kundiman.

chapter 5.

"Nice to meet you," says Jason extending his hand to shake Clara's.

Clara reaches out, her dainty fingers are gently engulfed by Jason's brawny hand. "Nice to meet you too," she says grinning.

Jason notices they are matching, wearing all black with the same vans. His heart jumps.

"Hahaha I like your shoes," he says jokingly.

Clara giggles and compliments Jason's shoes as well. "You just had to match with me today didn't you," she teases.

"How do I know you didn't match with me?" Jason replies.

Clara can't take her eyes off of Jason. He looks so different with his hair being so clean cut, his glasses make him look mature. "He... looks... so good," she thinks to herself. Her hands become cold and clammy, as she resists the urge to scan every part of his well-built frame.

Jason realizes his legs are growing limp. He feels himself drowning in Clara's eyes, becoming mesmerized into a trance. He tries his best to stop himself from tracing her curves with his eyes. "She's... beautiful."

They spend the next three or four seconds awkwardly smiling, both staring longingly at each other, neither realizing how stupid they look. They both snap out of their respective hypnosis and motion towards the staircase.

They continue their conversation as they walk up the stairs. This is the most free Jason has ever felt talking to a girl. Something about Clara makes him feel comfortable. Her eyes, so kind and warm; her voice, so soothing and gentle. His heart melts, as they unknowingly pass by Clara's homeroom.

"Oh. We passed my class. Hahahaha," Clara laughs.

"Oh my bad hahahaha. Alright, I'll see you later then?" Jason offers.

"Yeah for sure," Clara replies with a huge grin on her face.

"Ok cool."

"Ok cool."

Clara enters her room smiling as Jason watches her walk away. He turns around and motions toward his class. Clara turns around to see if Jason is still looking but sees him walking away. She turns back toward her desk just as Jason turns to see if she's looking at him.

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Jason stares at the clock.

"Just two more minutes," he thinks to himself.

It's fifth period. He's impatiently anticipating the ring of the bell to release the freshmen for lunch. He wants to see Clara.

"BEEEEEEEEEEP"

The bell rings and he hurriedly gathers his stuff and shoves it in his backpack. He's the first one out the door. He runs through the hallway, disregarding the fact that he looks like a maniac. Jamie spots Jason running the wrong way from Clara's fourth period class.

"HEY!" Jamie yells to Jason. He stops on a dime, almost tripping forward. He thinks it's a teacher, hollering at him to stop running. He slowly turns around and apologizes.

"I'm sorry ma'am I'll walk!" he says.

"No ya bozo! It's me!" Jamie exclaims, "Clara's class is the other way!"

Jason sheepishly jogs towards Jamie. "Thanks," he says, face redder than a tomato. He continues to rush away. Jamie giggles under her breath and watches Jason rumble through the crowded hallway.

In his rush, he forgot to ask Jamie what specific classroom Clara is coming out of. He panics and his eyes dart back and forth, scanning around, fighting against the tide of the sea of students. He unknowingly passes Clara.

"Jason!" Clara exclaims as she notices Jason quickly glancing around, struggling to push against incoming students.

Jason turns around and spots Clara through the crowd, and smiles like a kid at an ice cream parlor.

"Hey Clara!" Jason says as he approaches Clara, accidentally shoving a person. "Sorry, I'm so sorry," he says chuckling.

"You looking for someone?"

"No no, I was just on my way to lunch."

"Jason, lunch is that way."

"Oh, well, I was going to my teacher's room to get someth... yeah I was looking for you."

Clara laughs, her eyes nearly shutting with how big her smile is. She feels as though she'd never smiled like this before.

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Jamie had gone through several crushes by this point and she'd tell Clara every detail of her star-crossed love affairs. When she'd ask Clara about her love life, Clara would chuckle and say, "What love life?"

Clara never really had crushes. She'd have multiple boys asking for dates and such, but she'd politely turn them down and carry on with her day.

She didn't really think much of boys. Until she met Jason. Maybe it was the way they met, something so charming, so awkward, but so endearing. She may have not been attracted to him initially, but she met the real Jason. She was attracted to him, for being himself.

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the night before

Kyle calls Jason after he abruptly hangs up on him and Brian.

"What?" Jason says annoyed.

"Woii, galit siya galit siya?" Kyle teases. (galit siya meaning 'he's mad?)

"No, I'm not. Y'all are just hella makulit." Jason says glaringly.

"Aight aight, sorry na. But I just had a word of advice bro."

"What is it?"

"The way you met Clara..."

"Yeah what about it?"

"The way you described it, it sounds like, you."

"Huh? What does that even mean?"

"The way things played out. It sounded so you. It was awkward. Beyond belief."

"Oh shut up Kyle, if you just called to make fun of me I'll hang up now."

"No no! The opposite actually. It was sweet. I'm sure her heart fluttered."

"What're you talking about bruh, I looked stupid."

"Nahhhh, that was the real you. It was sincere. I'm sure she appreciated that. Instead of you trying to act like something you aren't."

"So what're you trying to get at?"

"I'm saying, keep being yourself. If she's gonna like you, it's gonna be for who you are. Don't be like me, acting all big and manly. That's why I never get anything real. If you want real, be real."

"You know, you actually sounded like you had sense in that brain of yours for once."

"Hey, it's once in a blue moon."

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