52
Narration
*following chapters are set in the past otherwise stated
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Fern since sixth grade has started playing billiards because of his Dad who's fond of it. Along with his three older sisters, playing the game has become their bonding as a family. Growing up, billiards has become his stress-reliever, something that calms him and something that he is good at. It was also because of billiards that he met his closest friend—Jaxon De Vera, a boy on his age.
"Ako raw ang representative ng grade 8," said Fern to Jaxon. When billiards was officially included to their school's sports line-up for the intramurals, Fern immediately tried out and was lucky to be chosen as the representative. He thought that it would be nice to enter a small competition, so he gave it a try.
Choosing him as the representative of their curriculum didn't disappoint. He won, of course, it was easy for him. It was clear that his opponents were not that good except for the representative on the higher year. Yet, he still got the gold medal.
"Nainis yata si Daraman." Fern chugged on his water while Jaxon who's standing beside him chuckled because of his remark.
"Sinong hindi maiinis e natalo siya ng 8th grader?"
The two of them downed into laughter before they stopped themselves because someone might overhear them and misunderstand their actions, though it doesn't really matter anyways.
Fern halted on his place when he heard a camera shuttered. He looked at the side where he heard it and saw a camera facing him before it clicks again. The boy, smaller than the both of them, placed the camera down making it hang on his neck. He looked at Fern as he raised a name tag, the word photojournalist is printed on it. That was when Fern realized that maybe he's documenting the event.
"Can you pose for me?" the smaller boy asked. "Para sa school paper since you're the champion."
Although the awarding ceremony hasn't been conducted, taking photos is relevant to the school publication. Fern couldn't react immediately as he was too stunned staring at the boy in front of him who's waiting for his response. It was when Jax elbowed him that he replied with a nod.
He posed at the camera and then pulled Jax to be included in the photos. When it's done, the boy holding the camera let them look at the photos.
"Parang ang panget ko yata," Fern chuckled as he's looking at the photos.
"It's nice. You're good-looking at any angle."
Fern was caught off-guard at how natural it was for the boy to compliment someone. He knows that he's good-looking, he's aware of that. But hearing it from a total stranger still makes his heart flutter.
Everyone would feel the same.
"Anong grade ka na?" Jaxon asked.
"Seven."
"Name?"
"Arkin."
The boy, who introduced himself as Arkin, looked at the two taller boys in front of him. His eyes looking at them as if waiting.
"Ah, I'm Jaxon, 8th grader and this is—
"Fern," Arkin cut Jaxon off. "I know him."
"How do you know me?" Fern asked out of curiosity. Anticipating for a good answer.
"We are required to know the participants of different sports."
Fern was disappointed but he tried hard not to make it clear on his face. Okay, they're required to know the participants, it's not because of his own will that he knows me.
"Thank you. Aalis na ako, may kailangan pa akong gawin," Arkin excused himself and left Fern and Jaxon.
Fern followed Arkin's back before he disappeared from his sight. It's his first time to react like this towards a man. There's something about Arkin that strucked him.
Maybe because of his eyes that looks like it sees through someone when stared at?
Fern doesn't know.
All he knows is that he wanted to know more of that man.
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52
Narration
