Chapter 1

"Finally!"

It has been so long since I have gone to school in person. After all the health hazards, I can finally experience the ambiance of students and staff lingering around the campus while I stride down the halls. After the meetup with my friends last summer, I can finally see some of them again face to face.

Our teacher told us that we will probably have a lot of new students in our grade so I am quite scared for them honestly. I transferred a year before all of this began so going there will still be much of a surprise for me.

A past friend told me that I can visit a day before the opening of the school and see the class list. That was how they found my social media accounts. It was easy anyway since it was just my full name- Serendipity Monteluma.

I do not know why they would name me a noun. I would have very much like a common name like Maria and Vilma, but I have come to like them now. It sounds pretty.

Anyways, I have also decided to have even higher grades this school year. I usually get above 90, but the pandemic hit and my lowest is now 75. I guess they decided to pass me since I will be in 10th grade soon anyway.

I have come up with strategies to get better grades, especially when I saw how someone got only 98-100 scores. I will bring back the notebook strat, the gadgets-on-weekends-only strat, the study-group strat, the preparing-everything-the-night-before strat, and the exercising strat to stimulate my brain. I'll join the dance club if it still exists.

•••

Mom will have to drive me to school today since dad stepped on the glass. My sister will be coming with me since she says she wants to see handsome students.

"Elder sister, can I go inside the campus with you?" said Aurora, my younger sister.

"Most likely, you are not allowed to enter the premises," replied mother.

"You will have to watch from afar sis. Remove your tinted glasses or you won't be able to see who is in front of you," I said, referencing a favorite song of mine.

"I don't understand you at all, but I do know what my mission is in this endeavor," said she while rolling her eyes. I laughed at her remark because I know for sure she'll be devastated if she won't find anyone.

I looked out the window. I'm usually nervous on the first day but-

"I forgot my ID!" I screamed.

My mom had to pull the brakes out of nowhere and look at me with shock. Good thing we are on the side of the highway.

"It is still the first day so you won't have an ID yet," my sister assured us.

"You scared me, Serendipity. I thought you forgot your backpack or the likes," said my mom while driving again.

"Well, I have no means to communicate with you if they catch me without an ID so..."

"You should have prepared that the night before."

Those were one of my strategies, to prepare everything the night before. Good thing we don't have an ID yet or I would have messed real bad.

•••

It was only a fifteen minutes ride so we arrived quickly. My sister was visibly excited when we entered the gates and drove up the hill. When we reached the top, I was also in awe seeing how we have a new building on the left. I'm excited to explore it!

"Serendipity."

"Yes?"

"Have fun on your first day."

A smile flashed on my face. "Thanks, mom. Have a good day as well!"

"Elder sister, elder sister. Who is that man over there," whispered Aurora.

I looked over and did not recognize him so I told her, "I don't know."

She was disappointed, but not as much as she finally found something to brag about to her friend.

I closed the car door and looked at the entrance. There was still a huge space where we would play volleyball or badminton besides the field. I walked towards the gate and the guard greeted me. I saw a crowd right in front of me taking class pictures.

"Serendipity!"

I looked in the direction my name was called and see Loueline waving her right hand in the air while her left hand was holding her backpack.

She immediately rushed to me and said, "Let's go check our classroom!" She dragged me to the fourth floor and I was gasping for air since I haven't exercised in so long.

I looked up and saw something that isn't as familiar. We didn't have 10th grade before so this is a first for us. Glad to have been the first section to step into this classroom.

Before entering, the class list by the door caught my attention. I read through it and saw many familiar and unfamiliar names. Some of us left but some of us came back and of course, we have a lot of new students. I'm still not used to that since we rarely get new students in my past school.

I want to take a picture of it, but phones are not allowed so I went inside the classroom instead.

The room smelled like it was freshly painted, it irritated my nose. "Oh man, my sinusitis will definitely hit me again," I complained to myself.

Some more friends greeted me while the others continued with their idle talk. I sit beside them so that I won't get out of place. We'll switch seats anyways.

I talk and hype up whoever enters the classroom with them but when a new student entered, we were silent. The idle talkers took on the job to make the new student comfortable.

I guess I arrived early. I should have explored the school instead. Might as well explore them later with my friends.

•••

We knew who our adviser was since our previous adviser told us who it will be. It's our math teacher from 7th grade, I don't know if he will become our math teacher in this grade though.

I don't remember anything that happened on 7th to 8th grade. The pandemic caused me to lose my f2f high school life with all the drama and stuff. It's not as memorable anymore.

"Good morning class."

"Good morning Sir Karl."

"Please be seated."

"Thank you, Sir Karl."

"Sir Karl, I missed you," yelped one of the guys and was followed by some more screaming. The teacher went along with their actions until he noticed the new students.

"I see some unfamiliar faces. Will the new students please raise their hands?" requested the teacher.

We all looked around to see and oh my, there was a lot. "Will you please stand up and introduce yourselves?"

The said students looked at each other, probably asking who goes first through eye contact. The teacher noticed that so he said, "We'll start from the back."

A guy stands up and smirks slyly. Not judging, but why does he look like those cringy weebs? "Hello, my name's Sylvester Mendez. You can call me Silv. I came from Manila and decided to transfer here because of occupation reasons. I hope I become great friends with you all!"

So he's another kid from the capital. He will definitely feel comfortable in the care of my classmates.

•••

After the introduction of the new students, the old students now have to introduce themselves from the front. I'm right in the middle so I don't have any complaints.

When it was my turn, I stood up and said, "My name's Serendipity Monteluma. I like music, books, and games. My favorite shades are every shade of blue." I sat down immediately after that since I was given enough time to prepare what I was gonna say anyway.

"Alright, everyone. Take your belongings and go to the back of the classroom."

I heard some groans as I bring my stuff to the back of the classroom. Obviously, they are planning the seating arrangement, but I didn't know he'll plan it this early.

Since there were more ladies than lads, the teacher sat them down before us. I noticed that they're making us sit alphabetically so I can calculate who I'll probably sit next to.

M M M... Montero? My surname is right before him so I'll probably sit next to him.

He looks good. He's very compassionate, smart, and talented, like my favorite fictional character. Hmm, it would be interesting to sit next to him.

"Lopez to Ocampo, move to the right one time. The ones after Ocampo, move to the right twice."

It seems as though our math teacher made an error in calculations. Are you serious? If they have to move to the right then I will be seatmates with...

"Monteluma, sit beside Mendez."

I gaped in shock but I was able to recover immediately. I was totally not talking behind his back a few minutes ago. He did not see my reaction, right?

I swiftly moved beside him and put my backpack on the ground since it was heavier for my chair to bare.

As the teacher continued sitting them down, I saw someone's left hand reach out to me. I know exactly who it's from.

"Hi, I'm Silv. You are Serendipity, right? What can I call you?"

I looked at him up and down unconsciously and lightly tapped his hand and said, "Just call me Serendipity."