PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER

Chapter 1

🎶Put your head on my shoulder

     Hold me in your arms,...🎶

As the song played on Paul's playlist, as he walked on the street, he couldn't help but remember that day- a time when he felt that comfort when someone literally leaned on his shoulder. It might too sudden but from that day onwards, he yearned for that feeling and the person who had caused it.

Paul stopped from his contemplation when he finally arrived in front of the university campus where he currently studying. 

The moment he entered, he was greeted by the familiar sight of the University's Oblation statue. The university campus was filled with calming morning air as some of students passed by. The air carried the scent of fresh trees, mingling with the fragrance of passing students. The rhythmic footsteps of passing students creating a harmonious melody in the air."

 Paul continued to walk.

As Paul walked through the campus gate, the familiar scenario triggered him and the melody from his earphones increase his sense of nostalgia. Somehow, the song's melody gives a bittersweet feeling— a mix of longing and worry rise up, creating a mix of emotions that intensified as he came near his designated classroom.

Paul Rivero, a first-year college student in his second semester pursuing a Bachelor of Public Administration, gathering his courage to enter the room. As he finally entered, he was greeted by the faces of some of his classmates. It was still early in the morning, which is why there's just a few of them.

"Teacher is not here yet?" a voice asked from Paul's back.

Startled, Paul turned around, and what he saw is a teenage boy wearing school uniform topped with black jacket, which was very familiar to Paul.

Jared Dela Cruz. Paul's seatmate, his friend, and mostly, the one who made his heart beats so fast but also made him feel warmth. Now that Jared was in front of him, the sensation of comfort returned and the feeling of worry intensified.

—————

Paul's POV!!!

Fixing myself, I grumpily answered, “You shocked me!!!"

“Hays, teacher is not here. It was still early,” I added.

“Hahaha, okay, teacher still not here, but why so easily shocked?! Maybe too much coffee? Hahaha,” Jared jokingly said.

Those laughter... It captivated me instead of annoying me. Control yourself, Paul. Telling myself, “Jared, I'm not fond of coffee. It's just you causing my heart to... argh, you dense.”

“Hey, I'm just kidding,” Jared added when he saw my fake annoyed expression.

“I know,” I grouchily voiced out, walking towards my seat.

By the way, my seat was near the window at the right side of the room when sitting facing the whiteboard in front. It is in the third row, consisting of five seats, the second seat counting starting from the window is my seat.

“Good morning, Mich,” I greeted the girl who was using her phone while sitting on the right side of my seat.

Michelle Francisco. 18 years old. Her nickname is Mich. She was my friend since high school.

“Morning," Mich dejectedly replied.

Surprised, I stopped continuing the conversation. She might have had a fight with her boyfriend. Maintaining the silence, I sat on my seat, yet someone cut the silence through his loud and careless sitting.

“You have a fight with Jed?" Jared asked Mich pertaining to Jed, Mich's boyfriend.

This man really doesn't know when to talk and not. “Oh please, stop adding to my already ruined day,” Mich uttered annoyingly.

Triggered by the way Mich replied, Jared loudly said, “I'm just asking.”

“Is it not obvious?!" Mich asked with annoyance.

“How do I know what the reason is?!” Jared asked with sarcasm. “Girls are really hard to understand,” he added.

I'm a boy, hehehe. Gosh Paul, seriously?! You're thinking that now?!

Breaking my random thought, I interjected.

“The two of you, you start fighting again!” I said, sighing.

These two really don't pass a day without fighting. If I don't break their arguments, they will surely continue without minding that they were not the only persons inside this not so well-ventilated room. Luckily, they stopped... Or not.

“Blame your friend,” Jared said thunderously and covered his face with a jacket to take a nap.

Ouch!!! I'm just concerned. I know I sound emotional, but it hurts. If it were others, I would not be like this. But it's him. I always tend to be emotional about his every action, to all the things that he does. I want to tell him, “You're hurting me!” But will he care? Poor self, why don't you get used to it? That's Jared Dela Cruz, a moody person.

“Are you okay?" Mich whispered, interrupting my cascading thoughts as sadness intensified.

She's really my friend. She knows when I'm hurt. Of course, she knows my feelings for Jared.

“I'm fine,” I whispered with assurance.

But the truth is not. I'm not okay. So what one of my teachers said is true: when someone tells you that he or she is alright, it may not always be true to what they told you. Like what I'm now experiencing. Sitting inside this four-corner room. Though it is bustling as it starts to be filled with my fellow classmates, it doesn't help to ease the pain. Instead, it unexpectedly intensified it.

***END OF THE CHAPTER***