Season of Love (Jewel Perez)

Chapter Two: About You

[Year 2019]

Have you ever felt that one kind of feeling every time your eyes met with your crush? Every book I read always says, "Love struck like an arrow, piercing through the armor of my heart at first sight..." etcetera, etcetera. It always starts with the cliche thought of the female lead having the same first interaction with their love interest.

I always find it cliche when I read it in books, but now that I have felt it personally, maybe I can understand it. A little bit, of course, it's still a cliche.

I can still remember that first day of school in my 8th-grade morning. The rain didn't stop pouring down as I stood up in front of my chair since my chair is near the door of our classroom, I thought it would be cool to stand up and look outside while it rains staring at the huge field of our school.

I still remember it was chilly and windy, and the mud came from the soil and the wet cement floor outside of our classroom.

I look at the two people trying to talk to me. I smiled, almost pretending I enjoyed their exchange bickering in front of me.

"How about you go back to where you belong?" Oporto said. He was the guy who introduced me to me first when I was having my own business reading the book in my hand. I didn't want to be rude so I just smiled at him and told him my name. He quickly started to talk to me nonstop and I couldn't help but feel drained by him.

"Well, how about you then since you don't belong anywhere near us?" Kaye said. A girl in my class has a ponytail of curly hair and narrow eyes staring at me with a big smile. She introduced herself to me and I couldn't help but exchange names too. I don't want to be called rude on my first day in my 2nd year of Junior High, but I already got a gist of what kind of students are in this school.

They kept all their bickering words until I got bored and glanced through the classroom. It is old and dusty, and the floor from outside is starting to get very wet due to heavy rain. The sound of the rain, the scent, the gusts of the wind, I accidentally stared at you.

You, who were sitting in your chair busy with your phone. Maybe this was the moment where my heart started to beat fast, getting all that cliche stuff starting to relate to my situation. I could not take off my eyes off him. His thick eyebrows and mysterious black eyes, his cool yet elegant hairstyle, his clean white uniform, and the way he sat down seemed to be like a mature man. His tall figure and broad shoulders. His plumping pink lips, pointed nose, and tanned skin.

He looks so handsome like the man in the books I always read about.

Slowly, he looked at me. And for a moment, my heart starts to beat rapidly. Our eyes met as if something sparked inside of me. A gravitational force that I could not resist. Either way, I glance towards Otter and Kaye still bickering even now. Blushing on the thought that he might have thought of me something bad.

Ever since then, I could not stop thinking about him anymore.

The school bell began to rang and the teacher went inside and everyone in the classroom took their seats. I sat down on my chair and focused on the teacher. The teacher is beautiful, she looked like a woman who came from a popular chinese drama nowadays. Her boy-cut hair and small face and body, soft white skin and pink lips - she's beautiful.

"Okay, everyone. I am your teacher for the rest of the school year. I am Mrs. Jasmine Heraldo, and I am an English Teacher. Please be nice to each other everyone since i hate bullies." She said and everyone nodded their heads.

"Woah, she looks so strict. Also, her eyes looks tired." Kate whispered commenting what the teacher's expression looked like.

I don't find her intimidating or strict, I personally like the teacher. She's calm and looks kind to me.

As she instructed, we had our introductions one by one until it was my turn. I stood up and looked at the teacher and my classmates, "My name is Jewel, I'm fourteen years old. It's nice to meet you, everyone." I said and everyone stared at me. I felt awkward so I slowly sat down in my chair until Kaye's turn and another person's turn. 

Then, it was his turn. 

I glanced at him in the back, he stood up with such nonchalant emotion in his face. His charming aura and mysterious eyes made him even look more attractive. 

"Hello everyone, My name is Ace Martinez. I am fifteen years old, It's nice meeting you all and I hope we all get along." He said. I was surprised by how deep and husky his voice is. The girls in the class quickly have crushes on him based on how they blush hearing the sound of his voice. It wasn't that much, but I think girls like boys who have deep voices like him. Not to mention he's tall and even has a clear Adam's apple. 

I guess I am getting attracted to him too. 

The introductions ended and the class bell rang too indicating that the class also ended. At the 1st Day, there were no lessons and quizzes but only repeated introductions to ourselves in front of the classroom and endless chatter on the remaining time of the class when the teacher is not around.

I didn't join their chatter, I was not in the mood to socialize. As I was reading my book quietly with my headphones in my ears, I saw Ace from afar also wearing his headphones and playing games on his phone with our classmates.

I felt frozen to see him smile when he shouted and laughed with our classmates. I guess he won from his game. His mysterious ethereal eyes captivated me unconsciously. I thought it was only a mere curiosity, a simple curiosity - but it turned out that the "mere curiosity" I had with him at that time would get something bigger in the future.