saka ko nakita ang pag-akbay ng lalaking estudyante sa labas na namukhaan ko.

"Marie, kilala ng lahat 'yan sa pangangatawan ng last name niyan. Milagro kung magiging tuta mo 'yan!" Kumunot ang noo ko saka tumabi at tinignan siya.

"Declined." Tuluyan na akong lumabas saka sumunod ang isa, nagsimula na naman siyang magrap sa kung ano ang mga naririnig at nakukuha niyang chismis.

"Pedro," I called out then I stopped walking and he followed. We were already inside the cafeteria and I was looking for the menu so I raised my gaze a bit. "Shut up, for a moment. The cafeteria is noisy already and you're adding up."

"Geez, order ka na lang nga diyan, ang dali lang oh! Choosy pa," sagot niya kaya napailing ako.

Sabay kaming pumila, siya nasa likod ko at ako ang nasa harap niya. Patuloy pa rin siya sa pagsasalita at kadalasan, napapahinto siya dahil sa nadadaanan naming mga kaklase.

"Hi, Sieg!" Napalingon ako sa kaliwa at nakita ang isa sa mga kaklase ko na may iba pang kasama at kaniya-kaniyang may hawak na tray.

Tinanguan ko lang sila saka dali-daling naglakad palayo pagkatapos akong tawagin.

"Look at you, famous for being the ice prince," I heard him talk and didn't bother to give him a blink.

Who cares what other's think? I'm me. Why do I have to try so hard to fit myself in to where I don't belong in the first place? That kind of thing doesn't suit me.

What they always talk about is just the same thing, I'm getting tired of hearing and answering it over and over again.

"H-Hello, ano po ioorder niyo?" Binaba ko ang tingin ko sa babaeng nag-aantay ng kung ano ang ioorder ko. She looks a bit surprised. Does my face look like a clown or something?

Does it?

"One Mountain Dew in can and two melon bread." Tumabi na ako at naghintay na iabot sa akin ang inorder ko. Wala pang isang minuto ay nakabalik na dala ang order ko saka inabot ang bayad.

Hinintay ko muna si Pedro na matapos saka kami sabay naghanap ng upuan. Observing the whole place, it's really quite spacy and very noisy. I thought we weren't able to get some seats. Thankfully, we saw some other students who just finished so we immediately went and have out seats.

Pedro ordered a pater so he's still wearing plastic gloves and eating in hands. I just looked at somewhere else while eating the bread and drinking my soda.

"Which club are you in again, Frost?"

"Taekwondo."

"But, you're capable of everything?" I glanced at him before taking another bite of my bread.

"Not at all, just few."

My eyes roamed around the area when a certain person caught my eye. A female student.

And she's also looking at me.

I arched a brow in which she turned her head facing away from me. I had a confused look on my face. Maybe she looked at someone behind me?

I look at who's someone behind me.

"What? I just finished eating, nagmamadali ka na?" I groaned.

Impossible.

I was about to turn away when he said something that caught my attention.

"I saw her looking at you. If I remember it correctly, she's Althea Fritz. The president of the whole sports club? You didn't get to meet her?"

I tilted my head and said, "no, I didn't."

"Seryoso ka? Dude, she's basically all over the place!"

All over the place? I haven't seen or I was just having my own time, I didn't get to notice her.

When I tried to look at her again, I saw nothing on her tray but only juice. Did she ate already or no?

If she ate, I could've seen crumbs on her table or probably some residual wastes. But none.

I stood up from my seat, my left hand in my pocket while the other is holding the one melon bread I bought. I slowly approached her.

I could feel their stares, and if looks could kill, I would be having a funeral the next day.

"Frost approaching Fritz? You mean... THE FROST?"

"Could it be that he's cold to others because he's only approachable to Fritz?"

"Are they dating?"

Nilingon ko sila at agad napatahimik. Good god, shut those rumors out.

Nang makarating ako ay nakatingala siya sa akin habang ako kay nakayuko sa kaniya. She's still sitting down while I'm still standing.

Inabot ko sa kaniya ang bread pero tinitigan niya lang. I sighed and took her hand forcing to accept it.

"You're hungry, don't skip." Tinalikuran ko na siya saka sumunod kay Pedro na pare-parehas ang tingin sa iba.

"I'll gouge your eyes out if you stare at me like that again."

"Okay, I won't." He was laughing while we're on our way to our own clubs.

Since I know that Taekwondo isn't that active, I went ahead to the archery club first for some shots.

"You're going to slack off at the rooftop after this, won't you?" One of the club advisers who usually sees me having fun shooting said jokingly.

"As usual, add one arrow extra." Inabot niya sa akin ang pana at isa-isa akong kumuha ng palaso malapit sa kung saan pupwesto.

I took care of my posture as I picked the first arrow and carefully aimed.

"May magandang nangyari ba kaya may pa-extra ka ngayon?" tanong niya.

I released the arrow before I answered his question and picks another arrow.

"All normal. Others are exaggerating." I released the second one and turned my head to the door that slid open.

It revealed Althea Fritz. She talks to the teacher for a moment and caught her stealing glances at me.

I look away, but taking it back after.

But looking at her, she is almost perfect. Although, she's more intimidating.

Her blonde hair's now tied to ponytail unlike a while ago, she had her hair down. Her ocean eyes is piercing through mine.

Wait, we're staring at each other now.

"May problema ba kayo sa isa't isa?" biglaang tanong ng adviser kaya agad kaming napasagot na hindi ko aakalaing magkasabay.

"Nope."

"Not at all."

Napailing na lang si sir sa amin. I just went back to my business then picked the last arrow and aimed.

"Look around sometimes."

I lost my accuracy in aiming as I released the arrow when she started talking. It no longer hit the center, but beside it which still got me 8 points.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. She's already aiming, but I didn't pay heed any longer and exited. Pumunta na ako ng rooftop.

When I arrived, the bell rang. Humiga ako at nakatingin sa langit. Inangat ko naman ang pulsuhan ko para tignan ang relos.

1:30PM

I guess it won't hurt if I'll take a nap for a bit.

Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko at unti-unting nakatulog.