One Day It'll Last

Chapter 1

"Hi. I'm Sandra Nicollete Evangelista."

I started with a sweet smile on my lips. I looked around and saw my classmates looking at me while listening intently.

12th grade.

Ang bilis ng panahon. Parang dati lang ay kakatapak ko pa lang sa highschool building ng school namin. Parang dati lang ay hindi ko alam paano ipapasa ang math test ko dahil sa algebra. Pero ngayon... huling taon na ng highschool.

"Ahm, I don't really have skills but I like baking, I guess. I want to own a business soon, hopefully after college," I continued. "I don't want to expect much from this school year but I just want us to enjoy it and make the most out of it before it ends. Yeah.. thank you."

After that, I heard the claps of my classmates. First day namin ngayon at syempre, kada subject ay nagpapakilala kami. Hindi naman mahirap at nakakahiya dahil pare-parehas lang naman ulit ang mga kaklase ko kaya sanay na kami sa isa't isa.

Except for one guy.

"Hi. I'm Cholo Gabrielle Lim," the new guy started. He was sitting a few chairs away from me but that doesn't mean I can't see how good looking he is. I bet he's also 6 foot tall. "Well, I was from the ABM strand but I transferred to STEM because I suddenly changed my course."

Moreno siya and it looks like he's an active person because of how fit he was. His lips were naturally red enough to look like he was wearing a liptint.

"Ah, I play basketball and soccer. I also like playing guitar... sometimes," he said. "I expect to be close with my classmates and I hope that we all get along well," pagtatapos niya bago naupo. My classmates once again clapped and looked in awe.

"I'm sure, Mr. Lim, na makakasundo mo silang lahat," Mrs. Pascual, our adviser said. "Class, be nice to him, okay?"

"Yes naman, Ma'am!" Sabay-sabay nilang saad. Hindi ako nakasabay dahil hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko sa lalaki. I don't know. Maybe I was curious about him.

Natigil lang ako nang bigla siyang lumingon sa akin. I tried smiling but he looked away immediately. Napasimangot naman ako at tumingin na sa harap.

"Ang pogi niya, ano?" Bulong sa akin ni Janelle, isa sa mga kaibigan ko.

Tumingin ako sa kaniya. "Sakto lang. Mas pogi pa rin si Chris," I chuckled. Tinutukoy ko ang crush slash ka-talking stage ko.

Umirap siya. "Sus, isang taon na wala pa rin usad sa inyo,"

"Tumigil ka nga," angal ko naman.

Oo na. Martyr na kung martyr but I really do like him.

She laughed. "Pero, 'di ba? Ang gwapo ni Cholo," kinikilig na sabi niya.

Sumibangot ako at tumingin ulit kay Cholo. He was busy listening to our other classmates who were introducing themselves. Mukhang kinikilala niya talaga kami isa-isa.

"Oo," sabi ko. "Gwapo siya."

He wasn't like the other boys in our class. Madami rin namang gwapo sa klase namin pero he's... different. The kind of difference that will make you turn your head if you see him in the hallway. Para siyang may lahi.

"Tingin mo may jowa na 'yun?"

Napalingon ako kay Janelle nang magtanong siya. We were walking to the canteen after the two first classes were done. "Sino?"

"Si cholo!"

"Feeling ko meron na," singit ni Lea. "I mean, sa gwapo niya na 'yon? For sure may natipuhan na 'yon sa ABM last year. Madami ring magaganda at matatalino dun, e."