Love Is Constant

Prologue

Prologue

Isn't it just amazing to be a high school student? Nagagawa mo ang mga bagay na inakala mong hindi mo kayang gawin. You also get to meet a lot of people who eventually become your friends. There are a lot of things you can learn and lots of moments that can help you grow.
 
But what's more amazing in high school is how you genuinely feel attraction towards a person and how this certain person can make the butterflies in your stomach rumble.
 
Just like how I am having a crush on Ryle right now. The boy who didn't even know I was one of his schoolmates.
 
"Ryle, you are asked at the faculty," I overheard his classmate informing him.
 
We went to their classroom for me just to get the slightest glimpse of him, then would leave right after.
 
Ryle is at the top of his class. He's in grade ten, while I'm still in grade nine. I first met him in seventh grade, while he's in eighth grade. We were about to have the flag ceremony at that time when he caught my eye. I still remember how he fixed his glasses while seriously looking in front.
 
It just amazes me how he looks beautiful amidst the noise of the crowd. Does it even make sense? I mean, do his ears not itch from those noisy people?
 
I was just so busy staring at him at that time that I didn't even notice the singing of the national anthem had already started. I still remember vividly how I panicked and immediately had my right hand fly to my chest. It feels so embarrassing.
 
After that incident, my curiosity about him grew. Our buildings were just an inch away from each other. The eighth grade building is the old senior high building that's just beside the seventh grade's. Nasa second floor naman ang classroom niya noong grade eight siya. Nonetheless, palagi naman akong nakakasilay sa kaniya.
 
Every time they have a graded performance, I eagerly anticipate it. I would even skip class just to watch him perform. Kapag naman may mga event sa school ay siya rin ang palagi kong hinahanap. I would never even be absent from an event; palagi akong complete attendance. That's how I was so mad about him.
 
Now, we are here. It's so crazy to think that even up until now, he's still my crush. Halos magta-tatlong taon na akong nagkakagusto sa kaniya, pero hanggang ngayon hindi niya pa rin alam. Hindi nga niya ako kilala, eh.
 
"Girl, alam mo na ba kung saan mag-se-senior high ang crush mo?" Nyce, one of my friends, asked me.
 
I sighed as I shook my head. "No. But isn't he just going to stay here?"
 
"I heard he took an entrance exam from another school, eh. STEM daw kukunin niya." Bia butted in.
 
"Talaga? Where did you hear that?"
 
"From my ate, 'Di ba they're classmates?"
 
"Right." I nodded.
 
I stared at my reflection in the mirror for a moment. Nasa CR kasi kami at inaayos ang sarili namin. Nyce and Bia are putting tint on their lips. Kakatapos ko lang din taliin ang buhok ko in a ponytail habang nakalabas ang curtain bangs.
 
"If Ryle were to enroll in another school, paano nalang ako?" I mumbled to myself.
 
Pero narinig ata ng dalawa, kasi sabay silang umismid.
 
"Girl, alam mo ikaw matalino ka. Pero ang lakas din talaga ng saltik mo minsan, eh, 'no?" Nyce roasted me.
 
I rolled my eyes at her. Tumawa naman si Bia.
 
"May ganiyan talaga siyang side."
 
"Anong side? Pagka-ilusyonada?" Nyce added.
 
Bia even laughed more after what she said. Pabiro ko namang sinakal si Nyce.
 
"Dahan-dahan lang sa pananalita, 'te."
 
Bahagya niyang tinabig ang kamay ko. "Umamin ka na kasi. Sige ka, baka may mauna pa sa'yo. Torpe ka rin, eh."
 
"Oo nga, Anisa! Confess ka na so that you won't have any regrets! Ikaw kasi, eh. Matagal ka na sana naming tinulak diyan sa crush mo kung hindi ka lang nag-inarte," dagdag pa ni Bia.
 
Napatulala nalang ako sa kanilang dalawa habang nag-iisip. If I were to confess now, is something going to change? What if I was rejected? Would that hurt? Hays, tangina. I have never felt this way in my entire life. Ganito ba talaga ang phasing ng pagka-crush?
 
"Uy, nag-iisip. Akala mo naman talaga may lakas ng loob," kantyaw ni Nyce sa'kin.
 
Kung hindi lang talaga ako mabait, kanina ko pa 'to nabira.
 
"Takot naman ma-reject." Bia laughed.
 
Isa pa'to. How did I even become friends with these two?
 
But still, I'm grateful for them, because never nila akong nilaglag kay Ryle. They know what I would feel if ever na ilaglag nila ako. Kinimkim ko rin naman 'tong nararamdaman ko para kay Ryle nang mahigit dalawang taon bago ko sinabi sa kanila.
 
We're already in the classroom, waiting for the next teacher to come. Pero habang nakatulala ako sa labas ng bintana ay biglang may dumaan na siyang nakapukaw ng atensyon ko.
 
Ryle, with his friends, passed by before my eyes. I was so shocked that my heart jumped in excitement. At halos yumanig ang mundo ko nang nakita kung paano dumapo ang mga mata niya sa'kin. My world literally went slower than the sloth from Zootopia could even move! He looked at me!
 
I let some air out after they were gone from my sight. Wow! My heart is still beating like crazy. It would even beat faster if I thought that this was the very first time he looked at me!
 
"Nyce, he saw me," I said calmly to Nyce, even if my heart was exploding.
 
"What?" Nyce is removing her airpod from her ear when I look at her.
 
I flashed her an excited smile. "We had eye contact! Oh my gosh, Nyce! He looked at me!"
 
Nyce had her eyes in a circle. "Really? When?"
 
"Just a minute ago! I can't believe it."
 
Nyce stood up and jumped in excitement. "That's a sign! Finally, girl! The heavens are working hard for you 'cause your dumb ass ain't even trying."
 
Just as we were both building up the moment, the teacher suddenly came in. We both sat down properly, yet my heart is still pounding so hard. I was still all smiles when I glanced at Nyce, as she also was, but when I had my eyes returned in front, I felt like my smile froze.
 
I felt Nyce pinch me in the arm a little, but I was so shocked that I couldn't even react. Whatis he doing here?
 
Ryle is in front, facing all of us. Nyce is nagging me, but my eyes are only focused on Ryle. Yet, as I was about to withdraw my eyes from him as the situation was starting to sink in, his eyes suddenly met mine again.
 
"Tangina!" I heard Nyce exclaim in a low voice.
 
Nakatitig pa rin ako kay Ryle at...ganoon din siya sa'kin. The teacher started saying something, but I couldn't hear it anymore.

Because, as the teacher talked, Ryle and I were also having a staring contest with each other.