Here We Go Again

1 Where It All Started

In 3rd grade, I transferred to a new school from public to private. My mother thought I needed to boost my grades after niya makita ang mga line of 7 ko noon and enrolled me to the nearest tutoring center. It was my sister who actually recommended them since she knows the teacher. Sadyang hinding hindi na ako pepwedeng bumagsak from now on.

It was my first day and I was with my mom. She introduced me to the teacher and left me to them. Ganon ata siya kadesperadang tumalino man lang ako. I was a shy kid and didn't have that much friends even after a week from my new school.

But this one boy caught my attention.

He shouts "-zlec!"
Nabibingi na ata ako. "Ha?!"
"Ezlec's the name!"
"Anong meron sa SLEX?!"
Bingi na nga ako.
Tumayo siya sa kaniyang upuan at naglakad papalapit sa upuang katabi ko.
Hinila niya ito, metal screeched through the floor making me cringe.
He pulled his left hand out and reached mine.
"I'm Ezlec, nice to meet you." he smiled, tilting his head with eyes almost disappearing. His jet black hair was in a generic cut, looking fluffy as ever.
"Lia, nice to meet you Ezlec"

But that didn't last long.
I found out what section he was in.
He was the tallest in the class.
And what didn't last long? Hair niya.
Nagpagupit siya ng buzz cut since the school still thinks his hair before wasn't proper.

My first day in school was such a hassle.
After 'dismissal for lunch', I sat on one of the chairs near the gates and waited for my mother.
Half an hour passed, the school bell rang.
Poor me was still holding my Zesto and Rebisco, waiting for my dear mother.
I looked around only to find out that students went into their respective classrooms.
Recess lang pala?!
Students spent their recess inside the classroom on my previous school, so I assumed it was lunch when the teacher let us out.
Kauna-unahang araw, hindi na agad ako nakikinig.
Hindi ko tuloy nakain pagkain ko.
I quickly ran towards my classroom, trying to remember what my section I was in.
While looking through windows to find my adviser's face, I saw Ezlec in his classroom.
Lutang.
Nakatitig lang.
He lost his train of thoughts when I passed through his vision.
He waved and smiled, sitting on his deskchair with his Spongebob backpack on his side.
I waved back and continued to run until I found my classroom.

After a few months, club day started.
The club I was in was his advisory class. When the teacher told us to sit anywhere, I immediately looked for his bag, finding a yellow smiling sponge in the blue sea. I sat on his chair as the club session started. We finished activities right before the teacher's class went in the classroom. He found me looking at him and smiled, yet again.